Bob:
People get along better than governments, unfortunately. So petty, so counter-productive. You haven't been auctioning any Winston Churchills recently for me to bid on. Got any from the countries on eBay's interdiction list? And, thanks for the heads-up as I am a now-and-then buyer on that website.
John Derry
Just another reason I left PayPal, years ago.....................P
Perry,
Do you use another online service? Or check or money order only? I'm curious what other services people like and use...
Lisa, if the amount is small, say under $50, then cash is in order. Larger amounts I check to see if my check is okay, usually I only bid from folks I've dealt with many times - never had a problem even with $1000 or more involved. Perry
" ..... Just another reason I left PayPal, years ago.....................P .... "
As did I.
I hate to be bullied into using something by e-Bay or anyone else.
In response to Lisa's question:
PayPal and eBay of course are joined at the hip. I find it disconcerting that you have to use PayPal on eBay because of the profit potential. eBay charges you to list an item and requires you to accept payment by PayPal which means a $0.30 + 2.9% service fee.
However, let's suppose that I wish to sell a mint stamp at the mininum Scott Catalog value of $0.20 plus mailing and will accept a check. My buyer has to mail me the $0.66 check at $0.46. His cost is now $1.12. This does not include my cost to deposit the check. If my customer uses PayPal their cost $0.66 and my cost is now $0.32. So there is an advantage to using PayPal in terms of the overall cost, but it really depends on the price of the item you are selling.
If you use PayPal you are not supposed to charge the buyer the PayPal fees. I use a bank that allows me to deposit checks online with no fees. Hence I prefer checks, but I will accept PayPal for customer convenience.
Thank you, Leslie, I think it's good practice and good business for a stamp seller to accept "payPal". As a stamp buyer, I use "payPal" for convenience, security and speed, despite the overhead. (For example, exchange rates charged for conversion to US dollars are criminal.)
All considered, "payPal" is less expensive for me than the alternatives. Moreover, sellers, particularly American sellers, go wobbly when you "show them the money" - that's what makes them great people to do business with.
By comparison, and generally speaking, the Canadian business attitude is one of "I'm doing you a great favour by accepting your custom."
Bottom line, "payPal" is my solution for international payment.
John Derry
Going back to the original posting: Paypal or ebay have nothing to do with this. The US government has imposed trade boycotts with several countries. It is simply illegal for paypal to facilitate purchases of stamps from Cuba. Similarly, it would be illegal to buy stamps from Cuba and pay with a check. No trading with Cuba. The country is boycotted. So, if they are discussing a work around the trade restrictions on that other forums, i.e., how to transfer funds to/from Cuba avoiding "evil" paypal, I hope the FBI is not following the discussion
However, to my understanding there is no prohibition on selling Cuban stamps that are already in the US, i.e., domestic transactions, and you will find 3,500+ offers of various Cuban stamps currently offered from U.S. sellers posted on ebay.com, probably all of which can be paid by paypal, and some on our auction as well.
Arno
"However, to my understanding there is no prohibition on selling Cuban stamps that are already in the US, i.e., domestic transactions, and you will find 3,500+ offers of various Cuban stamps currently offered from U.S. sellers posted on ebay.com, probably all of which can be paid by paypal, and some on our auction as well. "
Arno, that's not quite correct.
The trade embargo, relating to Cuban postage stamps, applies to stamps issued after February 7, 1963. All stamps issued by Cuba prior to that date are not subject to the embargo. In addition, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Treasury Department has stated that used stamps from Cuba may be imported and sold without limitation. Unused stamps from Cuba may be imported for personal use only, and may not be resold.
My 2 cents worth
Stamp collecting is global -international, I am sure most of us have stamps from countries that certain governments say we may not deal in.
Now paypal is after our business. In Canada there is no restrictions on buying or selling stamps from Cuba,unless of course my buyer happens to be from the US and paypal decides thats a nono or ebay says No you cant sell that.
I have made numerous trips to Cuba as that country is #1 to go for Canadiens to go on Holidays. And its a lot of fun bartering with stamp collectors/dealers down there and I always come back with Cuban stamps.
If only governments would leave us alone and let us collect / trade/ sell stamps from whatever country we want and and outfits like paypal let us do it.
Now years ago I used to sell a few Cuban collector cigar boxes filled with kilo ware and original contents of box was also included, that is illegal in Canada and the US so ebay did finally get rid of those listings. and sent me a warning.
But my American buyers loved them
Lee
Not to get off topic but comments about ebay forcing sellers/buyers to use paypal is not correct They suggest it and make it part of your sellers ranking but cannot solely say 'Paypal Only" here is a link to the payments accepted page it includes check money order they only insist that you have 1 form of electronic payment type-Paypal -of course,-Propay-, Skrill , Merchant CC or Pay on pick up. They will brow beat you with paypal e-mail nasty messages and mess with your rating.
http://pages.ebay.com/help/pay/accepted-payment-methods.html#options
(Modified by Moderator on 2013-05-03 12:48:57)
Lee, I agree with you 100%. (Now can I go no vacation with you?)
To Lee's point, sellers from overseas (outside the U.S.) are complaining as their countries don't have an embargo against these countries, so it is legal for them to ship there so it shouldn't affect them.
Bob
" ....but comments about ebay forcing sellers/buyers to use paypal is not correct ...."
Yes, Ross, that is true, however I interpreted their policy as saying;"... Sure, you can use other payment systems, if you dare. ..."
I seem to remember that sellers were proscribed from asking for cash to settle bids.
Perhaps my reading between the lines was overly paranoid, but I have been buying stamps, choosing approvals and settling up for bids won, for about fifty years, including slightly over 1,000 lots here at SoR,and prefer to use cash for anything less than $20.00 -$30.00.
In that time I have had precisely two problems, one when an envelope was filched from the seat of my car in 1988 and once, about five years ago, when an envelope was rifled at the West Palm Beach, Florida, post office between midnight on Friday when it was dropped in the post box at the post office and about 10:30AM Saturday morning when the invoice sans the $10.00, was discovered and placed in an ambulance cover to be returned to me.
I have no actual count on how many items I have sent or received through the mails during that time but I'd guess that I send or receive at least five to ten items a week.
Conservatively that should exceed 20,000 pieces of philatelic mail.
I suppose it is possible that one or two trading envelopes may have gotten pilfered in certain parts of the world and I never was made aware of their demise, but it cannot be more than a miniscule number in the overall scheme of things.
Dear SOR costumers:
Paypal and Ebay didn´t let us to sell Cuba stamps for embargo US reasons.
It is a crazy law against people from Cuba. As the US goberment don´t know is that this law affect not the Cuban goberment, it always affect Cuba citizen.
When we collect stamps we can´t be restringly to deal with any country. It doesn´t have sense.
Otherwise, if you need Cuba stamps just contact me.
Regards.
Freeshipping2015.
OK. I recently posted some nice Cuba sheets at low prices, then relisted at lower prices. One "scofflaw" purchase?
Will try again at my patented "ridiculously low" prices and will see what happens now...
Dave.
Stamporama payment information sent to PayPal does not detail the items that were sold. When you pay a seller here using PayPal, there is no problem like that encountered on ebay and other sites where the detailed sales information is provided to PayPal. Also, Stamporama is based in Canada, not the USA.
"...Also, Stamporama is based in Canada, not the USA."
Hmmmmm the same Paypal that charges me 34 cents to sell a 1.25 item !
"Stamporama is based in Canada, not the USA.
WHAT?!!???? Surprise
That's like a shock climax of a Twilight Zone episode!
"
So we could all sit around smoking Cubans while reading the board??
...and munching on Canadian bacon while listening to Celine Dion.
Don't forget your poutine!
(Sorry - couldn't resist - I know - off-topic).
"Stamporama is based in Canada, not the USA."
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
Land of Molson Bradors!
And Sleeman Brewery which is just down the road from me and the street behind me is named for it.
Sleeman Brewery is notoriously known as one of the breweries that was part of the Capone bootlegging from Canada to the US.
I know of someone who recently purchased an old truck that once belonged to Sleeman Brewery and one day when he closed his door a little too hard, a slot opened and there lay within a Tommy Gun. (True story, I swear) I live in a small city, but "the Ward" which was predominantly Italian until the past 20 years or so, actually contains tunnels between houses (it would be awesome to actually have access to them but of course they tunnel through peoples' homes!!!) through which members of the Mafia (Mob) escaped Police Raids. A friend of my family who was a child in the 1940s used to tell us about the times she remembered there would be a knock at the door and her father quickly let the person(s) enter her home who then escaped through the tunnel that was attached to her home. Not all homes were connected to the tunnels and I've never heard of anyone actually being caught "within" the tunnels. When they were no longer being searched for by the police, they would emerge from whatever home they were closest to or to Arthur Street which came out on the opposite of the "100 steps" into a house which still stands.
http://sleeman.ca/en/our-story
(My apologies to the moderators for going WAY off topic)
"Land of Molson Bradors!"
On bidStart, there is a discussion going on about sellers/buyers PayPal accounts being frozen because they are buying stamps from certain countries. See the list below.
Burma (Myanmar)
Cuba
Iran
North Korea
Sudan
Syria
I see a bunch of cuban stamps for sale with bids on them on SOR. One seller's username is cubanstampissues who takes PayPal.
Apparently there is no problem using other payment methods such as Google Wallet and MoneyBookers. Ebay is apparently not even allowing listings with any of the above countries. I have to modify a bunch of my listings on bidStart. This is totally crazy. I hope it gets worked out sometime soon.
I just don't want anyone to get shut out of PayPal because of this. Not sure if all the sellers/buyers see this. Perhaps someone can contact them to make them aware.
Bob
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
Bob:
People get along better than governments, unfortunately. So petty, so counter-productive. You haven't been auctioning any Winston Churchills recently for me to bid on. Got any from the countries on eBay's interdiction list? And, thanks for the heads-up as I am a now-and-then buyer on that website.
John Derry
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
Just another reason I left PayPal, years ago.....................P
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
Perry,
Do you use another online service? Or check or money order only? I'm curious what other services people like and use...
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
Lisa, if the amount is small, say under $50, then cash is in order. Larger amounts I check to see if my check is okay, usually I only bid from folks I've dealt with many times - never had a problem even with $1000 or more involved. Perry
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
" ..... Just another reason I left PayPal, years ago.....................P .... "
As did I.
I hate to be bullied into using something by e-Bay or anyone else.
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
In response to Lisa's question:
PayPal and eBay of course are joined at the hip. I find it disconcerting that you have to use PayPal on eBay because of the profit potential. eBay charges you to list an item and requires you to accept payment by PayPal which means a $0.30 + 2.9% service fee.
However, let's suppose that I wish to sell a mint stamp at the mininum Scott Catalog value of $0.20 plus mailing and will accept a check. My buyer has to mail me the $0.66 check at $0.46. His cost is now $1.12. This does not include my cost to deposit the check. If my customer uses PayPal their cost $0.66 and my cost is now $0.32. So there is an advantage to using PayPal in terms of the overall cost, but it really depends on the price of the item you are selling.
If you use PayPal you are not supposed to charge the buyer the PayPal fees. I use a bank that allows me to deposit checks online with no fees. Hence I prefer checks, but I will accept PayPal for customer convenience.
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
Thank you, Leslie, I think it's good practice and good business for a stamp seller to accept "payPal". As a stamp buyer, I use "payPal" for convenience, security and speed, despite the overhead. (For example, exchange rates charged for conversion to US dollars are criminal.)
All considered, "payPal" is less expensive for me than the alternatives. Moreover, sellers, particularly American sellers, go wobbly when you "show them the money" - that's what makes them great people to do business with.
By comparison, and generally speaking, the Canadian business attitude is one of "I'm doing you a great favour by accepting your custom."
Bottom line, "payPal" is my solution for international payment.
John Derry
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
Going back to the original posting: Paypal or ebay have nothing to do with this. The US government has imposed trade boycotts with several countries. It is simply illegal for paypal to facilitate purchases of stamps from Cuba. Similarly, it would be illegal to buy stamps from Cuba and pay with a check. No trading with Cuba. The country is boycotted. So, if they are discussing a work around the trade restrictions on that other forums, i.e., how to transfer funds to/from Cuba avoiding "evil" paypal, I hope the FBI is not following the discussion
However, to my understanding there is no prohibition on selling Cuban stamps that are already in the US, i.e., domestic transactions, and you will find 3,500+ offers of various Cuban stamps currently offered from U.S. sellers posted on ebay.com, probably all of which can be paid by paypal, and some on our auction as well.
Arno
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
"However, to my understanding there is no prohibition on selling Cuban stamps that are already in the US, i.e., domestic transactions, and you will find 3,500+ offers of various Cuban stamps currently offered from U.S. sellers posted on ebay.com, probably all of which can be paid by paypal, and some on our auction as well. "
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
Arno, that's not quite correct.
The trade embargo, relating to Cuban postage stamps, applies to stamps issued after February 7, 1963. All stamps issued by Cuba prior to that date are not subject to the embargo. In addition, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Treasury Department has stated that used stamps from Cuba may be imported and sold without limitation. Unused stamps from Cuba may be imported for personal use only, and may not be resold.
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
My 2 cents worth
Stamp collecting is global -international, I am sure most of us have stamps from countries that certain governments say we may not deal in.
Now paypal is after our business. In Canada there is no restrictions on buying or selling stamps from Cuba,unless of course my buyer happens to be from the US and paypal decides thats a nono or ebay says No you cant sell that.
I have made numerous trips to Cuba as that country is #1 to go for Canadiens to go on Holidays. And its a lot of fun bartering with stamp collectors/dealers down there and I always come back with Cuban stamps.
If only governments would leave us alone and let us collect / trade/ sell stamps from whatever country we want and and outfits like paypal let us do it.
Now years ago I used to sell a few Cuban collector cigar boxes filled with kilo ware and original contents of box was also included, that is illegal in Canada and the US so ebay did finally get rid of those listings. and sent me a warning.
But my American buyers loved them
Lee
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
Not to get off topic but comments about ebay forcing sellers/buyers to use paypal is not correct They suggest it and make it part of your sellers ranking but cannot solely say 'Paypal Only" here is a link to the payments accepted page it includes check money order they only insist that you have 1 form of electronic payment type-Paypal -of course,-Propay-, Skrill , Merchant CC or Pay on pick up. They will brow beat you with paypal e-mail nasty messages and mess with your rating.
http://pages.ebay.com/help/pay/accepted-payment-methods.html#options
(Modified by Moderator on 2013-05-03 12:48:57)
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
Lee, I agree with you 100%. (Now can I go no vacation with you?)
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
To Lee's point, sellers from overseas (outside the U.S.) are complaining as their countries don't have an embargo against these countries, so it is legal for them to ship there so it shouldn't affect them.
Bob
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
" ....but comments about ebay forcing sellers/buyers to use paypal is not correct ...."
Yes, Ross, that is true, however I interpreted their policy as saying;"... Sure, you can use other payment systems, if you dare. ..."
I seem to remember that sellers were proscribed from asking for cash to settle bids.
Perhaps my reading between the lines was overly paranoid, but I have been buying stamps, choosing approvals and settling up for bids won, for about fifty years, including slightly over 1,000 lots here at SoR,and prefer to use cash for anything less than $20.00 -$30.00.
In that time I have had precisely two problems, one when an envelope was filched from the seat of my car in 1988 and once, about five years ago, when an envelope was rifled at the West Palm Beach, Florida, post office between midnight on Friday when it was dropped in the post box at the post office and about 10:30AM Saturday morning when the invoice sans the $10.00, was discovered and placed in an ambulance cover to be returned to me.
I have no actual count on how many items I have sent or received through the mails during that time but I'd guess that I send or receive at least five to ten items a week.
Conservatively that should exceed 20,000 pieces of philatelic mail.
I suppose it is possible that one or two trading envelopes may have gotten pilfered in certain parts of the world and I never was made aware of their demise, but it cannot be more than a miniscule number in the overall scheme of things.
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
Dear SOR costumers:
Paypal and Ebay didn´t let us to sell Cuba stamps for embargo US reasons.
It is a crazy law against people from Cuba. As the US goberment don´t know is that this law affect not the Cuban goberment, it always affect Cuba citizen.
When we collect stamps we can´t be restringly to deal with any country. It doesn´t have sense.
Otherwise, if you need Cuba stamps just contact me.
Regards.
Freeshipping2015.
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
OK. I recently posted some nice Cuba sheets at low prices, then relisted at lower prices. One "scofflaw" purchase?
Will try again at my patented "ridiculously low" prices and will see what happens now...
Dave.
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
Stamporama payment information sent to PayPal does not detail the items that were sold. When you pay a seller here using PayPal, there is no problem like that encountered on ebay and other sites where the detailed sales information is provided to PayPal. Also, Stamporama is based in Canada, not the USA.
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
"...Also, Stamporama is based in Canada, not the USA."
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
Hmmmmm the same Paypal that charges me 34 cents to sell a 1.25 item !
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
"Stamporama is based in Canada, not the USA.
WHAT?!!???? Surprise
That's like a shock climax of a Twilight Zone episode!
"
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
So we could all sit around smoking Cubans while reading the board??
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
...and munching on Canadian bacon while listening to Celine Dion.
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
Don't forget your poutine!
(Sorry - couldn't resist - I know - off-topic).
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
"Stamporama is based in Canada, not the USA."
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
Land of Molson Bradors!
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
And Sleeman Brewery which is just down the road from me and the street behind me is named for it.
Sleeman Brewery is notoriously known as one of the breweries that was part of the Capone bootlegging from Canada to the US.
I know of someone who recently purchased an old truck that once belonged to Sleeman Brewery and one day when he closed his door a little too hard, a slot opened and there lay within a Tommy Gun. (True story, I swear) I live in a small city, but "the Ward" which was predominantly Italian until the past 20 years or so, actually contains tunnels between houses (it would be awesome to actually have access to them but of course they tunnel through peoples' homes!!!) through which members of the Mafia (Mob) escaped Police Raids. A friend of my family who was a child in the 1940s used to tell us about the times she remembered there would be a knock at the door and her father quickly let the person(s) enter her home who then escaped through the tunnel that was attached to her home. Not all homes were connected to the tunnels and I've never heard of anyone actually being caught "within" the tunnels. When they were no longer being searched for by the police, they would emerge from whatever home they were closest to or to Arthur Street which came out on the opposite of the "100 steps" into a house which still stands.
http://sleeman.ca/en/our-story
(My apologies to the moderators for going WAY off topic)
re: PayPal Freezing Accounts of Buyers & Sellers Who Sell Cuba and other Countries
"Land of Molson Bradors!"