How is PayPal for an anti-tech?

[LloydLynx]

There's a piece of very niche computer hardware I want, only available from a small company on the other side of the world that's otherwise unobtainium. The only ways I can pay for it are PayPal and wiring money.

 

So how is PayPal for an anti-tech nutcase that doesn't own a smartphone, pays for an email service nobody's heard of, and uses ancient computers? Are they going to do some bullshit like require an app for basic functionality, only work with email from big name providers, or have such a bloated part of their website as to where only the latest and greatest hardware can run it? Any other potential roadblocks? I'd like opinions before I take the time to run through the monstrous privacy statement, because I'm the kind of crazy that would do that.

[seanondemand]

I mean, what can we tell you about it? It’s a service lots of people and businesses use and it’s usually fine. You can use it through a browser, set up with your bank account or a card, and send the money to the vendor. As long as they’re reputable, you shouldn’t stress. 

[da na]

Paypal is pretty solid from what I've used, their site is not horrendously bloated.

[dizmo]

You don't have to have an account with Paypal to use it on merchant websites.

[OhioYJ]

You can use it with just a email and a credit card. No big deal. If you have any problems, you can dispute it through PayPal. If you have any issues with PayPal, you can dispute it through your CreditCard.

 

Don't send money as friends and family (you can't dispute those). Really it's fairly straight forward. Also watch the automatic payments. Many companies you will interact with will automatically be added as a valid company that can automatically use your PayPal account (this should not happen transparently, or automatically, FU paypal), so I would go into your settings routinely and disable these. You'll be surprised how many companies do this automatically, even just companies your order Pizza from will do this.

 

If you want to get "verified" you will need to connect a bank account, but it's not necessary. Really the only reason to is to easily pull money out.

 

I use PayPal pretty much everywhere, and all the time. No reason for me to hand out my credit card information to yet another company.

[jaslion]

16 minutes ago, LloydLynx said:

Are they going to do some bullshit like require an app for basic functionality, only work with email from big name providers, or have such a bloated part of their website as to where only the latest and greatest hardware can run it? Any other potential roadblocks?

All they require is an email address to 2fa with and a payment method to connect to it. Also a browser that can run the website of course but like anything from the last 5 years can do that with little trouble.

 

They are also great for user protection and tend to always side with the buyer. Else well their eula is the typical we are your overlord kinda deal so nothing new . But like nothing they are doing your bank isnt already doing

[Mark Kaine]

35 minutes ago, LloydLynx said:

There's a piece of very niche computer hardware I want, only available from a small company on the other side of the world that's otherwise unobtainium. The only ways I can pay for it are PayPal and wiring money.

 

So how is PayPal for an anti-tech nutcase that doesn't own a smartphone, pays for an email service nobody's heard of, and uses ancient computers? Are they going to do some bullshit like require an app for basic functionality, only work with email from big name providers, or have such a bloated part of their website as to where only the latest and greatest hardware can run it? Any other potential roadblocks? I'd like opinions before I take the time to run through the monstrous privacy statement, because I'm the kind of crazy that would do that.

no you just need internet and a bank account,  maybe a phone number... 

 

 

ps: now that I think about it... they may or may not send you confirmation codes per sms, which might be problematic if you don't have a smartphone  (why wouldn't you, who knows...) that's the only possible issue im seeing (although not sure if strictly required) 

[LloydLynx]

27 minutes ago, Mark Kaine said:

no you just need internet and a bank account,  maybe a phone number... 

 

 

ps: now that I think about it... they may or may not send you confirmation codes per sms, which might be problematic if you don't have a smartphone  (why wouldn't you, who knows...) that's the only possible issue im seeing (although not sure if strictly required) 

SMS isn't an issue since I do have a simple mobile phone.

Smartphones are headache machines and personal spy boxes. Once you become reliant on one for professional use, there's no going back and big tech can push you around however it pleases. That's why.

[Mark Kaine]

6 minutes ago, LloydLynx said:

SMS isn't an issue since I do have a simple mobile phone.

Smartphones are headache machines and personal spy boxes. Once you become reliant on one for professional use, there's no going back and big tech can push you around however it pleases. That's why.

oh right,  yeah then there shouldn't be any issues,  paypal is really extremely simple / automated.

 

[ToboRobot]

PayPal is a payment network like Visa or MasterCard.

[seanondemand]

Sometimes a really niche seller will just take direct PayPal transfers, rather than payments, which OP might be dealing with 

[Dedayog]

4 hours ago, LloydLynx said:

SMS isn't an issue since I do have a simple mobile phone.

Smartphones are headache machines and personal spy boxes. Once you become reliant on one for professional use, there's no going back and big tech can push you around however it pleases. That's why.

Omg. 

 

It's a website that links a credit card or bank account to an account.

 

It's about as easy as it gets.   No bullshit, no issues.

 

Do it then close the account so you're protected from the future.

[Erioch]

6 hours ago, LloydLynx said:

Smartphones are headache machines and personal spy boxes.

No one, and I mean no one, wants to spy on you.