I know there are lots of reasons to stop using Paypal and I have had some problems with them in the past - several years ago.

But since everyone uses them I've stuck with them over the last several years and have been problem-free. I've never had a disputed or reversed transaction and I buy and sell quite regularly using paypal to receive or send funds. I don't use paypal gift and they always get their 2.9% out of me.

Today I got this:

Starting 4/5/2012, money from payments you receive will be placed in a pending balance for up to 21 days. By doing this, we're making sure that there's enough money in your account to cover potential refunds or claims. Even though you can't access the money right away, please ship orders quickly and communicate with your customers. After 21 days, you can withdraw money from each payment as long as the customer hasn't filed a dispute, chargeback, claim, return, or reversal.

...and...

Why are my payments being held? We reviewed your account and determined that there's a relatively higher than average risk of future transaction issues (such as claims, or chargebacks, or payment reversals). We understand that it may be inconvenient to have your payments temporarily held but please know that we didn't make this decision lightly. Before deciding to hold payments, we consider many factors. These factors include account and transaction activity, the rate of customer disputes, the type of business a seller runs, average delivery timeframes, customer satisfaction, performance and history.

Again - I haven't had a problematic transaction in 6-8 years.

Goodbye paypal.

What are some other options for accepting payments? I have paypal and only used it several years ago to purchase a few things from eBay. I have only accepted one payment for something recently but am thinking of trying to sell other things. Just wondering what else is out there.

Sorry to hear that...
So, what payment system are you going to use now?

I've heard others complain of this same treatment and with few or no go-backs/issues. It seems incredibly unfair to me.

Really sorry to hear this ... did you send this email to them to confirm that it was from them and not some phishing scam or hacker??

Andy likes Dwolla.
http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=210634

Thanks for this heads up!

I rarely use eBay any more and have not used my PP acct for well over a year. Most of my transactions are cash (local), check (if the buyer will take and ship when it clears) or a USPS MO. The only real assurances anyone has these days are cash and in person... sad to say. You see the product, handle it and turn over cash if you're happy. Most everything else is a crap-shoot, hiding in the anonymity of the WWW.

Seems trust (in today's biz or buying/selling worlds) is a dying belief and fewer are trustworthy or trusting enough. Guess this is the society we are living in these days. Downhill in some regards and a steep uphill climb in others.

I have been happy with Amazon Payments. I won't use Paypal at all. I have sold here on DGrin via Amazon Payments. Essentially, you use your Amazon account, the same one you use to buy on Amazon, but instead of buying something on Amazon, you simply send money to another Amazon account. Credit cards work fine. The seller can cash out, getting a check from Amazon, or keeping a credit on Amazon for use buying something.

https://payments.amazon.com/sdui/sdui/personal/money

As far as I know there is no ability to dispute a payment, but there isn't anywhere else either, and IMHO, the dispute aspect of Paypal is the biggest area of abuse and trouble.

Oh and no cost to use it either.

Originally Posted by cmason I have been happy with Amazon Payments. I won't use Paypal at all. I have sold here on DGrin via Amazon Payments. Essentially, you use your Amazon account, the same one you use to buy on Amazon, but instead of buying something on Amazon, you simply send money to another Amazon account. Credit cards work fine. The seller can cash out, getting a check from Amazon, or keeping a credit on Amazon for use buying something. https://payments.amazon.com/sdui/sdui/personal/money As far as I know there is no ability to dispute a payment, but there isn't anywhere else either, and IMHO, the dispute aspect of Paypal is the biggest area of abuse and trouble. Oh and no cost to use it either.

Great info, thanks!

I'd gladly use Amazon or Dwolla over PP for selling online (if applicable anyway). Good to see other systems are taking some business from PP.

Recently attempted to "verify" a paypal account by linking it to my US savings account. Wanted the paypal account primarily for buying items in the US, so this made sense to me to avoid paying the banks exorbitent exchange fees. Wrong. If you're a Canadian you can't verify your paypal account with an account that's in US funds - even if the US account is with a Canadian bank.

Paypal is already gouging customers by providing what are essentially extremely low risk short term loans for 3% (or whatever it is they charge). If that isn't bad enough I'd have to tack on an additional 3% to every purchase to cover the exchange between Cdn and US currency.

No thanks.

Amazon payments, dwolla, square, money order, check - there are plenty of ways to do business other than Paypal. Unfortunately, it seems to be swimming against the tide when it comes to buying and selling online.

I do think it is quite unfortunate that PP is the only choice for ebay....but that is how they make money ...

Originally Posted by Art Scott I do think it is quite unfortunate that PP is the only choice for ebay....but that is how they make money ...

I believe ebay owns paypal, so this is not too surprising. No problems for me with them yet, but I've been reading lots of bad stories. Like how they eat kittens and smash violins.

One of those statements is probably a lie. Click here to see which one.

Next order of business is to look into that dwolla business.

Originally Posted by ThatCanonGuy Andy likes Dwolla. http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=210634

Dwolla is awesome. But then again, I've not had one single issue with Paypal in 9 years. I also use and love Square and Google Checkout.

I know some have had issues, but I have to put in a good word for my own experience with PP: the one and only bad eBay transaction I've had (not camera gear - it was actually for a sink faucet during our remodel) PP stepped up to the plate and refunded every cent as soon as they heard of the circumstances; I didn't even have to wait the usual period to get the money returned to me. FWIW.

I have never had a problem with PP, but I do like Google checkout too.

Originally Posted by jfslater98 I believe ebay owns paypal, so this is not too surprising. No problems for me with them yet, but I've been reading lots of bad stories. Like how they eat kittens and smash violins. One of those statements is probably a lie. Click here to see which one. Next order of business is to look into that dwolla business.

yes ebay owns pp and that is why all other options of payment has been taken off the shelf by ebay....and I like many others here have never had a prob with PP ... and i was using them shortly after they came on the scene .... well before ebay purchased them.

Dwolla??? hMMMM ....i'll have to check it out...Andy says they are good so they must be...

PayPal is a tool (bank) that preys on suckers (customers). I just love how someone who is broke (or worse: in debt), sells an item for the first time on eBay, gets money from the buyer, and then has to pay with a credit card to print a shipping label online because PayPal will not pay for the shipping until after it's confirmed that a label was paid for online (pseudo-confirming that the item was shipped).

Plan on selling more items on eBay and paying for shipping online? Then it's best to have a minimum PayPal balance on a regular basis to pay for possible shipping needs and letting PayPal earn interest on your balance (and the 21-day mandatory free loan) free of charge.

I only worry about the aggressive Craiglisters that want to buy my item asking for my name and PayPal account name and obviously with a reply will know my email address.

Should I worry if someone knows my name, email address and PayPal account name? Which is basically the same information someone can find after they've bought something from me on eBay.

When I see an Ebay item I want I send the seller a message like this: Hi, I want to bid on your camera but want to know if you will accept a USPS money order as payment. I don't use Paypal anymore.
Thanks in advance


I keep a record of these replies so I don't have to re-request again.
Nearly 99% say okay, most of them have a PP negative comment, seems Ebay requires them to only accept PP for payment...that way, they get their 'cut'.