PayPal fees

Just wanted to get others feelings and thoughts on the matter.

I have used PayPal before to purchase BP's and other things and as a seller. Now there is a small fee that you get the option to pay or to defer to the seller. If a seller wants to use PayPal shouldn’t they foot the small fee or do you think the buyer should pay the item price + shipping fee + PayPal cut?

As a seller I would never expect a buyer to pay the % that is charged by PayPal. It is my option to use PayPal and if I do so it should not be to the disadvantage of my clients.
Just wondering as I have seen people get pretty upset if someone chose not to pay the small %.

I think it depends on the price of the animal. If I am buying one for $2000 then I would expect them to pay the fee. Same as if I am the one selling. If I were to sell one for $300 then they can handle the fee. I think anything under $1200 the buyer can handle the fee. IMO.

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Originally Posted by TessadasExotics

Just wanted to get others feelings and thoughts on the matter.

I have used PayPal before to purchase BP's and other things and as a seller. Now there is a small fee that you get the option to pay or to defer to the seller. If a seller wants to use PayPal shouldn’t they foot the small fee or do you think the buyer should pay the item price + shipping fee + PayPal cut?

As a seller I would never expect a buyer to pay the % that is charged by PayPal. It is my option to use PayPal and if I do so it should not be to the disadvantage of my clients.
Just wondering as I have seen people get pretty upset if someone chose not to pay the small %.

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Me personally i would never buy through someone who made me pay the % that is charged through paypal.

To me thats like going to a store, swipe your card, and get charged $.10 because you used credit/debit

Stores who use credit/debit still have to pay per transaction. Thats why some smaller stores require you to spend $5+ because u can use a card because they are charged per transaction. A lot of the bigger stores get unlimited transactions for a set price. Basically what im trying to say is never are you charged for paying with a credit card as thats a payment option THEY offer so THEY cover the fees.

Just me but say i bought a $800 snake. And paypal wanted a % of that and the buyer asked me to pay.

1.) id eitherr not buy the snake
2.) if i really wanted it i would goto post office pay $0.44 for a stamp and mail him a check.

I think it depends on who is requesting the transaction be processed through paypal. If I'm a demanding payment via paypal then I except the fees, and same goes for the buyer I they are demanding to pay via paypal then they should be ready to pay the fee's.

Why do I feel this way well I have a set price on an animal. If I build in fees to the price then I'm not being fair to those customers who buy from me at a show or come get their animal. And if I eat the fees then every costumer is getting he snake for cheaper than I have it listed. Example if I sell a 300.00 snake at a show I get to bank 300.00 but if I sell the same snake over pay pal then I'm only banking 286.00. Now there are people out there readying this right now saying " yea but
Its only 14.00" ask yourself this of it's so little money then you won't mind paying the fees right so your 300.00 purchase is now 314.00 before shipping.

Now do I make my customers pay the fee? No! Would I probably not but it's the principal of the thing. Don't demand that I except a payment type that is going to cost me money if you're not prepared to absorb that cost yourself.

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

I think it depends on who is requesting the transaction be processed through paypal. If I'm a demanding payment via paypal then I except the fees, and same goes for the buyer I they are demanding to pay via paypal then they should be ready to pay the fee's.

Why do I feel this way well I have a set price on an animal. If I build in fees to the price then I'm not being fair to those customers who buy from me at a show or come get their animal. And if I eat the fees then every costumer is getting he snake for cheaper than I have it listed. Example if I sell a 300.00 snake at a show I get to bank 300.00 but if I sell the same snake over pay pal then I'm only banking 286.00. Now there are people out there readying this right now saying " yea but
Its only 14.00" ask yourself this of it's so little money then you won't mind paying the fees right so your 300.00 purchase is now 314.00 before shipping.

Now do I make my customers pay the fee? No! Would I probably not but it's the principal of the thing. Don't demand that I except a payment type that is going to cost me money if you're not prepared to absorb that cost yourself.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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You have a point. But why not split the fees 50/50?

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Originally Posted by f4n70m

You have a point. But why not split the fees 50/50?

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Again If you the customer are requesting a particular form of payment then asking the seller to pay any part of the fees is the same as asking for a discount no matter how small. Splitting the fees isnt unreasonable but you should be ready for he seller to say flat no as with any request for a discount.

Never any harm in asking.


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Freakie_frog I see your point and I do understand it. I agree if a customer wants to use (insists on it) PayPal and requests that, then maybe they should pay the charge.

You can't really use the example of selling at a show though because you would then have to factor in the fees involved with the show: i.e. gas, food, lodging, table fees, etc.. Those fees would come out of your profits. So now that 300 you got for selling a snake, has become much less after you factor in those costs to sell said snake.


Thanks for the input so far!

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Originally Posted by TessadasExotics

Freakie_frog I see your point and I do understand it. I agree if a customer wants to use (insists on it) PayPal and requests that, then maybe they should pay the charge.

You can't really use the example of selling at a show though because you would then have to factor in the fees involved with the show: i.e. gas, food, lodging, table fees, etc.. Those fees would come out of your profits. So now that 300 you got for selling a snake, has become much less after you factor in those costs to sell said snake.


Thanks for the input so far!

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Aha very true.


And its also not a "discount" i still paid the full $300 you just did not receive the full $300 because u chose to offer paypal as a form of payment.

Read their TOS when you sign up.
Demanding or asking customers to pay the fees is violation to PayPal, which deems your account possible termination if found.

If the customer is a verified account and your are as well, they can send personal payments where no one pays a fee. I ONLY do this for people i know and or dealt with before.

If the Seller accepts PayPal then they are accepting the fees that come with it. It's against PayPal's TOS for you to ask your customers to pay for your PayPal fees by increasing the price to lessen the blow.

Some people just have it sent as a "Personal Payment Owed" that way there are no fees taken out. That said if they use it too often PayPal will eventually catch on and lock down the account.

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Originally Posted by AaronP

If the Seller accepts PayPal then they are accepting the fees that come with it. It's against PayPal's TOS for you to ask your customers to pay for your PayPal fees by increasing the price to lessen the blow.

Some people just have it sent as a "Personal Payment Owed" that way there are no fees taken out. That said if they use it too often PayPal will eventually catch on and lock down the account.

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Not True. Talked to PayPal on Phone about this and they said nothing like that will happen.

Personal Payments is just what is says, sending money to people you know. Ive send over 200 Personal Payments to people i know personally and nothing has happened.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Not True. Talked to PayPal on Phone about this and they said nothing like that will happen.

Personal Payments is just what is says, sending money to people you know. Ive send over 200 Personal Payments to people i know personally and nothing has happened.

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I'd like to be 201. My name is Wes and no matter what you hear, it's not all true. Unless it's all good. Then it is.

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Originally Posted by wilomn

I'd like to be 201. My name is Wes and no matter what you hear, it's not all true. Unless it's all good. Then it is.

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My facts came directly from PayPal Over phone not something from internet. Not every payment i send is personal

Forgot to Add that use personal Payment at caution

The buyer can no longer dispute the payment if the goods are never sent, because in paypal's eyes no good were part of the transaction. So be sure you know the person VERY well or you mine as well send money in a envelope and hope you get your goods.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

My facts came directly from PayPal Over phone not something from internet. Not every payment i send is personal

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Just in case you missed my humor, which has, inexplicably, happened in the past, I was making an attempt at humor.

I believe what you have said. No problem there.

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Originally Posted by wilomn

Just in case you missed my humor, which has, inexplicably, happened in the past, I was making an attempt at humor.

I believe what you have said. No problem there.

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Yes i missed it as you have that humor that hurts some heads or makes me think on a Sunday. LOL

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Yes i missed it as you have that humor that hurts some heads or makes me think on a Sunday. LOL

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Thought so.

I do enjoy making people think, but not so much when I'm trying to make them laugh. It is difficult to think and laugh simultaneously.

For me anyway. Then again, thinking is tough most of the time.

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Originally Posted by wilomn

Thought so.

I do enjoy making people think, but not so much when I'm trying to make them laugh. It is difficult to think and laugh simultaneously.

For me anyway. Then again, thinking is tough most of the time.

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Wes, if it makes you feel any better - I laughed! :)

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Wes, if it makes you feel any better - I laughed! :)

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Whew.

Hi,

I've only sold one snake via paypal so far. :oops:

I paid the fees and made sure the buyer sent it as a transaction so that both sides had a clear understanding of what was going on.

I figured the fees were fair enough considering the simplicity of paying seemed to be an important point for the buyer.

I have no idea how much ( or how little ) protection each side has through using paypal as it was a live animal sale though. Anyone have any input on that?


dr del

If the seller is worried about the fee, I think the seller should say in the ad "$$$+ shipping (if using paypal an extra $$ fee is added)". then the buyer knows exactly what to expect, I give them my zip code, you tell me the grand total and there no misunderstandings.

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Originally Posted by OhhWatALoser

If the seller is worried about the fee, I think the seller should say in the ad "$$$+ shipping (if using paypal an extra $$ fee is added)". then the buyer knows exactly what to expect, I give them my zip code, you tell me the grand total and there no misunderstandings.

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They said its against paypals TOS to do that and can get acct locked as previously stated

It's a simple fix guys. If you as the seller don't want to pay the fee, raise your price by 3% and just leave it at that. You don't have to account to any one for your pricing.

If you as the buyer don't want to pay them but the seller prefers that method, move on. It's the seller's call. I don't know why someone wouldn't accept a money order if they take paypal, but that's not my call.

I don't charge my customers for using paypal. I eat the fees, and consider it a cost of convenience. I don't buy from sellers who advertise that people who want to pay via paypal have to add 3%.

When I buy something and use paypal, I always send extra to cover the fees. No reason, just always something I've done. I don't have any problem paying if the seller isn't standing there with their hand out to begin with.

The few things I have sold that have went through paypal I have not and I will never ask a customer to pay for paypal fees.

I will have to admit that I am personally put off a bit by sellers that want to charge you the 3% for using paypal. But to each their own. They can choose to charge you the 3% and I or anyone else can choose to pass on the animal or product due to that.

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

I've only sold one snake via paypal so far. :oops:

I paid the fees and made sure the buyer sent it as a transaction so that both sides had a clear understanding of what was going on.

I figured the fees were fair enough considering the simplicity of paying seemed to be an important point for the buyer.

I have no idea how much ( or how little ) protection each side has through using paypal as it was a live animal sale though. Anyone have any input on that?


dr del

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PayPal Still covers live animals to an extent. If Tracking numbers are provided proving your package was shipped and delivered to the person making the claim, then they are pretty much SOL.

But that wont work 100% of the time depending on the PayPal Worker handling the case and their mood that day.

One reason anything over $500 i do not accept paypal, but rather USPS money orders and or Certified Cashier Checks from Banks, as a Seller was scammed once.

Just keep documented proof of each shipment and emails encase something happens and the other party has buyer remorse.

Yup, it's against their TOS. I won't do business with someone who actively breaks the TOS of them. It's a convenience for both parties. As a seller, I eat the fees to give convenience to the customer and myself, and as a buyer I expect the same from the seller.

If I see someone asking for the 3% fees, I won't even bother with them.

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Originally Posted by f4n70m

Me personally i would never buy through someone who made me pay the % that is charged through paypal.

To me thats like going to a store, swipe your card, and get charged $.10 because you used credit/debit

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Mastercard and Visa (and I believe all credit cards) have clauses in the contracts they have with vendors that use their services that stipulate that they are not allowed to charge a customer more for using a credit card than one paying with cash.

In other words, vendors are contractually obligated to NOT pass off the service fee to customers.

If someone expects payment through paypal, they should not pass the fee to customers. If a vendor doesn't want to pay paypal service fees, then they should never accept paypal payments.

My personal thoughts on the issue.... Regardless of the fact that it's already against paypal's TOS to demand compensation for the fees...when I see a seller doing so, it looks petty and greedy in my eyes.

Would I pay it? Maybe...for a one-of-a-kind perfect sort of animal in which all other aspects of the transaction appear trustworthy and above board. But it still makes the seller look bad.

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

Mastercard and Visa (and I believe all credit cards) have clauses in the contracts they have with vendors that use their services that stipulate that they are not allowed to charge a customer more for using a credit card than one paying with cash.

In other words, vendors are contractually obligated to NOT pass off the service fee to customers.

If someone expects payment through paypal, they should not pass the fee to customers. If a vendor doesn't want to pay paypal service fees, then they should never accept paypal payments.

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If the above in bold was true gas station around the nation have been breaking User Agreements with CC companies for years. Every Gas station in my area has 2 separate prices Cash or Credit usually 3-5 cent difference

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

If the above in bold was true gas station around the nation have been breaking User Agreements with CC companies for years. Every Gas station in my area has 2 separate prices Cash or Credit usually 3-5 cent difference

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Really? Not sure how much of "around the nation" are doing that. I've lived in six different states in the last eight years (and driven through dozens!), and have NEVER seen a gas station list two different prices for gas. The only exception would be the ones that offer a discount for using their own credit card...but that's not anything listed on the pump or street signs, either.

Maybe the state you live in allows some sort of exception for gas stations? :confuzd:

EDIT to add one more thought: Just because CC's make merchants sign an agreement to not charge CC fees to their customers doesn't mean everyone abides by THOSE rules either. I've run across plenty of merchants that add a "convenience fee" for using a CC in their shop...but always private little mom-and-pop sort of operations. The big retailers wouldn't dare.

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Originally Posted by JLC

Really? Not sure how much of "around the nation" are doing that. I've lived in six different states in the last eight years (and driven through dozens!), and have NEVER seen a gas station list two different prices for gas. The only exception would be the ones that offer a discount for using their own credit card...but that's not anything listed on the pump or street signs, either.

Maybe the state you live in allows some sort of exception for gas stations? :confuzd:

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Ones in my state will allow their CC to be used as cash at the pump. But if you use a bank debit card or any other cc not with their name on it, your charged extra . When i get time ill take a picture of this and post it here.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Ones in my state will allow their CC to be used as cash at the pump. But if you use a bank debit card or any other cc not with their name on it, your charged extra . When i get time ill take a picture of this and post it here.

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Oh I believe you...I just don't think it's a common practice across the country. It certainly wouldn't surprise me to hear of a state creating laws to make exceptions so some businesses don't have to abide by other business's terms of service. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by JLC

Oh I believe you...I just don't think it's a common practice across the country. It certainly wouldn't surprise me to hear of a state creating laws to make exceptions so some businesses don't have to abide by other business's terms of service. :rolleyes:

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Exactly, which is why i only get gas from Gas stations that Locally owned and operated. Seems the fees get worse more in the city you are here than in the country where im at.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Ones in my state will allow their CC to be used as cash at the pump. But if you use a bank debit card or any other cc not with their name on it, your charged extra . When i get time ill take a picture of this and post it here.

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Hmm weird. I actually get gas CHEAPER if i use my debit card.

I get a message from "Thorntons" saying

"Would you like to save $0.02 using your PIN today?"

Enter my pin and get $.02 cheaper on gas lol

It's one price for all out here, however, there is an ATM or debit or credit card machine fee. You pay that to use the machine as far as I can figure.

I just like cash. Like to be paid in it, like to pay with it.

As far as the gas stations charging more at the pump, a lot of states allow it. :rage: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, New York, Maine, Massachusetts, Oklahoma and Texas have laws against it (but some still do it). Most people don't know about this practice because the merchants don't make it public. You have to look at the price on the machine before you pay and then look at what it says after you start pumping. A lot of the times you will notice that the price has changed by about .05-.10 a gallon. Even though CT and NY have laws against it, it is still very common practice. That is unless these states did away with these laws.

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Originally Posted by TessadasExotics

California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, New York, Maine, Massachusetts, Oklahoma and Texas have laws against it (but some still do it).

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Ha, does not surprise me that MA has a law against it (MA has a law about just about anything you can think of) -- and yet I can think of at least one gas station on my drive to school (in MA) that does that. Drives me nuts, too, because the cheaper cash price is the one advertised in big numbers on their billboard, but I always pay credit :rage:

Re: Paypal -- I think it's fairly logical to give a cash discount, because cash is better and easier for the seller in a lot of ways: no fees like a credit card, not going to bounce like a personal check, not as likely to be a forgery as a money order. If a buyer's paying cash, however, it's probably a local transaction, so I'm also likely to charge less anyway (even deducting shipping fees) due to the convenience to myself and safety to the animal of not having to ship.

I guess I can see the argument that if the buyer "insists" on paying via PayPal, they have some responsibility to eat the fees ... But I would argue that if the seller hates PayPal that much, he shouldn't even offer it as an option. Personally, I'm willing to pay for the major convenience of having the money in my account right that very moment -- even if PayPal does do some skeevy things, and it may make me grind my teeth a little to give them my dough. That isn't the buyer's fault!

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Originally Posted by TessadasExotics

Just wanted to get others feelings and thoughts on the matter.

I have used PayPal before to purchase BP's and other things and as a seller. Now there is a small fee that you get the option to pay or to defer to the seller. If a seller wants to use PayPal shouldn’t they foot the small fee or do you think the buyer should pay the item price + shipping fee + PayPal cut?

As a seller I would never expect a buyer to pay the % that is charged by PayPal. It is my option to use PayPal and if I do so it should not be to the disadvantage of my clients.
Just wondering as I have seen people get pretty upset if someone chose not to pay the small %.

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If the seller tells you to use paypal then I would say, the seller should pay the fee because they are forcing the use of paypal on the buyer. Now if the option is given to use another method of payment and the buyer wants to use paypal then the fee is all theirs.

Hey, if you want to mess with paypal's rules, that's fine...if you don't really need paypal. If you DO, then you ought to think twice about doing something that could jeopardize your paypal account.

I accept the fees myself, I would never charge a customer a paypal fee. It would be better to raise prices all around, then to do that. (You'd just get a bit extra if someone paid another way).
Usually, though, that just isn't necessary. Paypal's fees for its services aren't unreasonable when you compare them with the fees charged by credit card companies. (Those are only reasonable if you do thousands of transactions).

I'm sort of on the fence, but leaning more towards the seller paying the %. It's just like using a credit card machine at Wal-Mart, the grocery store, a coffee shop, etc, they all have to pay a fee for every time someone uses a credit/debit card. The bigger stores can handle the fee no problem, just like people selling the expensive snakes, they can handle paying a few dollars to paypal to ensure that they actually get the money.

I believe if it's a trusted breeder with good feedback then there is nothing wrong with sending funds as a personal payment or gift.

I've purchased BPs this way and I've had people purchase from me this way.

On the other hand, if the amount is small, like a few hundred, I see no reason why the seller shouldn't cover it. In that case the fee is so low that it shouldn't matter.

I think the decision should be based on a few things. How well known and trusted is the seller, likewise for the buyer as buyers can scam you using paypal, and how much is the total cost of the sale.

Luckily in Canada we can also do EMT, which is becming more and more used.
I offer that, a cheque, cash or paypal, but let it be known that I charge a small fee on paypal as it's not my prefered method.

I do believe paypal's fee's are retardedly high :(

I as a seller pay all of my PayPal fees. It is my choice to use PayPal, so in my mind, I should be the one to pay the fees. I have had to pay PayPal fees as a buyer only once. I was not too happy about it, and would probably never buy from the seller again. It was a good deal at the time for a rare animal, so I went through with it.

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Originally Posted by Wh00h0069

I as a seller pay all of my PayPal fees. It is my choice to use PayPal, so in my mind, I should be the one to pay the fees. I have had to pay PayPal fees as a buyer only once. I was not too happy about it, and would probably never buy from the seller again. It was a good deal at the time for a rare animal, so I went through with it.

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I agree with the not being too happy about it thing If I was surprised by it.

I would say if the seller is the one to choose paypal as the only payment method then it should not be up to the buyer to pay the fee's since there are other payment methods that do not cost as much to the buyer to use and still get the seller the money they want.

However I think if all the options are offered to the buyer and they choose paypal that is a different story, but they should be made aware from the start that paypal will result in an extra fee. Maybe if the seller plans to have paypal listed as a payment option they could disclose the fees that will have to be paid ( list the percent paypal charges that will be added to the total) so that no one is surprised by it, because honestly it wouldnt bother me to pay the fee, it would bother me to not be told I was going to have to pay the fee from the start.

Its against paypals TOS to charge the fee to a customer. If a seller is making me as a buyer pay the fees, I'm going to take my money elsewhere. Its a principal thing. If I agree to a price of 500.00 for a snake, I'm not paypaling them "518.00" or whatever the additional fee would be. Its a slap in the face. If you want someone else to cover the fee, put the listed price as 520 and call it a day. The fees are a price of doing business and if they're too much then don't accept paypal as a payment method.

This goes for any good for me, animals, supplies, artwork, commissions, etc.

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Originally Posted by cinderbird

Its against paypals TOS to charge the fee to a customer. If a seller is making me as a buyer pay the fees, I'm going to take my money elsewhere. Its a principal thing. If I agree to a price of 500.00 for a snake, I'm not paypaling them "518.00" or whatever the additional fee would be. Its a slap in the face. If you want someone else to cover the fee, put the listed price as 520 and call it a day. The fees are a price of doing business and if they're too much then don't accept paypal as a payment method.

This goes for any good for me, animals, supplies, artwork, commissions, etc.

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Agreed, and I didn't know that about their TOS. That's interesting. Having someone pay a paypal fee reminds me of sellers who require their customers to pay a shipping box fee. I don't agree with that either.

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Originally Posted by Wh00h0069

Agreed, and I didn't know that about their TOS. That's interesting. Having someone pay a paypal fee reminds me of sellers who require their customers to pay a shipping box fee. I don't agree with that either.

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Why??

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Why??

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Because fees like that are all part of an online business.

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Originally Posted by Wh00h0069

Because fees like that are all part of an online business.

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No I mean I get the Paypal thing I don't agree with passing that on to the customer its like trying to pass my banking fee's on to my customers..

But paying for shipping and handling isn't something new.