Paypal "Gifting" Question

[JDOE]

Hi everyone, I haven't done a lot of buying from other collectors/traders yet using paypal. I mainly just use it for ebay.

I've noticed several members here and on a couple other forums put "I don't give or receive paypal gifts" or similar messages in their signatures.

Why don't many people like the gift option in paypal? I figure there's some sort of possible scam involved, right?

I think I've been scammed once trading and I think I've been shill-bid on before, so I'm leery of giving or accepting paypal gifts if many here seem against it.

I just wondered what everyones' thoughts were on it.

[duwal]

when you send payment of something as a 'gift' that takes away a lot of the protection. You obviously can not ask for a refund if something goes wrong because it wasn't a purchase you gave them their funds as a gift

[EvilBread]

Like what duwal said. By paying with Paypal Gift you will be unable to file anything to get a refund should something go awry. Not only that I have heard of some members in various boards having their funds frozen from receiving to many "gifts" and or getting high dollar amounts and having accounts suspended. I personally don't want to lose the ability to use Paypal. So I have stopped gifting to be safe.

[any$4forsberg]

I've never had a problem using gift, just make sure to thoroughly research the person you are dealing with first. Generally, gift is only used to save yourself about 3.5% in fees, so for a beginner I would recommend avoiding it.

[JDOE]

Thanks for the info guys. Yeah, I think I'll just avoid gifting all together for the time being.

[mrveggieman]

I had a guy pay me paypal gift once and I didn't have any problems with it. However I would never pay anyone that I don't know or was uncomfortable dealing with via paypal gift.

[theonedru]

When you use gift payments to buy stuff you are stealing from PayPal. Plain and simple

[Kosmo kards]

When you use gift payments to buy stuff you are stealing from PayPal. Plain and simple

Paypal is the one that steals from you. Don't get it twisted.

[theonedru]

Paypal is the one that steals from you. Don't get it twisted.

How exactly are they thieves? There are these things that businesses have called costs and overheads and such that require money to take care of. Its not their fault people are cheap and expect everything for nothinng

[Kosmo kards]

I just found your comment interesting. What are they getting money for? You go in and pay for something by entering an e-mail address and what does that cost? Nothing. Who gives them the right to take money for every transaction by doing nothing, just sitting back and collecting fees. How much money do you think paypal gets from e-bay and other transactions? More in one day than I will see in a decade. Have you ever tried contacting paypal? I am a premier member and it has taken four business days to respond via e-mail, calling them is almost impossible.