Alternatives to PayPal in the FS/FT forums.

[amdhunter]

Is there any alternative payment system that can be used to pay someone to trade in FS/FT? I used to be really active when I had a PayPal account, but don't want to use it anymore after getting burned for $20 way back when.

I have to itch to buy people's stuff, but feel left out because they aren't local (to pay cash) and I am too lazy to go get a money order.

What about Google Checkout? Anyone using them yet?

 

[OCGuy]

Meeting up in person in a supermarket parking lot for a hander is always an option.

 

[Ionizer86]

GCO is not easy to use and the fee is actually higher than Paypal's.
Amazon Payments FTW.
/thread

 

[amdhunter]

GCO is not easy to use and the fee is actually higher than Paypal's.
Amazon Payments FTW.
/thread

I've use Amazon payments for Cydia purchases, I wouldn't mind this at all. How hard is it to set up to receive payments though?

 

[SunnyD]

GCO is not easy to use and the fee is actually higher than Paypal's.
Amazon Payments FTW.
/thread

Oh really?

Monthly Sales Through Google Checkout Fees Per Transaction
Less than $3,000 2.9% + $0.30
$3,000 - $9,999.99 2.5% + $0.30
$10,000 - $99,999.99 2.2% + $0.30
$100,000 or more 1.9% + $0.30

Paycrap charges the exact same rate.

Google checkout is extremely easy to use. Get customer's email, send invoice to customer for said amount, customer pays. Only one more trivial step than Paycrap.

Other alternatives are: Amazon Payments, Bank Transfer, Personal Check, Money Orders, Cashier's/Bank Checks, Cash, Barter, Prostitution, Services Rendered, etc.

Amazon Payments are virtually identical to Paycrap. You can still get burned just as easily with them. Google Checkout offers a little more security by being an actual credit card merchant, but consumers also have a greater amount of recourse as well.

Your best, and most secure method of payment is going to be US Postal Money Orders. Basically, if someone tried to screw you (or you screw them), you face potential mail fraud as well as wire fraud charges on either side of the deal. Federal Felony charges are a very good deterrent to fraudulent deals imho.

 

[darkewaffle]

I think we should all just send wire transfers ^^

 

[boomhower]

I think we should all just send wire transfers ^^

At $10 a pop?

 

[EagleKeeper]

Choose your poison.

Paypal, local, USPS

 

[Rumpltzer]

At $10 a pop?

Yeah, I never understand this. It's like $0.30 cents a pop for a wire transfer in Asia.

I've done wire transfers only twice in the US due to the expense. Once for a 3% discount on an expensive purchase, and once because an overseas employer needed to send money and it was their only option.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Did you try linking your credit card to paypal instead? If someone screws you, take it up with the CC company and let them bitch at Paypal.

 

[rudeguy]

Choose your poison.

Paypal, local, USPS

I've had sellers ask for USPS money order, then wait until they receive the money order to ship. WTF?

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I've had sellers ask for USPS money order, then wait until they receive the money order to ship. WTF?

Well how many transactions have you had on the forum? I'm guessing the person asking to be paid with a money order before shipping is a long time established trader. So you think they should take the risk and ship out the goods with just a promise that the money order has been sent from a random guy with no previous transactions on the forum?

 

[amdhunter]

Well how many transactions have you had on the forum? I'm guessing the person asking to be paid with a money order before shipping is a long time established trader. So you think they should take the risk and ship out the goods with just a promise that the money order has been sent from a random guy with no previous transactions on the forum?

I had the same thing happen to me. Bought something and the person said he'd ship at the same time, but clearly didn't. Also didn't leave any heat which pissed me off even more. I haven't had a single transaction on these forums where I didn't ship/pay the same day a deal was made.

 

[vailr]

Wal-Mart money orders (at the customer service desk) cost less than USPS's.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I'm just saying there are a few sellers that operate that way and it's not uncommon.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

transfer them cash over pokerstars

 

[Raduque]

I paid a guy using Google Checkout here on ATFST once. He emailed me an invoice, I logged in using my Google account and paid using the on-file card. Easier than paypal.

I've had sellers ask for USPS money order, then wait until they receive the money order to ship. WTF?

Money Orders can be, and have been, faked. If you get a fake money order, you're the one left holding the short end.

Damn right I'd want to verify and cash the Money Order before shipping something out.

 

[SunnyD]

I've had sellers ask for USPS money order, then wait until they receive the money order to ship. WTF?

I'm not going to cross-ship anything without proof that I'm getting something. Do you expect someone accepting paypal to ship the item before you send paypal? It's the same thing with a money order. Unless I'm certain I can trust you, I'm not shipping anything before it's paid for.

I paid a guy using Google Checkout here on ATFST once. He emailed me an invoice, I logged in using my Google account and paid using the on-file card. Easier than paypal.

Money Orders can be, and have been, faked. If you get a fake money order, you're the one left holding the short end.

Damn right I'd want to verify and cash the Money Order before shipping something out.

See? Google Checkout isn't that hard.

And as far as fake money orders... you may be on the short end of the stick... until you take it to the postmaster, get the postmaster general and the FBI involved, and the seller gets arrested for mail fraud, wire fraud and passing a forged instrument. 3 federal felonies for the price of one!