What exactly is PayPal and how does it work?

MWC · 03-08-2005

Just to show how ebay illiterate Don Gregorio and I are --
(not that that's a bad thing)
I notice that J&A use paypal here for the Playa Deal Card, and we just made a reservation at a small hotel, which also required paypal. I know I've seen the name around for several years, and haven't heard bad things about it ...
But Don Gregorio was wondering how it works, exactly, and why places would want to work through an intermediary, and NOT want to work directly with credit card companies. He is most vexed, because he is assuming that fees are still paid, whether one works directly with the credit card companies, or not.
Can anyone clarify how paypal works, and where any fees are built into paypal transactions?
Thanks!

emmalaw45 · 03-08-2005

This should help you http://www.paypal.com/ - I have used paypal many times when purchasing from ebay. It is a very secure way of making payments over e-mail.

That website should defo help you.

**james** · 03-08-2005

You cannot work "directly with the credit card companies." All credit card transactions at a merchant level use a merchant account with an intermediate bank that processes the transactions.

Sure, there are fees paid.... by us. PayPal eats a bit of every transaction, but they eat less than other options available to us.

FYI: PayPal has recently made many improvements which makes transactions easier than ever before (you no longer need to "join" PayPal to make a payment, so the gateway is very clean and simple)

MWC · 03-08-2005

Thank you both for the helpful info.

**Jesus** · 03-09-2005

Me too, I have used Paypay for some years now and I have found it reliable and non expensive.

**denisea** · 03-09-2005

I've been using PayPal for some years now myself. Have never had a problem with it. There are times that has really come in handy too.

Big Kahuna · 03-09-2005

I use PayPal all of the time both in business and personal...Never a problem. Great convenience and easy to use.

Ksgirl · 03-09-2005

I think PayPal is great. It's easy to use, secure, and reliable. I've been using it for 4-5 years now and have never had any problems with it.

I use PayPal mostly for eBay. In fact, I've been using it too much for eBay lately! I won 3 items today alone and that makes 5 wins for me this week. Is there an eBay's Anonymous out there??

03-08-2005	#1 (permalink)
MWC añejo Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,842	What exactly is PayPal and how does it work? Just to show how ebay illiterate Don Gregorio and I are -- (not that that's a bad thing) I notice that J&A use paypal here for the Playa Deal Card, and we just made a reservation at a small hotel, which also required paypal. I know I've seen the name around for several years, and haven't heard bad things about it ... But Don Gregorio was wondering how it works, exactly, and why places would want to work through an intermediary, and NOT want to work directly with credit card companies. He is most vexed, because he is assuming that fees are still paid, whether one works directly with the credit card companies, or not. Can anyone clarify how paypal works, and where any fees are built into paypal transactions? Thanks!

03-08-2005	#3 (permalink)
james beach geek admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 10 year Playa resident lost in Kullavik, Sweden Posts: 9,615	You cannot work "directly with the credit card companies." All credit card transactions at a merchant level use a merchant account with an intermediate bank that processes the transactions. Sure, there are fees paid.... by us. PayPal eats a bit of every transaction, but they eat less than other options available to us. FYI: PayPal has recently made many improvements which makes transactions easier than ever before (you no longer need to "join" PayPal to make a payment, so the gateway is very clean and simple) __________________ My lovely house is for sale Get your own signature countdown image! Thanks for taking the time to read the announcement!

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03-08-2005	#2 (permalink)
emmalaw45 way into it Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 132	This should help you http://www.paypal.com/ - I have used paypal many times when purchasing from ebay. It is a very secure way of making payments over e-mail. That website should defo help you.

03-08-2005	#4 (permalink)
MWC añejo Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,842	Thank you both for the helpful info.

03-09-2005	#5 (permalink)
Jesus Nutty Peep Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Mexico City, Mexico Posts: 4,625	Me too, I have used Paypay for some years now and I have found it reliable and non expensive.

03-09-2005	#6 (permalink)
denisea Forum Goddess Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: On the road to ruins... Posts: 7,025	I've been using PayPal for some years now myself. Have never had a problem with it. There are times that has really come in handy too.

03-09-2005	#7 (permalink)
Big Kahuna añejo Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: In a land far far away Posts: 1,590	I use PayPal all of the time both in business and personal...Never a problem. Great convenience and easy to use.

03-09-2005	#8 (permalink)
Ksgirl ruined Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 85	I think PayPal is great. It's easy to use, secure, and reliable. I've been using it for 4-5 years now and have never had any problems with it. I use PayPal mostly for eBay. In fact, I've been using it too much for eBay lately! I won 3 items today alone and that makes 5 wins for me this week. Is there an eBay's Anonymous out there??

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