Why do some Sellers insist on Friends And Family PayPal Payment Mode ?

[DonC1]

Why not just adjust the asking price so the prospective buyer is protected in case things somehow go sideways and the seller still gets what they want after paying the required fees.
With the way things are it seems only a foolish person would send a PayPal payment under those terms to a person whom they do not know, even on this Website.
I would rather pay the additional small amount and have some form of recourse/relief if actually needed.
Tell me what you have to have upfront and I will either do business with you or I won’t.
Besides to me it just seems a tacky way of doing business but that’s just my personal opinion
Am I wrong ?

 

[Fireflyfishing]

You can always barter terms with the seller. If they don’t budge and you don’t like the terms, you can move on. I don’t like PP at all due to their anti-2A stance.

 

[Runwilderness]

For my recent sale, I listed the price for F&F. The buyer elected to pay the fee for added protection, paid, and I shipped the item. Everyone was happy.

Listing as F&F gives buyers and option. But it’s also a bit like sales tax. Of course retailers could include it in the price tag, but marketing psychology is going to motivate them to offer the actual price and make you do the math rather…especially for big ticket items where the sales tax adds up to $$.

I would, however, refuse to do business with anyone insisting on F&F only.

 

[CorbLand]

I know I am going to ship what you bought to you. Why would I pay a fee for your comfort? If you want that comfort, offer to pay the fee.

There is also the looming threat of the tax deal with PayPal. Friends and family gets you around that.

Buying and selling is two people agreeing on terms for the exchange. If one party doesn’t like the terms, they can negotiate or move on. Nobody has a gun to your head forcing you to buy or sell your item.

 

[Ferrulewax]

Taxes. I don't want to deal with having to prove a loss and all that crap. F&F only for me, I have good feedback and ship insured.

 

[180ls1]

I would rather

Some would rather not and pass on the savings or make a few extra bucks and accept the risk. Its that simple.

 

[Trial153]

I am pretty transparent, IF YOU want comfort security pay for it...thats what I do. Seems like some, not all buyers want to have their cake and want to eat it too....They want cheap prices from seller but they want retail experience as well....If that's what you want go pay retail.

 

[dieselchessy]

Id say F&F protects the seller. G&S protects the buyer.

If you sell something G&S and you ship it, then the buyer contests it and Paypal pulls the funds, then the Seller could be screwed with no real recourse.
If you sell something F&F you are pretty well protected from the buyer claiming the package never arrived.

The same applies for scams. If they sell F&F they don't have to send you anything and they have your money.

Paypal also doesn't do guns. So if G&S is used you cant list what it is.

Ive done it both ways, but I never moved money through Paypal that would hurt me if lost. Ive long since cancelled Paypal though.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

G&S can screw the seller royally. in the worst case scenario:

-the buyer files a missing item claim, and paypal automatically takes the money back from the seller. burden of proof shifts to the seller to prove the item was shipped to the buyer's address
-and the IRS decides to tax that paypal "income"

now the seller is out the item, the money, and is getting to pay tax on their "profit"

i will not sell G&S, way better to find someone local enough for a face to face deal to make sure I don't get hosed.

 

[Axlrod]

If you buy anything that PP deems "evil", you won't get the G&S protection anyway.

 

[displacedtexan]

I know I am going to ship what you bought to you. Why would I pay a fee for your comfort? If you want that comfort, offer to pay the fee.

There is also the looming threat of the tax deal with PayPal. Friends and family gets you around that.

Buying and selling is two people agreeing on terms for the exchange. If one party doesn’t like the terms, they can negotiate or move on. Nobody has a gun to your head forcing you to buy or sell your item.

One of my least favorite things to hear is "I had to buy____"

No one forced you to do anything. Find terms you deem acceptable on a product you find acceptable.

Or don't.

 

[Burnsie]

I always pay G&S regardless and add 3% for the fees. I'm covered and they get their full asking price. If I'm willing to buy a used item online for $100, I can afford to toss in 3 extra bucks, or $6 or $9...... I guess it could add up if you are trying to buy a $2000 rifle or other pricier items from someone, but I'm usually only buying clothing and camping gear..etc.

 

[KyleR1985]

Personally, I just like to think we’re capable of human decency, and I want being a member of the forum to count for something.

I’m not running a business. I’m “trading” hunting gear with hunting buddies at camp.

If a buyer wants extra protection, my general sense is they shouldn’t be buying whatever it is anyway. Don’t buy 100.00 items at half price on interwebs from strangers if you can’t afford for 1/10 to not meet your needs. Especially to the point of actually taking action against seller.

Of course this stops applying when you get into stuff that costs thousands of dollars. But then, why are you buying from complete internet stranger without more communication and risk reduction?


I begrudgingly accept payment when a buyer adds the fee. But I will, under no circumstances, accept my asking price, less the fee, on principle.

I want to live in a world where I can trust my hunting buddies. And yours.

 

[Burnsie]

How would PayPal make money if everyone used F&F. They'd just be a free money transfer service at that point.

 

[wind gypsy]

I usually list things as "Accept venmo or paypal Friends & Family or Buyer pays fees, open to other payment methods on a case by case basis" - that way the value i get is basically the same regardless of how buyer wants to pay. It's kind of like businesses that offer a cash discount, am i going to be mad at them for offering me a way to pay less with cash?

But since most of the stuff i sell is shooting related, paypal probably isn't helping anyone anyway.

 

[RockChukkar]

For my recent sale, I listed the price for F&F. The buyer elected to pay the fee for added protection, paid, and I shipped the item. Everyone was happy.

Listing as F&F gives buyers and option. But it’s also a bit like sales tax. Of course retailers could include it in the price tag, but marketing psychology is going to motivate them to offer the actual price and make you do the math rather…especially for big ticket items where the sales tax adds up to $$.

I would, however, refuse to do business with anyone insisting on F&F only.

Exactly.

 

[Dos Perros]

I'll cover the G&S services when I buy. F&F only is too likely to be a scam, would not do.

 

[Shortschaf]

I am one of those sellers, so I will explain my reason
For G&S to work, it requires the seller tie their SS number to the account so PP can do their tax withholdings per legislation.

For obvious reasons I will not be doing that. So any G&S payments I receive is simply frozen money in my account. PP does not let me touch it without an automatic withholding of 22% or something like that.

It costs me 1% of item cost to fully insure a shipment.
G&S costs 3%, and is subject to PP rules that are anti-gun to begin with

As an honest seller, I do only F&F because I know the buyer isn't going to be screwed. At the same time, as a buyer, if it is over a certain dollar amount I will only pay with G&S.

 

[Gseith]

I usually ask to use F&F to keep the price as low as I can so I don’t lose money and the buyer gets a better price.
Everyone buying and selling is just trying to get the most out of their money.
But I would increase the price if someone was totally against F&F, but I have never ran into that.

 

[Dos Perros]

For G&S to work, it requires the seller tie their SS number to the account so PP can do their tax withholdings per legislation.

I don't think this is entirely accurate. If you do tie your SS to the account you can avoid the tax witholding. The 24% is only for accounts that haven't been tied to a SS.