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Using PayPal when selling something??

BenchmadeBoy

BenchmadeBoy

Joined
Sep 4, 2005
Messages
1,982
I wasn't sure if this is the right sub-forum or should be posted in Service & Support. I have some gear that I'd like to sell here on the Forum. I note that most sales use Paypal for their transactions. I have a Paypal account and have used it to buy things. What do I need to do to get money for something I sell? Any tips or suggestions for getting started? The actual Paypal site is not very helpful, at least to a newbie. Any advice is appreciated.
 
Either have your buyer send the money to your PP address or you can send them a request for funds, which they can then pay. You can also ask for money orders, of which I insist they be US Postal money orders when I sell, but thats up to you. Good luck.
 
Since you are in Canada, PayPal will be much easier for the buyer unless you can cash one meant for the USA. Canadian USPS MO are a pain to get.
 
Depending on how long and how "good" of a Paypal member you are, you can get them to send you a check, or use the money to buy something else pretty quickly. I have no idea of Paypal's formula for determining your "goodness." I am always very cautious when using paypal as a savvy and underhanded buyer can get paypal to refund their money, even when they have received their goods. While this is a rare outcome, it seems like international sales/shipping are especially vulnerable.
all da best,
rats...
 
Your PP address is the email address you have registered with them. Someone types in that addy and the amount to send you on the "Send Money" page and it either shows up in your account immediately, a few days later, or you click the "Accept" button beside the transation name. This all depends on the payment method (PP balance, banking account, echeck, etc.)

As far as spending your recieved money, you can transfer it to your bank account, have them cut you a check, use the PP plugin to create a temp debit card number, or use a PP debit card. I have their debit card and it's by far the easiest way to do it.

I've been a PayPal member since it started when they were actually paying people to sign up and have never had an issue with them. My actual bank is such a pain in the butt that I've taken to just transferring any money that goes in there to my PP account so i don't have to deal with their crappy tracking and fees.

BenchmadeBoy said:
I wasn't sure if this is the right sub-forum or should be posted in Service & Support. I have some gear that I'd like to sell here on the Forum. I note that most sales use Paypal for their transactions. I have a Paypal account and have used it to buy things. What do I need to do to get money for something I sell? Any tips or suggestions for getting started? The actual Paypal site is not very helpful, at least to a newbie. Any advice is appreciated.
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Thanks for the replies all. Here is a bit of backstory. I purchased an item of outdoor clothing and it turned out too big. Now, faced with the prospect of shipping it back (overseas), I want to see if I could sell it here on BF first. It is a quality item, brand new. It's just too big and I'm not quite sure about the styling. Seems folks sell stuff here all the time. What are my other options for payment. I would even take a cheque, but that may be risky. In this age of instant payment and gratification do I dare ask for a money order? I also want no problems for the potential purchaser, hence all the questions before I get started.:)
 
PP will tack on about 3.5% in fees to deliver money from the buyer to you, so most sellers will list two prices, the actual price you want for a Money order purchase and a 3.5% higher price for PP buyers.

If you list as taking PP only (and there might be good reasons to do that) then expect some complaints from potential customers who refuse to use PP. No worries, it's your sale, so it's your rules. Good Luck,
 
+1 for Manitoba boys

I think the 3.5% commission is only if you have a "premium" account, which you need to receive credit card payments. Paypal can freeze your account and take funds from it if the buyer claims there was no delivery, so save your receipts & get tracking and you shouldn't have to worry about withdrawing the funds immediately.

Can't USPS money orders be bought in any Canadian dollars without hassle? You could always put it up in the Canadian exchange sub forum.
 
I was thinking of posting it in the Canadian sale forum. I may end up going with a money order as payment. I'm not really planning on selling more items. Just a one time thing for now. Again, I appreciate all the advice.:thumbup:
 
Ankar Sheng said:
I think the 3.5% commission is only if you have a "premium" account, which you need to receive credit card payments.
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I think Paypal charges you/me anytime money crosses their grubby little paws, no matter what kind of account one has.


Ankar Sheng said:
Paypal can freeze your account and take funds from it if the buyer claims there was no delivery, so save your receipts & get tracking and you shouldn't have to worry about withdrawing the funds immediately.
Click to expand...

That warning can't be made often enough; Paypal is the devil's coinpurse!
all da best,
rats...
 
ratstuph said:
I think Paypal charges you/me anytime money crosses their grubby little paws, no matter what kind of account one has.




That warning can't be made often enough; Paypal is the devil's coinpurse!
all da best,
rats...
Click to expand...


If you use a checking account and create a "Personal" account and you don't accept payments from anything but other personal accounts or the buyer "sends" the money as an echeck, there is no fee.

I have two PP accounts, one is a personal account associated with my checking account (they CANNOT take money from your checking account but the CAN take any money that is in the PP account (I transfer it out immediately to avoid that issue)) and a premium account associated with a credit card (not sure if they can pull against your CC but doubt it). I receive money via the first account and pay with the second. I transfer the money from the first into checking when it comes in and by paying with the second I have my CC protection.

The CC account, PP will not allow you to transfer money to your CC so I had to set up a secondary banking account (separate savings account with no money in it) and now they will transfer the money (takes a couple days).

Very confusing I know but if you learn the rules you can beat the system...
 
After you use up 500 dollars in receiving or buying, paypal will demand you be "verified", that is take their credit card. They did this to my Dad and he resisted it, but had no choice if he wanted to continue to sell and buy on eBay.
They did this to a member here that I bought a knife from and wouldn't release my payment until he'd "verified" his account. I had to explain to him the reason was he'd received his "limit" and it wasn't on my end of the deal. It's not enough to link your credit card after 500 dollars they want you to use theirs and pay them!
I think if the funds are not charged when a purchaser makes a purchase (the money is already in their paypal account) you are not charged a fee to receive it. At least that is the way I've seen it working.
 
As far as I know, you don't need to have their credit card to be verified, you just have to confirm your street address. I know I'm verified, and I don't have their credit card. I do have their debit card, but I was verified long before that. The only limit on me that I know of is a $3,000 daily limit on the debit card.
 
They told my Dad he had to link a bank account or take their Card to be verified.
A Visa wasn't good enough after 500 dollars.
 
Oh, I'm linked to a bank account, so that may be why I'm verified.

jill jackson said:
They told my Dad he had to link a bank account or take their Card to be verified.
A Visa wasn't good enough after 500 dollars.
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kiahs said:
As far as I know, you don't need to have their credit card to be verified, you just have to confirm your street address. I know I'm verified, and I don't have their credit card. I do have their debit card, but I was verified long before that. The only limit on me that I know of is a $3,000 daily limit on the debit card.
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You have something from them so that's good enough. They have limits otherwise on the money you can receive and spend. My Dad took the credit card from them, no way he was linking his bank account.
From the site:

What does it mean to be Verified?
Verification increases the security of the PayPal network. Verified members have successfully completed PayPal's Verification system to establish their identity with us. The Verification process varies by country or region. For example, in the U.S., a Verified member has added and confirmed a bank account with PayPal. In Germany, a Verified member has completed a bank transfer or the Expanded Use Process. In most countries and regions where PayPal is available, a Verified member has added a credit card and completed the Expanded Use process.

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Why does PayPal ask its members to become Verified?
PayPal encourages members to become Verified to increase trust and safety in our community. Because financial institutions screen their account holders, PayPal's Verification process increases security when you pay parties you do not know.

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Do I have to become Verified?
Once you have reached your sending limit with your PayPal account, you must become Verified to continue sending money with our service.
 
You can change receiving and sending limits in your profile if you are verified. It has been a long time since I did it, but if I recall right, they deposit money in your account and you tell them that it is correct.

I do not have their card and I am a verified premier member. I have used their service for a long time and have not had but a few issues (knock on wood) and they were all resolved correctly. I had had to file a couple of claims against fraudulent sellers. Had one issue with a buyer who had to tell Paypal that the transaction was OK.

There have been many horror stories on the Net regarding Paypal sucking money out of bank accounts and Paypal freezing accounts, so it appears that there could be issues on certain circumstances.
 
I use Paypal for everything I sell and buy on eBay, and quite a few other sites as well. I've never had a problem (knock on wood!) with them.

They've gotten me a refund when the seller did something shady (like send me an obviously used item advertised as brand new) and I have yet to have a problem with a buyer not paying for or receiving a refund for an item that was already delivered.

The only thing is, you do have to be fairly reponsive with them, watch your account for incoming disputes or if you yourself need to file one, and explain yourself clearly with data to back up what you're telling them.

If a buyer claims you never sent them an item, and you provide a tracking number or delivery confirmation that indicates it was already delivered, it's a non-issue. But if you skip that service to save the $1.50, it's possible Paypal will decide in the buyer's favor.

It's a good idea to get delivery confirmation on EVERYTHING you send out if you're mailing from home, or at least keep postal reciepts for everything you mail from a post office.



Another nice thing about Paypal is that if you get their debit card, you can withdraw your money from any ATM the day it shows up in the account.



I've heard the horror stories about Paypal too, and it made me hesitant to use them at first--but considering the way I've seen some sellers conduct buisiness on the web, I wonder if it isn't just Paypal laying the hammer on sellers who have irrational expectations of their buyers.
 
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