Consulting the PayPal Oracle

[Nanohedron]

I know this used to be discussed a while back. I recall there being issues with it, but IIRC these had largely been ironed out; nevertheless I've remained leery and have avoided using it. Now I'm interested in making an on-line purchase, and PayPal appears to be the only option open to me.

So on to my questions: How involved is the PayPal process? What does it entail on my end? Should I still be leery of it? Are there questions that I have not thought to ask? Handholding will be greatly appreciated. TIA.

[Denny]

I've used it for years, both send and receive, with no problems.

Are you asking about the setup process?

[Nanohedron]

Yep.

[benhall.1]

I just recently set myself up with a PayPal account, having been "leery" of it for years. When I did it, I was amazed at how easy it was to set up, how reassuring the process was, and how easy it is to manage now that I have a PayPal account. I can't understand now why I didn't do it years ago.

Oh, and for a lot of what I've used it for so far, it's been completely free - for me, at least. And good rates of exchange. I'm impressed, to be honest.

[Innocent Bystander]

Getting three new credit-cards in as many months meant I forgot to update PayPal and effectively disabled my account. It was a little inconvenient. Once I realised what had gone wrong it was easy enough to put right.

[emmline]

Geesh Nano, you're my mother. I have to order stuff for her, and she reimburses me because she's afraid of the net. Wait...do you have a microwave?

[Nanohedron]

Wait...do you have a microwave?

Yes! Hardly ever use it, though.

[brewerpaul]

I use it frequently both for buying and selling. I especially like it for selling my whistles internationally. They handle the currency conversion and they don't charge a huge fee like my bank does for depositing international checks or money orders. For the convenience and safety their user's fee is pretty reasonable. I haven't had a single problem yet.

[MikeS]

Here's one thing I would recommend. Ask your bank if it would be possible to set up an additional checking account. In my case it did not cost me anything. I have this checking account linked to my PayPal account. Before I make a purchase I just go to an ATM and transfer money in from one of my other accounts.

If you look at the PayPal agreement, there are circumstances where they can take money from your account to settle disputes. If there is pretty much nothing in the account you are protected until you can at least tell your side of the story.

On the whole I have been very pleased with PayPal. As others have said, their fees are reasonable and the whole process is secure and relatively painless. In particular it has made international transactions possible for me that I would never have considered before. Just go to your bank sometime and try to set up an international wire transfer if you want a lesson in pain and frustration.

[mutepointe]

My wife warns me never to open the e mail that we get that looks like it's from PayPal because it's not really from PayPal but some bogus fraud company. That's all I know.

[MikeS]

My wife warns me never to open the e mail that we get that looks like it's from PayPal because it's not really from PayPal but some bogus fraud company. That's all I know.

Good point. I may be overly paranoid but here's how I get into PayPal. I always first go to eBay, sign in, and go to the "My eBay" page. That way I can tell, from the stuff on my watch list, that I'm really where I think I am. I then use the PayPal link from that page to log in. I tell myself that just because I'm paranoid it doesn't mean there aren't people out to get me.

[Redwolf]

I also use an auxiliary account for PayPal. I've never had any trouble with it, but that gives me a layer of protection, just in case. My bank set it up for me for free. I also use that account when I'm traveling, so my husband doesn't have to worry about money coming out of the primary account.

Set up was easy, as is use.

Redwolf

[Denny]

I may be overly paranoid

yeah, I'd give ya that

https://www.paypal.com

note the https

[Denny]

My wife warns me never to open the e mail that we get that looks like it's from PayPal because it's not really from PayPal but some bogus fraud company. That's all I know.

some are from Paypal, not that it matters... it's a good rule.

[Doug_Tipple]

I have used paypal for years without any problems. It amazes me that I am able to receive an international payment so quickly and so effortlessly. The paypal fee is about 4% for international payments, and I pass this fee along to the buyer. I try to avoid using my personal bank account in the process as much as possible. When I make a payment and don't have the funds in my paypal account to cover the purchase, I select my credit card as a payment source. You often have to override the default to do this. When I receive funds from my paypal account, I have them mail me a check instead of requesting a direct deposit into my bank account. Whenever I get $500 in my paypal account, I say " Send me check", and in about a week the check is at my door. I don't use any round-about way of getting to paypal, and I don't access paypal through any email either. I merely go directly to paypal.com and type in my password.