Thread: I dont have paypal... how to buy

Originally Posted by napoleon

I'll ask around for the single use card number.

Meanwhile, what about this?

I am not sure why you are averse to opening a paypal account. The overhead fees are smaller than the Western Union and paypal at least has some protection for the buyer/seller. Whether the seller would accept Western Union is another thing - they get their cash and you get no protection whatsoever, but it is a hassle for them, so they may not even want to deal with it.
As far as I know sending cash in envelope is not recommended - read the terms and conditions of the post office, before you go that route. They can inspect the mail and if something is not allowed they will confiscate it.
I am pretty sure your bank can issue you a debit card that is compatible with Visa or Mastercard and you can use that one to pay most merchants.

But really almost any other method is worse in some ways than paypal, you may want to tell us more why you don't want to open a paypal account.

You can simply wire funds from your bank account to the Ebay representative bank...

It simply means that you have to register your bank account in Ebay and then call an option to wire funds by TT transfer, and Ebay will provide you a bank name and account as well as a reference number where to send your funds..

All the operation from day 1 until it reaches your paypal account may take 5 workeable days..

That's all... otherwise, Western Union is a good option if the seller is willing to go to the WU front-desk and withdraw the money in personn.....

Some vicinity are not that safe, especially in USA... so I have been told several times...

And that's true that Paypal was/is making everything to discourage the seller to accept WU transfer, as they are not using Paypal, it represents a competion........ So let's frightened the people..... and they will follow as sheeps..

It remembers me something........................................

Otherwise, you can open a Paypal account and start to sell some things on Ebay.... As you will have enough on your account, you will be able to buy stuff...

Na razie!

The danger with Western Union is for BUYERS, not sellers. There is absolutely no protection. All the seller needs is the transaction number and a fake ID. Then he can pick up the cash from any Western Union outlet and the buyer has NO recourse.

If you are buying online, DO NOT use Western Union unless you know and trust the seller.

On another topic: bank wire transfers are great in theory, but the fees can be ridiculous, depending on where you live. They seem to be more popular (and cheaper) in Europe. But the last time I asked about wiring funds from here (Canada) to the UK, the fee was $40.00. Not very practical when you're buying a $50 razor.

-1 on what Bruno said.

I've been a seller on ebay for 8 years now, so has my wife. I'm not talking about the odd sale - I sell items everyday. Both my wife and I have been ripped off by PayPal and its supposed "seller protection" many times.

In the end analysis, it's very useful, very convenient, but just not secure. It's like any other form of payment - it has its pros and cons. If you have a rapport or prior experience with a seller or buyer, then you make your decision based on that - and cash via insured mail is just as good as any other method. If there is the intent to deceive on either side, then I'm afraid that you are are going to lose out, particularly if there are oceans between you.

My wife had one of the most flagrant PayPal deceits that I can bring to mind. she posted goods to a buyer in another country with a good PayPal account - she even insured the goods at the buyers request, which resulted in a pretty hefty shipping charge. The buyer got the goods then said that they had not ordered them - somebody had used their credit card. Did PayPal help, Bruno? NO THEY DID NOT. They advised that they would help the foreigh police. Ha Ha. Very helpful I don't think. I guess overseas police forces don't think too much of the cost of international telephone telephone fees, particularly if they have to make the calls!

As for myself, my worst experience was as a buyer (not that I have not had bad experiences as a seller, too). I sent a lot of money to a guy in an EU country, secure in the knowledge that PayPal advised that they guaranteed me "buyer protection" on any transaction up to £500. I didn't spend that much, but it wasn't that far short. The goods never arrived. I complained to PayPal, asking them to act on their much publicised security. They refunded me a measly £22 - a fraction of what I had spent. Where did the £22 come from - it came from the funds available in the sellers account before he shut it down. They didn't prosecute him, they didn't go after his money, they simply froze his account and gave me back whatever was in it. Worked hard for me, didn't they?! That was a couple of years ago - I went to complain again a year ago. "Case closed" was their only reply. Good old PayPal. BTW, he is still trading. He opened a new PayPal account. Doesn't inspire me with much confidence!

You pays your money and you takes your choice is an adage that always holds true for me. PayPal has let me down often - getting to know someone and taking my own informed opinion and trading in cash never has. No doubt I've been lucky though. But at least when I come a cropper I will have only myself to blame and not a multi-national organisation like PayPal that is content to grow fat on peoples money who blindly trust them without ever knowing that they are committed to themselves and not to anyone else.

Regards,
Neil.

PS: sorry for the rant. Hurt pride speaking.

I've been buying and selling online since 1998 and I have to say that PayPal, despite some minor drawbacks, has to be the easiest option for a private user. You do not need a paypal account to use paypal, the seller never sees your card number (I can absolutely vouch for that!) - in fact paypal acts almost like a kind of escrow service, as a buyer always has recourse via paypal if things go pear-shaped. It might be a little more expensive to run than a merchant account but that's offset by its simplicity. Just use it once or twice and you'll see what I mean - and no, I don't work for PayPal!!

On the flip I have had MASSIVE problems with things like IBAN, bankers drafts etc. - not in their integrity but the cost and general messing about can be a nightmare. I really have to hand it to paypal - they got the right idea at the right time.

OK, thanks everybody.