Sadly, I was taken

Frankly, I never understand sellers who say "this is the price, plus you (the buyer) pays PayPal fees."  Why not simply build the fee into the selling price?...

Because people are victims of their own shortcomings when it comes to pricing.


https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/279464

Very sad to hear about this. Unfortunately, when you couple a high demand, low supply item, it brings out the worst in people.

I'd bet good $$ there's still people out there sending F&F payments for high dollar items...we can only do so much!

Yep and I've never understood that one.  Unless I know you REALLY well I ask to use goods and services and offer to pay the fees.  If they make excuses why they don't want to.....RED FLAG right there.

Frankly, I never understand sellers who say "this is the price, plus you (the buyer) pays PayPal fees."  Why not simply build the fee into the selling price?  Why even just psychologically put the onus on a buyer?  Just a pet peeve of mine as someone who has bought and sold tens of thousands of dollars worth of high-end audio stuff via BST thread in enthusiast forums.

It's like a listing I once saw on eBay for a Wolfman.  Asking price was like $1,200, which, totally cool with me.  But then seller said "+ $15 for shipping."  I mean, seriously?  you want $1,200 but can't adsorb minuscule (in relation to sale price)  shipping fee?  I won't even respond to sales posts with these kinds of terms.  YMMV

IMHO you are so absolutely right.

Frankly, I never understand sellers who say "this is the price, plus you (the buyer) pays PayPal fees."  Why not simply build the fee into the selling price?  Why even just psychologically put the onus on a buyer?  Just a pet peeve of mine as someone who has bought and sold tens of thousands of dollars worth of high-end audio stuff via BST thread in enthusiast forums.

It's like a listing I once saw on eBay for a Wolfman.  Asking price was like $1,200, which, totally cool with me.  But then seller said "+ $15 for shipping."  I mean, seriously?  you want $1,200 but can't adsorb minuscule (in relation to sale price)  shipping fee?  I won't even respond to sales posts with these kinds of terms.  YMMV

To answer your question, I've offered friends and family as an option to people when I know that maybe money is tight for them or when I know that they're looking for the very best possible price I can possibly give them.  I also give them the option of using Good and Services though, as I'm certainly not trying to scam anyone.  My reputation is worth quite a bit more to me than any expensive razor or brush.  So it comes down to if they are comfortable enough with me and my reputation, that they would risk the purchase price to avoid the fees.  I've had people buy $500 razors from me via F&F and it doesn't change what I do.  I send it tracked, insured and signature required because if it went missing it's still my problem regardless of how they paid me.  I gotta sleep at night.  

That being said I'm not shy about letting them know upfront that they are taking a risk in trusting me.  I'm certainly not trying to trick anyone in doing anything that they are uncomfortable with.  

For myself, I'll pay via Friends and Family with people that are close Friends or Family as well as select people on the forums that I know of through close friends and based on their name and reputation.  After being here for a while you kinda figure out who some of the more recognized players are and can better gauge the risk involved.  Other than that, if I want to buy something I'll do G&S as it's cheap insurance.    

Things like post count and time on the forum are no guarantee but can also help to possibly foresee someone coming that has bad intentions.

In terms of the shipping added to already expensive items it kinda rubs me the wrong way as well. Like when you buy a $350 brush and see an $8 shipping charge added. It's like "Really, you couldn't have covered that?"

I like the idea of a comment being posted on every BST post. Something like:
DFS guidelines:

#1 Timestamp picture with date, user name, and item(s) offered.
#2 No PayPal F&F, only PayPal G&S (or other accepted secure payment method).
#3 Please post the total price being charged, to include shipping and any fees.
#4 (Something else important that I'm forgetting?)

This could easily be an automated comment posted on any new BST posting. And I wouldn't expect the site moderators to try and enforce these guidelines. I think our community would self-regulate itself well enough (like it does already essentially).
Having this small SMALL list of DFS guidelines automatically posted would remind all our community members what is expected when buying, selling, and trading.

OP really sorry.

more generally, folks, please stop with the friends and family for people you dont know irl. you are using Paypal's service, even if you dont personally see the value in the buyer/seller protection, and really this is another case where it becomes obvious why we need that, you need to pay for the **** you use.

there is no free.

all of the justifications I've ever seen have been weak as ****. it's just a level of stingyness I cannot comprehend. paypal fees and taxes are like the tip at dinner; if you cant afford it then you can't afford the item itself. and if you think a few dollars is worth being in the wild west of internet trading, or allowing companies to ad track you, your priorities are really, really off.

OP really sorry.

more generally, folks, please stop with the friends and family for people you dont know irl. you are using Paypal's service, even if you dont personally see the value in the buyer/seller protection, and really this is another case where it becomes obvious why we need that, you need to pay for the **** you use.

there is no free.

all of the justifications I've ever seen have been weak as ****. it's just a level of stingyness I cannot comprehend. paypal fees and taxes are like the tip at dinner; if you cant afford it then you can't afford the item itself. and if you think a few dollars is worth being in the wild west of internet trading, or allowing companies to ad track you, your priorities are really, really off.

OK, so I'm not a big BST user or at all actually.  Ive either purchased new or purchased vintage items on eBay.  I've never sold anything so ultimate resale price of an item is never on my mind when I'm apprising the all in cost to me.  I suspect that there are many people who either always have an eye to resale or are buying with the intention to flip it asap.  It like the people who come to a garage sale looking for inventory for their garage sale (could be kijiji) - they will low ball you on a 50 cent item because they need to make a dime on it when they resell it.  If that's the case then the perceived savings of the F&F would be looked at as potential profit for them on resale and if you're doing this a lot, it adds up.  I'm just speculating here and don't get me wrong, I'm a genetic cheapskate and I don't want to pay more than I have to but there is the risk of being penny wise and pound foolish if you don't take reasonable precautions.

 PayPal has worked hard to mitigate counterparts risk in online transactions - that's the risk that either the buyer or the seller will fail to perform, default or otherwise rip off the counterparty.  Given that fact, people should avail themselves of the greatest protection reasonably possible even if it means paying a few extra bucks.

The best thing about new users having to wait 14 days before being able to buy anything thru BST.... is all the Money I'm saving by not being able to buy all the stuff I want to buy that's listed on BST!!