Gift option in paypal

[dericdesmond]

Some people would be surprised to know how many people will look right over a listing that wants someone to pay fees or do PP gift. I've passed over good deals because of this and know several others that will also. It's a measure of integrity IMO.

Unless I MUST have it, I typically do.

Its just silly people have to be so trivial over 3.5% esp when they have no issue using the service. Id be willing to bet most of the people who do this, also have no issue skirting the federal governments tax laws.

As for giving people the option to pay one price or another, thats also against paypals policy. If you have done any reading in this forum, its obvious there are enough people who black list a seller for doing the whole add 3.5 or gift thing, with that in mind, wtf do it? Break out the calculator, and fricken have 1 price. Its best for everyone, and you arent breaking user agreements that way.

 

[FLymon]

My favorite ones go something like this:

"Price is $xxx, plus 3.5% PayPal fees, $5 shipping, and insurance if desired is on the buyer".


That's a guy I really want to deal with right there

 

[1gailt]

My favorite ones go something like this:

"Price is $xxx, plus 3.5% PayPal fees, $5 shipping, and insurance if desired is on the buyer".


That's a guy I really want to deal with right there

I've been guilty of the add 3% for paypal,but no more. "I've seen the light"

 

[Battle Creek Knives]

They provide an excellent service that is well worth the minimal amount they take.

I have come to the analogy that abusing the gift option is just the same as not tipping at a restaurant.

You can always send a check or money order if you don't want to pay the paypal fee.

Excellent !!!!

Protection from the buyer? any details on this?

I like money order just fine. Does it deter prospective knife buyers?

The way it would deter a buyer is most people want to pay with money in their PP account, which they got from also selling something else... or simply people want to use a credit card and deal with the payment later..

A money order deters a person if their really not up to depart with the funds (physically) just yet...

or at least that's how it is for me unless I REALLY want the product....

 

[Lone_Wolfe]

The way it would deter a buyer is most people want to pay with money in their PP account, which they got from also selling something else... or simply people want to use a credit card and deal with the payment later..

A money order deters a person if their really not up to depart with the funds (physically) just yet...

or at least that's how it is for me unless I REALLY want the product....

It'd also deter someone like me, who's at a base too small to have a post office.

 

[ssblood]

I usually don't like doing a money order, I have no recourse if the deal goes south. My opinion anyway.

 

[Battle Creek Knives]

I usually don't like doing a money order, I have no recourse if the deal goes south. My opinion anyway.

I agree paypal's the way to go, chasing your MO could turn bad if some scum decides to rip you off.. I had someone want to buy a knife the other day and asked if gift option was okay, I told him he could gift it or I'll pay the fees.. nonetheless he edited his post with astericks.. ???

anyhow the way I see it, if you're selling something you should eat the fees, period... that's part of the sale....

 

[ssblood]

I've let some people gift the payment to me if they wanted to save a few dollars. I feel if the 3.5% is going to kill me then I can't afford this hobby.

 

[ooitzoo]

Some people would be surprised to know how many people will look right over a listing that wants someone to pay fees or do PP gift. I've passed over good deals because of this and know several others that will also. It's a measure of integrity IMO.

I've let some people gift the payment to me if they wanted to save a few dollars. I feel if the 3.5% is going to kill me then I can't afford this hobby.

Hypocrite much?

 

[ssblood]

I fail to see how that makes me a hypocrite, if I list an item for 365 and someone offers to do PP gift and me take off the 15 or so in fees I'm happy to. Gets used for negotiation on price a lot in my experience. If they use a CC they still pay the fees on their end but if it's in their account they don't.

Nothing morally wrong there. Your accusation is baseless.

This topic is about people that are wanting to chat Paypal out of their cut and post +3.5% in their listings. Usually a sign of the potential for other problems with that seller also...

Edit for those that gave a problem with reading comprehension, I don't list anything with fees or shipping. Everything is insured, etc. If people want to gift it and me take off the percentage I figured in I'm usually fine with it.

 

[ssblood]

It's really no different than going in a store and them having a $5 minimum our charging you an extra quarter when it's not 5. Doesn't that make you say WTF?

 

[ooitzoo]

I fail to see how that makes me a hypocrite, if I list an item for 365 and someone offers to do PP gift and me take off the 15 or so in fees I'm happy to. Gets used for negotiation on price a lot in my experience. If they use a CC they still pay the fees on their end but if it's in their account they don't.

Nothing morally wrong there. Your accusation is baseless.

This topic is about people that are wanting to chat Paypal out of their cut and post +3.5% in their listings. Usually a sign of the potential for other problems with that seller also...

Edit for those that gave a problem with reading comprehension, I don't list anything with fees or shipping. Everything is insured, etc. If people want to gift it and me take off the percentage I figured in I'm usually fine with it.

OMFG! Seriously...?

You question my integrity for offering to lower the price by using PP gift. But then you're perfectly fine with doing EXACTLY that on the basis of "negotiation on price"? Ummm...what?!?

Sorry, walk me thru your logic here. Its not OK to be up front about offering a lower price but its perfectly fine if the buyer asks for it? You're not cheating PP on fees except when you are? Did I miss something? Sounds like your moral compass swings in whichever direction helps you get better terms for your sale/trade...

For the record, not trying to attack you (and I am pretty sure we've done business in the past) but you attacked my integrity and now it seems like you're back peddling a bit. Sorry if this comes across too strong/harsh.

EDIT: sorry, just read my post and it reads a bit harsher then I intended it to. So, since I don't know how to say the above any better, I would like to say that SSBLOOD is a good guy and I have nothing but good things to say about him. I am simply debating the idea presented by him.

 

[ssblood]

No offense taken. Not trying to personally attack anyone either. The PP thing has been debated before.

Most people have an issue with it because it's against the TOS for Paypal.
Nevermind the fact that someone is paying the fee regardless for a CC transaction.

My view on it is that someone is trying to get me to use gift to save a buck, in turn losing my protection.

I will repeat this part, someone always pays the fee on a CC. Butter or seller, someone pays.

 

[mqqn]

I agree with those that would like to see buyers just list the item for the price they need to sell the item.

I absolutely HATE dealing with airlines that show on their web site a nice low price for a flight, then when you try to book you run into the concession fee, airport fee, baggage fee, seat foam fee. Ridiculous.

I am surprised that BF allows people to even list items for sale and offer the gift option, I don't think that should be allowed at all.

If you are sending a friend money as a gift, paypal waives the fees for this type of transaction.

If you are buying a knife and choose to use paypal to send the money, then they are due the fee.

For most transactions I have done, the paypal fee is much smaller than the cost of driving to the po, a money order, and my time.

Changing gears, I love the USPS click n ship - that service is awesome and you save a small percentage on your postage.

best regards -

mqqn

 

[bld522]

From a buyer's perspective, I see no difference between paying with a MO or using the PP gift option. Both methods place the buyer at risk. The primary difference is that the PP gift option doesn't force the buyer to go out and buy a MO. In fact, the PP gift option is the LEAST EXPENSIVE way for the buyer to make a purchase if the seller requests payment by MO or marks up his price (overtly or covertly) to cover PP fees. Whether a seller who offers the PP gift option to keep the buyer's costs to a minimum is acting ethically is open to interpretation as this thread clearly indicates.

 

[FLymon]

Facts:
The buyer never pays a fee (to PayPal) when using PayPal. It costs nothing to send money using PayPal, only to receive money.
Sellers are violating the terms of service when they ask buyers to pay PayPal fees.
The personal payment or "gift" option is not available without fee unless the giver has the funds in their PayPal account.
The personal payment option is not supposed to be used to pay for, or receive payment for a sale.

Opinion:
If you accept personal payments when selling for the purpose of avoiding the PayPal fees, weather you share those fees with the buyer or not, you're cheating. That doesn't mean I think you would try to steal my wallet if given the opportunity, or that I think less of you in any meaningful way, but it is cheating. Just own it.

I made a deal with the state that (among many other things) I would not exceed the posted speed limit when driving on their roads, but I do! I drive about 9 - 10 miles per hour over almost everywhere I go, always have. I know it's "wrong" but I do it because I gain time, and in my almost 28 years of driving I have been caught doing it exactly 1 time. I think the time gained was worth the penalty.

If you get caught (and it would seem that PayPal looks the other way most of the time just like the hundreds of police I have passed while speeding did, until that one time), the prescribed punishment is that your ability to use the personal payment feature "may" be removed. In the meantime you will be gaining money.
Maybe I am the dummy for not "using" the gift option while I can?

 

[bld522]

Fact: Most sellers calculate PayPal fees when establishing their selling price or add the fees to their selling price if the buyer chooses to pay via PayPal. It's called pass-through. Although the seller cuts the check to PayPal, the buyer invariably pays the fees one way or the other.

 

[ooitzoo]

No offense taken. Not trying to personally attack anyone either. The PP thing has been debated before.

Most people have an issue with it because it's against the TOS for Paypal.
Nevermind the fact that someone is paying the fee regardless for a CC transaction.

My view on it is that someone is trying to get me to use gift to save a buck, in turn losing my protection.

I will repeat this part, someone always pays the fee on a CC. Butter or seller, someone pays.

For a CC transaction, I agree. The implicit point is that you're doing a bank transfer OR already have the money in your account. In either case, PP isn't incurring fees to do the transaction (remember, your CC charges the vendor some fee; usually 2% or so to do the transaction.)

Your statements have been that asking for PP gift shows a lack of integrity and that you've taken PP gift in the past when its been convenient to your sale process. These statements are in-congruent if you assume that folks should strive to have the highest levels of integrity.

As far as protection goes, its no different then a trade. If the other side has good feedback with no real blemishes on their record then its not a stretch for someone to give up said protections in order to get a better price. If it were a trade, this would be the case (e.g. you'd send first/same time send without a real guarantee that the other side intends to do the same.) You trade based on faith with some folks (I would guess those with good / alot of feedback) then how is this different.

I agree with those that would like to see buyers just list the item for the price they need to sell the item.

I absolutely HATE dealing with airlines that show on their web site a nice low price for a flight, then when you try to book you run into the concession fee, airport fee, baggage fee, seat foam fee. Ridiculous.

I am surprised that BF allows people to even list items for sale and offer the gift option, I don't think that should be allowed at all.

If you are sending a friend money as a gift, paypal waives the fees for this type of transaction.

If you are buying a knife and choose to use paypal to send the money, then they are due the fee.

For most transactions I have done, the paypal fee is much smaller than the cost of driving to the po, a money order, and my time.

Changing gears, I love the USPS click n ship - that service is awesome and you save a small percentage on your postage.

best regards -

mqqn

Again, I've said this before and I think it bears repeating; if you actually ask a PP rep on policy towards PP gift they will tell you that they are perfectly fine with it assuming that you're a good/steady customer of theirs. Its no different then going to a coffee shop, buying a cup of coffee, and then getting a sugar/splenda packet to put into your coffee. Yes, they are paying for those but its implicit in your coffee purchase. However, if you buy a cup of coffee and take 75 sugar packets to go you'll likely find the owner/manager/cashier quite unhappy. Its a matter of severity along with how much business you are generating otherwise.

From a buyer's perspective, I see no difference between paying with a MO or using the PP gift option. Both methods place the buyer at risk. The primary difference is that the PP gift option doesn't force the buyer to go out and buy a MO. In fact, the PP gift option is the LEAST EXPENSIVE way for the buyer to make a purchase if the seller requests payment by MO or marks up his price (overtly or covertly) to cover PP fees. Whether a seller who offers the PP gift option to keep the buyer's costs to a minimum is acting ethically is open to interpretation as this thread clearly indicates.

EXACTLY, if a seller tells you that you can pay one of two prices; one for PP and another for MO its no different then if they quoted you a PP gift price (with the exception that you need to waste your time and money going to the PO to get a money order.) If you trust your seller then this shouldn't be an issue. Obviously, one needs to tread lightly when it comes to newer sellers, those with spotty records, or those that give you a bad feeling in your gut. From a buyers perspective, its a matter of trust.

 

[ssblood]

Facts:
The buyer never pays a fee (to PayPal) when using PayPal. It costs nothing to send money using PayPal, only to receive money.
Sellers are violating the terms of service when they ask buyers to pay PayPal fees.
The personal payment or "gift" option is not available unless the giver has the funds in their PayPal account.
The personal payment option is not supposed to be used to pay for, or receive payment for a sale.

Wrong and wrong. If I send a gift using my CC Paypal charges me. Otherwise they would pay for it and lose money. You can gift money from a CC. I do it all the time. Someone has to pay the CC transaction fee.

 

[ssblood]

Also, it does not say anything about my integrity if I allow some to gift the money because they wanted too. I don't ask them to do it. I really don't see what is so hard to understand here...