As a seller I lose money when a buyer uses paypal however it is a much much smoother transaction!! I have had problems with them in the past but they are there for the buyer!!!  I have a sister-in-law who bought a book off a guy with a money order severla months ago and he is no longer a registered member! The money order was cashed and without filing a small-claims law suite against this guy she has pretty much lost her money.  If she would have used paypal all she would have to do is file a complaint and within a couple weeks that money would be back in her account as if it had never left.  In recent months people have been paying me with actual cash through the mail and even though I accept this as payment it is so unsafe as a buyer to do this.  I am an honest seller who provides tracking numbers to my buyers.  Some sellers if you sent them cash would claim it never got there and there is virtually no proof it ever did so other than leaving them a negative feedback you have lost your money.  Checks are also risky because there are scam artists out there who salavate over the ideal of getting all that info right off the check!!! On a check you can get all the information you need to destroy someone financially.  It includes a routing number, account number, bank name, and the individuals name.  Enough information to order a box of checks and write them all over town!!! Identity theft is way way too rampent these days to be using checks.  Only use checks if it is with a reputable company that has been in business for many years.  With cash, money orders, and checks out of the way that pretty much leaves you with only a few options.  The easiest is definately paypal! Since Ebay owns paypal this is a natural fit!!! I have also found by paying thru paypal you cut down the time it takes to send payment and thus you get your item much much faster!!!