Question About PPFF (I'm new, what's the history?)

[Greyfin10]

Clear as day, at the top of the KE is a warning to "Stop using PPFF" (which is, to my mind, self-explanatory good advice). Then, in the actual ads, it is ALMOST every ad that states that's what they require. I understand that, in an environment where people actually know each other, that might be a CYA warning... but there's so much commerce in those threads, it seems quite likely that these people DON'T tend to know each other. So, why is this clearly being almost entirely ignored by the denizens of those threads? I'm not complaining since, I'm just a anthropologist, hiding behind a bush, describing the behavior - but I am interested in the why (if anyone knows or has a theory).

 

[knarfeng]

Clear as day, at the top of the KE is a warning to "Stop using PPFF" (which is, to my mind, self-explanatory good advice). Then, in the actual ads, it is ALMOST every ad that states that's what they require. I understand that, in an environment where people actually know each other, that might be a CYA warning... but there's so much commerce in those threads, it seems quite likely that these people DON'T tend to know each other. So, why is this clearly being almost entirely ignored by the denizens of those threads? I'm not complaining since, I'm just a anthropologist, hiding behind a bush, describing the behavior - but I am interested in the why (if anyone knows or has a theory).

Some folks buy and sell A LOT of knives, enough that the IRS would be interested. PayPal reports money taken under G&S as profit. Apparently a lot of folks think it is easier to violate PayPal's terms of use than to keep proper records of buying the knife, then selling it so as to have proof that the price they sell for is not pure profit.

BF does not recommend using F&F. We would prohibit use of F&F if we could; but we are not in a position to interfere in a deal which occurs between two private individuals. So the best we can do is recommend against it.

 

[jlauffer]

Many sellers don't want to deal with the tax implications of getting 1099s from PP once you reach $600. While the fed has postponed it, some states have already enacted it, as far back as 2017 in some cases.

 

[Greyfin10]

Well, this makes sense on many levels... I truly am just a regular old enthusiast, so that wouldn't ever occur to me.

Thanks!