Decided to bite the bullet and go for it at Rayfoss...no dice...

[keithnyc]

OK folks, this saga gets even better. In addition to the 50 mW green pen laser I already ordered from LEDShoppe ($29), I decided to go back to Faona at RayFoss and do the one time Paypal transaction to order two more green lasers...that disco/starpattern 30mW palm laser and the other green pointer with the star attachments on the keychain...the whole thing totalled $55. Cool. I go to the link that Faona emails me and I enter my information on the onetime payment side of the Paypal screen. Well, they wouldn't accept payment from either my Mastercard or Amex (just like what happened when I ordered at O-Like). And when I wrote back to PayPal, they said that they cannot respond to my email address...I need to "open and account with them" and then respond through customer service. :tsk:
why can't these guys be like LEDshoppe or wickedLaser and simply have a credit card payment screen?

That's it...I'm done for now. I'm waiting for my LEDshoppe laser and Ill be happy with it. Hopefully it will get through customs with no problems :bowdown::thanks:

 

[LyncHung]

PayPal is way better than just giving anyone your credit card info. PayPal is trusted and insured. You giving out your credit card for lasers is not insured. Setup an account with PayPal, it's quick and easy. I rather use PayPal than my credit card on every site i buy stuff from.

 

[roosl]

PayPal is way better than just giving anyone your credit card info. PayPal is trusted and insured. You giving out your credit card for lasers is not insured. Setup an account with PayPal, it's quick and easy. I rather use PayPal than my credit card on every site i buy stuff from.

Companies that accept major credit cards are usually reputable, have sound relationships with issuing banks, and pay merchant fees in order to conduct such transactions. These usually direct you to an https (secure site), and are not unsafe (otherwise, don't proceed).

Paypal is a spin-off of ebay, and while it is popular with other merchants (I use it myself for my shareware), it is no more "trusted and insured" than credit cards. Either party can dispute sales or purchases. It's also a pain in the a$$ to get funds into your account. In fact, if Paypal knows your purchase is laser-related, they'll likely prevent the transaction.

When I purchase online I prefer to use my Amex card.

You giving out your credit card for lasers is not insured.

This statement is simply inane.
.

 

[LyncHung]

Companies that accept major credit cards are usually reputable, have sound relationships with issuing banks, and pay merchant fees in order to conduct such transactions. These usually direct you to an https (secure site), and are not unsafe (otherwise, don't proceed).

Paypal is a spin-off of ebay, and while it is popular with other merchants (I use it myself for my shareware), it is no more "trusted and insured" than credit cards. Either party can dispute sales or purchases. It's also a pain in the a$$ to get funds into your account. In fact, if Paypal knows your purchase is laser-related, they'll likely prevent the transaction.

When I purchase online I prefer to use my Amex card.


This statement is simply inane.
.

I agree with your first part. Ussually if a merchant goes through the trouble to accept credit cards directly, then they ussually do it through a secured third party.
Paypal is NOT a spin-off of eBay. eBay is an auction site, PayPal is a money transfer company (there's probably a better term but i don't know it). Their secure servers, method of deposit/withdrawal, I think, are much better than some alternatives.

My statement is not inane at all. Irresponsibly giving out ANY financial information on the Internet can be dangerous. I'm not saying that reputable companies would do anything, but the potential for problems is higher the more you type your credit info into your computer and send it over the Internet.

 

[rpaloalto]

I think what roosl meant, was ebay owns paypal.
Many of these smaller online retailers. Choose not to take credit cards directly, because it is very expensive. They have to pay visa, mastercard etc usage fees.

 

[keithnyc]

Thanks to all the responses. As I indicated in an earlier post, I am not a big fan of Paypal. I didn't even have an account with them and a few years agi someone got my credit card number and opened a paypal account for all these fraudulant purchases. My credit card company was great, but dealing with Paypal was a freakin' nightmare 9and I wasn't even a paypal customer). No one answers a phone, customer service re: fraud investigation is a NIGHTMARE and forget trying to resolve disputes easily and effectively the way I have in the past with Amex or Mastercard.
Just my own opinion. I realize this shuts me out of the game with a lot of merchandisers out there (like RayFoss and O-Like). Oh well, I'll need to go with the higher priced folks or deal with LEDshoppe. Thanks again for everyone's help.

 

[roosl]

I think what roosl meant, was ebay owns paypal.
Many of these smaller online retailers. Choose not to take credit cards directly, because it is very expensive. They have to pay visa, mastercard etc usage fees.

Yes. They bought Paypal to replace their own processor (Billpoint or something like that).

Irresponsibly giving out ANY financial information on the Internet can be dangerous

Of course that is true, but that's not what you stated:

You giving out your credit card for lasers is not insured.

That is inane.

 

[souljasai]

uhh paypal is amazing... what's ur problem... I wish stupid opto had a paypal option!