I am asking because with sending good checks in the mail I have recently gotten ripped a couple of orders. How do I sign up for paypal? How does it work?

Go to the paypal.com website and just follow the directions for signing up.

you can go the paypal website and read up on it

What they said.

There are some here that do not like Paypal, but I have used it forever (10 years?) and never once had a problem. If there is an issue with something you buy, they will help sort it out. And no waiting for checks that might bounce. It's the safest way to buy online. I have a paypal account for my rescue too- it helps keep track of donations, and it's safer for the donors as well.

The only thing I will say is that it does take them a few days, if your paypal account is linked to your bank account, to transfer money into your bank account. (They transfer it out instantly, LOL)

I think you need to wait three months after opening, but you can then get a Paypal debit card- which you can use as a debit card for the money in your paypal account.