To Paypal or not to Paypal? Opinions please!

WC · January 15, 2005 9:43PM

The Paypal fees just kill me!

Your opinions are very welcome. Is the added convenience (to the buyer) of offering PayPal Credit Card Payments worth the extra fees associated with it? I am talking about an item that should sell in the $7k - $8k range.

Do you think you less action if it is a MO/check only payment option?

stormsurge · January 15, 2005 10:13PM

I dislike thier fees as well. I keep using their service because buyers seem to like the convenience and hate waiting the ten or so days for a personal check to clear my bank.

If someone has $7-$8k to pay for a card I would figure they would be able to pay by personal check and it would save you a great deal on fees but you may lose a bidder or two by not offering the PayPal payment method.

imwonderboy · January 16, 2005 12:40AM

If you don't accept paypal you will traditionally get less for your auctions so it is really a wash - IMO

goose3 · January 16, 2005 12:40AM

If someone is willing to shell out that kind of money, then they should be more than willing to go to the bank and get you a certified check to do so.

I just made a deal with a guy across the country on an item for 7500 over the phone for an item. My first question was "would you like me to get a bank check?".

paypal in conjunction with ebay is quickly becoming a ripoff. I have the "free" account and will never upgrade it.

JustSportscards · January 16, 2005 2:20AM

I switched to a credit card processor and it's cost me less than Paypal as far as fees. Everyone tried to tell me Paypal was going to cost me less so I went with them for a while but they were making more off my items than I was in some cases and I have yet to have a problem like that with my credit card processor (LinkPoint). In your case I'd say go for the paper payment options only.

habs71 · January 16, 2005 3:16AM

No PayPal=No Bid from me.

Skip

phreakydancin · January 16, 2005 7:52AM

<< <i>No PayPal=No Bid from me. >>

This goes for me as well, but I'm generally bidding on items that cost under $30, for which a $3 money order doesn't make sense. If I was a bigger player, bidding on items worth hundreds of dollars or more, the MO charge is a much smaller deal, percentage-wise. You can send a money order through Bidpay that is just as easy to do from your PC as sending a Paypal payment... no need to go to the post office.

Additionally, If I was selling high-$ items, I would likely specify "no Paypal" for items over a certain dollar threshold ($250?) to avoid buyer scams.

NBAFan · January 16, 2005 8:42AM

I would say not to paypal with an item that expensive. You may end up getting a charge back and you would be out the money and the item.

mercurynut · January 16, 2005 11:06AM

I hate Paypal but people won't bid unless you except it!

campu2 · January 18, 2005 8:23AM

If you use a PayPal Button it seems like you can sell anywhere. PayPal does offer "Buyer Protection".
Most forums don't allow the html code to create PayPal's "Buy Now" buttons. We use them on Yahoo.
MSN, Beckett, etc. blocks them.

Marino 20 Card Lot - PayPal Sports Cards ( Yahoo Group )

5thScaleRacer · January 19, 2005 8:12PM

I find that sellers who do not accept Paypal are usually "cheap skates".

They get so worked up over a fee that is less than a normal CC Merchant Account!

It reflects poorly on the items they are selling.

EagleEyeKid · January 20, 2005 10:16AM

Yea, I dislike the fees too but I want all avenues of payment
to come in for potential high bids. As a buyer myself, I don't
bid unless they take paypal. So there's an example.

1967topps · January 20, 2005 1:53PM

I don'tknow that you can get a postal money order for more than about $800.
How long would you want to make sure an $8000 check clears?
Perhaps the "certified check" is the only way to go?

Personally I love the quickness of paypal as both a buyer and seller, but I don't currently
have anything up for the kind of money you're talking. Fees are something you list in
your tax return. You do report your income/expenses on your taxes dont y'all?

metsfan · January 22, 2005 5:20AM

With the new rules checks now clear in hours,not days. Or,this is how I understand it. Does anyone know if this applies to all checks?

sagard · January 22, 2005 3:15PM

Here is an example. You have a $5 item.

$0.35 Listing Fees.
$0.25 Final Value Fees.
$0.45 PayPal Fees.
$0.05 Padded Envelope.
$0.55 Postage.

Ebay/PayPal are taking over 20% on this type of sale. Don't take PayPal on smaller transactions.

To Paypal or not to Paypal? Opinions please!

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