Came upon an E-Bay listing by "York's Largest Lionel Dealer". Interesting......The listing stresses "No Paypal"........Some of us used to make payments for purchases with money orders and checks. Then, E-Bay convinced us to swing over to PayPal for ease and buyer protection. The seller has had over 16,000 E-Bay transactions with a 97% favorable feedback.
If you, as I do, use E-Bay for your train purchases, would the "No PayPal" sway your purchase decision? As always, many thanks.
PS. Please don't give an opinion of the "seller", just a generic response.
I buy Lionel quite frequently on ebay. First, a 97% favorable rating is not particularly good. I'd review the sellers feedback history closely before making a purchase. Second, if a seller says no paypal, I look elsewhere as for me it's a warning sign of a potential unhappy buying experience.
Unless it could not be found elsewhere I would just move on. Not that Paypal is all that great in the first place and far from bullet proof... But that is my preferred method of payment on Ebay.
When E-bay began promoting Paypal, I noticed a lot of horror stories about it; so I have avoided it. The few things I have bought on E-bay since then were from sellers who accepted other forms of payment.
Bob Nelson
Bob Keller
I skip the no-Paypal ones as well. I have even passed up some potentially good buys because of it too. I just prefer the added security.
Joe
I agree on not buying from the no-paypal one's but I can also see why some say it as Ebay/paypal has made it very hard on the seller I know.
If you sell an item and after the buyer gets it he can make you refund the original amount including shipping if he doesn't want it. So you sold an item on good faith and next thing you know you get it back and they deduct the whole amount you received so now your out about 15- 30 for shipping depending on how big the item is and you did it right.
now I know they had to because some were selling junk and then doing no refund and would either show a good side only or show a good example then send you a crummy one. So it boils down to a few bad ones ruin it for the rest.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
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I actually like the convience of PayPal. A couple clicks of the mouse and the order is complete. Never had to test the PayPal system for a complaint or refund but so far with about a hundred purchases through PayPal, not a single hiccup.
Bill T.
Does being "York's Largest Lionel Dealer" carry any weight?
This ones easy: no PayPal no sale. Yorks largest Lionel dealer. and who can claim that, is losing sales.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
Under the latest rules I had thought that it was required of all sellers that "PayPal" be offered.
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Read the negative feedback that was received. I look to see if there is a trend. Sometimes you can tell if there was really an issue or just a buyer who no one could ever make happy.
As far as Paypal is concerned, ebay and Paypal combined take a huge cut of the profits and it seems like they keep raising it. Since they are both linked together under the same financial roof as each other, ebay makes money off of Paypal transactions as well which is why they try to mandate it's use. Technically you aren't supposed to say that you don't take it but through careful wording it gets past the filters that look for a listing that says not to use it. Not everything gets flagged though and sometimes the obvious do get overlooked.
Paypal does charge a fee but then again so does any other credit card that may be used. Paypal charges a percentage of the price after a certain dollar amount is hit whereas a credit card company may charge the seller a set fee per transaction plus a monthly fee. For larger dollar amounts in larger volumes it would make more sense to accept credit cards but for smaller numbers of transactions Paypal may be more beneficial. I find it perfectly acceptable for a business not to accept Paypal. They don't take it when you walk into a local store yourself and before the days of Paypal and the internet, good old mail order was done with even less secure means and everyone paid it just fine. It's silly to overlook a business for not using it. Look at their feedback but don't get mad at them for not taking Paypal. Be mad at Paypal for charging so much per transaction. I wouldn't even find it unreasonable for a seller to add an extra charge for Paypal use. Then again I think they should do that for American Express and Discover users too as the bottom line profit is all that matters and good old cash is always an option without added fees or expenses. Having been on the other side of the counter I can see their side.
As a buyer, I've never has any trouble with Paypal.. Then again, I've never had any trouble without it. I do check the feedback profile, especially for non-Paypal sellers.
From a seller with a 97%, I would not buy anything that I was not willing to take a loss on. Same with anyone who stresses that items are sold "as is".
PayPal has always worked for me, not just on E-Bay. Many, many, on-line merchants give you the choice of paying for your item with PayPal or other credit cards.
With PayPal, you click the "PayPal" box, enter your password, and in my case, I can have the payment "drafted" instantly from my Checking Account, or I can use my Visa or Mastercard, all three are setup, I choose which one to use and can always track the payment on-line and who it went to.
Of course they would like you to open a Credit Card account with them, I didn't.
Don U. TCA 73-5735
The Largest York Dealer might just as well be The York Fair Grounds.
Twice a year the TCA Members take over the city with a Train Show that fills all 8 halls, 1,100 member tables and 250 dealer booths, with14,000 member attendence.
Next 3 day meet, October 14th, 15th, & 16th
" would the "No PayPal" sway your purchase decision?"
... as a matter of fact, that is the only type of seller I am willing to bid on! This way my risk is limited to a USPO MO , or I'm making direct payment through the seller's B&M storefront! As far as I am concerned PayPal is a security/credit card/account risk waiting to happen & when it does it will rock the internet world! So go ahead ... keep telling (selling) me that the interlocking PayPal computer systems will be bulletproof ... forever!
(P.S. the largest seller of 3rail trains via EBay accepts alternative payments to Paypal, has an enviable reputation for customer service, stands "Tall in the Orange Hall" at a minor, non product kiosk & offers only free ball point pens, ID cases & candy during TCA/York)
Thanks for all your replies.
ALL computers have problems, you can make a living fixing them. The computer you are using right now gets Security Updates weekly.
BUT
Do you think the "Brick & Mortor" store's computer and security is better than PayPal? Do you know and trust his employees? Do you trust them with your Credit Card or Check?
Interesting stuff and good advice. Never had a problem where paypal protection had to be invoked because when there was a problem the seller always made good......to keep their satisfaction rating high. I feel the piece of mind is worth the price.
I also check the negative and nuetral feedback to see if one person is skewing the seller's satisfaction rate.
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
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