I also personally think the gift option should be removed...or at least not allowed for the selling of 2nd hand items on here (or anywhere for that matter!). It's not what 'gifting' is intended for!
As the seller you hold all the cards! You want the money, quickly and easily, and you have the goods....then you make a deal, take a payment through a business that is legitimately and fairly charging you for that service as you have no means of getting that money directly yourself...and then...you have the money from the buyer too!
At this point what does the buyer have? Absolutely NOTHING!!! They are carrying all the risk!!! Why should they?
You are a seller...think shop...shops charge a price for the things they sell that includes the cost of the item, and any banking/operational cost's, postage, etc. IMO, we should do the same here...
If your selling an item, tell the buyer the price you want, that covers all these things. The paypal fee's are only small, figure them out and add them yourself to the money you want without mentioning it. It is after all just a part of the cost of the quick and convenient transaction you want. Do the leg work yourself as the person who needs and wants the money.
This way, you get the right money for your item, the buyer gets the protection of the payment system as they carrying all the risk in the transaction, and everyone ends up happy, with the right amount of money where it should be, goods where they should be, and no daft threads on forums about being ripped off and not being able to do anything about it!
...and relax...sorry
