Originally posted by woof My understanding is that no buyer protection attaches when you send "gift/personal" payments. Based on that alone I'd insist on paying the fees if it is not already built into the price. I actually take posts stating gift only option as potential red flags.
That said, it is a put off to see a posted price "plus 3%." If I have a choice I'll go with the seller who states the price in full. I take it as an indication of maturity and common sense and a potential sign that the business will be done.. well... like business... which is what I am after.
I agree with you on both point.
When money is sent via "gift/personal" payment the buyer has no protection at all and is counting on the seller to fairly complete the transaction and take care of any issues should they arise. It's no different than sending a check or money order in the sense that once you send it, the money is effectively gone and you have no real recourse from that point forward.
As a buyer, I almost never send a gift payment unless I know the person I am dealing with.
I also agree that a seller who
requires a gift payment is not someone who I would choose to buy from. I am also put off by the "add 3%" line, but truth be told if it's something I want and the price with the 3% is still a good buy, I probably won't walk away just because it irritates me.
That said,
as a seller, while I wouldn't require nor request one, I have no issues with a buyer paying me via personal payment because as it doesn't open me up to any risk (in terms of the transaction and potentially losing money). I also have no issues from the buyer's perspective either because I know that I am going to keep up my end of the transaction (as the seller) and take care of any issues the buyer may have regardless of whether it was a regular or gift payment. Bottom line, if a buyer is willing to take the "risk" of conducting a trasnaction with me without paypal's protection based on my reputation or because they know me personally, then I certainly have no issue with it either.