Question about buying and paypal with friends and family

[creator]

Have been talking to someone about purchasing somethings for my tank. We agreed on the price, and they want me to send the payment via friends and family (don't know them in person, just online) and I told them I feel most comfortable doing the business transaction and I'll put extra to cover the fees.

Would you be comfortable to send a payment via friends and family to someone you don't know? There is no protection right? So if they they never send it, the items don't work, weren't as described etc I would be out whatever I sent them?

 

[gone fishin]

I personally would not do the friends option. I have seen to many threads on here where things went south with no recourse. Good luck

 

[vhuang168]

No friends n family unless I know them personally for a while.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Capt.Nemo]

If they won't do what you are comfortable with, maybe they are not your friends. Way too many folks have alternative motives these days. I would be concerned about them being able to retain private information.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[crocogator106]

I have bought and sold many items through a knife forum (another addiction-lol) and no one pays through "Friends/Family". There is no recourse if something happens. It protects both parties to just pay the 3%-if not today then another you will get bitten.

 

[Ou8me2]

No, No and Definitely No!! If they are honest they will do a transaction so it protects both of you. 3% really isn't that much unless you're doing a very large transaction and still not bad anyways.

 

[CafeReef]

Former PayPal employee here. If it is for goods and you are not personally familiar with the source, always send the funds as being for goods. This is your only protection as a buyer with PayPal. Sure you can file a chargeback with your credit card, but PayPal will fight it if you do. You're 100% better off following their policy as you are guaranteed protection if you do as a buyer. If you are willing to cover the fees then there is no reason for the seller to have any issues. The only reason to send as friends or family is to avoid paying for fee's. If the seller refuses and gets huffy about it, then I would say find yourself a different seller.

A great thing to do as well is to google their email address prior to sending money to them. See if there is any history associated with any negative sales practices.

 

[lacybiker2000]

I agree with all of the above. Having used Paypal since 1999, 3% is way cheap for peace of mind. Only use friends and family with friends or family. (and only if it's a gift, if you expect it back....use goods, etc.)

 

[rpc07]

If your willing to cover the PayPal fees then what's the issue? That alone sounds sketchy.

 

[Mr.Tan]

the only time i send via friends/family is just that.. or if its someone i have known a long time on a forum and trust them. If its someone I have never spoken with before i always send normally and either have them add the fee or i cover the fee.