Thread: Paypal "gift" changes

I don't usually send payments as a gift, so I don't know if this is an old change or a new one, but it looks like paypal now charges a fee to send money as a gift as well. With this in mind, I find it baffling that folks would continue to request it. I guess the one advantage is that you know how much of what you are paying is going to be a paypal fee, and you can choose whether the sender or reciever pays it. Just wanted to make sure folks know, I *really* don't see the point of sending it as a gift & would like it if folks stopped requesting this. Seriously, I'm happy to tack on a buck or two for fees if it means my purchase is protected, and now even that is a moot point.

I've always assumed the fees were lower if the sender paid them when sending as a gift, than if the recipient paid on reciept.

there is another button to use that doesn't charge any fees.

Personally, I won't send as a gift, and I have passed on quite a few purchases on Bhuz when I have been requested to send it as one. There is absolutely NO protection when sending money as a gift- the seller can decide not to send your stuff, and there is nothing you can do. Nothing- it was a gift, your money is gone.

Now, I know that the vast majority of Bhuzzers buy and sell on Bhuz without a problem. However, there have been more problems lately, and nearly all of them say "I sent it as a gift."

I will happily pay a couple of bucks more, if it means that I have protection. What if they decide not to send it? What if it comes and the measurements were wrong (this has happened to me- the seller assured me that it would fit a 36D, and it was a perfect fit for my student- a 34B!!!). What happens if it's damaged? You're out of luck.

Someone asks for me to pay as a gift = dealbreaker
I'd rather pay the fee.

Originally Posted by amarasdance

Personally, I won't send as a gift, and I have passed on quite a few purchases on Bhuz when I have been requested to send it as one...

Someone asks for me to pay as a gift = dealbreaker
I'd rather pay the fee.

Usually, I'd rather pay the fee too, and I just tell them I will cover extra fees if they calculate it in, and everyone I've asked has quite willingly obliged. This one instance, it was a small amount for someone I've dealt with happily before and I didn't want to go through the hassle of asking for a new total. If they refuse to take anything other than a gift, I can see that as a deal breaker, but when in doubt, just ask. I think a lot of sellers just assume folks won't pay that little extra for paypal fees. Personally, if I sell something, paypal fees and insurance for shipping are included in my asking price.

Originally Posted by Lara L

Usually, I'd rather pay the fee too, and I just tell them I will cover extra fees if they calculate it in, and everyone I've asked has quite willingly obliged. This one instance, it was a small amount for someone I've dealt with happily before and I didn't want to go through the hassle of asking for a new total. If they refuse to take anything other than a gift, I can see that as a deal breaker, but when in doubt, just ask. I think a lot of sellers just assume folks won't pay that little extra for paypal fees. Personally, if I sell something, paypal fees and insurance for shipping are included in my asking price.

That's a good point- I have asked a couple of times, and it's always been fine. There are Paypal fee calculators online- this is the one I usually use:

PayPal Fee Calculator by Ryan Olbe

That makes it easy. I just find it presumptuous when people say "Paypal, gift option only", because that's fine for them- they get their money, but the buyer may not have any idea that they are giving away their rights.

Plus, gifts aren't tax deductible; expenses are.

I would rather pay a little extra just to assure that I get my items too. I know that the fees are annoying, but I’m usually getting a better deal when I buy stuff online instead of in person – if I can even find what I want in real life!

I know on the receiving end, as a seller, I actually prefer receiving it as a payment rather than a gift. When it's sent as payment, the buyer's mailing address is included & it's easy to print the shipping label right from Paypal. But I've noticed that if it's sent as a gift, even if the buyer includes her mailing info in the message, Paypal doesn't offer a "print shipping label" option on gift transactions, so I have to actually try to make it to the post office during regular hours & pay cash, negating the "convenience" of waiving the Paypal fees.

I have never understood why sellers on the swap don't simply calculate the paypal fees into their asking price. I have once been asked to pay the additional fees - paypal, packaging, shipping. Now I had anticipated the shipping - $15 flat rate box including insurance, but the additional $40 for everything else almost killed the deal. I won't ever do business with that seller again.

If the seller takes checks or MO's, they can always offer a discount to the buyer as a bonus for not having to cover the paypal fees.

{{{HUGS}}}

Paypal has changed procedure a few times - but I am under the impression that it against the paypal agreement to ask the buyer for the fees; that the seller should be building that into the pricing.

Originally Posted by LiesaB.

Paypal has changed procedure a few times - but I am under the impression that it against the paypal agreement to ask the buyer for the fees; that the seller should be building that into the pricing.

When I started taking credit cards, it was explained to me that it is *illegal* to charge more to accept credit cards. So, yes, that would include paypal fees. I don't know anyone that ever actually stopped from doing so, and I also don't know how much the law has changed over the last 10 years as both the industry and the gov't/consumer response to credit cards & credit card law has fluctuated.