It’s a pet peeve I admit, but it gripes me when sellers on this board and elsewhere expect potential buyers to add a certain percentage to cover the seller’s Paypal fees. Doing so is clearly a violation of Paypal policy. Some sellers try this unethical ploy even when stating they prefer to use Paypal. My advice is to ignore these sellers completely. If they’ll openly violate Paypal policy, how can you trust them at all? :shock:
Sheesh… rant over.
Will
Will,
Personally, I have never run into that. There should never be an “add-on” after the sale. I would contact Ebay & PayPal & void the sale…clearly not the advertised price.
Mike
I believe the add on is added up front …at least the one’s I’ve seen…and I’m assuming, Will, that’s what you are referring to…and it’s against policy?
It is discrimination. It would be the same as going to a store and being told the price is more if you are paying with a credit or debit card.
The seller pays a fee to make sure they get payment, and to promote sales because payment is easier for the buyer.
This is a wrong and unethical business practice and all sellers that even try to do it should not be dealt with.
This is just my 2 cents.
As a seller I think paypal charges too much sometimes.
“It would be the same as going to a store and being told the price is more if you are paying with a credit or debit card.”
I’ve had that happen to me too 
Ive had that happen to me as well …usually the store will say sorry ten dollar minimum. The thing is the credit card companies charge the store for each purchase even thought they make a killing on the % and late charges.go figure
If a seller is upfront in the auction about the charge “fine” oh course ill go to another seller but to surprise a buyer with thats is wrong.
Even though it is an accepted practice, minimums can not be enforced. If you only have a CC to pay with, the establishment must take your payment if they take that form of payment.
Didn’t know that…thanks…
I’ll keep this going…just got through a few minutes ago making two separate purchases through PayPal…very very smooth and efficient…now the sellers know they’re ok… and I’ll get my stuff in a timely fashion…
However if there had been a surcharge …no matter how good the deal…I wouldn’t have done it…
As a seller my fees are included in the shipping and handling charge. Nothing unethical or illegial about it and I make sure it is posted on the item I am selling. There are those who add the fees after you purchase the item. They usuall do not have a good feedback record and I would never deal with them anyway. Just my .02 cents
Since those charges are for everyone, there is nothing wrong with that. It is wrong to charge two buyers different prices for the same product based solely upon their payment type.
I don’t think there is anything unlawful about refusing an order. Most merchants have signs that state we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
I have seen some shops that offer a discount if you are paying cash. that is in effect that same thing as charging more for using a credit card, it’s just worded differently and is perfectly legal.
Rusty <><
It is worded differently.
But saying the same thing a different way is not always legal.
It is a case or being more trouble than it is worth for the customer. It is easier to buy somewhere else than press charges. You can refuse to sell something to someone. But if you charge that person a higher price than another, that is illegal. And you cannot charge differently dependant on payment type. This is the case no matter how many signs are posted.
A signed contract can not make something illegal, legal.
Ethics aside, is it illegal to charge a different price based on payment method? What about the variance in cash/credit prices seen at gas stations in the past? Was this practice proven unlawful (“discrimination”) and that is the reason I don’t see the “cash price, credit price” posted anymore? (I have never used a “gas card” and don’t know much about them.) :?
I think as we have evolved (probably the wrong choice of wording :shock: ) into a credit society, we have assumed a fair expectaion that we pay the same price no matter how we pay. In the regular course of ongoing business, it only makes sense to charge the same price for all payment methods. I think most people will view a surcharge as a negative, thereby decreasing potential repeat business.
The original post mentions nothing about paypal transactions specifically for auction (ebay) purchases. Like harleybob does, I think most saavy ebay sellers will anticipate paypal as a choice of payment and will account for these fees in the price of the item or in the shipping/handling fees. As for paypal transactions in general, I am not aware of (nor do I believe there is) anything in paypal’s policy that restricts or prohibits a seller from receiving additional funds to cover the transaction fees. Perhaps a member here can give a source for such a restriction.
In its policy, ebay (and perhaps other online auctioneers) does prohibit such additional charges to cover paypal transactions. This seems expected, with respect to who owns paypal. In all fairness, Ebay does prohibit any surcharge or discount based upon payment method, though I can’t help but believe the policy’s primary purpose is to encourage paypal transactions.
Paypal does make purchasing faster and more impulsive, both of which are advantages to the seller. But the buyer also gets the ease of payment, the ability to use a charge card, and more protection than the seller receives under paypal’s policy. In addition, the seller is responsible for paying the transaction fees. With that considered, perhaps it is reasonable that the buyer absorbs some of the fees on the “non-auction” sales seen on various boards. Maybe…maybe not.
greyfox, I’m not making light of your frustration. At the very least, there should be no “surprises” in a transaction. I’m just thinking outloud.
It kinda reminds me of the local bait shop …I dropped in to get my fishing license and got a few buck worth of hooks . She tells me there a $1 extra charge if I use my credit card because they don’t make any $$ on selling license. I give her the extra $1 but I’m not happy about it after thinking of all the extra crap Ive purchased there with cash over the years.
As for protection of purchase with paypal…yeah right …I got taken for $40 2 years ago and did everything by the book …paypal was no help and basicly told me tough luck.
Its easy to steal with paypal/ebay …just get your money from buyers then close/empty the account and any checking account tied to it and you have gotten away with it.Ebay /paypal don’t admit to it but it still happens alot.
You’re going to pay Paypal fees one way or the other.
Sometimes you see them. And sometimes you don’t.
"You’re going to pay Paypal fees one way or the other.
Sometimes you see them. And sometimes you don’t."
yep, either the seller tells you up front you’ll pay the fees or it is included in the sale price of the item. as other’s have stated, paypal is not just for sellers in my opinion. no run to the post office or bank for a money order on the buyers end. if the seller is good, he’ll ship quicker as well.