How To Pay With Paypal Goods And Services

What is PayPal goods and services?

(Image credit: PayPal)

If yous brand a payment in PayPal, the site wants to know the type of transaction yous're making so it tin can offering appropriate protections. In short, y'all have to cull between PayPal's 'goods and services' and 'friends and family' options.

Equally the names suggest, the two are for dissimilar things. While PayPal friends and family is for known contacts who trust each other and keeps costs to a minimum, 'goods and services' is for those buying from a business or a complete stranger selling something via an online marketplace.

While in that location's technically aught stopping you using friends and family for those you don't trust (even if the terms and weather condition forbid it (opens in new tab)), at that place's a good reason yous shouldn't do it. But earlier nosotros get onto that, here'due south how to use PayPal goods and services.

How do I use PayPal goods and services?

The steps are pretty similar whoever you're paying, with the only departure between the ii lying in the penultimate step.

1. Log in to your PayPal account.

2. Click "Ship & Request" on the navigation bar at the top of the screen.

three. Enter the phone number, contact proper noun or electronic mail address of the person you're sending money to, or select a contact that's already fastened to your account.

A screenshot showing the PayPal options for sending to a friend or family member — (Prototype credit: PayPal)

four. Enter the payment amount, and add a note if you similar. Then printing Continue.

5. Select "Paying for an detail or service" in the pop-upwards that appears.

A screenshot from PayPal showing the Items and services option highlighted — (Prototype credit: PayPal)

6. Choose where the money is coming from. Check through the details, then when yous're certain everything is all okay, press submit to send your money through.

How much does information technology price to use PayPal goods and services?

While friends and family payments are commonly costless for transactions within the United States, goods and services transfers require the person receiving the transaction to pay a percentage of the coin they're accepting.

You can observe up-to-date details of the merchant fees you'll be charged for receiving money here (opens in new tab), just at the fourth dimension of writing for domestic transactions, it'south between 1.2% and 2.9% plus a fixed fee of 30c. International transactions attract an additional 1.29% for EEA members and 1.99% for all other markets, and then information technology tin can get pricey.

Do I have to use PayPal goods and services for market place deals?

Technically you could utilise 'friends and family' to pay for something bought on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, but it'due south both confronting PayPal'due south terms of use, and not a very good thought in its ain right.

While it will cutting the fees paid to zilch in almost cases for domestic transactions, using friends and family ways you don't go PayPal Buy Protection (opens in new tab) as information technology'southward designed to be used by two parties that know and trust each other.

And then, if a seller asks you lot to utilize 'friends and family', you shouldn't be tempted even if they offer you lot a discount: if you finish upwardly being scammed, you'll simply take no recourse to become your money back. Consider information technology a cherry-red flag and look elsewhere if they're non prepared to budge.

New to PayPal? Here's how to prepare a PayPal account.

Freelance correspondent Alan has been writing nigh tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional magazine too. When non weighing upwards the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably detect him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. Or, more likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth fourth dimension.