PayPal purchase of a used bass guitar

I feel paypal is great for certain things, but they are also a pain in the butt to try and talk if you have a dispute.

If you don't have any disputes they are great.

Paypal only offers protection for buyers and sellers on Ebay transactions though. I learned that the hard way. The only thing they will cover on a non Ebay purchase is if the shipper can't prove they shipped an item.

 

Almost....

PayPal will attempt to recover funds from the so-called seller's bank account but if the account is bare, you're SOL. I filed a dispute against a TBer and ended up with $.26. That's 26 cents, folks. Luckily, the TBer realized he had f'd up royally when his PayPal was frozen and took the necessary remedial action. I got my gear; I didn't send him back the 26 cents.



Riis

 

Classic!!!

 

Yes it costs you up to 3 % but I rather have my price les 3% versus nothing.


I believe you are allowed to receive 5 payments per year without fee, at least this my case, only the last payment ( 6 of the year) received a fee.

This fee apply to all sellers that received payments with credit card ( home depot, sears , bla bla bla ) what they do ?

They traslate this fee to the final customer pricing list

 

I'm a big fan of paypal. Every transaction has been made easier because of it. For that matter, I don't even mind helping out with the 3% fee, even if it is against the rules to ask for it. It's every bit as much a convenience for me as the seller!

 

I find the e-check option VERY handy...

 

3% is nothing.

Try opening a merchant account and pay a monthly fee then a per transaction charge. Then renting a credit card terminal, etc etc etc.

Paypal is a steal.

 

I take paypal, scroll down a few posts and buy my Hamer 12 string and Epibird.

 

Yep happened to me too. Only I got a return of US$65 for my purchase of $1100. Still no bass though.

 

If Paypal was only a woman.....

 

I agree, A friend of mine has a small photography business and has had to acquire a mobile credit card terminal and account with his bank, It takes about 9% of every transaction when it is all said and done. I have never been burned by paypal yet, and I have done hundreds of deals with them, just be careful who you do business with.

 

If it is something expensive, use the e-cheque option. Costs $5, not the usual 3%.

lowsound

 

+1 to all your thoughts about Paypal. No it is not perfect but I think it works extremely well. Why would I want to take a personal check from someone I have never met that lives 2000 miles from me? First I have to wait a week or 10 days for the check to arrive, then wait another 3 to 5 days for the check to clear then I finally ship. Same goes the other way....why would someone want to take a personal check from me? Yes there are money orders but I find them to be a PITA. With Paypal once the deal is done the seller has his cash and the item is shipped. Assuming everyone is as honest as me.

I personally don't like E-checks and don't use them. I hate waiting for them to clear. Canadian E-checks take 7 or 8 business days to clear. I guess I am a little unclear as to the E-check's real purpose.

 

yes, I learned the same hard lesson last month on a (defective) bass amp purchase (TGP, not here at TB) -GFI

 

Paypal is alright, they've made some transactions easier. I fully respect people who decide not to use it on either end, though, for whatever reason.

Case in point: they are happy to take my full percentage, but they won't confirm my address because I live in Switzerland. Paypal, like their owner ebay, makes the rules and they are not always customer friendly. They make a lot of money for doing very little, IMO.

 

My Paypal account was closed back in November,over an alleged purchase that was against their user policy.I had been a victim of identity theft the April before when the transaction took place.I asked repeatedly for more info on the transaction in question,but they could not produce it,and would not return my calls,or emails.I wasn't aware of the problem until December of last year when I tried to do a transaction,and saw that my account had been closed,with no chance of opening it back up.I'll never use a service like that again.

 

I never had an issue with PayPal and use them by choice. E-checks are great though they are a little slower but for bigger tickets they are cost effective. It puts a little extra time on the clearing wait for the buyer. But all in all it's a bargain IMHO.

 

If I'm dealing with a reputable TBer (positive feedback, posts frequently, etc.), I'll go the money order / cahier's check route if neither of us is in a hurry for the moola. No sense in dropping $45 on a $1500 purchase when Wachovia provides these services for free. I also like the e-check but, once again, I'm rarely in a hurry.

Riis