Paypal going after e-cig companies we got this today

[capecodjim]

This isn't right and consumers and business should complain. Who needs paypal or anyone looking over their shoulder to keep us "safe". What business is it of theirs? Why are they looking where I spend my money?

Paypal should stick to financial transactions and get their nose out of the product details.

What next? Are they going to tell me I can't use paypal to buy broken glass for my kids?

check this site out: PayPal Consumer Complaints

 

[jj2]

But if you use the gift option, won't that screw you out of being able to get your money back if there is a problem?

Yes. I've done it but only through vendors here. At least if there was a problem, I'd have ECF to complain to.

 

[Buck]

I may be missing something but isn't Ebay and Paypal in bed together? How are all these people going to get their money? Some are even including juice with a starter kit... and PayPal as a payment?

e-cigarette items - Get great deals on Collectibles, Electronics items on eBay.com!

Yes, I forget if PP owns Ebay or Ebay bought PP. They are one in the same, I think.

 

[Cee_Jay]

Yes, I forget if PP owns Ebay or Ebay bought PP. They are one in the same, I think.

Yes - Both GREEDY !!

 

[Vocalek]

This isn't right and consumers and business should complain. Who needs paypal or anyone looking over their shoulder to keep us "safe". What business is it of theirs? Why are they looking where I spend my money?

Paypal should stick to financial transactions and get their nose out of the product details.

What next? Are they going to tell me I can't use paypal to buy broken glass for my kids?

check this site out: PayPal Consumer Complaints

Paypal received a letter from an attorney, John Banzhaf, of Action on Smoking and Health. He stated that the FDA has declared the products unapproved drug-delivery devices and therefore it is illegal to sell them. Theoretically, it is illegal to sell unapproved products, but we all know the FDA has since been smacked down by two levels of U.S. courts telling them that the products are not drug-delivery devices. Until the FDA steps up to bat and says, OK, we agree to regulate them as Tobacco Products, Paypal can't know for certain that they will not get into trouble for processing sales. But once the FDA regulates them as Tobacco Products, we run into Paypals volunatary stance that they don't participate in sales of tobacco products.

Bottom line: Look for a different payment processor.

 

[kanadiankat]

It's not just a US problem.

Paypal cannot be used in Canada either for ecig transactions. I believe this is international.

I closed my Paypal account and will not deal with them or ebay any further - I don't like companies that "politic" with their product power. Paypal is listed as a personal online payment system - not the international politics police.

As far as I'm concerned - if they're advertising themselves as a payment system - and taking people's money - they have absolutely no right to restrict what individuals buy or what companies sell - so long as it's all legal.

 

[capecodjim]

Paypal received a letter from an attorney, John Banzhaf, of Action on Smoking and Health. He stated that the FDA has declared the products unapproved drug-delivery devices and therefore it is illegal to sell them. Theoretically, it is illegal to sell unapproved products, but we all know the FDA has since been smacked down by two levels of U.S. courts telling them that the products are not drug-delivery devices. Until the FDA steps up to bat and says, OK, we agree to regulate them as Tobacco Products, Paypal can't know for certain that they will not get into trouble for processing sales. But once the FDA regulates them as Tobacco Products, we run into Paypals volunatary stance that they don't participate in sales of tobacco products.

Bottom line: Look for a different payment processor.

Paypal doesn't sell any products so they can't hide behind that.

What about PV's that aren't used with nicotine? Why call them ecigs? That just sounds so nasty.

They have all kinds of drug paraphernalia on ebay. Follow the money and it's prolly the tobacco co's behind banning PV sales.

Paypal got one letter from some attorney and that's how they react?

I'll use google checkout whenever possible. Screw paypal.

 

[PlanetScribbles]

I wanna know why PP considers e-cigs a restricted product in the US but not in the UK?
They are just kissing Banzhoff's substantial .... to avoid a law suit.

 

[PoliticallyIncorrect]

Yes, it's a US issue.

Ah. Now it sinks in.

I was confused as to how it was that I was buying from Liberty Flights (San Diego) through PayPal. But it's a UK company. Ok, that makes sense.

 

[mwa102464]

PP is making millions without having to deal with all the Ecig stuff but the Feds,FDA and Attorneys surely have gotten to them as well as other company's and yup I feel its surely the Tobacco lobbyist who got involved, big tobacco has such old deep pockets full of cash they can basically bribe anyone they want and it's really an unfortunate thing that our public officials here in the USA are all on the take these days as well as our entire Gov't from local to Washington. Some day the people will get sick of it all and revolt, but not over ecigs simply because there are so many who don't smoke so they could care a less.

 

[crashinbrn]

We need help everyone we cannot just lay down and let them walk over us.

canceled my account yesterday, quoting the OP's letter. and adding a few choice sentences.

 

[Knapweed]

I just closed my PP account too. Can't stand companies toadying to the hysterical nonsense propagated by big companies with a vested interest in using bullying tactics to enhance the sale of their products.

I wonder if the shareholders in PayPal know of the business they're turning away and the bad feelings they're generating.

 

[gasp]

I just closed my PP account too. Can't stand companies toadying to the hysterical nonsense propagated by big companies with a vested interest in using bullying tactics to enhance the sale of their products.

I wonder if the shareholders in PayPal know of the business they're turning away and the bad feelings they're generating.

most likely they don't really care. they have enough people that don't realize what is going on that use paypal every single day that they're making tons of money. they're not going to miss a few customers just because of the e-cig world laying down the smack on em.

sad but true.

 

[Larry45]

Does anyone know if PayPal restricts the use of their debit card? That is, can you buy anything you want, from anyone you want, with a PayPal debit card?

Never mind, I decided to call PayPal and got the answer to my question. Their "Acceptable Use Policy" does not apply to the debit card; it works exactly like any other bank debit card. Thus if you want to buy e-cig products online or POS, you can use the PayPal debit card.

As far as them not allowing the sale of e-cig merchandise with a PayPal account, it's just a sign of the times. We have way too many Big Brothers trying to protect us from ourselves. I don't like it, but I'm certainly not going to cancel my PayPal account over it. I buy a lot of stuff online, especially on e-Bay, and PayPal is by far the easiest and fastest way to do it...

 

[Knapweed]

most likely they don't really care. they have enough people that don't realize what is going on that use paypal every single day that they're making tons of money. they're not going to miss a few customers just because of the e-cig world laying down the smack on em.

sad but true.

Oh, I'm sure they couldn't care less. The amount of money they make off us relative to the amount they generate elsewhere wouldn't amount to a drop in the ocean. I'm not into making futile gestures, I just resent increasing their profits in any way, shape or form, so I won't be.

 

[dopeh]

PayPal are thieves anyway. For example when I receive payment through eBay.ca in Canadian funds from PayPal, they charge 3%, PLUS they convert the CDN to USD (-2%) and then back to CDN when I withdraw to my bank account (-2%). I end up paying 7% instead of the advertised 3%.

They could just leave it in CDN all the way to my bank, I called and they refused. I even asked to leave it in USD and deposit to my USD account, they say they can't because I'm a Canadian customer. So what's the point of eBay.ca?

Also, scamming buyers can easily dispute the payment once they receive the goods, and PayPal doesn't care whether the merchandise gets returned. You can be out your product AND your money. I know people who've gotten flagged/closed for no good reason.

Thieves. Use something else if at all possible!

 

[The Big Chief]

All I know is paypal was transfering a couple hundred dollars of my money on a monthly basis. Short of e cigs, they never see my money. So, yes, we do give them a good percentage of their income now. 1 million e cig users at 100 a month, getting 3 bucks. Thats 36 million a year they could be making off e cigs, or do right now. Not sure if those are accurate numbers, but if they are, thats quite the profit.

 

[DaveP]

Give it time. In a few years, local tobacco shops will sell everything we need as their customers switch. Then Walmart will jump in, but don't expect low prices on ecigs if their markup is anything like the cigarette counter.

We just don't have enough in numbers to sway heads ... yet. Mail order is still the best deal going even if you have to use a CC or DC to pay.

EDIT: I just saw a commercial on TV for American Blue Tip ecigs. It was a full length ad with expensive graphics and a background demonstration of the product, complete with a pretty young lady silhouetted in the background blowing out a thick stream of vapor in a spotlight. Cool! We are getting major market press.

You can watch the commercial here: http://www.americanbluetip.com/what-is-an-electronic-cigarette.html

It looks like an expensive, proprietary model based on replacement cart sales, but its saving grace is that we are getting press from network TV.

 

[Zag]

so, I understand paypal will drop you if you sell e-cigs but will they also drop you if you are the buyer?

 

[Xenite]

I despise PayPal, have never had anything but trouble from them. When we would sell something (despite having perfect rating) they would randomly "hold" our money until they confirmed delivery. Every single time we ended up having to call them to have our money released.

Can't imagine how many millions of dollars they steal using peoples money to generate free interest for themselves, on top of their ridiculous fees.