posted on January 21, 2001 07:54:52 PM new
I'm an eBay seller and buyer. Just won a CD auction a few days ago. The seller sent me a WBN yesterday that included this tasty little by-the-way:
"Additional PAYPAL transaction fee applies."
Of course this wasn't posted in his auction and of course I am not paying such a transaction fee. The nerve!
posted on January 21, 2001 09:37:54 PM new
send a CC to paypal too...as far as I can tell from their oft changing TOS, this is against PP rules also.
JMHO
Keith
I assume full responsibility for my actions, except
the ones that are someone else's fault.
spellink
[ edited by ubiedaman on Jan 21, 2001 09:39 PM ]
posted on January 22, 2001 06:29:18 AM new
Please post a link (or quote) to any rule (eBay or PayPal) or law (federal or state) a PayPal surcharge violates.
posted on January 22, 2001 07:58:00 AM new
It does violate CA state law to charge extra for using a cc. I don't know if this applies to paypal if the money is being withdrawn from a bank account but it cerainly applies when using your cc. I DO know that right or wrong, ebay will give a seller 24 hrs to remove any wording that lists a fee for using paypal and if the seller doesn't, ebay will close the auction.
posted on January 22, 2001 08:13:50 AM new
Yes, the LAW is gray in this area, BUT Ebay states it is not allowed. It is THEIR site, and they make the rules. That seller WILL be warned and auctions ended if they continue it.
Now, they CAN offer a discount for cash, money orders or checks. No rule against that.
posted on January 22, 2001 09:48:57 AM new
So does that mean sellers can not add a charge for the buyer for using PayPal? I was surprised to see an auction that wanted an additional 50c for using PayPal. Can you refuse to pay it?
posted on January 22, 2001 10:27:56 AM new
If you buy a car and they deliver it with an extra charge not stipulated in the already signed contract, would you pay the extra money? I think not.
If a seller does not say in the auction *while the auction is still live* that a PayPal transaction fee will apply, you are not legally bound to pay that transaction fee. And even if they seller does add one of these to the auction, they are also not complying with eBay's Rules, as another person pointed out in this thread.
posted on January 22, 2001 11:34:56 AM new
Since the PP fee is not a credit card fee, it is not illegal. However, it is against ebay rules. And charging ANY fee that is not stated in the TOS is against the rules. So I would email the seller and tell him I am not paying any extra fees and if he insists on collecting these fees, I will report it to ebay who will close is auctions. THen make sure you pay by CC in case he is stupid enough to wait until you make payment and then demand more. You can then tell him that since you paid by CC, if you dont get your merchandise, you will charge it back, which will get his PP account (and yours) restricted. But you can also send his extortion email to ebay which will suspend him. It's all a matter of how far you want to take it.
