Paypal Cracking Down Further?

[TheBarrelOutlet]

I got in from the holiday weekend to learn that Paypal has shut down our account for http://TheBarrelOutlet.com. It's but a minor annoyance as we offer additional c/c payment methods. They claim we are in violation of their user policy. I guess there is enough wiggle room in the "But not limited to" verbage. Just curious if anyone else has had similar experiences. This is the part we are in violation of:

Firearm parts - Includes, but is not limited to, receivers and frames, silencers, kits designed to convert a firearm to automatic firing capability, a magazine that can hold more than 10 rounds, multi-burst trigger activators and camouflaging firearm containers.

However, we only sell Rifle Basix (Sav-2) triggers at the moment. Nothing that even brushes up on their list of banned things. I can only assume we got a grumpy intern or they are perhaps cracking down further on their rules.

 

[jonbearman]

I would call and demand to speak to someone of authority. There are other ebay guys that sell barrels and paypal is the only way to pay.

 

[TheBarrelOutlet]

We're working through it right now. I think it is an idiotic position, but I personally fall under the camp of "they can do business with whoever they please." My boss isn't so nonchalant about it. I just don't like having my wrist slapped and told I'm not playing by the rules when they apparently don't understand their own rules. We're battling it out now with them. I don't have high hopes for them changing their mind.

 

[gme]

PP froze my account years ago, it was in the middle of a transaction too, they wouldn't release the funds to me or the customer, it took a while to get him a refund, NO firearms related business should be doing business with them, we do just fine without them.

 

[mikecockcroft]

Im not in a firearms sales business but I agree with Gary, there are other ways to send and collect money without paypal. I buy lots of firearms stuff and don't have a paypal account and have no trouble getting what I want. Are the fees cheaper then credit card companies charge??
mike

 

[joshb]

This sounds like a perfect business opportunity. A firearms related "paypal"! Wish I knew somethin about computers. Call it Gunpal!

 

[TheBarrelOutlet]

Im not in a firearms sales business but I agree with Gary, there are other ways to send and collect money without paypal. I buy lots of firearms stuff and don't have a paypal account and have no trouble getting what I want. Are the fees cheaper then credit card companies charge??
mike

I know they have a bad reputation in the industry. We used them for a few years on our old McGowenOutlet site and never had an issue. It makes me wonder if they are evolving on their rules. It is a small percent of our customers who use it over regular credit card processing, but we just offered it as a convenience. I suppose being able to pay with paypal and your bank account is handy for many.

 

[TheBarrelOutlet]

This sounds like a perfect business opportunity. A firearms related "paypal"! Wish I knew somethin about computers.

It's not a terrible idea at all. There is at least one pro-gun credit card processor out there who has called on us in the past. At the time it was not worth the effort to make the switch. They were even offering easy firearms financing products. There is certainly a market for it, and if things get worse, I may have to pull that business card.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Paypal has been like that forever. Most slip thru the cracks. When i mention it and how it affects gun businesses the torches come out and im the idiot

 

[TheBarrelOutlet]

Paypal has been like that forever. Most slip thru the cracks. When i mention it and how it affects gun businesses the torches come out and im the idiot

I do suspect that to be the case. Most slip through the cracks...not you being an idiot . I found it interesting that the department leading up the shut-down is called "PayPal, Brand Risk Management."

 

[missed]

This sounds like a perfect business opportunity. A firearms related "paypal"! Wish I knew somethin about computers. Call it Gunpal!

Actually I think McMillan was working on this after getting burned by Visa. It's not just PayPal. If you really dig through many of the bank and credit card users agreements pretty much all of them have some statements about firearms related industry. Part of it is covering there butt, if they were responsible for handling the money they are accessory to a crime if someone was selling illegal gear. Bank of America (bent over f in the a) and visa shut down the accounts of a company here over a potential ITAR violation, it was over a year that there accounts were frozen as it went through the legal system as they had reported the transaction to the BATF.

 

[TheBarrelOutlet]

I stand corrected. I haven't updated our payment methods yet, but they turned our account back on. I'm shocked.

Thank you for contacting PayPal regarding the recent limitation of your PayPal account. We have further reviewed your case and determined that your account is currently not in violation of our Acceptable Use Policy. As such, the limitation on your account has been lifted.We sincerely appreciate your business and offer our apologies for any inconvenience this disruption in service may have caused.

Much ado about nothing I suppose.

 

[missed]

McMillan did

http://merchantservicesltd.com/

 

[dwt]

I would not use them on a bet , no matter how bad I want to buy or sell something !

 

[chapstix97]

Optics planet use PayPal for their parts. Why don't they get shut down? Their money greener? I guess pp turn the other cheek when money rolls in because of Their sales volumn

 

[people]

I get at least one request a week to use pp. Those customers or would be customers are very mad when I tell them I do not support anti-gun companies.

 

[Ghansen]

I find it hard to swallow that a financial service that attempts to "Big Brother" a legal transaction conducted by properly authorised persons. I can only assume that PayPal have insurance jeopardy with some products, and an insured transaction is the main reason people look to PayPal. I might have to re-check the T&C's.

** Looks like the same restrictions as for international shipping.

 

[Alexander-M]

This sounds like a perfect business opportunity. A firearms related "paypal"! Wish I knew somethin about computers. Call it Gunpal!

Even though TheBarrelOutlet appears to have solved their problem with PayPal, at least for now, I agree with Josh:

GunPal! This would be a great business opportunity as such service could, and likely would, be the preferred payment method not only for online, purchases, but could extend to brick & mortar gun shops as well.

Nando

 

[nhm16]

There was a service called gunpal/gpal about five years ago that went down in flames due to shenanigans.

 

[TheBarrelOutlet]

I'm still shocked that they fixed our account at all, much less so quickly. Kudos to them for doing that. I didn't necessarily want to impugn their business, but really was curious what others have experienced with firearm related transactions. That said, this is an area where the silicone vally and the banking world bumps up with the gun world and it does seem to be getting less friendly towards firearm purchases.