busybeehelpers

Do you allow people to send you checks or only use online payments? I only accept payments online.

fitnessk

No I do not accept checks. Right now I accept PayPal and, of course, people are then able to use a credit card as well.

weber

Personally, I don't like the hassle of handling checks. Aside from the risks of bouncing checks, there is also the risk of the check being stolen or lost. I still prefer online payment, bank or wire transfers.

gladiator

I accept check payment if these are local checks which only take 3 days clearing. However I refrain from accepting international check payments because of the long clearing period and my inability to run after the payor if the check bounces.

busybeehelpers

Yeh I uess it would be relatively safe to accept local checks from clients. How do you handle the processing of their order or services? Do you wait until the check clears?

technoflutemom

I accept checks, but do not ship the merchandise until I have confirmed with my bank that the check has cleared.

ACCER

I prefer online payment but will take a check as long as the person understands that the merchandise will not be shipped until the check clears.

Calypso

I used to take checks all the time, but now with the easy availability of PayPal, credit cards, and other forms of online payment, I prefer to avoid them if at all possible.

I do continue to take money orders, and if someone *has* to send a check for some reason, I'll do what ACCER suggested and wait til it clears before I provide the service or send the merchandise.

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ACCER

Calypso,
To be on the safe side, I mention in ads that the merchandise will not be shipped until after 15 days. That gives plenty of time for it to clear and for all fraud measures to be worked through.

SageMother

That is an excellent policy. It certainly takes the profit out of trying to rip the merchant off and still allows purchases by those who are afraid of online payments. There have been times when I have delayed shipping items even though they have been processed through Paypal if there might be a question about the quality of the customer, so I have considered making a delay for complete clearance a standard policy.