As both a buyer and a seller, using PayPal comes at a great advantage to me. As a seller I can get paid more quickly and will attract far more buyers who may otherwise not consider an item (those who may be buying on credit). As a buyer I can pay quicker which would follow that I get my item sooner. Also I can buy something using a credit card from an individual, when I may be temporarily cash poor and otherwise miss the purchase. Bottom line is that it is an advantage to both sides so why not split the cost? Ultimately it seems like, as has been pointed out, it is really up to the individual seller since PayPal is not going after, or suspending priveliges of individuals for violations. The seller has the item and can sell it for whatever they choose, it is up to you as the buyer as to whether you are willing to pay their price. I don't really get the idea behind limiting a seller to bear the burden of the fees of accepting PayPal.
One important point which I think has not been brought up yet (sorry if I've missed it if someone has): It is not JUST the credit card companies, as has been pointed out several times here, that dictate the service charge. PayPal will also charge 3.3% to those individual sellers with a 'Preferred' seller status (meaning those individuals whose membershipe does allow them to take payments via credit card) who accept a payment from an individual with enough cash in their account. In that case presumably PayPal is profiting directly from the fee charged and NOT the credit card companies. The only transaction that I am aware of where they don't charge a fee is to a seller with a standard individual account (meaning they cannot accept credit card payments through PayPal at all), who is receiving payment from a buyer with cash in their PayPal account (they must have enough cash to cover the entire amount of the transaction). If the buyer in that case is paying using a credit card then a fee is charged.
So, althought the law they are quoting (and not enforcing) is based upon the retail practices dictated by the credit card companies themselves, they are also using the same service charges on cash transactions for the direct profit of PayPal, and dictating the same rules, in those cases, that apply to credit card transactions.
Marco
One important point which I think has not been brought up yet (sorry if I've missed it if someone has): It is not JUST the credit card companies, as has been pointed out several times here, that dictate the service charge. PayPal will also charge 3.3% to those individual sellers with a 'Preferred' seller status (meaning those individuals whose membershipe does allow them to take payments via credit card) who accept a payment from an individual with enough cash in their account. In that case presumably PayPal is profiting directly from the fee charged and NOT the credit card companies. The only transaction that I am aware of where they don't charge a fee is to a seller with a standard individual account (meaning they cannot accept credit card payments through PayPal at all), who is receiving payment from a buyer with cash in their PayPal account (they must have enough cash to cover the entire amount of the transaction). If the buyer in that case is paying using a credit card then a fee is charged.
So, althought the law they are quoting (and not enforcing) is based upon the retail practices dictated by the credit card companies themselves, they are also using the same service charges on cash transactions for the direct profit of PayPal, and dictating the same rules, in those cases, that apply to credit card transactions.
Marco