Does this bother anyone else?

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I have a hard time understanding why it's a big enough deal to the seller to charge the buyer extra for the fees. If we're talking about a $50 frag, then we're talking about $1.50. Why is that something that isn't automatically considered part of the purchase? Why the attempt to rip off PayPal (whose rules are clear) the few dollars they charge for using their system to sell?

...and to the above, about offering a 3% discount if sent as a gift, YES! That would be better (though there's still that small ethical issue of not abiding by PayPal's rules while helping yourself to their service)...you're offering a discount rather than charging extra...semantics to some I suppose, but IMO it's much better.

I would say, if you're a seller who doesn't want to pay for PayPal's service, then require a check or money order payment. Yeah. It's a pain...but hey...you saved your 3%. :tongue:

 

[ReeferRookie]

Eh i kinda agree i rather not use paypal

 

[Opus]

Isn't the paypal fee really helping the consumer by giving them buying protection? My understanding is they almost always agree with the buyer and not the seller. I've known a couple of sellers that stopped using paypal because they had lost money where the buyer got the product then immediately filed a complaint with paypal and got their money back.

 

[Opus]

While I understand everyone's points, my point is that the fees are a cost of doing business through PayPal. Not sure how shipping fits in as there is a set cost for shipping and the buyer is paying to get the product to them. I will say that I have a problem paying anything more than what actual shipping cost plus a little extra for box, heat/cool pack and anything else required for shipping. Like I said PayPal fees and credit card fees are a cost of doing business through those methods in the same way taxes are a cost of buying things. Stores do not need to accept credit it is a choice. There are plenty of cash only businesses out there. If a business wants to accept credit the costs of this are on the business in my opinion. It's really a catch 22 for businesses either pay the fees or take only cash and possibly miss out on any business from those who only use credit or don't have the cash on them. These are just my opinions and others are entitled to theirs as well.

i disagree with the businesses having a choice to accept credit. Some smaller local stores can get away with it but any larger store will have to do it if they want customers. I personally don't have any friends that have cash on them. I rarely have more than a couple of dollars. The only time I have cash is when I go to a frag swap and even then a lot of the guys selling still take credit cards with the swipe thing for smartphones. If the whole paying with your phone ever catches on then there is another strike against cash. I've also read their is a big consortium of retailers that is trying to get a new credit system in place so they don't have to pay all these fees to the middleman.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Isn't the paypal fee really helping the consumer by giving them buying protection? My understanding is they almost always agree with the buyer and not the seller. I've known a couple of sellers that stopped using paypal because they had lost money where the buyer got the product then immediately filed a complaint with paypal and got their money back.

Technically no. Anytime someone sells through PayPal, there are fees and protection as part of the transaction. Technically anytime you "send as gift" you are not buying anything... you are giving money to someone with no goods involved (per PayPal' s terms). Therefore, the idea that the fees are "for the buyer" is a misstatement because the fees are to the seller on any "sale" through PayPal. The only way people get around those is to lie to PayPal and say that it's a "gift" rather than a sale and in effect to cheat PayPal out of the fees they charge for selling through their system. Therefore the fees are a charge to the seller for the convenience of selling their wares through PayPal rather than a fee for the buyer's protection.

 

[LPS Hunter]

G R E E D

Plain and simple, maximize profits as the frags get smaller and smaller.

Not everyone of course, but it is out there.

 

[Eienna]

Unfortunately, paying it "as a gift" means you have no protection against seller fraud. They will not refund a gift.
I would do that only with VERY trusted sellers.

 

[Jimbo]

When the seller is selling small frags for sometimes hundreds of dollars, why are they worried about the small PayPal fee? It's pure profit on their part anyway why worry about a couple of bucks? It's nickel and diming people And looks bad. My opinion of course.

 

[Eienna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8B1lZp0ULM

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

When the seller is selling small frags for sometimes hundreds of dollars, why are they worried about the small PayPal fee? It's pure profit on their part anyway why worry about a couple of bucks? It's nickel and diming people And looks bad. My opinion of course.

I agree with this. I am not a fan of sending as a gift when I am buying through other members. Actually, I won't place an order with them if they insist on me gifting the payment.

 

[Opus]

Of course you then have the buyers emailing the sellers asking if they will lower the price if they pay them "as a gift".

 

[Chameleon]

I have almost always been payed as a gift even though I dont ask for it. I figure as I am a hobbyist and not a business losing 3% here or there doesn't really affect me. I dont see any problem with asking for the 3% as it is hobbyist selling, however in my experience and view either way it shouldn't be a problem for a hobbyist. Its kind of like do you factor in the cost of gas to get to the grocery store when calculating how much you spent on groceries. Unless you are a business and have a bottom line the 3% is irrelevant to me as a seller and I just happily lose it if someone doesn't pay by gift which doesn't happen very often.

 

[Chameleon]

Oh and all you who said its the cost of doing business...hopefully you aren't treating the for sale forums like a business venture. Use it for what its intended, a good way to share frags in the hobby with other hobbyist who may not yet be at a point where they can use coral as a currency for coral.

 

[Zippy]

I agree with the original statement. You the seller are trying to make a sale. Your sale is more likley to happen by using a 3rd party to supply funds. This gives you funds at that moment, no time required for checks to clear or bounce, money orders to arrive via snail mail. If you don't like it, then don't accept paypal and take money orders or checks with all the work involved with either. The concept of seller paying fees for a transaction is not unique to paypal. If I were to sell a house I pay realtor fees for any realtor involved, yet if I buy... none. Remember, "Its nothing personal, it's just business!"