cherachael
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posted on June 9, 2006 01:06:55 PM
I never used COD before, (Cash On Delivery Service by USPS), but I have been asked to do it on a very expensive pair of diamond earrings.
I am not sure how this works, you ship and post man gets the cash or check and sends it back to you, is what I think it is.
There is a charge for that service. That's all I know.
Sounds fine to me, but I have a feeling that a seller can get burned on a thing like that, (not sure how though)...
If you have any warnings or sugesstions, I will appreciate it...
Thanks!
Rachael
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irked
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posted on June 9, 2006 01:14:30 PM
Don't like COD. too much to go wrong in my humble opinion like them refusing it etc. it getting lost you name it but then it could happen with paid items too, so who knows.
I know that business often get packages COD mostly through UPS and that usually is ok.. Cost too much too if you ask me.
**************
I married my wife for her looks...but not the
ones she's been giving me lately!
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longtime1
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posted on June 9, 2006 02:07:07 PM
Do Not use COD. There are many ways that a seller can get scammed if they ship COD. Do Not use COD.
[ edited by longtime1 on Jun 9, 2006 02:08 PM ]
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sparkz
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posted on June 9, 2006 02:16:11 PM
Tell her you will send them registered/insured mail. Suggest she send you a cashier's check via the same method. Stay away from COD.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
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hwahwa
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posted on June 9, 2006 04:43:29 PM
I did that once on a small item and the bidder refused,so I ended up paying shipping both ways plus fee.
You have to ask why she is screwing around bidding on your diamond earrings,it is a luxury item,either she has the money or she does not.
She wont be able to open the package and inspect the item until she paid for it,so what 's the point?It is not like escrow service.
/ lets all stop whining !! /
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cherachael
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posted on June 9, 2006 05:19:44 PM
she wants security. I have over 800 all positive feedback. that's why I felt something is not right....
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longtime1
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posted on June 9, 2006 06:27:36 PM
What security? As hwahwa brings up, she'll only have the security that you shipped a box. Could be an empty box. She can't examine them while the postman waits. If this is something that came up after the auction it raises red flags as a possible scam. If you'd care to share the item # I and others here can tell you if they overpaid...which would be another sign of a possible scam. COD.....DON'T DO IT!!!
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davebraun
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posted on June 9, 2006 08:16:46 PM
Do not send COD under any circumstance. They will accept a check whether valid or not and you are SOL
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chessguy
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posted on June 9, 2006 08:29:24 PM
Beware of COD's. If she has a friend or relative that works in the Post Office she can get access to the COD package and could possibly open it before the money is send. Rare instence but it can happen.
Also this one happened to me, I shipped some stuff to a customer that wanted it send COD, she got the package and the mail man did not pick up the check. When I asked the customer to send the check to me, she did not and never heard from her again, lost over $300 on that deal. Contacted the PO and they did nothing.
And as one other person said if the buyer refuses the package you are stuck with paying shipping both ways, this happened to me too that is why I stopped doing COD's.
chessguy
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jackswebb
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posted on June 10, 2006 04:27:58 PM
Remember those old T.V. ads for records back in the fifties, Sorry No COD's....
No sig. on file.
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cherachael
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posted on June 11, 2006 09:00:14 AM
I told her cash only to hand over to postman, she never answered. It was a negotiation on an auction that ended with no bids, but if we agreed on sale, I would relist with BIN.
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hwahwa
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posted on June 11, 2006 09:44:26 AM
You should get hold of an USPS COD form to see if you can specify cash or check??The max is $1000.
Never figure out how they think they can scam with COD method of payment-
say if they write you a personal check and then run to the bank to make a stop payment,the cost is 25 dollars while the earrings is say 250? a profit of 225??
If they send you the same check by mail,you would not ship until the check clears,so COD allows them to stop payment before you deposit their check.
Relisting it as BIN protects the buyer more so than the seller.
/ lets all stop whining !! /
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stonecold613
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posted on June 11, 2006 12:33:42 PM
COD's are ok with people that you have dealt with in the past, but in your case, especially with the circumstances surrounding it, there would be no way I would do a COD.
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sparkz
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posted on June 11, 2006 01:07:38 PM
We are now in the time of year when many veteran letter carriers are on vacation and their routes are being run by temporary summer help or substitutes. There is a possibility the mailman delivering your package may not be familiar with C.O.D. and may accept a personal check, fake money order, I.O.U., or may overlook collecting at all, as happened to Chessguy. COD definitely has it's place in the Postal Service, and is a very useful option in many instances, but it is about the poorest option you could use in a transaction such as this. I can tell you with almost 100% certainty, if this COD proposal was her idea, it's a scam and you will not only lose a pair of earings, but the money as well. You have a TOS in your auctions that describes payment options you will accept. Stick to it and refuse to deal with anyone who wants to change it after the fact.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
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longtime1
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posted on June 11, 2006 03:11:14 PM
Sparkz....actually, what's the difference if it's a rookie on their first day, or an old pro. Is any letter carrier obligated to verify if a money order or cashier's check is counterfeit or altered? No. Are they even obligated to determine if cash is genuine or counterfeit? No. Would I do a COD? No..
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By the way cherachel.....how much were the earrings? Are we talking about a few hundred, or a few thousand?
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sparkz
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posted on June 11, 2006 03:24:46 PM
You're exactly right Longtime1. The seller won't even know if she has anything to take to the bank until about a week after the buyer has received the merchandise. It would probably be safer to tell the buyer to mail her a personal check.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
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cherachael
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posted on June 12, 2006 08:12:28 AM
earrings are $900.00
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hwahwa
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posted on June 12, 2006 08:25:49 AM
Did you check her feedback and what does she bid on?
and how long has she been on Ebay?
If she wants security,she can always use Paypal.
/ lets all stop whining !! /
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stonecold613
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posted on June 13, 2006 12:30:09 PM
PayPal's lack of protection only goes to $500.
For $900.00, an escrow service might be warranted. But no way in hell would I do a COD for that amount.
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mikes4x4andtruckrepair
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posted on June 13, 2006 12:40:12 PM
If they don't trust you and want the merchandise before they pay they should not have bid in the first place. JMO Smells fishy to me.
Tell them to send you a cashiers check via certified mail and you will then ship them their sparklies. If they don't trust you to then send them the sparklies I would just ask them to go away or file a complaint with ebay for buyer not willing to agree with auction terms (unless you had COD in the payment terms).
I avoid COD's like the plague. Just don't need the headache.
 Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein
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cherachael
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posted on June 13, 2006 01:45:52 PM
OK, I did not agree to COD.
I knew you guys will help me to make the right decision...
THANK YOU!!
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chessguy
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posted on June 13, 2006 01:52:14 PM
Here is another reason not to use COD, I normally do not ship COD anymore, gotten burned to many times before. Shipped a package to one of my very old customer, a customer that has been with me for many many years, wanted some items shipped to him COD, since he is a very old customer I went ahead and shipped it COD. Got an email from him today, he had received the package and that the fedex driver had charged him twice the amount on the invoice because there was 2 packages. I only shipped on package so I don't know where the other package came from. Anyway he claims that fedex charged him 2 time the amount an in order for him to get the packages he gave the fedex driver a check. Today he emails me and tells me that he is doing a stop check on the check he send with fedex and that he will ship me the correct check, no problem unitl he says that he will deduct the $25 stop check fee from the check he is going to send me. Here is where the problems begin. I told him to not stop the check and I will mail him the difference because I was not willing to pay the $25 stop check fee his bank charges him. I have not heard back from him but there is one more reason NOT to ship COD's....
chessguy.
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longtime1
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posted on June 13, 2006 03:49:52 PM
Don't use escrow either. Many ways a seller can get scammed here as well. Just take Mike's advice and tell them to send you the money upfront or forget it. Offer them a money back guarantee. Offer to pay for the shipping as some incentive. At least then you're the one in control of the merchandise and the money.
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