For people smarter than me about inter-webby dealings...

[swing_potato]

I'm trying to set up a shop on Etsy (handcrafter's Ebay), and the recommend that people give you money for your goods through Paypal

Comments

[lunathecat]

Heya! Paypal is really easy. You set up an account (I did it using my checking account information), they make a small deposit (like 4 cents) to make sure it works, and then it's just an easy way for people to deposit money directly, quickly and easily into your bank account without publicly displaying your banking information. It's not shady at all and a lot of Etsy vendors use it (which makes my life as a buyer easier).

[jokulhaup]

Paypal is very easy and user-friendly, but they've been known for following a lot of sketchy practices. For instance, if someone pays you with a stolen credit card, paypal has been known to "flag" your account for "criminal activity" and take all the money in it. There's a whole site dedicated to documenting this sort of thing at paypalsucks.com

That being said, if you avoid keeping a lot of cash in your account at any given time, you're really not at a lot of risk. I use it relatively often for ebay purposes, and I've never had a problem.

[corman842]

Yes, I would have to agree with the above Mags (and that other fellow as well). For small time potatoes (who swing!) such as yourself, Paypal is a great tool. I had a sort of quasi non publicized addiction of sorts to eBay as a lad (my Grandpa is absolutely shocked I'm not a business major as a result) and Paypal is a good, easy way to handle things. They do take a small percentage out for credit card fees, but it's not that much, and I just build the fees into my shipping charge, it's pretty common practice to do so (just call it &handling). If you want some help setting it up, feel free to give me a ring ting ting a ling- I've helped plenty of my Dad's technologically challenged friends do so just fine. End nerdly rant. How are you?

[corman842]

And by above Mags, I mean Marielle. Whoops.

[grannybananny]

Is there money order on the internet or is it postal? 'Cause I learned a little bit about the latter kind this summer...

[demonic_lilith]

I'm so glad you posted this as when you mentioned Etsy earlier, i checked it out, and have decided to possibly join in order to sell my wallets and maybe some buttons sometime. =)