How safe is PayPal?

If you're a buyer it's pretty safe. For sellers however it is not safe and they won't even protect you if your account is hijacked and you can prove who hijacked it and when.

Paypal is safe, but deceitful.
Since it costs them money to do CC transactions, they go to great lengths to trick you into using your bank account instead.

Paypal is pretty damn safe and secure. HOWEVER, you should know that just like credit card companies, paypal emails have been duped and scammer sites linked to them. MAKE SURE any link you're on says "http://www.paypal.com/ ..." or "https://www.paypal.com/ ...", otherwise, it's probably a scammer.

There are also people using ebay AND paypal to scam you. They will contact you, give you a price on something, you pay it through paypal, and you never see the money again. BE SURE you are dealing with reputable sellers.

I buy and sell online on an almost daily basis. Many of these transactions are through paypal. I have had no problems in the 7 years I have been using it.

as safe or safer than online credit card sales

I have been using for one year. I have not had issues (Except the ones caused by me near the start of using). I think and know is very secure. As I stated even my own stupidity couldn/t or did not get me in trouble, because Ppl helped me out. We worked together on the phone to solve the mistakes I made on comp.

Paypal is a secure one to opt for and look forward too

I've never heard any reports of it not being safe. Iwould think that PayPal would do a lot to make sure that their site is secure..their whole business/reputation rides on that safety.

I wondered that same thing myself.
I really don't much about it
but I am scared of it somewhat.
How dare a free site ever pull some sort of PayPal scam.
That would be unconscionable and would lead to mass mutiny.

I dont think Paypal is safe at all for even buyers. Read http://www.go4expert.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16875

I've been using Paypal for years without any issues. They're very safe. I've also found them to be quite helpful when I needed their team to mediate a dispute.

Paypal is pretty safe as long as you set yourself strict guidelines. There is a lot of negative information about things PayPal has done to many people - believe that info.

If you use PayPal, don't give them a credit card number. They might ask for it, but if you set your account up right, they do not need it.
Establish a physical bank account someplace and keep the minimum amount as a balance - use it exclusively for PayPal business, nothing else. Use the account to deposit and withdraw money from PayPal.

People do phish off paypal accounts; you will get duplicious spam-y emails. Always initiate any communication with PayPal YOURSELF. If you get an email from them, use a new browser window to check your PayPal account - don't go from email to PayPal without changing browser windows (a bit of common sense really especially if you wifi).

Paypal and ebay are chiselling crooks.
As a seller, if the buyer doesn't like the item they can do a chargeback, leaving you out of pocket and missing your item.

Essential viewing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr_7--e5A1g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbmJwpvlTIM

Ebay and paypal will not explain why they ripped me off, they won't even respond to my emails, and of the initial emails they did respond to, did not explain why I was liable for their error, namely supplying the wrong address.
My advice, go to a decent, reputable company that actually has a customer support department, rather than some dumb arsed, fuckwitted, robot department.
Can you tell I'm pissed off with them?