Zelle or PayPal

[Crowtalks]

When I see requests for these payment options from a seller concerning a firearm, it sets off alarm bells in my head. IMHO the best payment option for both buyer and seller is a USPS money order. Has any one ever successfully used these options without getting ripped off?

Paypal is anti-gun and may dump you without warning over firearm related purchases...which means there is basically no protection from them...especially if you use friend and family...
The Post office honoring any commitment over insurance or money order is a joke.
Sites that want minimum orders and take Zelle are scam site...period.
Credit Cards are still your safest bets, as far as a chance for a refund.

 

[Nor Cal Mikie]

Just sold my English Fowler. Buyer is sending a personal check. When it clears, I'll ship the Fowler. (per his instructions) Can't get much better than that.
I do LOTS of Pay Pal transactions. Got a Credit Card attached for payment. Works pretty smooth that way. NO bank account #s tied to the account. I have been known to send CASH. The builder of my Fowler? 3 or 4 100 dollar bills sent in the mail. Figured that wasn't enough so I did that again. No issues ans everybody was happy.

 

[SOLANCO]

My personal check only. I can wait for it to clear the bank before you ship. I understand that. And my cancelled check is proof of payment.
If you send a USPS money order and the vendor is a crook good luck. The postal inspectors are not going to stir off their hind ends for the typical transaction amounts we would have. You might as well have sent cash and saved the money order fee.
As an aside, if you have difficulty dealing with a company, try their local Better Business Bureau. I have found some of them to be very good at helping the consumer.

 

[Okie Hog]

Although it's relatively rare, checks can bounce after clearing your bank:


"Precautions and Solutions
It goes without saying that you might want to be cautious about accepting a check from someone you don't know well. Even if you do know the payer – they might be your sister or your best friend – don't assume that a check has cleared your account and make transactions on the money unless at least five business days have passed and that credit is still showing up in your bank account.

Better yet, call the payer's bank and inquire about the check's status to find out if it's cleared on that end before you tap into the money. You can also inquire at your own bank to find out exactly what their process and timeline is for clearing a deposited check for safe withdrawal. Its funds availability requirements should be posted on its website.

Of course, you're in a much safer position if the check is drawn on an account that's with the same bank you use. In this case, you can pretty much rest assured that your bank will know if the check is good well before five days have passed."


Can a Check Bounce After It Has Cleared the Bank? | Sapling

 

[Griz44Mag]

When I see requests for these payment options from a seller concerning a firearm, it sets off alarm bells in my head. IMHO the best payment option for both buyer and seller is a USPS money order. Has any one ever successfully used these options without getting ripped off?

You need to be more concerned with the seller than the payment method. I have used delle for over a decade without an issue. I will NEVER use or accept another USPS payment. I lost both a gun and a payment due to a USPS employee issuing a bad check. The employee after being caught was not fired or forced to pay restitution. He still is a current employee. Your close attention to the person on the other end is your biggest risk. Know the seller and his past record.

 

[Griz44Mag]

I have used PayPal hundreds of times without one problem. Paypal is protected. PayPal Friends and family is not. I would advise not using friends and Family unless you are reasonably certain of the integrity of the individual you are sending money. I use Postal Money orders for Fire Arms.

Use PayPal for anything gun related and get your account frozen or closed. Bad idea. Treat PayPal like the woke enemy that they are.

 

[Griz44Mag]

My 2 cents....I have used PayPal for years to buy and sell items and have never had any problems. I won't use Zelle or take payment from Zelle.
I look at Zelle as the place people who have been banned from PayPal use.
But you are correct USPS money order is a sure thing.

Pure BS. Search for my posts on my experience with them.

 

[bang]

I have been told about frauds by numerous people. All involved zelle. IMHO if there is no financial guarantees don't use it.

 

[Flying B]

Pure BS. Search for my posts on my experience with them.

Thats your opinion and who do you think you are to call my opinion pure BS ?

 

[Griz44Mag]

Thats your opinion and who do you think you are to call my opinion pure BS ?

I don't think I know, I do know. And as you stated- That's your opinion. My documented experience with them is FACT!
Use them if you want to - USPS is not who you think they are.
Since you are too lazy to search yourself - follow along and get up to speed.
https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/payment-methods-that-you-only-think-are-secure.117775/

 

[SDSmlf]

I know a lot of folks like to use PayPal, but after I got burned a while back by them I just refuse. My opinion of them went sour after I made a purchase using PayPal a number of years ago.

Received the product with no problem. Not a banned item, they are still for sale everyday on eBay. A few months later my PayPal account was frozen with no explanation. Could not get my money. Turns out the company I had purchased the item from was selling something else PayPal decided was against their rules. Froze the seller’s and all their buyers’ accounts until the investigation was complete. It was months before I had access to MY money.

What was really infuriating was that the investigation clock (90 days I believe) didn’t start until I attempted to withdraw my money. They had continued to accept payments after their investigation began, but funds were all put on hold from me. Vendor I made the purchase from was cleared and their account was reinstated, but mine was locked up another four or five weeks, because the PayPal fine print allowed 90 days for the investigation, after I was notified. Got the impression that if I pushed too hard I would need to go to court.

Within hours of getting my money (it was a few grand) after their ‘waiting period’, for lack of a better term, and closing my account from my end, I started to receive emails from PayPal wanting me to reactivate my account.......

 

[Tenring]

If I can get to know the seller and trust the deal I would prefer PayPal you can get everything taken care of quick, I have bought and sold here and all has went well. Thank God.

 

[Flying B]

I don't think I know, I do know. And as you stated- That's your opinion. My documented experience with them is FACT!
Use them if you want to - USPS is not who you think they are.
Since you are too lazy to search yourself - follow along and get up to speed.
https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/payment-methods-that-you-only-think-are-secure.117775/

Now you are calling me lazy? Geeze... My daughter used to call people names but we explained to her that it makes her look like a baby and she stopped doing it. I really dont give a rats ass to be honest . My opinion now is I will receive another response and it will include some sort of a threat.

 

[Okie Hog]

i've used PayPal to fund dozens of purchases, never had any problem. i don't buy guns from vendors on the web.

Zelle is the preferred payment method used by scam artists to rip people off.

 

[Griz44Mag]

Yep. I've seen the posts from people who have been scammed by some one asking for Zelle and PP. Like I said alarm bells went off when I read Zelle. I've always used Postal MO's and never had a problem, I also use PayPal but not for firearm related purchases. A friend of mine got scammed about 2 months ago on a BP purchase using PayPal F & F which is what first alerted me to this problem........ Thanks for the replies. It's a shame we have to question every thing today but an ounce of prevention prevents a ton of misery.

KNOW THE SELLER. If it someone new on here (or elsewhere) do some homework.
The payment method is less important than the person you are doing business with.
If they are new here get some references from somewhere else, - like ebay, gunbroker, etc.....
If the seller is legit, they will provide verifiable reputation information.
I have done business with a hundred or more folks here on this site, buying and selling.
I would rather receive a personal check or a ZELLE any day.
I will not accept a USPS - for reasons stated above.
I will accept a ZELLE - through my bank - that carries all the security of a personal check.
I will send a ZELLE - through my bank - that carries all the security of a personal check. And the bank will legally go after a scammer.
Personal checks deposited electronically generally clear the bank in 10-12 hours.
ZELLE transfers are instant.
I know 3 people who have had accounts frozen by PayPal. PayPal is NOT your friend.

 

[James Dietz]

For big items I use a bank cashiers check. For smaller, less than $100, I use a Wells Fargo money order purchased at 7-11. Paypal had a security breach about 7 years ago that caused us a lot of financial problems. Got our bank account refreshed but it took about 3 weeks. No paypal since then for me.

 

[blackeagle]

Paypal may be unfriendly toward gun sales but I've never had them ask me what goods I was transacting. They don't seem to be monitoring the use of their service for the sale or purchase of gun parts on ebay.

I wouldn't use friends and family for anyone who isn't actual family or a close friend you know in person.

Has anyone had someone ask if they can pay through Venmo? I've never used it and declined the sale.

 

[Griz44Mag]

Now you are calling me lazy? Geeze... My daughter used to call people names but we explained to her that it makes her look like a baby and she stopped doing it. I really dont give a rats ass to be honest . My opinion now is I will receive another response and it will include some sort of a threat.

So did you read the link before responded with your temper tantrum?

 

[Griz44Mag]

i've used PayPal to fund dozens of purchases, never had any problem. i don't buy guns from vendors on the web.

Zelle is the preferred payment method used by scam artists to rip people off.

The 7 major banking systems all use ZELLE and offer it to their customers.
Ever wonder why?

 

[Griz44Mag]

3 or 4 100 dollar bills sent in the mail.

Probably best not to advertise that.
I have lost and/or never received checks sent to me. At least the sender can recover his funds that way.