Half of my buyers pay by check.

Mickey71 · March 4, 2009 2:07AM

I go to list some cards on feebay last night and the no checks warning came up because I was putting that I accept checks in the description. I have not put checks and money orders in the description in 2 months. The problem is: my buyers wait about 7-10 days while I'm being patient and then when I send a reminder they ask for my address to send a check. For me just to only accept Paypal in the listing has actually been a hassle. It can sometimes with checks needing to clear take almost a month to complete the transaction. 2 weeks to get the check, up to 10 business days to clear and then shipment. Anyone else feeling this way about this issue? Many sellers still list they accept all forms of payment, but not when I tried it.

Mickey71

RonBurgundy · March 4, 2009 2:09AM

They are catching "check and money order" language in the checkout details. I changed it to "additional payment options available. Contact me for details." and I've been fine.

I also get buyers emailing me frequently asking if I'll take a check or MO. It's as much the buyers who want to pay this way as the sellers who still want to allow it.

storm888 · March 4, 2009 2:28AM

MANY buyers in the collectible categories do NOT want to use PayPal.

////////

EBAY's position...........

Communicating about payment methods

Sellers need to say specifically which payment methods they accept in their listings and only offer payment methods approved by eBay.

Sellers aren't allowed to:

Ask buyers to contact them for additional payment methods

Offer a payment method to some buyers and not to others

Discourage buyers from using any payment method the seller specified in the listing

Ask buyers to pay using a method not mentioned in the listing.

This applies not only to listings, but to all transaction-related correspondence between a seller and buyer.

Violation consequences

Violation of the Accepted Payments policy can result in actions such as:

Listing cancellation

Forfeit of eBay fees on canceled listings

Limits on account privileges

Loss of PowerSeller status

Account suspension

diamondman · March 4, 2009 3:30AM

On one conspiracy thought, if you communicate with the buyer, donot do it through Ebay messages as Ebay can and probably will read it. Any website that allows instant msgs or messages/email can monitor your private mbxs and if they don't like what they read (AX TIME), and that is the rest of the story JMHO.

storm888 · March 4, 2009 3:49AM

"On one conspiracy thought, if you communicate with the buyer, donot do it through Ebay messages as Ebay can and probably will read it...."

/////////////

The bots read everything and refer "keyword hits" to live monkeys.

IF a buyer ASKS - without ANY prompting whatsoever - to pay by
check/MO, there is no problem. (If checkout transactions slip below
95%, EBAY begins watching closely and does take action to "solve"
the problem.)

If a seller "prompts" a buyer - even by saying "contact me for other
payment methods" - the bots will eventually kill the listings.

Also, there are TONS of disgruntled EBAYers who spend hours looking
for violations to report.

EBAY's nonsense is just too stressful for many sellers to endure. They
continue to search for new venues.

gogosox55 · March 4, 2009 5:44AM

I've asked several if they accept MOs. Every one said yes, a couple said yes with emphasis.

I will not use paypal after a episode a few years ago. I won't go into it but will say, once burned twice shy.

WinPitcher · March 4, 2009 6:16AM

In my invoice I state:

If you prefer and I include my address.

I do not say anything else. They get the hint.

Steve

storm888 · March 4, 2009 6:22AM

<< <i>In my invoice I state:

If you prefer and I include my address.

I do not say anything else. They get the hint.

Steve >>

///////////////////////////

Unless you get an AH buyer, that should be pretty safe.

........

I have NO inside info on this but..........

I am pretty sure that the no paper-payments policy will be revoked
this year.

LOTS of buyers are not interested in using online payments. The
pressure will come from them.

gogosox55 · March 4, 2009 6:24AM

I'm pretty sure the management team in charge of the mess eBay has become will have to go before the payment policy is changed back.

TheTalkingWalnut · March 4, 2009 8:56AM

FWIW - I quit ebay for good a while back after being boned by paypal too.

The posts above seem correct to me - as a buyer, I can (and did) ask if they'll take a check or money order, and I can say nasty things about ebay and paypal to screw with the monitoring scheisskopfs. As a seller you don't have nearly the same latitude or else they getcha.

As far as taking checks goes: I've been selling online since the mid 90s, before ebay was even a corrupt con in the eye of Fat Evil Meg, and I've never gotten a bad check. Not once. Of course, I've been around the block once or twice and can usually smell a rat, but I have no problem paying with or receiving checks at all.

As a matter of fact, every transaction I've been involved with here, either sports cards or currency, has been via check or money order, and it's been nothing but smiles.

Ebay can suck it. They had a good thing and they blew it. I'm off to the flea market on Sunday rather than sell my excess inventory online.

Gonblott · March 4, 2009 11:12AM

<< <i>

Also, there are TONS of disgruntled EBAYers who spend hours looking
for violations to report.

EBAY's nonsense is just too stressful for many sellers to endure. They
continue to search for new venues. >>

SO SO SO TRUE

Gonblott · March 4, 2009 11:14AM

So if people ask if they can pay by money order or check eBay will allow it?

As long as I don't advertise other than Paypal though, right?

WinPitcher · March 4, 2009 11:25AM

Yep, that is correct.

Checks and MO are your friends.

Steve

rube26105 · March 4, 2009 11:40AM

steves right, ebay dont get their cut out of them anyways!!!! i have people tell me they would bid , but they dont take paypal, i tell em bid away, ill take it

Half of my buyers pay by check.

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