3 ms·

Paypal is evil, but what are the alternatives? AliPay? WebMoney? Bitcoin??

by bostand 10y ago

happywolf 10y ago
The good'ol cash or physical check will always work. Don't believe so called the 'new money': you lose all control of your own money and at someone else's mercy.
- innocenat 10y ago
  I doubt anything physical would work if you are on different continent.
  - happywolf 10y ago
    Then using a credit card will be the best bet as you can file charge-back.
- vidarh 10y ago
  Physical checks are headed for the dustbin of history. I write at most a check per year these days, and haven't had a new checkbook issued in the last decade. When I moved to the UK 17 years ago, it was the first time I'd seen a check since childhood - they were already "extinct" for most purposes in Norway back then. Since then I've witnessed the rapid decline in check usage in the UK as well. Cash is headed that way too but it'll take longer.
k-mcgrady 10y ago
Probably depends where you live. In Europe bank transfers (generally free or very low cost and instant/within 24 hours).
driverdan 10y ago
Bitcoin is great. For people who don't use Bitcoin I use Square Cash or Venmo (owned by PayPal).
- bostand 10y ago
  Bitcoin is great but 1. It's just too volatile 2. I can't pay most sellers on eBay and Amazon with bitcoins, but everyone takes paypal
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
jaredchung 10y ago
If we're talking about alternatives for giving money to a charity, I strongly recommend opening up the contact page of your preferred charity, calling them and just asking them what method they would prefer for you to send them money. Charities often have preferences that allow them to save money on transaction fees. For example they might have a discounted rate with a particular credit card company or prefer a physical check, or want you to pass it through a fiscal sponsor. Especially for small charities -- donors are the lifeblood of charities, so they will bend over backwards to help you give! Source: I run a charity.
- bostand 10y ago
  actually, I meant pay for stuff online in general...

Paypal is evil, but what are the alternatives? AliPay? WebMoney? Bitcoin??

by bostand 10y ago

Paypal is evil, but what are the alternatives? AliPay? WebMoney? Bitcoin??

The good'ol cash or physical check will always work. Don't believe so called the 'new money': you lose all control of your own money and at someone else's mercy.

innocenat 10y ago
I doubt anything physical would work if you are on different continent.
- happywolf 10y ago
  Then using a credit card will be the best bet as you can file charge-back.
vidarh 10y ago
Physical checks are headed for the dustbin of history. I write at most a check per year these days, and haven't had a new checkbook issued in the last decade. When I moved to the UK 17 years ago, it was the first time I'd seen a check since childhood - they were already "extinct" for most purposes in Norway back then. Since then I've witnessed the rapid decline in check usage in the UK as well. Cash is headed that way too but it'll take longer.

k-mcgrady 10y ago

Probably depends where you live. In Europe bank transfers (generally free or very low cost and instant/within 24 hours).

driverdan 10y ago

Bitcoin is great. For people who don't use Bitcoin I use Square Cash or Venmo (owned by PayPal).

bostand 10y ago
Bitcoin is great but 1. It's just too volatile 2. I can't pay most sellers on eBay and Amazon with bitcoins, but everyone takes paypal
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]

jaredchung 10y ago

If we're talking about alternatives for giving money to a charity, I strongly recommend opening up the contact page of your preferred charity, calling them and just asking them what method they would prefer for you to send them money. Charities often have preferences that allow them to save money on transaction fees. For example they might have a discounted rate with a particular credit card company or prefer a physical check, or want you to pass it through a fiscal sponsor. Especially for small charities -- donors are the lifeblood of charities, so they will bend over backwards to help you give! Source: I run a charity.

bostand 10y ago
actually, I meant pay for stuff online in general...