Thankfully problems between RFF Classified buyers and sellers are far and few between, but they can happen. I've revised the RFF Classified Guidelines concerning payments as follows:
2) PAYMENTS to Private Party Sellers: Paypal and postal money orders are good ways to make payment and have some recourse if the item is not as advertised or not received. Making the payment by credit card through Paypal may offer the extra option of reversing the payment via the credit card company. Sellers must offer some payment method which offers buyers recourse if problems arise. Paypal is the most popular - but not only - choice. Sellers may not require payments be sent as gifts - as the buyer would have no recourse with Paypal on a gift payment. It is strongly recommended that buyers do NOT make payment by bank wire transfer or Western Union or personal checks or NON Postal Money Orders, as this allows the buyer little recourse if there are problems. Sellers may not require payment by bank wire transfer or Western Union. All RFF sponsors take Paypal, and most take credit card payments as well - all of which offer recourse to the buyer.
In other words, buyers do not have to pay by Paypal or some other form of web payment like Google Wallet, but they must have such a choice IF they choose it. Likewise sellers may not require payment by methods which offer the buyer no recourse - such as bank wire or Western Union. Still, if that is what the buyer wants, fine.
This revision is not so much a revision as a clarification, to make it clearer what is required of sellers. It was pointed out to me that previous wording left some issues up for interpretation.
Hopefully this wording is clearer than before and will work for the benefit of buyer protection (to some extent) while also promoting sales by encouraging confidence in the sellers.
If any current sellers do not choose to go along with the revisions, let me know. I will refund your ad.
At the same time, if i have overlooked something which should be considered, let me know.
Thanks for contributing to the RFF community,
Stephen
2) PAYMENTS to Private Party Sellers: Paypal and postal money orders are good ways to make payment and have some recourse if the item is not as advertised or not received. Making the payment by credit card through Paypal may offer the extra option of reversing the payment via the credit card company. Sellers must offer some payment method which offers buyers recourse if problems arise. Paypal is the most popular - but not only - choice. Sellers may not require payments be sent as gifts - as the buyer would have no recourse with Paypal on a gift payment. It is strongly recommended that buyers do NOT make payment by bank wire transfer or Western Union or personal checks or NON Postal Money Orders, as this allows the buyer little recourse if there are problems. Sellers may not require payment by bank wire transfer or Western Union. All RFF sponsors take Paypal, and most take credit card payments as well - all of which offer recourse to the buyer.
In other words, buyers do not have to pay by Paypal or some other form of web payment like Google Wallet, but they must have such a choice IF they choose it. Likewise sellers may not require payment by methods which offer the buyer no recourse - such as bank wire or Western Union. Still, if that is what the buyer wants, fine.
This revision is not so much a revision as a clarification, to make it clearer what is required of sellers. It was pointed out to me that previous wording left some issues up for interpretation.
Hopefully this wording is clearer than before and will work for the benefit of buyer protection (to some extent) while also promoting sales by encouraging confidence in the sellers.
If any current sellers do not choose to go along with the revisions, let me know. I will refund your ad.
At the same time, if i have overlooked something which should be considered, let me know.
Thanks for contributing to the RFF community,
Stephen