Paypal Protection only in the US?

[olbertfrog]

Hello,
a question for my friends from USA.
I want to buy from a board member a very expensive figure and he said he will only accept gift payment because regular payment protect him only in USA...

I sold many stuff international and as long as i used a shipping method with tracking proving that i actually shipped the stuff Paypal said i was safe (over a certain ammount of money i do need to use a return receipt too).

So is it different in the USA or is he BSing me?

Thanks

 

[NCC-1701 no bloody ABCorD]

Hello,
a question for my friends from USA.
I want to buy from a board member a very expensive figure and he said he will only accept gift payment because regular payment protect him only in USA...

I sold many stuff international and as long as i used a shipping method with tracking proving that i actually shipped the stuff Paypal said i was safe (over a certain ammount of money i do need to use a return receipt too).

So is it different in the USA or is he BSing me?

Thanks

I'm a long time Ebay seller and buyer and a Premiere PayPal member, but I don't know much about the "Gift Payment" option. I never use it. I would not do it, if I were you, especially for an expensive piece. I don't think the buyer has any recourse if the seller doesn't follow through with shipping. From what I can gather, there are a lot of people who get scammed:

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1175706

 

[UltraMarknus]

It's BS. Run from that seller.

 

[ebor]

ugh, the dreaded "Gift option" questions never cease...

don't do it unless you have dealt with the person before, or better yet, just don't do it. Is 3% worth the risk?

 

[VS1976]

Don't do it. If you really want that figure, pay the 4% PayPal fee. Never send money as a gift no matter how well you think you know the guy or how good the deal is. Your going to get burn big time! When u send money as a gift, you lose all rights for protection against fraud etc. Kiss your hard earn money good bye

 

[ebor]

Don't do it. If you really want that figure, pay the 4% PayPal fee. Never send money as a gift no matter how well you think you know the guy or how good the deal is. Your going to get burn big time! When u send money as a gift, you lose all rights for protection against fraud etc.

I can't math

 

[toylion]

Anyone that lies to you like that, I wouldn't buy from period, Paypal or not. Buyer beware.

 

[VS1976]

I can't math

Errrr..... 4% translates.....

For every $100 x 1.04 = $104.00.

That means you pay $4 for every $100.

 

[mr.thrifty]

Don't do it. If you really want that figure, pay the 4% PayPal fee. Never send money as a gift no matter how well you think you know the guy or how good the deal is. Your going to get burn big time! When u send money as a gift, you lose all rights for protection against fraud etc. Kiss your hard earn money good bye

Whatever... Blanket statements are Poo.....

 

[VS1976]

Whatever... Blanket statements are Poo.....

Errrr okay send money as gift and play Russian roulette with your money.

 

[mr.thrifty]

Errrr okay send money as gift and play Russian roulette with your money.

 

[devilof76]

 

[jkno]

I can't math

Paypal calculator

 

[medicomsucks]

I have a friend who works for Paypal's fraud department and the assumption is correct, you are not protected much when you deal with international sellers. It may be different now, but in previous years you were covered up $200 on sales. However there really is no way for Paypal to go after a seller that isn't based in the US.

Paypal will eat a small cost to compensate you should the deal go wrong, but not for thousands of dollars.

 

[karamazov80]

I have a friend who works for Paypal's fraud department and the assumption is correct, you are not protected much when you deal with international sellers. It may be different now, but in previous years you were covered up $200 on sales. However there really is no way for Paypal to go after a seller that isn't based in the US.

Paypal will eat a small cost to compensate you should the deal go wrong, but not for thousands of dollars.

This kind of thing has actually led to my not selling much outside the U.S., despite me losing out on some serious money I could make doing so. Paypal's policies aren't as straightforward here, and I'm not sure how well I am protected if things go missing in the mail of if the buyer is dishonest. Even with tracking and insurance, you might not be completely covered from Paypal's POV, and I've heard horror stories of how difficult it is to get reimbursed from USPS for insurance related to international packages.

I've personally had bad experiences with foreign post offices that took forever to get an item where they were supposed to go or lost them. Much moreso than my experiences domestically. So, that's a genuine concern.

So, I can actually understand where the seller is coming from. Due to all those uncertainties, he/she doesn't want to be held accountable for anything going wrong. But still, as a buyer, I wouldn't go that route if I were the OP. Too risky.

 

[SwedishHeat]

I THINK what the buyer is saying is that in order to be covered by PayPal's Seller Protection you have to have signature confirmation, and USPS doesn't offer that service for international shipments. So, in effect, if he ships you the item, he has no way of being protected in case you claim it never arrives.

If you want to pay the $300 or so for FedEx international service that has signature confirmation, then that's another option.

 

[SnakeDoctor]

Sounds like a scam. Better than 50/50 you're gonna get screwed.

SnakeDoc

 

[hehateme23]

I THINK what the buyer is saying is that in order to be covered by PayPal's Seller Protection you have to have signature confirmation, and USPS doesn't offer that service for international shipments. So, in effect, if he ships you the item, he has no way of being protected in case you claim it never arrives.

If you want to pay the $300 or so for FedEx international service that has signature confirmation, then that's another option.

agreed here. He wants to be covered and the only way he can cover himself is if payment is sent via paypal gift. The other option would be for you (the buyer) to pay for Express Mail or w/e the most expensive shipping option is that includes tracking and signature confirmation. I believe that is where he is coming from.

 

[olbertfrog]

Thanks guys.
I may have not been clear but i'm aware of the risks with the gift payment and i never use it (save for peoples i know of course).

My question was about the seller's protection the seloer told me about.
When he says that he's not protected with regular paypal payment outside of USA border.
Like i said when i sold stuff as long as i have it registered or with proof of receipt for stuff over 250 usd i'm covered in the USA it doesnt seem to be any different...

Well now i know that what he said is BS.
Thanks.

 

[olbertfrog]

I THINK what the buyer is saying is that in order to be covered by PayPal's Seller Protection you have to have signature confirmation, and USPS doesn't offer that service for international shipments.

Of course USPS does offer signature confirmation.
Like in every country you can add to any registred mai (international or not) the return receipt.

From usps FAQs
https://www.usps.com/ship/insurance-and-extra-services.htm

Return Receipt
Get proof of delivery with International Return Receipt service. Return receipts are available for registered items or insured parcels.