ot- paypal, ebay

Kevin Powers · 02-09-2003, 07:17 AM

trying to sell here is fun... but it's so time consuming and i fear i'm p-ing some people off. is the paypal concept as simple as the site would indicate? i tend to be skeptical. for those of you that are experienced, feedback would be appreciated. do you think i could get nailed by the irs?

kevin

campbellcj · 02-09-2003, 07:37 AM

Someone posted a big rant/thread about paypal recently, but personally I have been using it for quite some time with zero problems. I think it is a great concept -- wish I invented it.

FWIW you do not have to use paypal to buy/sell on ebay. Tons of folks still trade "old farmer style" i.e. money orders.

philinjax · 02-09-2003, 07:52 AM

I buy and sell on eBay almost weekly, usually at a profit. I have picked up some jewels of unique 914 applicable parts and accessories over the past year, all waiting to go in my project car, soon as I finish my wife's 914.
Phil

Bruce Allert · 02-09-2003, 08:00 AM

I too use PayPal for buying & selling. Have not gotten burned in any way.
bruce

hardflex · 02-09-2003, 08:06 AM

I've used paypal for some time now, and also have no complaints. It is SO much simpler than the effort required to go get a money order, and so much quicker. I've heard some complaints about the cost, but I recently set up an acct. to accept credit cards for my business and the costs are much higher that if I could get all my customers to send via paypal (still new to alot of people, like you) I would for the cost savings alone.

I think you should accept paypal as a convenience to your customers, IMHO. Try it, you'll like it.

Jim Chambers · 02-09-2003, 08:20 AM

Kevin,
I did a bit of Ebay buying and selling without using Paypal because I was leery. Finally signed up to send payment (no cost to buyer) then finally to receive (costs about 3%). Wonder why I didn't start sooner. I can buy with credit card or direct from checking account. No shipping delay while seller waits for money. Easy to move money received from Paypal account to my checking account. Also, in my experience, as a seller I do better on Ebay. As a buyer I often find the better deal on the various 914 classified sites.

Kevin Powers · 02-09-2003, 08:20 AM

thanks, the main reason is the huge cost of shipping on some items. believe me, the cost to ship a back pad and seats for an early car was astronomical. losing the part would be bad enough, getting stuck for shipping? i would just throw the stuff in the back of the international and go to the dump if it turns into a nightmare. the honor system is working for me, but i'm just waiting for some a-hole to screw things up. i just want to make it easier for all (mostly me).

kevin

jabb · 02-09-2003, 08:38 AM

I like C2it..... citibanks online service works same as paypal but at least it has more contols because its a bank.

Kevin Powers · 08:58 AM

the folks i've dealt with so far have been very stand-up. you think the mo is a pita. stand in line at the post office for 15 min (during my lunch) while some dope ponders spending 45 cents on a envelope, that he has to use to mail something priority. i ran out of patience, walked up, put the change on the counter. a thank you? you would think i called his sister a prostitute. turned into a big scene. i should probably live in a cave somewhere.

kev, how did you do on your mag hunt?

kevin

anthony · 02-09-2003, 09:09 AM

Here's how you don't get burned with Paypal:

You only accept payments with a "confirmed" address. If you do this, and ship using a service that has tracking (UPS or USPS with delivery confirmation) then Paypal will give you what they call seller protection.

This also means that you only accept Paypal from those in the US since seller protection doesn't extend to those living outside the US.

With heavy/large things like seats I think selling locally is probably the way to go otherwise you spend way too much time trying to figure out how to box and ship stuff like this.

Kevin Powers · 02-09-2003, 09:18 AM

the demand for an interior setup out of a 70' is pretty minimal. the weight was nothing really, so you do what you have to do. i spent about 2 hrs locating boxes big enough, cutting them down to meet size requirements (if you are over, too bad,at first the excess was 1 1/2") length+ heigth+girth. that's a stinking 1/2" on each axis.

kevin

Kevin Powers · 02-09-2003, 09:24 AM

it was the back pad. i could have taken it apart to fit it in a smaller box, but i do not think the buyer would have been to happy to recieve it that way. the stuff was in damn good shape. kev, check private mess in a min or 2.

kevin

anthony · 02-09-2003, 09:37 AM

One last point mentioned in the original question that no has discussed: getting burned by the IRS.

My understanding is that the IRS can claim that any deposits going into your checking/savings account as income during an audit. It would up to you to prove that they aren't.

Most people don't get audited but if you think you are a potential target and you sell thousands of dollars worth of stuff each year on eBay it might be wise not to transfer than money into your regular bank accounts just so you aren't hassled.

So when is selling 914 parts income? I think if you sell anything at a loss that it is not income. Say you buy a car for $5K, you crash it, and then you recoup a few thousand on ebay for what is left over - I don't think that is income but the burden of proof is on you to document that for the IRS.

Kevin Powers · 02-09-2003, 09:54 AM

gee, do you think i can get credit for the money i've POURED into these things to offset the .02 on the dollar i'm making selling a few parts? i did'nt think so. irs, kevin powers is not selling any parts. ok?

bernbomb914 · bernbomb914's Garage

I no longer bid on any item if they do not accept Pay Pal Its just to much hassel any other way. Much faster and simpler. never had a problem.

Bernbomb914

RustyWa · RustyWa's Garage

Another thing about PayPal....

Go to your bank and set up a new checking account. Most have free checking now. Make sure this account doesn't have ANY overdraft protection on it to your normal checking account. Get a bank card/credit card with this account also. Then use these accounts as your PayPal account.

I actually use this account for all my online stuff. This way nothing is tied to my normal banking accounts.

Kevin Powers · 11:06 AM

that answers my doubts. just what i want, another corp with personal data they can sell to another, and another... i guess if it's sort working this point i will not try and fix it. sort of like our cars. what would the gov. call a bunch of people moving sums of cash and avoiding taxes? a bunch of of conspiritors. we're all under idictment.

happy motoring, kevin

John Kelly · 02-09-2003, 01:44 PM

Hi Kevin,

I've used paypal for a while now. The only problems I have had are that if you upgrade so that you can accept credit cards, you can't change back without a hassle. And it does not say this on the web site. If your profit margin is low like mine, you do not want to be charged a fee for other people paying you with a credit card. They must have the funds in their bank account for me to accept payment from them. Other than that it is great.

John www.ghiaspecialties.com

anthony · 02-09-2003, 06:01 PM

One thing you can do is set up two paypal accounts - one to accept credit cards and another to accept everything else.

handyher · 02-11-2003, 10:29 AM

Guys, FYI my husband called me the other day from work with a little news bit concerning ebay.Seems as if their security has been breached and credit card numbers have been compromised.

check your accounts.!!!!