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PAYPAL ONLY?

(originally posted on the 12th of January 2008)

Now we're constantly told that ebay and paypal are not the same company, and that they're two seperate companies. However, those that keep telling us this are, of course, ebay and paypal. Everyone else knows that they are one in the same.

Both buyers and sellers have their problems with paypal. It is one of the worst financial services there is. In fact, it's practices stretch beyond the legitimate (the numerous court cases from victimized paypal customers backs this up). Not to mention that when the heat is turned up on them, ebay and paypal move their banking services and base them in another country where the rules are slightly more relaxed. It's a tactic commonly used by criminal organisations. But each time they do this they limit the places they can be based, until they end up where all dirty money ends up - in a south american or russian bank.

Like ebay, they are a law unto themsleves. They are right, all the time, and everyone else is wrong. This is part and parcel of their notoriously impersonal, automated system that treats all of it's customers with equal contempt.

What with ridiculous user agreements, unfair chargebacks, unauthorised payments, account freezing and charging their customers every which way they can think of, it's no wonder that this ebay financial "service" has come under fire for the grief it's caused. If you've never had any problems with paypal, and you can't understand why there's so much "paypal hate" around, you're either a new customer, or you've been very, very lucky so far! Sooner or later you will fall victim to it in, and if your business relies on paypal, it can be utterly devastating! There are an ever increasing number of horror stories involving account holders who've been unfairly treated by paypal. If you're considering signing up to a paypal acount to buy, or sell on ebay, then you should at least take a look at the following website before making your decision:

www.paypalsucks.com

If you really must use paypal, then always offer other methods of payment, even if these are just cheques or postal orders. NEVER EVER have paypal solely as a payment option, and DO NOT make it your "prefered" method of payment on ebay, as this does put-off potential bidders who don't have paypal accounts. If you want to bid on an item that only offers paypal, then send the seller a message and ask them if they'll accept another method. Provided they're comfortable with it, they should say yes, as they'd be foolish to turn away any potential bidder.

To be honest, I treat buyers who pay with cheques or postal orders far better than I do those who pay with paypal. Mainly because paypal can't take it's cut from such payments, so these buyers get preferential treatment from me. What's more, if a buyer sends cash, then I'll treat them like fucking royalty! Making sure that they get the best service. Sometimes, I'll even send them an extra free gift with their item. I mean, you want customers like that to always return, don't you?

But you may have noticed that ebay are trying to stealthily introduce "paypal only" for more and more listing categories. They're using the excuse that it's to protect buyers on items like mobile phones, laptops, software, etc... However, it's obvious to anyone who can stand on their hind legs, that the reason they're doing this is so they can get their two cuts from each item sold (ebay and paypal fees), which doesn't always happen when listings offer other payment methods. This is a blatant financial monopolising tactic, and nothing to do with protecting buyers. It's unfair to it's sellers and probably illegal under various national trading laws.

They're simply using the same idea that's used by governments who implement restrictive laws on their populace under the guise of this vague "war on terror." In ebay's case, it's an equally vague "war on scam sellers" which they're overplaying, and benefiting from, in much the same way.

So it's safe to say that ebay will most certainly target other popular listing categories with this sneaky move, and if you didn't realise they were doing it - you do now.