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Paypal? — Parallax Forums

Paypal?

RagtopRagtop Posts: 406
edited 2012-05-03 05:36 in General Discussion
Is there any hope that Parallax will be accepting Paypal soon?

I had a Paypal debit card but after getting hacked for the second time, I would rather not get another one.
Parallax is about the only place I need a card.
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Comments

  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2012-01-24 18:10
    Agreed. It appears easy enough to do, since even the smallest websites allow Paypal payments. I don't like how the Parallax payment system seems to be really old...
  • Ray0665Ray0665 Posts: 231
    edited 2012-01-24 18:44
    I would like to see PayPal as an option also
  • al1970al1970 Posts: 64
    edited 2012-01-24 19:57
    I got rid of my PayPal account also. I got hacked and they were of no help at all. They didn't answer on their own in house e-mail system. Everytime I talk with them on the telephone, they were of no help, it just went in one ear and out the other. I had to go to the State Attorney General to get my money back and to close the account. You don't know how good a company is until you have a problem. They were the pits!

    Al
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-01-24 20:17
    PayPal is advantageous in three situations that I can enumerate:

    1. As a buyer, if you're dealing with an international (e.g. Chinese) supplier for whom the only other option is a bank teletransfer, PayPal transactions can save a ton in transaction fees.

    2. As a buyer, if you deal with auction sites like eBay, PayPal definitely greases the skids for purchases.

    3. As a seller, if you're a small company, have only infrequent retail transactions, and don't want the hassle of setting up a merchant account with a credit card company, PayPal makes it very simple to get paid for your merchandise.

    As far as I can tell, Parallax fits none of these scenarios. Since they already accept debit and credit cards, I cannot see any advantage to them of stepping into the PayPal morass, when customer needs are readily accommodated by other means.

    -Phil
  • Roy ElthamRoy Eltham Posts: 3,000
    edited 2012-01-24 20:25
    Paypal lets you do bill-me-later for anything over $99, and have no interest for 6 months if you pay in full before it's over. This is all transparent to the merchant (as far as I know, they get paid right away).

    Paypal is damn convenient, and lots of larger businesses are using it now (or have for a long time) whether they are international or not.
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2012-01-24 20:29
    I don't like the PayPal handling fee, but it's probably a small price to pay relative to other forms of exchange.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-01-24 20:35
    If you're a small or infrequent seller, the PayPal merchant fee is a small price to pay for the convenience it confers. I can't fathom paying the percentage they extrort on a large scale, though.

    -Phil
  • $WMc%$WMc% Posts: 1,884
    edited 2012-01-24 20:36
    I'm glad to see the folks @ Parallax don't have a PayPal method.
    '
    I have been hit again on my PayPal account. ((Bogus charges)$9.97 and $29.97))PayPal is doing nothing to get my money back.
    '
    Its gonna take an attorney to get my money back.Hopefully the Attorney General can fix this again.
    '
    PayPal is not as secure as they lead you to believe!
    '
    Just say NO to PayPal...
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2012-01-24 20:37
    Isn't there a different method available for larger scale? Seems like it involves a spread-sheet.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-01-24 20:44
    jazzed wrote:
    Isn't there a different method available for larger scale?
    It's possible. My limited sales have not qualified me for a First Class ticket upgrade.

    In order to limit my losses due to PayPal screw-ups, I keep only $5 in the specially set-up linked bank account, and I do not have a linked credit card. In the event of a PayPal faux pas, the only funds at risk are those in my actual PayPal account, which don't amount to a whole lot. This also helps to curb expensive impulse buying on eBay, since it takes awhile for cash transfers to register.

    -Phil
  • Martin HodgeMartin Hodge Posts: 1,246
    edited 2012-01-24 20:56
    Parallax desperately needs to move into the 21st century and accept PayPal. Just my opinion.
  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2012-01-25 00:15
    It's possible. My limited sales have not qualified me for a First Class ticket upgrade.

    In order to limit my losses due to PayPal screw-ups, I keep only $5 in the specially set-up linked bank account, and I do not have a linked credit card. In the event of a PayPal faux pas, the only funds at risk are those in my actual PayPal account, which don't amount to a whole lot. This also helps to curb expensive impulse buying on eBay, since it takes awhile for cash transfers to register.

    -Phil

    As far as the linking goes I don't think it is a danger to me, even if they drain my entire bank account. I can call up my bank and get the transaction immediately cancelled and get all my money back, all in about 15 minutes. I've done it three times: twice because of stolen credit card data, and once for a faulty ATM. It's worked well in the past, and if I'm not a turkey it will work well in the future.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2012-01-25 03:32
    Paypal might be useful for USA sales, but the international relationships that involve PayPal often escape from a country's balance of trade account and so such transactions are discouraged in various ways - it gets complex to try to go world-wide with it.

    The biggest problem with PayPal for me has been that I get tons of email from phony PayPal inquiries. From what I gather, PayPal NEVER EVER sends out email and ALL web communication have to be within their server environment (You have to log in and initiate a dialog and then check back).

    I messed up my PayPal account by forgetting the password and now they want a huge packet of proof of identity FedExed to their Hong Kong office to reinstate. They are trying to assure security, but it is certainly a rough and tumble world for them to try to be everything to everyone.

    If you really need help fast, direct telephone calls do help. But if you insist on the wrong communication channel, you will never hear from them.
  • RagtopRagtop Posts: 406
    edited 2012-01-25 04:05
    I have been using Payal since 2002 for my video business (a hobby that provides funds for this hobby) without any problems except for the debit cards. I only used them
    occasionally for online sites that don't take regular paypal and still both cards got hacked. Both times the funds were returned to me, but that does get tiresome.

    I haven't had any problems sending or receiving funds from their online email address based system. I like it because card numbers are not set over the internet. Buyer or
    seller has no access to the other's account numbers.
  • ratronicratronic Posts: 1,451
    edited 2012-01-25 09:15
    Maybe I am a dangerous person but I have my Paypal linked to my checking account with several thosand dollars in it and have been using it for years with familiar places only. I never click on a email from Paypal I just log in to the site directly to see what I want to see. I think it just takes a little awareness when you do any financial transaction over the net with a debit card, credit card or Paypal.
  • Roy ElthamRoy Eltham Posts: 3,000
    edited 2012-01-25 09:22
    ratronic,
    I agree, and do the same as you.
  • RagtopRagtop Posts: 406
    edited 2012-01-25 09:29
    And as far as size of company goes, Sparkfun has to be in the same size range as Parallax and they have Paypal check-out.
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
    edited 2012-01-25 11:22
    Yes, we will be adding PayPal. We're in the middle of a major web site re-design using newer technology.

    PayPal is on the requirements list. We're in total agreement with all of the input above.

    Ken Gracey
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-01-25 11:38
    Ken Gracey wrote:
    We're in the middle of a major web site re-design using newer technology.
    Again? Does this mean that forum links to products in the store will get broken ... again?

    -Phil
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
    edited 2012-01-25 21:53
    Again? Does this mean that forum links to products in the store will get broken ... again?

    -Phil

    No, it's a whole new platform and toolset. . . total rebuild. We'll have problems but we will work them out before we let you in. Lauren has tremendous effort, a substantial design team, and is making solid progress for a July release.

    Ken Gracey
  • al1970al1970 Posts: 64
    edited 2012-01-25 22:42
    Hi Phil:

    I thought that also. I found out the hard way that not true at all. Read on.

    "In order to limit my losses due to PayPal screw-ups, I keep only $5 in the specially set-up linked bank account, and I do not have a linked credit card. In the event of a PayPal faux pas, the only funds at risk are those in my actual PayPal account, which don't amount to a whole lot. This also helps to curb expensive impulse buying on eBay, since it takes awhile for cash transfers to register."

    I had just a little over $7 in my account. The hackers bought about 1000 items using my account. That is not a misprint 1 zero zero zero before PayPal got off their *** and suspend my account!

    They have to have major software bugs in their system for this to happen. The last thing PayPal told
    me before they sent the "Pinnacle Financial Group" collection agency after me was "don't worry about it, we have it under control"

    Al
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-01-25 22:52
    Al,

    You must've had a linked credit card, too, then. Otherwise, the charges would have been denied, once your PayPal balance had tapped out. Right?

    -Phil
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2012-01-26 02:07
    Happy to see Parallax keeps trying to improve, but too much change does go against principles such as "Keep it simple" and "If it works, don't fix it".

    In other words, stability retains forward momentum in business. Hopefully, the changes to be imposed are really necessary and enhance the whole.
  • al1970al1970 Posts: 64
    edited 2012-01-27 00:30
    Hi Phil:

    "
    Al,

    You must've had a linked credit card, too, then. Otherwise, the charges would have been denied, once your PayPal balance had tapped out. Right?

    -Phil "

    No. No credit card. My account showed money being put in. I can only guess they somehow could over ride the PayPal software into thinking it was real money; since there was no wait period before it was taken back out to buy things.

    Since I only bought or sold a few items per year; PayPal software should have kick in and stop the account since the 1000 items were bought in just a few days. Like I said their software must have major bugs in it.

    Al
  • sam_sam_samsam_sam_sam Posts: 2,286
    edited 2012-01-27 15:31
    I use PayPal I DO NOT have a credit card or a debit card link to my account I get Green Dot cards when I want to buy some thing and It works for me
    A few time there been a few problems one or two Ebay sellers but when I contact PayPal the problem where resloved
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-01-27 15:42
    I think PayPal and eBay always give deference to the buyer. This policy has hurt some honest sellers very badly.

    -Phil
  • al1970al1970 Posts: 64
    edited 2012-01-27 23:52
    Hi Sam:

    I think you miss my point.

    "I use PayPal I DO NOT have a credit card or a debit card link to my account I get Green Dot cards when I want to buy some thing and It works for me
    A few time there been a few problems one or two Ebay sellers but when I contact PayPal the problem where resloved."

    It doesn't matter that your account is not linked to anything. PayPal can still come after you for money. Not only can they; in my case they did!

    My best guess is the hackers took about $38,000 from my account that I only have about $7 in.

    My best guess of what the hackers did, was they found a way to link my account to a store account (or a few store accounts). Say John buys a TV from Joe's TV website. The money goes into my account not Joe's. The hackers take the money out of my account because Joe's TV account has a few thousand of real money in it. John never gets this TV and calls the bank. Well the c.c. company charges a small fee when this happens. Well this small fee was being charged to my account. It doesn't matter if you only have $7 in your account, PayPal will still come after you. Since there was about a 1000 small fees, PayPal took my $7 then came after me for over $500 more.

    If you think I am being to hard on PayPal. Here are some of the highlights of that I went thru with them.

    As soon as I saw what was happening. I sent them a in site message. No answer back.

    Called them. They said "any money you lost will be put back in your account". Not only didn't that happen; money was still being put into my account and taken out.

    I sent them another in site message. No answer back.

    Called again asking to talk with someone higher up. Was told you can't. I told them 1000's are being put into my account and taken out. I was told by him that someone will get back to me within
    a week.

    At this point I told myself I better cover my a**. I called the FTC gave them my statement of what was going on and got a case number. I looked up the telephone number of the State Attorney General.

    Was called back by PayPal and was told "don't worry we have it under control."

    Then they sent the "Pinnacle Financial Group" collection agency after me. That is when I called the
    State Attorney General and sent them my FTC case # and a copy of the collection letter. A note here the "Pinnacle Financial Group" did nothing wrong. As soon I told them what was going on, they never sent another collection letter.

    Al
  • idbruceidbruce Posts: 6,197
    edited 2012-05-02 16:31
    I am just curious, can items be bought with PayPal yet? I have some PayPal credit looking for a home.
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2012-05-02 16:42
    While I'm sure they zing you with fees, you can always get a debit card for your PayPal. That's what I do. Then whenever someone buys something from me that goes into the PayPal account I can using the card like any credit/debit card, withdraw funds from an ATM, etc. Again, they have fees for everything, but it's better than letting the money sit there. Someone mentioned Green Dot. I'm pretty sure the PayPal debit card is cheaper, and they don't charge you to put money into the account.

    From a merchant's standpoint PayPal is full of gotchas. You can tell their system not to accept unconfirmed addresses, which then entitles you to better protection against friendly fraud (someone ordering something, having it shipped to a pal's address, then claiming they never ordered it -- the merchant is left holding the bag in the form of a chargeback). But at least half -- my estimate -- of PayPal users don't have confirmed addresses, and don't even know what it means.

    -- Gordon
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-05-02 19:13
    ...it's better than letting the money sit there.
    As opposed to what? 0.25% at the bank? :) I always keep a goodly sum in my PayPal account -- a slush fund for those rainy days when I find something eBay that I can't possibly live without. Let 'em take care of it. 'Same nowadays with IRS over-payments.It's not worth the trouble of depositing a refund check to get Bank of America's meager interest rates. That said, my linked PayPal bank account never has more than $5.00 in it. That's about as much access to my other finances as I trust PayPal with.

    -Phil
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