How to tell if Paypal payment is a gift?

bunberry

A few days ago I listed an item on ebay, and received an offer to buy it direct which would save me on ebay fees so I agreed. The buyer said he would send payment as Paypal gift so there would be no fees, how can I tell if it was sent as a gift?

From what I could see no fees have been deducted, but at the bottom of the transaction there was the following message: "Please be aware that your payment can still be reversed, (e.g. if it is subject to a chargeback), even after you have posted the item to your buyer. Complying with PayPal's protection programmes and following the trading guidelines, in our Safety Advice Centre helps to protect you from things like chargebacks."

I thought you couldn't reverse a Paypal gift payment? Also, should I be concerned that I can't see the buyer's Paypal registered address in the transaction details? I will be sending the item special delivery so it's fully trackable. TIA!

No_Eye_Deer

Buyer contacting their bank and claiming unauthorized Payment is the only thing I can think of.

If its expensive then I would follow the rules or at least contact PayPal before sending.

NIC26

As a buyer there is no benefit to paying outside the ebay system. The opposite is true, you leave yourself open to being defrauded. It's suspious this buyer asked to buy outside ebay by paypal gift. You could send the item and they claim unauthorized payment or the payment funding could bounce. Personally I would walk away from this transaction.

digerati

bunberry wrote: »

A few days ago I listed an item on ebay, and received an offer to buy it direct which would save me on ebay fees so I agreed. The buyer said he would send payment as Paypal gift so there would be no fees, how can I tell if it was sent as a gift?

If no fees were deducted from the payment, then it was a gift.

bunberry wrote: »

From what I could see no fees have been deducted, but at the bottom of the transaction there was the following message: "Please be aware that your payment can still be reversed...."

The standard message from PayPal at the bottom of the transfer is always there - for gifts, private/commercial sales or personal transfers.

bunberry wrote: »

I thought you couldn't reverse a Paypal gift payment? Also, should I be concerned that I can't see the buyer's Paypal registered address in the transaction details? I will be sending the item special delivery so it's fully trackable. TIA!

Gifts can't be easily reversed as their is no sale component to them. That's also why there is no delivery address as gifts are not supposed to have a sales component.

Of course it would have been much safer for you to ask for and receive a bank transfer as these are always free and can't be easily reversed.

bunberry

Thank you for your replies.

Buyer has good feedback on ebay, has been registered for a few years rather than someone who just signed up. I think they wanted me to end the auction early
hence the offer; I wasn't expecting much more for it if I let the auction run, plus there'll be fees so I figured I may as well get rid of it.

I googled their name + address (they do exist) before I agreed to the sale. The funds are in my account - does that mean it's all good?

Crowqueen

For you, yes; as for them they have no comeback if you're not legit.

Paypal don't like this sort of thing so please don't actively ask for this - if a buyer contacts you next time, ask them to pay through Paypal for goods or services, or list through eBay - it's not fair on the buyer.

Oliver14

Crowqueen wrote: »

if a buyer contacts you next time, ask them to pay through Paypal for goods or services, or list through eBay - it's not fair on the buyer.

Its the buyers choice, If the buyer actively offers this why would anyone refuse and pay fees? Its the buyers lookout. The same way as if they wish to pay via bank transfer which I get the occasional buyer who wishes to, I have a few sellers I now trade with off ebay (that I met through ebay) that I purchase items via gift payment because I trust them and have been dealing with them for years.. That though is my decision and my risk. If a seller refused this offer from me i would just think they're being stupid

If a buyer offered to pay me via gift (which they have). I would and have accepted it as I am an honest seller and would happily sort out any problems.b uyers that have done this I have always explained that they officially have no cover and they have always been happy.

I;m all for protecting buyers and following rules but sometimes people can a too pedantic over it and forget a thing called common sense.