Why you should never use Paypal
f you are a business owner, a freelancer, or anyone who values their hard-earned money, delete your PayPal account today.
I just watched PayPal extract 56.80 in pure profit from a single 900 transaction. That is a 6.3% “theft” disguised as service fees and “convenience.”
PayPal isn’t a financial partner; it’s a parasite that survives by gaslighting its users and skimming off the top of every international border. Here is the math they don’t want you to see.
The Double-Dip: How They Bleed You Twice
PayPal doesn’t just charge you a fee; they “double-dip” into your pockets before you can even touch your money.
Bite #1: The Transaction Fee ($44.31)
The moment a client sends you money, PayPal takes a massive cut. For a
900payment,theyinstantlysnatched∗∗900payment,theyinstantlysnatched∗∗44.31**. That is nearly 5% just for “processing” a digital signal. In an era of blockchain and instant banking, charging 5% to move numbers on a screen is highway robbery.
Bite #2: The Stealth Conversion Scam ($28.00)
This is where the real “theft” happens. Once they’ve taken their first fee, they force you into their proprietary exchange rate.
- The Real Market Rate (XE): $873.46 should have been €758.00.
- PayPal’s “Imaginary” Rate: They gave me €732.04.
By refusing to let me withdraw USD to my USD-denominated bank account, PayPal effectively stole an additional €26 (~$28 USD) through a spread that exists only to pad their bottom line.
The Final Tally: The “PayPal Tax”
- Initial Payment: $900.00
- Final Value Received: ~$843.20
- PayPal’s Profit: $56.80
That is 6.3% of the total revenue. If your business has a 20% profit margin, PayPal just took nearly one-third of your actual profit for doing absolutely nothing.
Support as a Weapon: Gaslighting and Lies
When I challenged this, PayPal didn’t offer a technical solution. They offered lies.
Their support agents—likely trained to prioritize conversion profit over customer service—flat-out lied about “French Law” and technical impossibilities. They claimed a French account cannot hold or transfer USD to a USD card. This is a lie. It is a software restriction designed to trap your money in their conversion engine.
They use a 120-second chat timer to exhaust you, hoping you’ll give up and let them keep your $56. They count on you being too busy to fight for your money.
The Verdict: PayPal is a Scam for Modern Business
We no longer live in 2005. We have options.
- Stripe: Professional, lower fees, better developer tools.
- Revolut Business: True multi-currency accounts that don’t lie to your face.
PayPal relies on your inertia. They hope you’re too comfortable to switch. But ask yourself: Is “comfort” worth giving a faceless corporation 6% of your life’s work?
Stop letting PayPal “tax” your hard work. Move your money, move your business, and let this legacy dinosaur starve.
Frequently Asked Questions
No sailing licence or previous sailing experience is presented as a requirement for joining the expedition as a guest. Eldorado is operated by a professional crew of five, who handle navigation and the running of the vessel. You can experience the voyage as a passenger, observe life under sail and learn about the ship as you travel. If you would like to participate in sailing activities, ask in advance: any involvement depends on the captain, the crew’s instructions and the conditions at sea.
You do not need to be an athlete, but this is more active than a conventional cruise. Moving around Eldorado involves stairs, ladders and wet or slippery surfaces. Shore excursions may require stepping into a Zodiac and walking over uneven snow, rocks or beaches. Cold and wind can make simple movement more tiring. Reasonable mobility, balance and confidence in these conditions are important, and you should be comfortable taking part within your own physical limits.
It is possible. The Fly & Sail format avoids crossing the Drake Passage by ship, but Eldorado is still a sailing vessel and some passages may be rough. Many travellers need a little time to find their sea legs. If you are concerned, discuss prevention or treatment with a medical professional before departure and bring what you normally use. Follow the crew’s advice about where to sit or move, stay secure when walking and allow yourself time to rest if the sea is uncomfortable.
No. The programme provides a planned route, but Antarctic travel is governed by weather, sea ice, wildlife and safety. The captain and expedition leader make the final decisions about navigation, anchorages, landings and timing. A listed site is an objective rather than a guarantee, and a planned activity may be changed, shortened or replaced. The same flexibility can also create unexpected opportunities, such as spending more time with whales, icebergs or a particularly favourable landing site.
The provider material does not promise a single temperature for the expedition. Antarctic summer conditions can combine cold, wind, sun, snow, rain and rapid changes during the same day. Wind chill and wet clothing may affect comfort more than the thermometer suggests. Pack a practical layering system: a warm base layer, insulation and a waterproof, windproof outer layer. Sunglasses, sunscreen and lip protection are also important because light reflects strongly from snow and ice.
