Posting this thread for several reasons but most recently because of a message I got after I clicked on PayPal to make a small donation for a freebie I took:

"Hi Chuck,

Thanks very much for the [edited] donation.
You're the 1st person that's ever done this!

best wishes"

I was surprised 'cause I just KNEW people regularly spent about 60 seconds clicking off a small donation through PayPal to people who took the time to make freebies and give them away.

Now, please don't get me wrong and certainly don't think I'm ranting at people who don't bother. I know, just as there are people who make freebies and give them away I know there are people with limited funds or people who don't use PayPal (or are not old enough to have such an account).

But I thought I'd post a thought for people to consider. THESE are the parameters I use when I download a freebie and these are the "rules" I try to live by when I decide to "give back to the community" about the only way I can (since I can't make anything of any value to give away):

If I have downloaded more than one freebie from a person (usually, 3 or 4 at least), I try to "repay" (read: ease my conscience) that person a couple of (different) ways:

(1) If the person has stuff for sale as well as freebies, I figure I've "repaid" by buying something (thinking that is one of the reasons a person was making freebies to begin with...to help sales).

(2) If the person does ONLY freebies AND it is a "site link" to get it AND s/he has a PayPal "click", I spend a few dollars and a few seconds "repaying" that way. After all, they are paying for a site (and bandwidth) to deliver it.

(3) If I don't make use of #1 or can't use #2 (no PayPal "click"), then I look for a public wishlist here and look to see if there is a small gift I can get them in return.

(4) Last (and least of all), I always make sure I can list every free item I use in anything (image) I post here.

I would urge others to consider the "ideas" I've posted if you have the means. And please don't take this thread negatively...I'm not "picking" on people who don't don't find a way to "repay" other people's generosity.

Please note I've used the word "repay" in quotes all the time because, the fact that an item IS a freebie means there is no repayment required.

Finally, as an afterthought (ready to post this now), I find I'm more likely to give something back if the freebie doesn't have a commercial restriction on it. Just a little quirk I have...not sure really why.

PS: If you need to find a way to open your heart then watch this movie ("Pay It Forward": http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0223897/ ...if you have a heart, it's sure to tug on it.

I do a lot of the same as far as attributing stuff. If you find any of mine (Peejay's, and thanks again) that you want to use, just have fun. I don't, and can't charge a centime for it..;) you're a good person.

Thanks for reminding me. There's a couple of people round here who are due a Christmas present, it being the season of goodwill and all that. I keep meaning to click on that PayPal button, but then some other shiny thing catches my eye and off I go. :) I had a PayPal button on my site for a while, but nobody ever clicked on it. No reason why they should, really, so I took it down and felt much happier. Seeing my stuff being used in other people's pictures is a good payback.

Yes, English, there are many ways people who provide freebies get some sort of return. Lots are happy seeing it used and being thanked. I won't berate anyone for not making some sort of contribution. For me, well, it just makes me feel good. (smile)

Yes, Chuck.....thank you for the reminder from me too.(: I try to do the same as you when I am able to. There are so many generous people here, and I always try to look for one of them to purchase from when I am looking for a particular item.....in a way....that's my way of saying Thank you too. (: genny

Ahhh, Genny, you're one of the people I expected to feel that way. There are several people I categorize in the "family" with Sharen. You are one of them. And when I say "Sharen" you know who I am speaking of...(smile).

Gosh.......that is one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me....Thank you, Chuck.(: And of course I know the "Sharen" you are talking about and I am honored to be categorized with her....she is one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet.....but so Are You.(: genny

You're so kind, Genny but remember, I still have to fix my reputation from the infamous "nudity tag" debate...LOL. I wish, sometimes, that I had the monetary ability to surprise a lot of people...all the time. But, with my job on the line (again), I have to think about other things. Which is why I didn't want this thread/thought to be taken as any kind of "comment" on those who don't drop a dollar off now and then...'cause I know life is filled with other monetary considerations and freebies are taken just as they are given...freely. And that's just fine.

I don't take that as a rant, but a very thoughtful reminder. Wish more people thought like you. I too try to buy something from those that give the freebies that I take, as a way of saying thank you, but also just because I think it is the right thing to do. I also try to send a thank you either privately or publicly, letting them know that I do appreciate their time used and their generosity. A gentle reminder is always appreciated.

What a nice thought. And yeah, you were the first ever to buy stuff for me from my wishlist, so thank you, ChuckEvans :o) I recently found out though, that having a PayPal button on your site can actually cost you money :o( I've had 2 kind donations that I had to turn down becourse they were made with a credit card. And to recieve credit card payments, you must upgrade your PayPal account to a Premier one. And that one costs money on every transaction afterwards, whether you're sending or RECIEVING money. As I don't like to pay to get paid... I have rejected that "offer" So, IF you're donating to someone, use PayPal as funding and not your creditcard. Coz you won't know if the person in the "other end" can recieve them at all.

That caught me by surprise though, Lisbeth. You're the only one I ever had a payment problem with. I wonder if that means everyone else pays the extra. As for me, I don't pay anything to use the credit card. I get billed only for the amount I spent. I prefer using the credit card as, for many many years now, I used it as a temporary loan (so to speak) since I just pay the entire balance off each month. Works better than deposting money in PayPal and it sits gaining no interest. But, it's a worthy piece of info.

I have a premiere account on Paypal, but I don't get charged extra for sending money, but I do lose a little money on the receiving end if someone sends money to me (as in the auctions). Maybe it's your validation level (what you have on file with paypal (card, bank account)...

As far as the thread topic, I do try in some ways to give back to the freebie artists, if not always in money, I always credit the items that I use. If I use a freebie in a commercial render (where such use is allowed), I usually do give some money back in the form of a wishlist purchase and/or a paypal donation.

ShadowWind

Well I just re-read the stuff on PayPal's site. And you're right. I's still free to SEND money, just not to recieve them. But that's the point exactely: I'm paying money in order to get a donation. It just seem silly to me that I should PAY to get a gift. But then I have problems even getting VERIFIED with Paypal, coz that 4-digit code they were supposed to send me never showed up on my bank account. The 1.95 was deducted, but then NADA :o( Now they want me to FAX all sorts of things to the US, including front and back of my credit card. Y'know somehow I don't like my security code floating around ANYWHERE except on the back of my Visa :o/ - what would stop any shady peep at Paypal from buying all sorts of stuff with my card once they have the security code?

Actually that is a common practice on the internet now to require the security code to be entered when making purchases. I think even Rosity asks for the code when buying, though I'm not positive of that. I do know many online stores do require it now and it's designed to make sure that the person placing the order actually has the card, at least in theory. I think you'll see more and more companies using that security code in their online forms, because it helps protect them and probably in the end, saves them money on the transactions.

I can understand that having such information on file with Paypal can be a bit scary, which is why I have two accounts (one for the card I have listed with them) and one for everything else, this way I can limit the amount of damage should something like that happen. I kinda believe that due to the PR nightmare such a theft would cause, that they would reimburse if such a thing happened, but it is still good to think ahead.

I do know that Paypal is very, very, very paranoid when it comes to overseas customers, much more so in the US. Also make sure that it is paypal themselves that are asking, as a lot of scammers are using paypal's logos and such to get people to fill out things that they, themselves, don't even ask for. Like one wanted my ATM pin number. I didn't give it to them, or any other information, but you have to be careful. Course I knew it was a scam when Paypal doesn't even ask for that info when you sign up, so why should they want to know it now.

The reason Paypal charges is because it cost them money to process the transaction, and they pass that charge onto you. A small price to pay to avoid the major hassles and cost of becoming a merchant account owner with Card Services or the like that deals directly with you.

ShadowWind

PS: You might want to check with your bank to see if there is any additional information with the charge that doesn't show up on the statement (or online banking if you have that).

Unless they charge the $1.95 for foreign accounts, they should only pre-auth such validations, which means the money is held for 4 days or so and then it is settled by the bank if a settlement is required by the chargee (Paypal). If there is no settlement, the money is returned to the account like it never happened. Companies often use pre-auth's as validation of funds and/or the validity of the card. Also a lot of companies try your card and if it's found to be lacking in information (address doesn't match, etc), the money is held in pre-auth, which can suck if you are buying a $50 item and for some reason their credit card processor is refusing the card and it pre-auths $50 transactions that are held. Probably why some people get overdrawn because the statements that are sent monthly don't reflect that, and people don't realize it's happened. I didn't until I got online banking where I can check my account on the fly...I highly recommend if your bank has such a feature, to get it.

I have checked with my bank :o) There's no 4-digit code anywhere :o( You're right about the paranoia, and I have checked that it comes from PayPal (Actually it came as a reply on my question so I'm pretty sure it WAS from PayPal) I also realize that you use the security code when you buy online, but to actually make a photo copy of your card and fax it abroad... I just don't like that much. I may have to do it though, as my limit is reached on my primary account and I had to make a new account. I also realise that they can't process credit cards for free, I have just chosen (at least at the moment) NOT to pay to GET money. :o)