Paypal gift.... Be verrryyyyy careful

sandpiper wrote in post #14848522
I have heard these tales about paypal, and I understand how you might feel they are "shady" because of it. I have no first hand knopwledge of these problems, I have had no issues with them in the many years (and thousands of transactions) that I have used them. I'm not defending them, just pointing out that my experience doesn't encompass any problems, I'm not claiming that others haven't had them.

However, that isn't really relevant here, is it? If you feel they are shady, don't use them, use another method of payment, whatever. However, if you do choose to use the service, you should pay for it. Saying that "they are shady" does not give you an excuse to take the service without paying the due fees as some sort of "protest".

(note: I am using the term "you" to mean someone, I am not accusing "you" of anything, my reply is a generalisation)

In the interest of full disclosure, I have never had an issue directly, either. So far, so good, but I do use them sparingly. And while I am sure some people exaggerate and complain unfairly, there are simply way too many complaints directed at PayPal, when other companies don't get the same proportion, to ignore. That, plus you can even see some questionable practices in their stated policies. As I have mentioned before, the way in which they handle money is essentially providing banking-type services without banking-type consumer protections.

I do agree that people should use the service properly, though, and you can count me as one who will not use 'gift' for a purchase. My sole intent, and why I felt it was relevant to the thread, was to state that one should be aware that they need an extra bit of caution when using PayPal, even when using it correctly. That is all.

Generalization noted and appreciated.

I wish we had a "don't buy or sell from" feature on this sight, where you could somehow "mark" people for your eyes only so that you could easily avoid dealing with them.

Anyone like PeteD would be on my list. It's bad enough to openly not follow the PayPal rules, but the rationalizations about it are just too much.

photoguy6405 wrote in post #14849981
In the interest of full disclosure, I have never had an issue directly, either. So far, so good, but I do use them sparingly. And while I am sure some people exaggerate and complain unfairly, there are simply way too many complaints directed at PayPal, when other companies don't get the same proportion, to ignore. That, plus you can even see some questionable practices in their stated policies. As I have mentioned before, the way in which they handle money is essentially providing banking-type services without banking-type consumer protections.

I do agree that people should use the service properly, though, and you can count me as one who will not use 'gift' for a purchase. My sole intent, and why I felt it was relevant to the thread, was to state that one should be aware that they need an extra bit of caution when using PayPal, even when using it correctly. That is all.

Generalization noted and appreciated.

Oh, I'm not disagreeing with you. I have seen enough complaints to know that some issues are badly handled by paypal, I am not denying that the service could be better when handling problems. I just feel that serious problems aren't as common as they may seem, as Paypal must handle at least a couple of million transactions a day? Ebay has over 30 million listings at any one time (and a lot of those are one listing but a large number of identical items). Paypal is the method of payment for almost everything sold on ebay as well as lots of other sites.

So, however many problems we hear about, they are a small fraction of 1% of transactions. Taking the above estimate of transactions, 2,000 major complaints a day is still only 0.1% and I see maybe a couple (of course, there will be a number we don't see, but the actual incidence is probably about 0.001% of transactions. Like I say, I have several thousand trouble free transactions (both buying and selling), None of my friends (again some very keen ebayers amongst them) have had any problems either.

Yes, you are right problems can occur and they can be badly handled. People on this forum are probably more likely to have problems than the average user (as photography equipment is a favourite field for the scammers to use). Caution should be taken and that of course involves following the course of action laid down by Paypal, such as sending items with tracking and, of course, not using gift. A lot of people have problems because they didn't follow the guidelines, although there are still problems for those who do.

You guys are something else. Come on to try and help people make sure that they are careful when sending money and the holy crowd comes out from behind the keyboards. Tickles me actually because it is silly , childish behavior. I actually have a friend that works there and I know the rules and the proper way to do stuff. I can not help I was given the improper email address and the transaction was completed so it was left up to me to contact the receiver of the money. Paypal did not once say I had done wrong or anything. And yes, I disclosed everything and what it was for. I was told by them that if they did not respond in a certain amount of time they would contact them.

Like I said before, you don't know everything or all the circumstances. Only the pertinent stuff. GIFT is just another payment option . Plain and simple. There are no limitations on it. It does not say to only use for this and not that. They are not going to tell everyone this because they will lose out on too much money.

Same reason they cut out checks and money order payments on Ebay. They could not collect on any extra fees.

To all that really care, hope this experience helps. Always double check the info before you hit that submit button.

For the rest, have a good life with you and your egos.

Bye, bye

If gift didn't have limitations then they wouldn't take the option to send money as a gift away from people. You may want to double check the info before hitting the submit button yourself. I know several people that abused the gift function, and now get charged a fee no matter what.

mpix345 wrote in post #14850036
I wish we had a "don't buy or sell from" feature on this sight, where you could somehow "mark" people for your eyes only so that you could easily avoid dealing with them.

Anyone like PeteD would be on my list. It's bad enough to openly not follow the PayPal rules, but the rationalizations about it are just too much.

You clearly do not know what you are talking about. And would gladly not have any dealings with you. I now know another person to ignore. Thank you.

whmeltonjr wrote in post #14850119
If gift didn't have limitations then they wouldn't take the option to send money as a gift away from people. You may want to double check the info before hitting the submit button yourself. I know several people that abused the gift function, and now get charged a fee no matter what.

You are right. I will check the info next time. Not my fault someone does not know their own email. Reason your friend was more than likely charged for using the gift option is they abused Paypal in general. Also, when using gift most of the time, if you do not have the money in your paypal account they will charge for it.

They only charge if doing a credit card transfer. You can send gifted payment with no charge if it transfers from your bank account. They sent and received far too many gifted payments, and now they can no longer do either.

Only read the first couple of posts but come on guys seller trying to give a heads up and he gets bashed for "playing the system." don't like the gift idea don't do it and most of the comments are just unnecessary in my opinion. Thanks for the friendly heads up on using this method.

PeteD wrote in post #14850113
I actually have a friend that works there and I know the rules and the proper way to do stuff.

Then your friend needs to check his facts. Also, if you know the proper way to do stuff, what was all that guff you came out with earlier about.

PeteD wrote in post #14850113
GIFT is just another payment option . Plain and simple. There are no limitations on it. It does not say to only use for this and not that.

Really? Your "friend" told you that did they?

Then they need to read the procedures where they work. From the paypal site:

That sounds like a limitation to me, and clearly a "not for commercial transactions" (i.e. paying for purchases).

Sorry, but you are wrong. You have come up with a number of inventive reasons why you are not, but you are. Just accept it. Out of all the people who have replied on this thread, not ONE has backed you up and said that it is OK to use gift for purchases. A couple have said that you shouldn't be bashed so much for doing it (probably because they do it themselves) but NONE have said that it is right. Why do you think that so many people believe it is wrong and nobody else is claiming it to be acceptable according to paypal. Sure, there are people around here who do it, they probably also use counterfeit editing software and copy their mate's CDs, but they know that they aren't supposed to.

Anyway, like I said earlier, you are never going to accept that, so I'm out of here. You carry on bilking the system if it is that important to you, I prefer to have a clear conscience.

Have a good life and continue using services without paying for them (do you have legitimate software, or is it a cracked copy of photoshop that you downloaded free, because it is "allowed" for some imaginary reason?)

Just remember, as I originally pointed out (ironically not aimed at you, until you called me a thief) - Karma sucks and will get you in the end.

PeteD wrote in post #14850113
There are no limitations on it. It does not say to only use for this and not that. They are not going to tell everyone this because they will lose out on too much money.

So and now you have told "everyone" that.

No I am sorry but as has been stated many times by other members you used PayPal wrong and lost money on it. Sorry about that for you but its your own fault.

Thank you for the warning but this thread has run its course now so will be closed.