"Gift" Option on PayPal?

[AllieKin]

Hi,

I am in the process of purchasing a ball python and the breeder wants me to send the money through the "gift" option on PayPal to avoid fees. Seems fishy to me. Is it?

Thanks for any advice, it is greatly appreciated!

Allie

[Daigga]

Which breeder? From what I understand, money sent through the gift function can't be refunded or challenged if the good or service you get in return aren't satisfactory, because you didn't pay for it, you sent a gift. This is beyond fishy, and I would refuse to use anything other than the purchasing option for my own protection as a buyer.

Straight from paypal's website:

Personal payment
You're making a personal payment if you're sending money for:

• A gift: to send money as a gift, like for a birthday.

Purchase
You're making a purchase if you're paying for:

• 
  
  • Services: to pay for a service someone provides, like a mechanic.
  • Goods: to pay for goods other than ones you purchase on eBay.

[AllieKin]

Thank you. I just told him I am not comfortable using the "gift" option. I'll let you know what he says.

I didn't want to attach his name to a negative post in case he's a good guy.

[AllieKin]

Okay!

Looks good. He apologized a bunch and said no one had ever told him that before. He also said in the future he will not use the "gift" option.

I'm satisfied.

[bcr229]

Most people who sell want the gift option so they don't have to pay the fee to PP.

People in business just work those (and other) fees into the price.

[AllieKin]

We decided that the fee would be included in the price. I was happy to pay the extra $18.

[bondo]

Which breeder? From what I understand, money sent through the gift function can't be refunded or challenged if the good or service you get in return aren't satisfactory, because you didn't pay for it, you sent a gift. This is beyond fishy, and I would refuse to use anything other than the purchasing option for my own protection as a buyer.

Straight from paypal's website:

There is no protection for live animals with Paypal. A lot of people do the gift thing. Doesn't matter which way you pay because like I said live animals are not covered.

[bcr229]

There is no protection for live animals with Paypal. A lot of people do the gift thing. Doesn't matter which way you pay because like I said live animals are not covered.

While true, if you back up your PP with a credit card rather than your bank account, you have the protections from your CC company. If the critter arrives and it is dead, blowing snot, infested with mites, or otherwise not as advertised, the seller won't make it right, and PP won't go to bat for you, you can still dispute the charge with your CC company.

[OhhWatALoser]

There is no protection for live animals with Paypal. A lot of people do the gift thing. Doesn't matter which way you pay because like I said live animals are not covered.

the gift thing means they don't have to send anything. If you pay for a live animals they have to at least send you a dead one. They can't send a box of rocks and say live animals aren't covered.

[John1982]

Every time you accept or send money via the gift option for an actual purchase you are defrauding paypal out of their rightful fees for the service they're providing.