Getting rid of Paypal

[Former_Member]

After all the issues going on with paypal, and with all the alternatives available out there, I'm thinking of getting rid of paypal and only using one of the other options. However, I am afraid that will drive away customers because the convenience of paypal isn't in my shop anymore.

Do you think the risk is worth the convenience and gain?

Has anyone else been considering the switch from paypal to something else?

[Former_Member]

oh, I don't know if there is anything else out there. good question. I haven't had any issues....yet.

[Former_Member]

I don't think it's worth it. PayPal has everything organized in a convenient way that works with multiple online shopping sites. It also allows me to print USPS labels, which in turn give me some degree of protection when shipping with delivery confirmation. E-checks and regular checks take too long, and I find any other form of payment too cumbersome to accept for my $5 items.

[Former_Member]

What has been going on with Paypal? I haven't heard of any issues.

Without knowing what specifically is happening, I would say don't get rid of it. It's the credit card of the online world, and I think it would deter customers if they couldn't use it for the transaction.

[Former_Member]

I have worked with a few others...they aren't as good as PayPal and their fees aren't that much different. For the security and stability, it's almost worth dealing with the issues, especially because of the versatility.
I will say if you do change, don't use WePay.com. I had more trouble with them than I ever had with PayPal!
Just my opinion! :-)

[Former_Member]

I actually heard that Google Checkout and Wallet are pretty accurate but haven 't dived in to test that one out.

[ParadiseChicJewelry]

I am not sure, I haven't had a problem with paypal myself. I think there is only paypal or credit card. I know some people don't like paying with credit card online, so they feel safer using paypal. I believe some people use Amazon, but I am not sure how that works, I don't think it is a dirrect option through Etsy, might be under other, but then I think they have to go to your amazon account when they hit other and not sure how that gets figured out. Everyone I have had so far has paid with paypal. I know I have had to call PayPal a few times and they are usually able to help me out. Like one time I got locked out of paypal. Hope this helps!

[ForgedMettleJewelry]

I actually won't buy stuff online unless they take paypal any more, it's SO easy and I've never had a problem with it myself...

[Former_Member]

Good luck with the switch. While I'm looking into taking alternative payment methods for those that despise paypal, I know that it's a necessary evil for the time being if I want to make any sales on here.

[Former_Member]

I love that you can print shipping labels with Paypal. . .I don't know about any of the others. . .

[Former_Member]

google checkout sucks at first, once youre established though it's great.
dwolla is ok, make sure you use their instant pay invoice, outer it'll ask your buyer intrusive questions.

I prefer google checkout, and have also done bank transfers with international folks.

if gc was an integrated option here, I'd remove paypal as a payment method entirely.

[Former_Member]

I wish there was a better alternative. I have heard some horror stories about paypal. Only issues I have had so far are that Paypal withholds deposits of a certain dollar amount for up to several months-I think this is terrible that they can do this. Besides that I hate the fees they charge.

[Former_Member]

I wish buyers could just full on pay with credit card through Etsy. I would still use Paypal. But I just thought it bears mentioning in this thread

[Former_Member]

or if Etsy didnt want that liability maybe fulling integrating Google Checkout like someone else mentioned

[Former_Member]

As a huge shopper who uses paypal primarily, it might deter me from buying if I couldn't use it depending on how much of a hassle the other option was to sign up for. If I love something a lot I'm going to find a way to buy it though, depends on how unique the item is and how much I love it. If I absolutely fell in love with something and was unable to use paypal I might search elsewhre for it first.

[Former_Member]

I would not want etsy handling my money.
I wish square worked online, theyre the best.

[Former_Member]

tarren the google is an invoice, works just like paypal but without having to make a profile.

[DeerGirlDesigns]

yeah paypal ordering the antique violin to be destroyed was pretty horrible...

[AtelierniShasha]

love paypal. for now. no issues with it yet.

[Former_Member]

I have not had any issues with Paypal. Sold on Ebay for years. A buyer that refused to use PP did cause me headaches, however. She agreed to pay for her purchases with a postal money order. Dozens of wild, nonsensical emails and some time later, an envelope with cash (more $ than the purchase price) showed up at my door. I had to make change and include it in her package. Never heard from her again; no feedback, nothing.
Besides that, other buyers sent bad checks. One lady sent me 2 bad checks. End result is that I refuse to accept any form of payment other than PP.

[Former_Member]

I dont take checks. or money orders. paypal isn't the only option to those.

[Former_Member]

Paypal was really good when I did have someone that hacked my account. That's the only issue I see with it and that's just a constant battle of internet security. I feel more confident with paypal just because they have a system to alert me when something goes wrong and find the culprit and most importantly get me my money back.

[Former_Member]

Google sounds easy wnough then. That's good to know.
Off to google paypal etsy & the violin. !!!

[DeerGirlDesigns]

The violin had nothing to do with etsy. It happened through ebay. An antique violin was smashed to pieces. As apart of Paypal's policy, if something is a counterfeit, or SNAD (significantly not as described) the buyer must destroy it in order to get their money back. The problem is it takes experts to determine the authenticity of a violin's label and often the label means NOTHING when it comes to appraising antique violins and a luthier must be involved. Reps at paypal had no right to deem this violin a counterfeit, but did and the buyer smashed it to pieces and photographed it. It may not have been made by the maker on the label (it was common in violin making to reference a master in your label to show who you replicated) but it was, nonetheless, an antique violin that made it through World War II. Really sad. We can all use paypal. We have no choice. But make no mistake, they are pretty screwed up.

google: paypal violin. Beware, the image of the smashed instrument might make you sick.

[DeerGirlDesigns]

Also beware that, from what I have heard, paypal always sides with the buyer so if we sell something and someone says they didn't get it- even if we have confirmation and evidence, we are pretty much screwed as well. :(