m0rk

sarcasm comes free
Staff member
May 19, 2001
27,782
29
Clanfield, UK
Please be aware then when sending money to someone, if they ask to be paid via gift to avoid the fees that you have no insurance or comeback with PayPal.

So if the item never arrives, is broken, not as described or they send you a swine flu infected pig, there is nothing you can do about it.

Obviously most people are trust worthy and you can buy from them without a worry. But just use some common sense. They might be genuine but just think before you send the money..

https://www.paypal-marketing.co.uk/sendmoney/send_to_a_friend.htm

A few people have been caught out already. So just a heads up guys.
 
It applies to both 'Classified' sales, as well as 'Traders'

Just a case of eyes wide open when it comes to parting with your money :)
 
This happened to me previously on another forum and i lost £75

I wont send gift payments now, i would rather send an extra pound or two
 
I'm sure a while back I sent gift payment to someone, never received bumper, didn't respond to emails or anything, went to paypal about it and as soon as they got involved they made him pay me back straight away! (think members name was Jimbo, but not sure anyway! Was a bit of a tw*t)...

Or maybe i'm just completely mistaken and it was another form of paypal payment! But i'm sure it was gift!
 
I have noticed a lot of listings and things for sale recently asking for payments to be marked as "gifts", i now see why - for the unscrupulous sellers anyway.

As mentioned, id sooner just add the % on really.


Jimski
 
As mentioned, id sooner just add the % on really.

watch out for the 'signed for' bag of sand too (latest stunt) ebay refuse to deal with it if paid and signed as delivery accepted

if you have to sign for it - open it first !!!

especially as they suggest you sign for as recieved in good condition
 
If I order anything fragile I always double check inside before signing! As one time I tried to claim off post office for handling damage (as the box had obviously been dropped on one corner), but because I signed for it, I couldn't claim!
 
Yup not worth it at all. Sending 'Gift' payments is a very bad idea for purchases.

Bunch of people over at AVForums got caught out by it too.
 
This happened to me previously on another forum and i lost £75

I wont send gift payments now, i would rather send an extra pound or two

When i sell something, i give people the choice, to send payment as a gift, or send the extra to cover the fees. You'd be surprised how many people send it as a gift to save a couple of quid but have no comeback if something went wrong :rolleyes:
 
i have sent a few paypal payments as gifts but only to people who i trust 100% , also if i was selling something and wanted to be paid by paypal i would just incorporate the fees into the price as a lot of time stating that the 4% fee has to be added puts people off
 
So if the item never arrives, is broken, not as described or they send you a swine flu infected pig, there is nothing you can do about it.
Depends who the vendor is though mate...
I like to sleep good at night as I know if there is an issue I like to feel good knowing that my customers get what they want.

Food for thought though.... so far for 2009 INA Engineering "expensed" $17,547.10 USD in paypal fees.That 3 - 4% hurts in the long term.Yes you can put it as a company write off but I can not even begin to tell you how many products I could have developed if I had that money to play with TODAY.
 
The point in case being if I pay AN Other vendor (UK or otherwise) by Visa Credit 'normally' I get protection from my card provider under UK law.

If I pay AN Other by Paypal (funded however) but pay the fee, I'm also protected (a bit)

If I pay AN Other by Paypal gift, and the supplier folds, gets pissy, loses it in the post, gets damaged in the post there's nothing I can do. Ask nicely? Doesn't always work.

I think common sense would command that if you had a card machine, that would cost you money, and be a business cost. Same applies to Paypal fee's.

If people just put a bit of thought into it, they'd pay the extra 3% +20p or whatever it is now, just for peace of mind & assurance.
 
Depends who the vendor is though mate...
I like to sleep good at night as I know if there is an issue I like to feel good knowing that my customers get what they want.

Food for thought though.... so far for 2009 INA Engineering "expensed" $17,547.10 USD in paypal fees.That 3 - 4% hurts in the long term.Yes you can put it as a company write off but I can not even begin to tell you how many products I could have developed if I had that money to play with TODAY.

You always charge paypal fees on top though mate like most other vendors so it shouldn't hurt at all.
Fee's are a pain in the ass though.
 
If I pay AN Other by Paypal gift, and the supplier folds, gets pissy, loses it in the post, gets damaged in the post there's nothing I can do. Ask nicely? Doesn't always work.
Works fine for me...
I rather give a refund and have him be happy than deal with "I bought XYZ from INA and I am not happy....**** him and his pissy service blah blah blah"

You always charge paypal fees on top though mate like most other vendors so it shouldn't hurt at all.
Fee's are a pain in the ass though.
If its not a gift then yes.
 
I agree - but just for the avoidance of doubt, people would only have your agreement or word to get a response should they pay by gift.

It's a generic warning to people, don't take it so personally.
 
Not taking it personally at all mate.I know you were concerned about this in the past and I am here to reassure you with ME you have nothing to worry about.