Beware of PayPal fees


I live in Israel. I have recently purchased an audio item from Europe. I agreed with the seller that I would pay his PayPal fees. When I checked initially about the fees I read something like 3.4%. To my astonishment they charged him (me) 5.2% with all sorts of extra fees. Beware!      
taviran
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And credit cards (for the seller) carry approximately the same fees, as well as foreign transaction fees, if appropriate. I think it's a fair service for transacting cash transactions quickly. I think it's also fair for a foreign buyer to take the fee for currency transaction, but I don't think the seller should be handing off the fee for the base transaction -- cost of doing business. If one doesn't want to use credit cards (or PayPal) in his sale, waiting for ten days for funds to clear, that's his choice. But if he wants a faster, cleaner sale, then he (seller) should pay that fee, unless disclosed otherwise at the outset of offer.
If you *really* trust the other party use Bitcoin for international if they'll accept it (where you actually know the seller or have done a lot of business with them before).  Be careful though you can't reverse the transaction if there's a problem.  Fees are almost nil.  Just an option for certain scenarios.
About 3 years ago I made my first purchase thru Audiogon and paid by personal check.  Make a long story short the deal went south and the seller (expelled by AG) kept my $420 and the merchandise.  If I'd used PayPal etc.  I would have got my money back.