digitalman
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posted on October 25, 2000 04:04:12 PM new
I have always delayed shipment until payment with a personal check has cleared my bank.
I just received one from someone that has well over 100 Positive feedback and I am going to ship this item out right away.
How do you handle personal checks?
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sg52
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posted on October 25, 2000 04:07:25 PM new
I retain the right to hold the check...but I seldom exercise that right, particularly with a person with great feedback.
sg52
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Zazzie
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posted on October 25, 2000 04:07:43 PM new
When I first started I delayed and sometimes I do if the feedback warrants it---but normally it goes out right away.
Never had a bouncing cheque yet--except for one that was fixed immediately by buyer
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valerie47
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posted on October 25, 2000 04:08:35 PM new
I once had a customer who had over 300+ positive feedbacks, no negs. The check bounced (it was for about $30). They took 2 months to repay and that was after nagging them every week and then finally having to get my money back using a collection agency.
One month alone I received 10 bounced checks.
I no longer accept checks.
____________________________________
The only place you'll find success before work is in the dictionary.
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dman3
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posted on October 25, 2000 04:17:12 PM new
I also reserve the right to hold up shipping till the check clears.
Usually I just ship in the same week
WWW.dman-n-company.com
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pickersangel
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posted on October 25, 2000 04:20:06 PM new
I have a stated holding period of 10 days on personal checks, but I've been "experimenting" with shipping on receipt for users with feedback over 50. So far so good, although that's not always a guarantee that everything will be OK, as pointed out here. I'm also a little leery of low check numbers--I'll probably definitely hold anything under 1000, unless they have a high feedback rating, earned over a lengthy history on eBay.
always pickersangel everywhere 
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rarriffle
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posted on October 25, 2000 05:02:01 PM new
Pickersangle, did you know that when someone opens a new checking account the bank asks what check number you want to start with, mine started at 1250. So high number does not mean anything.
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freddy57
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posted on October 25, 2000 05:08:32 PM new
I don't accept personal checks at all. Just a policy I started a few years back when I got tired of bouncing checks from people buying things from me. Guaranteed funds or forget it.
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zztop
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posted on October 25, 2000 06:13:22 PM new
I use to take checks but not any more beings i got burnt.From a person who had private feed back.I will not take any more.Its pay pal or money orders only.Do you think that cuts down on bids.Let me know what you think.ZZTOP
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macandjan
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posted on October 25, 2000 06:37:17 PM new
[ edited by macandjan on Dec 3, 2000 05:37 PM ]
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mouselady
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posted on October 25, 2000 06:44:24 PM new
I think the type of items you sell has a lot to do with the type of bidder you attract and possibility of getting a bad check. I sell fabric, sewing patterns, needlework kits, etc. I've accepted hundreds of checks (even from zero or low feedback bidders) and shipped items the next day -- and no bounced checks yet (touch wood!). Most of my inventory sells for relatively low prices; I figure that the headache of the occasional bad check will be much less of a bother than keeping even more piles of patterns around the house and keeping track of the 10 day check clearance.
However, I do state that I hold checks so that I retain that right in case something about the transaction makes me nervous. But since I almost always ship immediately, a lot of my feedback specifically mentions fast shipping.
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mybiddness
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posted on October 25, 2000 06:52:30 PM new
I've processed well over 1,000 checks in the last two years or so and have only had one bounce. The person had a great feedback and made it good immediately through Paypal.
I do think it depends on your market. Some items might attract a less responsible buyer.
zztop I think eliminating checks can cut down on bids. People like the convenience of writing a check. But, if they want the item badly enough it won't stop them from bidding.
Not paranoid anywhere else but here!
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ozwaxc
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posted on October 25, 2000 06:54:56 PM new
I state in my terms that I accept checks from ebayers with over 10 feedback, but I have made exceptions. Once I was asked it I would make an exception, said yes, but then when I got the check it was number 103 and didn't have an address on the check, and when I couldn't find the person listed in the telephone book at that address. It was for a low amount, but bounced check fees are $20+ at my bank so I didn't want to risk it. I sent the check back to him and asked for a Money Order, and he sent it.
I have had two bounced checks, both people made good (including fees). One even told me as soon as she found out that the bank had made an error on her account, and had a replacement check that included fees in the mail to me before I knew the check had bounced.
It still makes me a little nervous, but I don't want to continue to use Paypal, so I decided to continue to accept checks.
Karen
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uaru
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posted on October 25, 2000 06:56:20 PM new
With glowing feedback I've started shipping on the buyer's word. With low feedback I'll wait on the check, if the address on the check matches the shipping address I ship without hesitation. When I get burned I'll rethink my policy.
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texaseagle
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posted on October 25, 2000 07:07:34 PM new
With over 2 years of selling, I have only received one bounced check which was immediately made good. I accept checks from anyone, regardless of feedback--and ship immediately with no hold and continue to do so.
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jelato
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posted on October 25, 2000 07:21:45 PM new
I send it out - my items for sale are for small amounts and I figure people wouldn't want to pay bounced check charges on $5. I am so glad to get rid of the stuff around here I take my chances also.
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amy
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posted on October 25, 2000 07:27:27 PM new
I don't hold for checks, no matter what the feedback...have had no problems with that policy.
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Glenda
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posted on October 25, 2000 07:34:22 PM new
Bidder viewpoint: If the seller says they will hold my check till it clears, I send them a link to my feedback (and to my husband's, who writes the check) and ask them to review at least mine to help them decide if they really need to hold the check.
Nobody has held it yet.
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goingfishing
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posted on October 25, 2000 08:47:37 PM new
We accept checks, we do hold them as we have had several that bounced and did not make good.
I really get annoyed when people email me to check out their feedback and not hold the check. I hold it anyway. I do not appreciate having my TOS questioned.
If I find that people start making good on the bounced checks, I may change things. But for now it stands.
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lotsafuzz
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posted on October 25, 2000 08:53:23 PM new
I accept personal checks. I also reserve the right to hold shipment until they clear, but never have.
I've had one bounced check and the bidder paid up (including my banks bounced check fee). She seemed pretty mortified that the check had bounced.
One thing, you might want to check what your banks fees are for bounced checks. Mine were pretty reasonable (under five bucks), but I've heard others are really high.
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valerie47
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posted on October 25, 2000 08:55:59 PM new
I was afraid when I quit accepting checks that my bids would go down.. but I couldn't have been more wrong. I accept so many other different payment methods my sales did not suffer whatsoever. I would say at least 80% of my customers pay electronically anyways.
Oh, and when I used to write checks for items I purchased on ebay - if they said they held the check I just let them hold it if they wanted to. If those were the terms in the auction, they should apply to everyone, regardless of feedback. JMO
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getkicksonrte66
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posted on October 25, 2000 10:54:47 PM new
Myself, I have in my TOS the option of holding item until check clears, however I rarely hold an item til check clears, exceptions would be if the winning bidder is relatively new to Ebay, or if they have some recent unbecoming feedback... In almost 21 months as a seller, I've never once received a NSF check, and I being a buyer as well as a seller Very Much Appreciate those sellers who take the time to LOOK at my feedback, and decide to ship immediately----
Those that don't take into consideration my 700+ FB and remain paranoid that my check which is now in the high 9,000 series (and I started with #500) might bounce are just grouping me in with their bad & their ugly winners, and their RIGID unbendable TOS is quite unappealing to me!! Certainly, I cannot and would not expect a Power Seller who has 500+ auctions closing each week to pay much attention to my FB let alone read any of it-for them I'd never even ask--but for those sellers who don't have a huge number of auctions closing daily just bewilder me, and I have to question once again---whats the POINT of having Xlnt FB if were never to derive any benefit from having it!! Just boils down to a whole lotta useless fluff!
I also very much agree with some of previous posts, when the mention of the "type" of items your selling on Ebay can attract the irresponsible type.
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