ctaandc
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posted on August 22, 2007 10:28:04 AM new
After reading a post by Jackswebb regarding Craigslist and no longer accepting personal checks, I'm wondering...
How many of you are no longer accepting personal checks from buyers? And if so, what is the best avenue for accepting payments nowadays? I decided to do away with PayPal and it hasn't seemed to decrease bids, but I'm still accepting money orders and personal checks (I do hold for 10 days before shipping).
Opinions???
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MAH645
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posted on August 22, 2007 11:04:54 AM new
I would rather have a personal check than a money order. Most money orders the Banks won't take in this state unless they hold them against your account for ten weeks and then they can still bounce. I deal with a Credit Union and they won't take anything that comes from a store or Wal-Mart.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on August 22, 2007 11:07:20 AM new
I no longer accept personal checks.
After the last bounce and being roundly ignored by the miscreant, I said "No more."
Never had a problem with a money order. Money orders can be forged, though.
fLufF
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blueyes29
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posted on August 22, 2007 12:06:16 PM new
I still take personal checks and have for years. Never had one bounce yet.
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kozersky
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posted on August 22, 2007 12:34:25 PM new
Yes. I wish that more of my customers would pay by check or money order.
http://www.kozersky.com
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max40
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posted on August 22, 2007 01:11:15 PM new
I take pc's, had only one bounce in 8 years, and buyer made good immediately.
A lot of problems with bad buyers is the result of what you sell, and what kind of buyer you attract.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on August 22, 2007 01:20:46 PM new
Be careful what you wish for.
High volume selling comes with potentially greater rewards but also with greater risks.
fLufF
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vintagepostcardsdotorg
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posted on August 22, 2007 02:28:43 PM new
we still take personal checks. we don't even put a hold on them. had two bad checks over the years but both buyers made good. would never dream of dropping PayPal though - at least 90% of our customers pay that way. wish it was otherwise, but they like it.
http://www.vintagepostcards.org/
http://vintage-postcards.blogspot.com/
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roadsmith
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posted on August 22, 2007 06:00:47 PM new
Complete dittos to what vintage says, above--even to the two bounced checks in all these years, both of which were corrected (one was so embarrassed she even paid me double!). It surely must depend on what you sell, what kind of customers are drawn to your items.
I have a non-paying bidder, actually a non-responding winner, from two weeks ago. I filed a UPI report and that didn't even bring a response. The winner is male, sounds like a young man from his moniker, and he won a rather scurillous postcard about a college in the Northwest. When I listed it, I thought to myself that that one may cause trouble, and sure enough.
I know I sound biased about young men buyers, but honestly some of them must have been raised in a barn. Or sty.
_____________________
There is more to life than increasing its speed. --Mahatma Gandhi
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sthoemke
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posted on August 22, 2007 07:15:41 PM new
Yes, but it is seldom I receive a check.
I leave the option because check-only bidders may bump up an auction price.
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Shopchicly
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posted on August 22, 2007 08:59:22 PM new
Nope. I stopped about 6 years ago after a couple checks bounced. Once it took the bank 3 weeks to notify me and I had shipped thinking in that length of time surely it had cleared. I was a newbie and suffered for it. 90% use PayPal and I've never had any problem - a few money orders and also - no proglems.
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davidsmom
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posted on August 22, 2007 09:38:26 PM new
Ditto Vintage & Roadsmith. In nine years just one bad check. Put it through again and it was fine. Paypal is expensive, but very convenient. Just another business expense you can write off on your income taxes.
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ewora
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posted on August 22, 2007 10:15:13 PM new
In over 7 years I've only had two bounce and one made good. The other was for under $10 so it was an easy write-off.
I've been scammed on paypal once also on not sending to the "confirmed" address and luckily that lesson was under $20.00.
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ladyjewels2000
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posted on August 23, 2007 02:29:29 AM new
I still take them as well but not over a $100. I make a copy of the check and call their bank before I shipped to be sure it cleared. Now many banks won't give you this info or charge for it. The last big check I got was $185 and the bank wouldn't verify so I held shipping for 30 days. Buyer was pissed but I had made an exception to my $100 TOS for him - so be it.
I've only had one bounce. It took over 3 weeks and of course I had already shipped. Buyer did cover it with a MO.
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ggardenour
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posted on August 23, 2007 09:09:50 AM new
I have had only one bad check in 8 years and the buyer took care of it. My bank won't take Postal M.O. I would rather have a check then PayPal. Heck even if I had 1 bad check a year I would still come out ahead over PayPal fees. LMAO
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agitprop
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posted on August 23, 2007 09:54:09 PM new
The only personal checks I'll accept are from buyers in the UK, Australia or NZ. The reason being that clearance times on cheques in those countries are quite short, with the UK moving to four day non-reversible clearance from November 2007. Also any bounced checks can be refered to the Police CID specialist Bank Fraud squad if the check maker doesn't make good on payment.
I'm happy to accept bank checks or money orders from the USA. I can get them cleared through HSBC within a few days. As I know how to spot most fakes or counterfeits (using a UV light or checking the paper, watermarks, etc.) so I'm really only concerned about stolen checks or MOs...
Most buyers pay by bank transfer so I rarely have to worry about physical payments. 
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comebuy616
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posted on August 23, 2007 10:46:35 PM new
How do you set up a bank transfer? What information do you have to give the buyer? Thanks azcomebuy
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mcjane
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posted on August 23, 2007 10:59:09 PM new
A lot of problems with bad buyers is the result of what you sell, and what kind of buyer you attract.
I agree with max. I sell rubber stamps & find hobbiest among the most reliable.
I have had two checks bounce in eight years, both made good, but only one paid the ten dollars my bank charges me for a NSF check.
Almost all my buyers pay with PC & a few with a MO.
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amber
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posted on August 24, 2007 04:04:57 AM new
I really agree with you mcjane. I sell mostly craft books and yarn, and the majority of my buyers are mothers, grandmothers, disabled people at home etc., and I have only had 2 bad checks in 10 years. One was put right, the other not, but it has still been worth it. Every check or money order saves on Paypal fees, although they are getting less and less.
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agitprop
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posted on August 25, 2007 09:26:20 PM new
comebuy616 wrote: ...How do you set up a bank transfer? What information do you have to give the buyer?
For bank transfers you give the buyer the same details as printed on any check, namely: bank, account name and number. Around 90% of domestic sales in Australia and NZ are settled this way. For international transfers you often need to provide BIC + IBAN details so the transfer is processed as a straight through transaction and not through an intermediary bank (which incurs added fees).
Bank transfers are not recommended in the USA due to the well-known 'demand draft' problem.
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buyhigh
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posted on August 28, 2007 08:20:57 AM new
Only had one check bounce in over 8 yrs and the buyer apologized because a hold had been placed on the account. She paid with a MO and added $6.00 in case my bank had charged me for the bounced check.
It might be what one sells that encourages buyers to send bum checks.
buyhigh
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