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October 13, 2009
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The anti gun people are at it.... 
Today I got an e-mail that my paypal account was limited...I was thinking, oh, just another phishing thing, and I find out it is for real!
Dear Eric Kovachic,
We appreciate the fact that you chose PayPal to send and receive payments
for your transactions.
However, your account has been limited for violating PayPal's Acceptable
Use Policy. Under the Acceptable Use Policy, PayPal may not be used to
send or receive payments for firearms, firearm parts or accessories,
ammunition, weapons or knives.
The complete Acceptable Use Policy can be found at the following URL:
https://cms.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/marketingweb?cmd=_render-content&content_ID=ua/AcceptableUse_full&locale.x=en_US
To learn more about the Acceptable Use Policy, please refer to our Help
Center page here:
https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/?&cmd=_help
We are hereby notifying you that it has been determined that you are in
violation of PayPal's Acceptable Use Policy regarding your sale of flash
hiders on
http://www.ewkarms.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=17. To
appeal the limitation on your account, you will need to:
1. Remove those items from your website that violate PayPal's Acceptable
Use Policy. For example, flash hiders.
2. Submit the online Acceptable Use Policy affidavit.
To appeal your limitation, login to your account and select the "Resolution
Center" link. On the next page select the "Resolve" button(s) located in
the Steps to Provide More Information section and follow the applicable
instructions.
This is not intended to be an all-inclusive review or list of your Internet
sites in violation. Furthermore, the violations of the Policy described
above are not intended to be an all-inclusive list. It is the
responsibility of the user to ensure that all transactions comply with the
Acceptable Use Policy.
For more information about the status of your account and for instructions
on how to restore full use of your account, please login to your PayPal
account. We encourage you to log in and restore full access as soon as
possible. Should access to your account remain limited for an extended
period of time, it may result in permanent limitation.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. If you have any
questions, please contact the PayPal Brand Risk Management Department at
aup@paypal.com.
Sincerely,
PayPal, Brand Risk Management
PayPal, an eBay Company
Now I thought it said in the user agreement for paypal that I read when I was investigating setting up credit card payment options, CERTAIN firearm parts were prohibited...okay, I'm thinking auto sears and stuff along that lines paypal may not like. Apparently they don't like flash hiders either.
Now the flash hiders have been removed from the website in an effort to get them to unfreeze my account.
Now back to the "certain" firearms parts thing...sure enough, after the links paypal provided didn't work, I was able to find the user agreement and it says the following are prohibited-
(h) ammunition, firearms, or certain firearm parts or accessories,
Kind of interesting the e-mail I got says that "firearm parts or accessories" are not allowed, isn't it?
So that "certain" can mean anything they want!
Therefore I have decided that keeping paypal as a payment option is a losing battle. My account can be frozen at any point when paypal feels like it.
I'm very sorry about the inconvenience, aside from of course accepting checks and money orders I don't know what to do. Accepting credit cards directly through a merchant account wasn't very attractive compared to paypal when I checked into it, but looks like I will have to again look into that.
Thanks!
Eric
February 20, 2008
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In a back handed way - Good For You~!
Their security STINKS. My account was breached.
USPS Money Orders are not that hard to get.
Regards - Photo
If you're going to drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Supporter
Range Officer
Range Officers
May 2, 2009
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Paypal has always been anti-gun--all my GB stuff is Money order only.
SHOOT
January 22, 2008
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I would also advise staying away from GPal\GunPal as well...
March 27, 2011
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Eric, PayPal horror stories abound. Smart move getting away from them while you can. Money orders, cashier's checks are not hard to get - only thing lost is some time.
While I'm here, thank you for the great quality items you're making and selling. The 6" EH shroud is flawless, and I can't find anything about the barrel to complain about. You're doing first class work, and I'd like to be in line for one of the snubbies when you get them going. 
Saw it was Dan's birthday - your doings are a great b'day present for him, and us. Keep it up, and we'll keep you afloat $$$$$$. Thanks!
alt
rvn6869
Survivor, SE Asia war games, 2nd place.
NRA
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
March 27, 2009
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Wow, well sooner or later they would go nuts again!!!
Eric, great job and pomo's arew not that bad, that and priority mail works well.
Keep us posted on the whats and hows!
October 13, 2009
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Thanks for your support guys! A regular personal check is great too! I know it can be kind of an hassle getting a money order.
Thanks for the kind words rvn, I really appreciate that! 
I tried gpal, but when they ran into the problems they had, ended up being out of about $25.
Hopefully the money does not vanish or stay locked up forever! The good news is that I can send refunds, so we have options!
Eric
February 11, 2010
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Thats crazy 
.
Letter even said "PayPal may not be used to
send or receive payments for firearms, firearm parts or accessories,
ammunition, weapons or knives"
Really....knives....there is 235,634 auctions for knives right now.
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=knife&_sacat=See-All-Categories
-Blacktop
Supporter
Moderators
January 24, 2009
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I keep telling ya…machine parts…that's the only acceptable legal lingo with these anti-gun freaks.
The stuff you're selling is, in fact parts. They were milled from a machine…hence, 'machine parts'. What they don't know won't hurt them.
And since some egotistical, self aggrandizing tool like Paypal is still technically a non-government entity & therefore it's members aren't bound to any "full disclosure-law abiding oath", I say screw 'em. What they don't know can't be held against you.
As far as I'm concerned, any parts you manufacture & sell, are all machine fittings. A gun is basically…well…a machine. It can only be put into action by a human moving the parts necessary to make that machine function. The everyday automobile is much the same in that regard, yet much more complicated…and, yet, it seems to have a much higher human mortality rate, however nobody has "blacklisted" that one. Go figure.
Machine parts. You should break down the description down to the most mundane level…i.e.: a Flash Hider should be named "threaded spark arrestor"…and maybe even add "eco friendly" in the mix, just to make those greenie Marxist 'children of flower children' smile amongst themselves in their cubicles, as they sip their caffè latte while surfing the friggin' payment descriptions for any evil-dooers.
Machine parts…
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
March 27, 2009
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CF, you hit it dead on!
December 26, 2010
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Their "brand risk management" won't stop me ordering from Eric. I'll just write a check or get a MO and mail it. If it takes a little longer, so be it.
Rant alert: I don't trust paypal anyway. I understand they have to have bank info, but too many entities want my bank info. And why did they let my oldest child designate himself as the controlling person on an account I set up? And then they wouldn't let me take him off unless I switched to a more expensive account. I had to work around their disguised technique to get more cash out of me. Rant off.
Yes, paypal is convenient, but they are also hypocrites.
November 14, 2009
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I have hundreds of transactions on PayPal with no bad experiences, and if you check, I believe you got my order yesterday 4/22 for a 6" BA and sight (I mean Machine Parts).
Anyway, for those of us who work for a living during normal working hours or should I call it during normal Post Office hours, getting a US Postal Money Order can be a hassle.
Picture this, I have to notify my Boss, leave the fifth floor, walk through the secure protected area, key out through the turn style, walk through the parking lot, drive down the access road over three speed humps, past one guard tower and an active vehicle barrier. Drive to town, park, enter the local Post Office, hope the old biddy behind the counter is discussing the dog down the street of the color of her hair, get a money order. Get back in my vehicle, drive back to the access road, to the Forward Access Point, show my badge maybe get searched, drive down the access road over three speed humps over the active vehicle barrier, past the guard tower into the parking lot and park. Walk through the parking lot into the North Access Point, put my belongings into a tray to be X-rayed, and step into a bomb sniffer, wait for the message, walk into the metal detector, retrieve my belongings, and go to the turn styles and key in. back to the elevator and the 5th floor...That can take about 45 minutes on a good day.
Happyness is a Hot DW and a pile of used brass!!! Rich
October 13, 2009
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Great news the account got unlocked today! They even called to let me know that. Good thing I didn't answer.
Mox, you got the very last order in via paypal before they locked the account!
I agree with you 100%, I find money orders can be a hassle to get too. That's why I gladly accept your good personal check, and no waiting on it clearing either too!
Machine parts/spark arrestor is an idea, but I wonder how long before that is another term that raises a red flag too. The thing with doing that on the EWK Arms website is that it is easy for them check where the automated payments are coming from as opposed with manually sending the payment through paypal.
And I bet I am on the blacklist now as part of the paper work I had to fill out had to provide a URL to the offending item on the website. I bet their automated "risk management" system goes back and checks that I am behaving.
Then people asking what is this Dan Wesson Machines Spark Arrestor for? 
I think the solution would be to get setup to do credit cards directly to offer that option-that way there would be no walking on eggshells with paypal that as you can tell, they can pretty much at anytime decide they don't like what you are selling.
Eric
February 28, 2011
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Glad to hear that you're up and running smoothly again.
March 27, 2011
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Eric, while paypal is convenient, let me pass along the following. A micro-isv (a one-man band producing and selling software) came up with a really good piece of software, and it took off. Paypal decided there was something fishy going on, and froze the gentleman's account with a 5 digit positive balance in it, while they dithered about whether or not he was somehow 'cheating'. Needless to say, he was not really in a position to have that kind of money 'frozen' while paypal tried to decide if he was doing something they did not approve of.
My sense of the DW community, as represented on this forum, is that no one here is liable to take advantage of you via forms of payment other than paypal. My unsolicited advice, which is worth exactly what I've charged you for it, is don't try to play 'machine parts' or other word games with paypal unless you are in a position to have a large chunk of your money 'frozen' for an indeterminate amount of time. Do postal money orders, cashier's checks (which are often free for folks who 'bank' at credit unions rather than commercial banks), even personal checks. You're at a lot less risk of losing access to working capital unexpectedly.
And I don't think anyone here wants to see you in dire financial straits.
Just my 'half in the tank' opinion, but based on real world observation of paypal practices.
Now please go make some 2, or 2.5 inch extra heavys!! You have paying customers with money in hand wanting!!!!
Have an {appropriate (pc) positive wish for the holiday} day, and best of luck with whatever course you choose. I'm sure the gang here will continue to back you.
alt
Survivor, SE Asia war games, 2nd place.
NRA
December 26, 2010
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Glad to hear the good news, Eric. Thanks for making great products.
September 1, 2010
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FYI I purchased a DW 44 bbl assmbly on GB $190.00 sent MO by priority mail after aweek the seller was asking for me 2 send the money. after another week I filed a claim at the Post Office and was told that I had to wait 60 days frm date of MO before I could file for replacement, then it would take another 2 weeks b 4 I would get reimbusement. it would also cost $5 to file. it took 6 weeks, but the seller finally rec'd the priority envelope. JUST FYI
TWO44
October 13, 2009
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Rvn, That is very interesting how they froze the micro-isv's account, I just wonder if the same thing happened here! Not quite a 5 digit balance they froze, but about $1200.
Got you on the short extra heavys, I'm working on them!
TWO44, Boy that did not sound like fun. I've ran into the same thing with one Priority mail package, it took about a month but it finally showed up!
I would imagine that a check would be better than a money order as one could just call up the bank and cancel it if it doesn't show up?
Eric
January 8, 2011
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My wife sells dolls all over the world in addition to a tool she invented to put goat hair into the heads of silicone dolls. She has never had a problem with paypal but the minute she gets a payment she transfers the money into another account. She has had problems with customs on her tool in some countries. It's a pen vice with a needle instead of a screw driver and customs can't figure out what it is.
Hossman 
November 14, 2009
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Hossman said:
My wife sells dolls all over the world in addition to a tool she invented to put goat hair into the heads of silicone dolls. She has never had a problem with paypal but the minute she gets a payment she transfers the money into another account. She has had problems with customs on her tool in some countries. It's a pen vice with a needle instead of a screw driver and customs can't figure out what it is.
Hossman
Your wife won't have to worry about it for long, China is probably turning them out by the Bazillion!!!
Happyness is a Hot DW and a pile of used brass!!! Rich
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