dougdarter
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- Douglas
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Hi,
I've been around user/hobby forums for a good many years, and to be honest, the question of Paypal fees always vexes and confuses me.
Of course, the question of who SHOULD pay the fees is quite obvious. Paypal always intended the seller to pay the fees, it was, after all for their benefit that Paypal was set up, as a means of accepting payment for goods purchased on Paypal.
Paypal fees are not expensive, certainly a lot less than those paid as fees in a UK auction house, or VAT, which is several times as much, and what we would expect to pay as a seller to a used camera shop in terms of their profit, or mark up and VAT, therefore selling at full value on a forum such as this should be win/win, for both parties.
It is becoming increasingly obvious, that sellers are asking buyers to pay the fees, either by adding 3% to the purchase price, or by sending payment as 'gift'. Adding 3% is fine, it's generally only a few pounds on most purchases, but asking for payment as gift is just plain wrong to my mind, though to be fair, it's accepted pactice by most buyers and sellers on just about any forum you visit.
It can, and does go disastrously wrong. If, for instance, you buy a camera/lens/whatever and you agree to pay as gift, you lose all and any protection that Paypal, and indeed, the law can offer. If indeed, the goods are faulty or the seller is dishonest (not that I'm implying that that would happen here), you have no recourse to any help. You sent the money as a gift, period. You can't ask for it back, nor can you claim that goods sent to you were dishonest or faulty. You sent the money as a gift.
I've come across several examples of people refusing to send me the goods unless I pay them by 'Gift'. In these cases, I'm always pleased I refused, because it's likely the goods were 'hooky'.
Most people are more than happy to accept Paypal fees, and eBay fees when selling on eBay, but are loathe to accept them when selling privately!
When I sell anything, I'm happy to absorb the few extra £ss in paypal fees, and if they look like becoming onerous, I calculate the cost, and add it to my asking price, add the postage, and make that my selling price. All my sales are eBay fees and postage included, and I make it quite clear. Both I and the buyer then know what the true price is, and both are happy.
I am a member of the 'British Blades' forum, where I am a maker as well as a collecter, and have, like here perfect feedback. The big difference with that forum, is that eBay policy is quite clear - the seller pays the fees. It is forbidden to ask the buyer to pay the fees, even by asking via a PM, and anybody found trying, has their trading credentials removed, and three strikes, and they're out.
The great thing about this, is that it removes uncertainty, absolutely. Everybody knows exactly where they stand, and everybody is, unsurprisingly, very happy.
I'm not for a minute suggesting that this policy is adopted here, because there are people here, who'm I know and trust, who I'd probably be happy to pay with 'gift', but even so, I always say that I'll include the fees, just so that the seller doesn't lose on his advertised price. I wish I didn't have to though!
I've been around user/hobby forums for a good many years, and to be honest, the question of Paypal fees always vexes and confuses me.
Of course, the question of who SHOULD pay the fees is quite obvious. Paypal always intended the seller to pay the fees, it was, after all for their benefit that Paypal was set up, as a means of accepting payment for goods purchased on Paypal.
Paypal fees are not expensive, certainly a lot less than those paid as fees in a UK auction house, or VAT, which is several times as much, and what we would expect to pay as a seller to a used camera shop in terms of their profit, or mark up and VAT, therefore selling at full value on a forum such as this should be win/win, for both parties.
It is becoming increasingly obvious, that sellers are asking buyers to pay the fees, either by adding 3% to the purchase price, or by sending payment as 'gift'. Adding 3% is fine, it's generally only a few pounds on most purchases, but asking for payment as gift is just plain wrong to my mind, though to be fair, it's accepted pactice by most buyers and sellers on just about any forum you visit.
It can, and does go disastrously wrong. If, for instance, you buy a camera/lens/whatever and you agree to pay as gift, you lose all and any protection that Paypal, and indeed, the law can offer. If indeed, the goods are faulty or the seller is dishonest (not that I'm implying that that would happen here), you have no recourse to any help. You sent the money as a gift, period. You can't ask for it back, nor can you claim that goods sent to you were dishonest or faulty. You sent the money as a gift.
I've come across several examples of people refusing to send me the goods unless I pay them by 'Gift'. In these cases, I'm always pleased I refused, because it's likely the goods were 'hooky'.
Most people are more than happy to accept Paypal fees, and eBay fees when selling on eBay, but are loathe to accept them when selling privately!
When I sell anything, I'm happy to absorb the few extra £ss in paypal fees, and if they look like becoming onerous, I calculate the cost, and add it to my asking price, add the postage, and make that my selling price. All my sales are eBay fees and postage included, and I make it quite clear. Both I and the buyer then know what the true price is, and both are happy.
I am a member of the 'British Blades' forum, where I am a maker as well as a collecter, and have, like here perfect feedback. The big difference with that forum, is that eBay policy is quite clear - the seller pays the fees. It is forbidden to ask the buyer to pay the fees, even by asking via a PM, and anybody found trying, has their trading credentials removed, and three strikes, and they're out.
The great thing about this, is that it removes uncertainty, absolutely. Everybody knows exactly where they stand, and everybody is, unsurprisingly, very happy.
I'm not for a minute suggesting that this policy is adopted here, because there are people here, who'm I know and trust, who I'd probably be happy to pay with 'gift', but even so, I always say that I'll include the fees, just so that the seller doesn't lose on his advertised price. I wish I didn't have to though!
