Paypal is it a EVIL necessity to do business on line

jetcode wrote in post #15009719
Paypal is an online bank. That is how they view their operations and they have to comply with banking regulations as a creditor and collector of payment according to the law. Paypal promotes buyer protection to fuel more sales at Ebay which is one of their main clients for business. More business means more fees. Paypal and Ebay live for fees.

Actually Paypal says its NOT a bank (in the US) and only has to follow some of the banking laws.

YamahaRob wrote in post #15012679
Actually Paypal says its NOT a bank (in the US) and only has to follow some of the banking laws.

Yeah, but will it pass the duck test? If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. It looks like a bank, I'm sure they've found some clever loophole in the law that doesn't make them a bank and excuses them from some of the regulatory requirements - but to me they're a bank.
I don't do business with them. I try and keep a few cents on their books because I hope it costs them money to carry it forward for years. In reality, I know it's unlikely it does...but I'll leave it there anyway.

rick_reno wrote in post #15013551
I don't do business with them. I try and keep a few cents on their books because I hope it costs them money to carry it forward for years. In reality, I know it's unlikely it does...but I'll leave it there anyway.

After a few years, your account will be considered "abandoned", and PayPal can dump responsibility for keeping track of those few cents onto your state Comptroller's office.

rick_reno wrote in post #15013551
Yeah, but will it pass the duck test? If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. It looks like a bank, I'm sure they've found some clever loophole in the law that doesn't make them a bank and excuses them from some of the regulatory requirements - but to me they're a bank.
I don't do business with them. I try and keep a few cents on their books because I hope it costs them money to carry it forward for years. In reality, I know it's unlikely it does...but I'll leave it there anyway.

I'm with ya on that. They SHOULD be held to 100% banking regs.

rick_reno wrote in post #15013551
...keep a few cents on their books because I hope it costs them money to carry it forward for years...

I like your thinking!!

I had some PP issues a few years ago, so I cancelled and lived without for a couple of years... but it became harder to do some stuff, so after resisting for so long, I'm a PP user again, but anytime an alternative option is available, I use it...

Anybody ever try Google Checkout? I've bought a few things from sellers using Google Checkout, I think they deduct 3% from the sellers. Could be a good alternative to PP but I've never used it to sell myself, only to buy.

cdo221 wrote in post #15020870
Anybody ever try Google Checkout? I've bought a few things from sellers using Google Checkout, I think they deduct 3% from the sellers. Could be a good alternative to PP but I've never used it to sell myself, only to buy.

I used it years ago, but now you can't use google checkout on ebay

I sold a lens yesterday via gumtree. Fantastic! It was fast, I got asking price, cash, no delivery cost and buyer tested and was pleased with his new lens .

I must admit I was doing this on the basis of giving gumtree a try, nothing to loose - would Ebay if no luck, though loosing 10% ++ really stinks!

I think a lot more good stuff is being sold via gumtree, at least here in UK. I just missed buying a the fairly unusual lens I am looking for, which the seller said had just sold for a smidge under his asking price.

There are potential issues - I gave only my mobile number and met the buyer at the local station. Turned out to be a really nice photog, but you never know.

I have used PayPal extensively since 2003. It is my service of choice for my eBay sales, as well as for all of my images sales. I have collected payment thru PayPal for literally thousands of transactions. I have not had one problem, ever. Not a single one. Never has anyone attempted to defraud me via PayPal, whether as a buyer or a seller.

Just this month, I have collected payment thru PayPal for dozens of image sales. I paid my Fantasy Football dues to the league commissioner (he lives just 10 minutes away, but heck, I saved a 20 minute round trip by using PP). I paid B&H for some batteries for my 50D using PayPal. I use it like a bank account. I've always hated writing checks, and now I simply don't anymore, thanks to PayPal.

I feel sorry for anyone who has had genuine problems using PayPal. I'm sure it does occasionally happen, but I cannot see any reason why anyone would call them "evil". They're provided me with a wonderful service that has been extremely convenient, and never a glitch. What else could I possible want from them?

EDIT: My only frustration is that Amazon won't allow their merchants or customers to use them. But that's an Amazon problem, not PayPal's fault. It keeps me from shopping on Amazon, which is a pity because I would love to buy from Amazon once in a while