Business asking for personal payments

Fuzzy_Duck

Would appreciate people's thoughts on this.

I recently won an item in an auction hosted on a business' Facebook page. The seller asked for personal payments via PayPal. Admittedly I missed this, and paid for it as a business transaction, since that's what it was. When I realised my mistake, I figured that I wouldn't have done that anyway because (at least this is my understanding) I wouldn't have a leg to stand on if something went wrong.

The seller has refunded me (informing me that I cost them 20p in doing so) and advised that I need to make it a personal payment so they don't have to pay the fee (50p). They have also said that they're losing money on the item as it is.

I couldn't help but feel a bit miffed at this. When I bid I didn't know I would be covering their fees, and regardless, I would have preferred to simply include the 50p with my payment. It just doesn't seem very professional, and I don't see why it's my problem that they're losing money over it- they set the starting bid after all.

Has anyone come across this before? I thought I was being sensible in this but now I feel like I'm a troublesome buyer, especially as none of the other winners have commented on it.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

The internet means anyone can start selling stuff and be classed as a "businesses" but your seller has no clue, telling a customer they've cost them 20p is a joke!

A private payment (or gift payment as they actually mean) doesn't have Paypal protection. Unless the item is very hard to find I'd walk away.

Fuzzy_Duck

Thanks for the prompt reply! I thought that was the case. Normally I pay through a PayPal invoice so I'm not too savvy with PayPal generally, but they wouldn't send invoices because they cost them fees as well!

It's a shame as the site in question has lovely stuff and I've been wanting to make a purchase for ages.

sequence

Run ........

soolin

Most of the selling pages on Facebook I advertise on have a warning in the FAQs reminding buyers that personal payments are not secure and you are just gifting money with no back up if anything goes wrong.

Fuzzy_Duck

soolin wrote: »

Most of the selling pages on Facebook I advertise on have a warning in the FAQs reminding buyers that personal payments are not secure and you are just gifting money with no back up if anything goes wrong.

Oh right, I wasn't even aware there were selling pages on Facebook! The business in question have both a physical and online shop, but they also do a lot of competitions through their Facebook page. The auction was done through one of their photo albums so I'm guessing the warning wouldn't have been shown there.

I used to buy and sell items through LiveJournal and there were some sellers who did used to insist (up front at least) that buyers cover the fees. The difference there though was they'd just ask you to add on a bit rather than send a personal payment.

TKPeters

Send them a message that their fee's are not your responsibility & the fact they've refunded [costing them the 20p fixed fee] is their problem, as you had paid.

I would not pay via personal payment [unless their trading history is very good] as you have no back-up if the item in not delivered