How safe is PAYPAL ?

just check the address carefully. for example, it was very easy to create this web page for my cat:
http://www.paypal-online-transfers.com/

and lots of fake urls actually look like the paypal main page.

I've made a dozen or so payments using paypal, and i've received money half a dozen times, and i've never had a problem. I accept credit cards for my photography business via paypal, transferring the money to my New Zealand bank account only takes 2-3 days even though they say it will take 7-14 or so.

I still use it because it is safer then using a MO. And although you will be banned for life if you initiate a credit card chargeback, you can still do that should you get really really really screwed by a seller. Usually the mere threat is enough for a scammer to refund.

When selling on a board I usually either split the fees with the buyer or have them pay the fees. On eBay I have to sell the item for much more to cover both eBay fees and paypal fees. The PayPal fee is an absolute joke! Why does it cost say $30 to move $1000 and $3 to move like $100? It is the exact same movement.

cjm wrote in post #2352625
I still use it because it is safer then using a MO. And although you will be banned for life if you initiate a credit card chargeback, you can still do that should you get really really really screwed by a seller. Usually the mere threat is enough for a scammer to refund.

When selling on a board I usually either split the fees with the buyer or have them pay the fees. On eBay I have to sell the item for much more to cover both eBay fees and paypal fees. The PayPal fee is an absolute joke! Why does it cost say $30 to move $1000 and $3 to move like $100? It is the exact same movement.

IMHO, I prefer the good old fashioned cheque. I've had people refuse to pay by cheque and demand PayPal which tells me straight away that they're running a scam.

cjm wrote in post #2352625
The PayPal fee is an absolute joke! Why does it cost say $30 to move $1000 and $3 to move like $100? It is the exact same movement.

Im not saying that I agree with the paypal fees (of course id like for them to be lower) but it is NOT the same movement.

If you walk into any retailer, and pay by credit card, that retailer is also charged about the same fees, roughly 3% of the purchase price, sometimes even higher.

I honestly dont think that 3% is all that bad when you consider how quick and easy the transactions are.

rhys wrote in post #2352766
IMHO, I prefer the good old fashioned cheque. I've had people refuse to pay by cheque and demand PayPal which tells me straight away that they're running a scam.

Sometimes it's not about running a scam

paypal is quick and easy

with paypal i dont have to worry about stolen cheques

" " cheques clearing

" " bouncing

" " the bank cancelling the transaction a couple of months later

with paypal follow their rules relating to delivery and your fine

rhys wrote in post #2352766
IMHO, I prefer the good old fashioned cheque. I've had people refuse to pay by cheque and demand PayPal which tells me straight away that they're running a scam.

That is the wrong way to look at it. because of the following.

1. Cheques off NO protection to a buyer. Remember they are taking the gamble buying from you because you don't send the item until you get the money in your hand.

2. Impulse buyers using a Credit Card dont have the money in their bank account so a Cheque is not possible.

3. Paypal is absolutely safe, like 99.567880% safe for the seller if the seller is being absolutely honest and up front about the item they are selling, where as a seller who excepts Cheques or Money Orders only say scam.

4. A Cheque and MO can be a forgery or counterfeit where as it is hard, still possible but rare for a PayPal payment to be faked.

So until Credit Cards come out with their own safe payment method, its coming eventually. PayPal is really the only, saftest way to buy. ESPECIALLY when buying from another country, were say Canadian money is sent to France and given in EURO's or USD is sent to Australia and given in AUD. Lot easier then exchanging at a bank.

When I sold on eBay I was against PayPal beacuse of the fees and risks involved. Then I started using it and I realized how much business I actually lost because of not having the CrapPal