I hope this thread was a warning for some of you out there.
PayPal for small transactions = okay.
PayPal for large transactions = not okay.
PayPal for international transactions = not okay.
Stop using PayPal altogether if possible. If you watched the investigative report about eBay on CNBC, you would have heard the incredible BS that eBay was spewing about how using PayPal exclusively is a protection net against fraud for buyers and sellers. I'd like to tell them to shove PayPal up their asses, but unfortunately eBay is having a jolly good time double-dipping on every transaction (and making a quarter of their yearly revenue, approximately ~$1 billion, off PayPal transactions alone).
Alternatives:
BidPay. Offer to pay the BidPay transaction fee for the buyer (approximately 3% of the total price) by lowering the auction total to cover the fee; in the end, you recieve approximately the same amount of money you would have recieved through PayPal, give or take a dollar or two. This payment can NEVER be reversed, and you can have BidPay either mail you a check (which is as good as cash) or deposit the money directly into your bank account.
Postal Money Order. Again, offer the buyer a 3% discount for paying through this method, because that is what PayPal would have taken anyways. This is an incentive for buyers to spend the dollar-fifty it costs for a money order, stamp, and envelope. This payment method also can NEVER be reversed, and its as good as cash at any bank. Give them a similar option for cashiers checks.
Personal/Business Checks. Give them the 3% discount, but make sure you tell them you will hold the item for 7 business days after the payment is recieved before shipping it out (give the check time to clear).
Merchant Account. There are a ton of options around; visit PayPalSucks.com and click the "Alternatives" link for a list of merchant accounts that are eBay friendly. You DON'T need to have a business to sign up for many of them; simply provide your own name, list yourself as a sole proprietorship, and use your SS# as your Federal Tax ID; some will even ask for your eBay username as a DBA name for your account. If you do a decent amount in sales per month, this will allow you to accept credit cards without a middle-man like PayPal, with similar or lower fees. The online checkout systems are already in place, and are very simple for your customers to use. The money is deposited into your bank account in regularly specified intervals, and BEST of all, if there is ever a chargeback, you deal DIRECTLY with your merchant processor. The level of customer service is LIGHT YEARS ahead of PayPal; I called up my merchant account rep, I was on hold for a total of 30 seconds, and I was instantly put through to the person who was dealing directly with my account. They knew exactly what the issue was, we discussed it like adults, and it was resolved in minutes. Call up PayPal and you'll be speaking to a guy who has probably never seen your account, doesn't know your situation, and will offer no help besides a handful of canned responses.
Even before I had my merchant account, I stopped taking PayPal and found that my selling prices did not go down any noticeable amount. Now I offer all of the above as possible payment options for my buyers.