I've read too much bad press about paypal and most of the problems have been with international transactions and the freezing of the merchant's entire account by paypal.
Unfortunately, paypal is operating as a financial institution that does not fall under any of the state or federal consumer protections of other financial institutions, nor does their impossibly lengthy contract which is designed to protect paypal, not you. Paypal is also designed to circumvent any protections you would have with a credit card used on paypal.
I, personally, am not willing to agree to paypal's terms as a buyer or seller.
Robert......
I can sympathize with your sentiment......I once felt exactly the same way.
I use ebay quite a bit to buy used merchandise from private parties, lathe tools, wood, electronics.....etc,etc,etc. I went for a long time purchasing money orders, waiting periods for personal checks to clear (for those few who would take them), purchasing cashier's checks, giving credit card numbers over the phone, and so forth. What a royal hassle!
I've been a paypal user for the better part of the last ten years, and what a troublefree experience it has been! You can instantly pay for almost any ebay item, and get immediate shipment. No checks, stamps, vehicle trips, bills, accounting,.......what a terrific convenience it is. Deductions from your checking account, debit or credit card.
Did you know Woodcraft now accepts paypal? Yep, and this is a trend we are likely to see in the future. I'd rather use paypal than a regular credit card, because there's nothing in the transaction that can be stolen and used by thieves......and no credit card bill, if you choose bank deductions. Matter of fact, it's the most secure way of transferring funds online.
I know of few contractual agreements online that aren't designed for the primary purpose of protecting the business interests of the company involved.......that's what they are for!
The only time I was disappointed with paypal is when I wanted to discuss an issue with a "real" person.......this is like pulling teeth! An issue does come up once in awhile, but you can submit comments and questions to the customer service department. They have always resolved issues to my satisfaction.
Like I said, I understand your feelings about this.......but, your comment just begs for a response from someone who (now) feels differently than you do.
I both buy and sell items on ebay.
ooc