Won an ebay auction but didn't notice the method of payment type

[Deja Q]

Looks like they want paypal only. No money order or cashier check.

Paypal bothers me and I'm curtains if someone hacks my checking account info.

Should I sign up with paypal or cancel the auction, letting them negative me all they want because I don't think I'll use ebay again?

Thx!

[seventhson]

1. paypal is okay

ebay f-up is forever

[Cappurr]

2. I've used paypal and I wont make any sales to those who dont use it

[amazona]

6. may I ask why?

I know of several sellers who say this, but although Paypal is around 80 percent of sales, I still want that other 20 percent! Older people are often more comfortable paying by check, and they have disposable income. I've only had one paper check bounced in my 5 years on eBay, and the buyer replaced the check within a couple of weeks.

Paypal is much more expensive than checks -- if the lady had not replaced the bounced check, I would have been out $5 charged me by my bank for having an NSF customer. Hmm. A $5 charge for 5 years of accepting checks. Meanwhile, Paypal hits me up for way more than $5 every month! I accept Paypal because it is easy for the buyer, but it is much more expensive for me than taking checks.

Money orders are, to me, the ideal way to get paid -- the buyer pays the fee instead of you paying the fee as you do on Paypal. Why wouldn't anyone accept money orders?

Not criticizing, just curious as to the rationale. I'm always open to new ideas but I personally feel that making it easy for the buyer to pay in her chosen way means that I have a bigger pool of buyers?

[inthecorneroverhere]

7. no on paypal

I do not like paypal! I pay all my eBay purchases by money order.

If a dealer won't take a money order, then they can say 'bye-bye' to my business. I understand about maybe not wanting personal checks. That is why I pay by postal money order.

I basically refuse to give out certain info over the internet.

[Harrumph]

3. I'm not sure why you think it's a risk...

I've used PayPal for quite some time for auctions and other purchases. I find it a fast and easy way to handle transactions. I have never had any problems using PayPal.

[Brucey]

4. Paypal always worked fine for me.

Good luck.

[amazona]

5. sign up w/ paypal or send a money order

Paypal is perfectly safe. I've done thousands of dollars in transactions through Paypal over the years, and I am a seller. The only (rare) problems I've heard have been for sellers -- never heard of a buyer having a problem. No one is going to "hack" your checking account through Paypal. How could they?

If you would rather pay by money order, email the seller and ask her if it's OK. I prefer to receive money orders personally because the buyer pays the fee for a money order, while I pay the fee for Paypal. Explain nicely that you made a mistake and would like to pay but you don't have a Paypal account. It is somewhat of a long-winded process to sign up if you are only buying one item. Many sellers understand, at least the small-time sellers do. Sometimes the "power sellers" are a little ****ty in their attitude, but I tend to avoid "power sellers."

Don't just give up on ebay over one negative, even if worse comes to worse. You have three strikes, and there are many good deals there you can't always get elsewhere.

[Wickerman]

8. Paypal is fine

I have used it for over three years. Transactions both directions, never a problem. I have had problems with checks, cash that got "lost" in the mail (right, I am sure you mailed it out...) and international money orders that are hard to cash.

Paypal, not a problem. Yeah, as a seller it eats about 3% of my profit (most of my sales are under 50$). Its worth it to me for the piece of mind. As a buyer it is free and I almost never buy something that isn't one of kind from someone who doesn't accept it.

[Booberdawg]

9. Paypal is fine

go for it

[elfin]

10. I had problems with paypal

Had used it once a few years ago. Then bought something on Ebay this summer and Paypal didn't recognize me. That was one computer and two Email addresses before. It wouldn't let me change my info or set up a new account. It looked like they wanted to do it snail mail, but that wouldn't work, because I was then at a different address than my original account.

Quickly mailed the seller and cancelled my order - this was all in the span of about an hour. Seller sent me a nasty note - now am getting letters from EBay that I am "warned" and I am on some sort of terrible list.

All for an order totaling $18.

Now I am back at my home address, but am leery of trying to untangle the mess.

[nini]

11. I use PayPal to send money to friends who need it too..

not just for ebay.

It's way faster and cheaper than wiring money and very convenient for those college kids away from home

[Devils Advocate NZ]

12. The other side of the PayPal story....

Try this link:

http://paypalsuit.com/

Sample:

Being a first hand witness to what seems to be a set of vague cookie-cutter answers that everyone receives from Paypal,Inc (especially with regard to "frozen" accounts and missing funds without notice). We have decided to take action and collectively join forces and strike back.

Or this one:

http://www.paypalwarning.com/Default.htm

Sample:

WARNING:

Your Paypal account can be frozen at any time, without advance notice leaving you without your money for weeks (if not forever), and there isn't much you can do about it. Paypal is currently being investigated by regulatory authorities in three states!

Quick Update: July 14, 2003: I've been asked why I haven't posted any new horror stories to the site since November. The reason is quite simple...it's all the same! I'm still getting tons of horror stories but the end-story is more of the same - PAYPAL SCAM. I'll try and make some time to update the wall. Just know that these issues seem to continue to this day.

or this one:

http://www.paypalsucks.com/

Sample:

3. Their terms of service are not completely disclosed upon signup and some key "conditions" are not disclosed. No place do they openly tell potential members that their money is 100% at risk. That PayPal can, will, and has in the past, completely cleaned out customers' accounts, (including your checking or savings account) with no appeals process available.

I've never used PayPal, but there have been a lot of pro-PayPal posts on this thread, and I thought I would just balance the discussion somewhat.

The last quote seems to be very relevent to your post in that it says that PayPal itself can empty out your checking account. I recommend you read these sites while you come to your decision.

[MercutioATC]

13. I use PayPal all of the time for E-Bay purchases...

I've never had a problem. The only "hacking" of accounts I've heard of is the sending of false e-mails asking you to verify your account info. Ignore these and I believe you should be fine.

[LynneSin]

14. I'd talk to Molly (DU Member) about Pay Pal

I'm not sure if it was her or one of her friends who had serious problems with PalPal. I won't use PayPal myself, which has slowed down my use on Ebay (which to be honest, isn't a bad thing).

However, I recently bought something from Ebay and it turned out they were a "PayPal" only company. I sent an email and apologized for the inconvience and said I would gladly send a money order out today. They were happy to oblige and all worked out well.

Stick with your instincts, if you would prefer using a Money Order most people won't have a problem with it.

[Kamika]

15. paypal is ok

There are ways to cheat it but its mainly the buyer that can cheat.. so if youre honest youll both be happy.


Dont quote me on this though. These are just my experiences.

[arwalden]

16. Isn't It Possible To PAY-OUT By Paypal W/O Opening Up An Incoming Acct?

Seems so... but I could be wrong.

-- Allen