PayPal Surcharge


I have noticed alot of people add a (3% or so) PayPal fee to their items and I wonder if everyone is aware, that is against the user agreement. It seems that PayPal looks at sellers as "merchants". This is cut from the Paypal website:

-No Surcharges. Under Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express regulations and the laws of several states, including California, merchants may not charge a fee to the buyer for accepting credit card payments (often called a "surcharge"). You agree that you will not impose a surcharge or any other fee for accepting PayPal as payment. This restriction does not prevent you from imposing a handling fee in connection with the sale of goods or services, as long as the handling fee does not operate as a surcharge (in other words, the handling fee for transactions paid through PayPal may not be higher than the handling fee for transactions paid through other payment methods). Nor does this restriction apply to Pound-denominated transactions by sellers residing in the United Kingdom listing items for sale on a UK-based website.
dill
I think the charge should have no effect on the buyer...If he had to send a postal money order they charge...then you have postage... a drive to the post office...I don't mind paying 3% at all...just the convenience of paying while listning to your favorite artist is worth the extra IMHO
Anyone with a PayPal account is contractually obligated to NOT charge extra. This is part of what the user AGREED to, and to disregard it is wrong, illegal and improper. Petty self-justifications, no matter how inventive or customary they may be, do not change that fact.
Interesting thread. I've used PayPal at least 200 times as a buyer, but never as a seller. I've always sent funds via bank transfers. I was under the impression that all PayPal sellers were charged the 3% fee for all transactions! I'd be interested in knowing how much money I've thrown away on deals where I've paid a 3% PayPal "fee" when no fee was actually charged to my seller!?!? (i.e., bank transfers made to individual sellers who are not set up to accept credit card payments).
Of all the points of view brought up,nobody has brought up the fact that with paypal and you are trying to buy a hard to find item;or maybe this is the hottest price (you want it bad) Paypal can be used to lock you into the deal.--- And the shipping process gets started faster.So once in a while,Paypal is good for the buyer.
I want my 3% back from all you crooks who sold me stuff. And if you plan to use a credit card, please add 3%.

Charlie
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