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Well,
As Steve said all sellers will accept another method of paying if that's the only way they can get their money, maybe under protest, but it is really up to you to read the auction details properly in the first place. This has happened to me, I took the trouble to set out quite clearly how I wished to be paid, and along comes a buyer who can't be bothered to read the payment details. Now what do expect them to do, pat you on the head and say "not to worry" while they pay again to relist the item?
Or take the money any way they can get it.
But why should they feel they have to be nice about it, they have done their job properly, it's you who screwed up.
Live and Learn.
Lead, Follow or get out of the way!
As Steve said all sellers will accept another method of paying if that's the only way they can get their money, maybe under protest, but it is really up to you to read the auction details properly in the first place. This has happened to me, I took the trouble to set out quite clearly how I wished to be paid, and along comes a buyer who can't be bothered to read the payment details. Now what do expect them to do, pat you on the head and say "not to worry" while they pay again to relist the item?
Or take the money any way they can get it.But why should they feel they have to be nice about it, they have done their job properly, it's you who screwed up.
Live and Learn.
Lead, Follow or get out of the way!
Right on, jude! Incidentally, I didn't say that all sellers will accept an alternate method of payment, I just said that I personally hadn't run across any sellers who accept PayPal to the exclusion of all other forms of payment. That's possible, I suppose, and I didn't mean to imply otherwise. Believe it or not, I haven't experienced every situation that comes up on eBay. 
On one occasion I came across a seller who only accepted Paypal - and nothing else. I don't know why and I never asked the seller because I was willing to accept the terms to purchase. But it was clearly stated and I use it sometimes anyway, so no big deal and honestly I didn't think it was all that odd really.
I recently had about 10 auctions up. 7 of them paid with paypal withing 24hrs. One paid in a week +2 day with a MO and one paid with a rubber check that cost me 20.00 on a 10.00 auction. One never paid.
You can imagine the time and labor involved tracking down the three and "encouraging" them to pay up.
On items under $5.00 it's too expensive. On items over $500 it's too risky that the buyer will put a stop payment on his Paypal. For auctions inbetween it's speeded up auction sales faster than going from a 28K dial up to a broadband.
You can imagine the time and labor involved tracking down the three and "encouraging" them to pay up.
On items under $5.00 it's too expensive. On items over $500 it's too risky that the buyer will put a stop payment on his Paypal. For auctions inbetween it's speeded up auction sales faster than going from a 28K dial up to a broadband.
Thanks, lnphoto. That's a compelling argument in favor of PayPal, in the main. Tell me, is there some time limit to a stop payment order on PayPal? That is, does the buyer have a specified time within which s/he must stop payment? If so, it would seem prudent on items over $500 to wait beyond that time interval before you ship. 
Steve, I don't think there is any PayPal window for rescinding payments made. I believe that once you send the money, it's gone. Beyond that, the recipient of the payment would have to either decline payment or refund it; otherwise, the sender would need to file a claim with PayPal within thirty days of the transaction. I base this on what a PayPal rep told me on the phone during one of the few times I ever had a problem with a seller.
Yes I agree, however, if you used a credit card to fund your paypal payment you could always call the issuing bank/visa/mc and force a refund. That, I would imagine, is most likely the reason some sellers say they'll accept paypal but not if it's funded via credit card.
BTW, I've actually run across several sellers, usually someone who only sells now and then, that will only accept paypal...one guy said he accepted paypal or cash. yeah RIGHT!
Kevin
BTW, I've actually run across several sellers, usually someone who only sells now and then, that will only accept paypal...one guy said he accepted paypal or cash. yeah RIGHT!
Kevin
>>Yes I agree, however, if you used a credit card to fund your paypal payment you could always call the issuing bank/visa/mc and force a refund. That, I would imagine, is most likely the reason some sellers say they'll accept paypal but not if it's funded via credit card.<<
I think the reason some will not accept the credit card via PayPal is, as was mentioned above, the fee charged by PayPal for a credit card transaction.
As for "forcing" a refund from the credit card company, that is not likely. Most creditors will decline to do so on a third party transaction, as they have little or no information on the recipient of the payment. They show the charge only as "PayPal" with a transaction number. They do not even know to whom the payment was directed by PayPal. I recently asked American Express about reversing/refunding a PayPal payment, as they are generally quite supportive of their customers. However, they replied that had I made a payment directly to the seller, they would be willing to go to bat for me. Since the payment was made to a third party, they would not intervene.
I think the reason some will not accept the credit card via PayPal is, as was mentioned above, the fee charged by PayPal for a credit card transaction.
As for "forcing" a refund from the credit card company, that is not likely. Most creditors will decline to do so on a third party transaction, as they have little or no information on the recipient of the payment. They show the charge only as "PayPal" with a transaction number. They do not even know to whom the payment was directed by PayPal. I recently asked American Express about reversing/refunding a PayPal payment, as they are generally quite supportive of their customers. However, they replied that had I made a payment directly to the seller, they would be willing to go to bat for me. Since the payment was made to a third party, they would not intervene.
People who only accept PayPal do themselves a disfavor. They severly limit potential bidders and lessen the chance of a bidding war on their item.
If you accept PayPal what possible reason could you have for not at least accepting BidPay (www.bidpay.com) which is as safe and much easier to set up quickly ??? Besides, I hear many reports of people accepting PayPal then finding out the item was paid for using a stolen credit card.
Incidently, if your a regular shmo with a credit card, once you pay with your credit card you're account has already been debited and there is no way to undo a purchase contrary to popular opinion. The only exception Ive heard of is if the card was reported stolen. In that case the company receiving the illegal payment (PayPal, BidPay) can itself invalidate their payment thus recinding payment to the sellers account (leaving the seller high and dry).
This whole thing underlines the fact that an auction sniper should plan their snipes well in advance, reading all the fine print and asking all their questions well before auction end. Bidding in the last few seconds doesn't automatically mean you're a sniper. But picking your target in the last few seconds does make you an opportunist... which is nothing like a true sniper.
If you accept PayPal what possible reason could you have for not at least accepting BidPay (www.bidpay.com) which is as safe and much easier to set up quickly ??? Besides, I hear many reports of people accepting PayPal then finding out the item was paid for using a stolen credit card.
Incidently, if your a regular shmo with a credit card, once you pay with your credit card you're account has already been debited and there is no way to undo a purchase contrary to popular opinion. The only exception Ive heard of is if the card was reported stolen. In that case the company receiving the illegal payment (PayPal, BidPay) can itself invalidate their payment thus recinding payment to the sellers account (leaving the seller high and dry).
This whole thing underlines the fact that an auction sniper should plan their snipes well in advance, reading all the fine print and asking all their questions well before auction end. Bidding in the last few seconds doesn't automatically mean you're a sniper. But picking your target in the last few seconds does make you an opportunist... which is nothing like a true sniper.