DUer's who have used, or donated to, a "crowdfunding" site, which platform do you prefer?

[Ghost in the Machine]

I have found myself in a situation where this is about the only way that I am going to be able to make it. I have done a little research, and one website ranks gofundme at #1 and YouCaring at #6, but #s 2, 3, 4, & 5 don't allow personal fund-raising.

The pros & cons of gofundme:

Pro: ranked #1, name wider known...

Cons: I read that people have to donate through PayPal... and it takes 5 to 7 days to have your donations transferred to your bank account.

YouCaring pros: they set you up with a processing account and the money goes directly into your bank account when a donation comes in. No need for a PayPal account.

Cons: Have not really found any yet...

Both charge the same fees to the donee, donors are not charged anything. Any input/advice would be greatly appreciated. This is embarrassing for me, really, but I am disabled and have been struggling financially since about last August or September, but have managed to barely stay afloat. This past weekend, someone tied a 10 ton weight to my ankles...

I don't have the papers in front of me right now for exact date, but back in July my car was stolen, then found 2 days later in a gas station parking lot. It was intact, except for a busted ignition and the clutch burned out. I HAD to get it fixed, as it was my only transportation, so I went online trying to qualify for a loan. I found a place that gave me a $650 "line of credit". I misread the interest terms and thought it was 27.8%, but was actually 278%! To date, I have paid back $1007 and some change, and still owe over $500.

Anyways, back in the beginning of January, I wrecked my car because the CV Axel and lower control arm broke, which made me lose control and run off in a ditch. It happened in front of a friend's house, and they pulled my car out for me and told me to leave it there, and they were going to help me fix it. We have been fixing a little at a time, as my friend was working out of town a lot, and I didn't have much money. about 3 1/2 weeks ago, I talked to my friend and told him that I had the money to get the CV axel and he said he was out of town, but would be home that Saturday and would call me & come get me so we could work on it. I never saw or heard from him. Last week, I found out that he was in jail for a probation violation. I got a ride over to his house Saturday, only to discover that my car had been stolen AGAIN! I have been depending on my elderly parents, and my cousin, for rides to the doctor each month, rides to the grocery store, etc. I only had liability insurance, so it wouldn't pay to fix the car, or replace it. I am in desperate need of a vehicle right now, but can't get another loan.

My neighbor has a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse for sale right now that I can get into for $2,000. It only has 155,000 original miles on it. It's a 4 cylinder, economical, and had a new tranny and convertible top put on it a few months ago.

Like I said, this is embarrassing for me to put myself out here like this. I have always been the one to help others, but always too proud, or embarrassed, to ask for anything for myself. Again, any input/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for reading, and Peace!

Ghost

4 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	gofundme.com
	4 (100%)
	youcaring.com
	0 (0%)
	Other.... please name one
	0 (0%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[Ghost in the Machine]

1. One kick before I try to get some sleep for a while, been a long day today..

Any input/advice is GREATLY appreciated....

Peace,

Ghost

[Ghost in the Machine]

2. One more kick for today, hoping for at least one reply, or advice...

I am trying to sell my gun to raise part of the money. The Pawn shop offered me $150... when they have the same kind on their racks for between $475 to $550. Also trying to sell an antique, but perfectly working, Spaulding & Rogers Power Unit 1 power supply for tattoo guns. It is one of the first 2,350 made. According to the person I spoke with at the company, it was made in late 1978, or sometime in '79, their records didn't even go back that far. He also said that "if I had one that old and still in good working order, it would be considered a museum quality piece, worth at least $500.... probably triple that if I found the right collector". I am thinking about putting it on Ebay for $300....

Peace,

Ghost

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. On the gun, I would google search your area for collectors, gun smiths etc.

Do your research on the gun and give them the price you will sell it for.
It couldn't hurt to use eBay for the tattoo gun.
I would go with GoFundMe. I am so sorry you are struggling right now.

[Ghost in the Machine]

4. Thank you very much, ScreamingMeemie...

I live in a very small town, so not many options. The research that I havve done on the gun says that it is rare in the US. It's a Romanian Military issue SKS, but it's not in the original wooden stock. It's in one of those "big, black, scarey" stocks, a TAPCO polymer stock with adjustable butt and 20 round magazine. It also still has the bayonette attached, and has a flash suppressor on it. I got it several years ago when I was doing some trading around.

I have checked in the bigger towns near me, and the gun shops and pawn shops there have them priced between $550 to $675, a bit higher than the pawn shop in my town. I live way out in the sticks, 15 miles from town in 3 different directions, over 20 miles in the 4th direction. The problem now is getting around to get to them. I was in Knoxville a couple of months ago with my cousin and we stopped by Gander Mountain to get a part for his boat and pick up some fishing equipment, and I looked at their used guns there out of curiosity and to check prices. They averaged around $525 there. None were Romanian though, they were all Russian, Yugoslavian or, the cheapest, the Chinese Norinco. I can remember back in the 90's, when my uncle owned a gun shop, when we could buy the Norincos for $50/ea all day long.

Thank you for your input, and the kind words..

Peace,

Ghost

[sweetapogee]

10. a yugo sks

near perfect with wood stock and all correct matching s/n for parts, bayonet and muzzle break and packed in armory cosmo including accessories cost $430.00 plus shipping to an FFL. So total is under $500.00

[herding cats]

5. While it takes longer to get the money I would use go fund me

Name recognition matters when people are handing over money.

Good luck, and I'm sorry you're in such a rough patch.

[Ghost in the Machine]

6. Thank you very much, herding cats...

I appreciate the advice, and the kind words...

Peace,

Ghost

[KamaAina]

7. Ack! I am violently allergic to PayPal.

As, I imagine, are most DUer old-timers who remember the Andy Stephenson fiasco.

[Ghost in the Machine]

8. Thank you, KamaAina, that is one thing I considered about the YouCaring site, is that people don't

have to sign up to PayPal just to make a one-time donation. I know a lot of people are opposed to it.

Thanks for your input...

Peace!

Ghost

[Ghost in the Machine]

9. I just found out that gofundme no longer takes PayPal!

Can I donate using PayPal?


GoFundMe no longer uses PayPal to accept donations for campaigns.



Instead, all donations are securely made with a debit or credit card.
http://support.gofundme.com/hc/en-us/articles/203999308-Can-I-donate-using-PayPal-

Only 4 votes so far, but they are 100% for gofundme... I would imagine for name recognition.

Thanks, again, for your input/advice, it is greatly appreciated.

Peace to you and yours,

Ghost

[Quackers]

11. I'd say Gofundme as they require a Facebook account in order to be made public.

That allows for a layer of protection for the donor. Also, expect to share a lot of personal info with everyone. Donors like transparency, even if it means outing yourself. I never thought in a million years that I would give my real name and location on a political site. When it came to fundraising for my service dog, it became necessary so people feel more comfortable about who they're giving money to. Keep records and possibly receipts of all money used to share with your donors. Lastly, expect there to be naysayers and people who don't like the idea of others asking for help, even on a Democratic site. Ignore them! We all need help sometimes and it's up to us to help each other when we're down. Stay strong and don't give up!

[Ghost in the Machine]

13. Thank you very much, Quackers.... I have no problem with sharing my facebook profile with anyone

for the sake of transparency. Even the naysayers have a right to their opinion, but they can't dictate to others about how, or with who, they choose to support. I already "like & share" facebook posts from DU under my own name. I always try to help anyone that I can, in any way that I can. I have even opened my home to people who had nowhere else to go, let them stay for as long as they needed, and never charged a dime... just asked them to help me with house & yard work since I am disabled and even mowing my lawn can be torture on my neck & back. After all, how is someone supposed to save money and get back on their feet if they are paying out what they are earning while trying to save for their own place, right??

The person whose yard my car was in, and was helping me fix it, even buying parts himself, was one such person. He said it was his way of paying me back when his own family wouldn't help him. Others have "thanked" me by stealing from me while they were here, or on their way out the door.... That still hasn't stopped me from helping others because that reflects on THEM, not ME.

Thank you for you input and advice, and the kind words, I really appreciate it.

Peace to you and yours..

Ghost

[brooklynite]

12. Why would a donor have an opinion about the platform?

[Ghost in the Machine]

14. Some don't like the idea of having to create a PayPal account just to make a one-time donation, but

I found out today that gofundme no longer uses PayPal, so that helped settle the issue for me. Some platforms even charge the DONOR up to a 15% fee. Gofundme only charges the person getting donations, as does YouCaring. They both charge 5% of each donation. 2.9% processing fee + .30 cents per donation. Therefore, a person has to set their goal a little higher than what they actually need, to make up for the fees taken out.

Thank you for your question, brooklynite! Others may have been wondering the same, and I hope my answer clears it up for them.

I emailed Skinner asking if we still had to get permission before posting a personal fund raiser, and if so, if I could get permission. I am still waiting for a reply...

Peace,

Ghost