[TriLUG] (OT) Paypal/eBay Payment Thoughts

[M. Mueller (bhu5nji)]

On Sunday 17 March 2002 02:25 pm, you wrote:
> I know there is a decent set of people both for and against paypal.  

For philosophical opinion on the economics of small easy-to-use 
donation/payment systems see: http://www.scottmccloud.com/.  Actually, you 
have to read the book.  He suggests that the web stimulates commerce through 
exchange of smaller units of product and money.  On his site, he provides a 
relatively easy way to donate $2.00 to his website and its content.  The 
power of the web is to multiply the $2 many times over.

The same reasoning applies to TriLUG.  PayPal lowers resistance to making a 
donation and raises the overall intake.  In my case, I can easily particpate 
in TriLUG-online.  Attending meetings is very difficult.  I would like very 
much to contribute cash to cause.  Writing a check and stuffing an envelope 
and finding a stamp and going to the post office doesn't happen in my house - 
not even on 4/15.  PayPal will provide a low resistance conduit from my stash 
to TriLUG's stash.  If contributing to a pizza fund ensures the flow of high 
quality content that currently exists on the list, then I'll gladly pay.

PayPal has risks.  It's new.  Philosophically, it should appeal to those 
seeking alternatives in OS/GNU/Linux/etc.  I think the risks of loss from the 
PayPal system are no larger than the human risks of mismanagement within the 
organization collecting the money at the target end of the transaction.  I 
have faith that the TriLUG managers will use the funds appropriately.  I have 
faith that PayPal will work.  And faith and trust with understanding of risks 
is what makes business work.  In this case, I have high faith/trust and low 
risk. Conclusion: use PayPal.  If it doesn't work, rip it out.

I choose PayPal because they are more well-known to me. The Duetche Bank 
backing doesn't really sway my decision.  Big companies go bust too.

Maybe there should be a webpage that shows contributions by some code (with I 
think PayPal allows the transaction originator to enter).  That way users can 
verify their transactions and report discrepencies. 

Mike M.