INFORMATION ARTICLE

The PayPal Merchant System

What is it and how does it work?

The PayPal merchant system is actually quite simple.  You can make a Visa or Mastercard payment to anyone that has an email address.

The charge goes through a secure server direct to PayPal and they then send it to the person you are paying.  It doesn't post on their website or go through the hands or systems of others.  Actually, it is much safer than paying an individual company direct.  

You are paying a large company backed by Deutsch Bank, Nokia and others.  The merchant nor anyone else sees, receives or has any access to your credit card information.  There is no chance of some ethically weak link in the system using it in-appropriately.

You may have heard how some hackers have compromised the security of small websites and gathered credit card numbers.  That doesn't happen with secure servers and the system that has been set up.

You may have heard how some unscrupulous people have gone back and charged again and again on credit cards.  Some bill a second time hoping you don't see it.  Some bill small amounts that may be a nuisance to fight.  Use a debit card and they may clean out your whole account.

That can't happen.  PayPal is the ONLY one that has your credit card on file and you are the ONLY one that can authorize a payment.  That's a lot safer than eating at a restaurant and worrying if the busboy or some "dumpster diver" is going to get a copy of your receipt.  OR WORSE - some of the gas stations and small stores that print your name, credit card number and expiration date right on the receipt.

PayPal is a unique and secure service that makes sense.

It takes a couple minutes to register, but you can use it over and over.  Personally I prefer that one large reputable company has my credit card number instead of every merchant or individual I buy from.  

Once you are registered, then YOU can receive Visa and Mastercard payments from others on auctions or other transactions.  You also don't lose 1-4% or more in processing fees.  There are no such fees at PayPal.  If someone pays you a hundred dollars, you receive a hundred dollars.  

You can leave all, some or none of the money in your account.  Leave it there to make payments to others or request a check and it will be sent immediately.  It's like an email bank account.  Our experience with it has been very positive and we feel quite confident using PayPal.

It's just a couple extra steps, but well worth it.  Instead of costing you money like credit cards, you actually get a $5 bonus when you sign up.

Just click on this link to register.       

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