Smart Racer:
I dinna know that about loss of safety with the 'send as gift' option, and appreciate the heads up.
There is a growing alternative to PayPal, at least within Canada: Interac electronic email transfers
http://www.interac.ca/
At present, it is only good within Canada (Canadian bank w/ Canadian funds), but that may change. My idjit nephew always sends me money that way, and its convenient as all he-ck.
As for PayPal fees - I often chip in to cover half the fees if I'm buying, and they offered a good price and are going the extra mile with "shipping issues" (aka the boneheads at Customs, and using USPS instead of couriers). There are a few retailers that ask for a 'subsidy', and because they have what I want, and at a better price even with the tack-on, I do it (non-eBay)
If I see it on eBay, I report 'em. They can have their seller status revoked for asking.
As for here... I think any seller that ASKS for the 'gift' option or the subsidy, should be noted and their buy/sell access revoked. Its like sales tax for a retailer, its the cost of doing business - don't like it, QUIT.
And for what its worth... 3% is MUCH less than ~any~ sales tax anywhere I know that HAS tax.
Just my 2 Cdn. coppers,
Whitewolf