Other Payment Methods

[Former_Member]

How do other payment methods work, like money order and checks for instance? Do you wait for the check to be mailed/received before making the item or is there an electronic process.

Does anyone get a lot of people asking to pay with checks or money orders?

[SiennaCeramic]

I used to take checks and money orders. Under my policies I listed what "Other", including that the item will not ship until payment clears. Also I included disclosure for any possible bounced checks (although thankfully that never occurred).

[Former_Member]

So why did you stop? Was the hassle too much?

[ModernHermine]

I take checks and MO...It takes longer but money is money. I wait till the checks clear and the MO is cashed then ship out....It's not so strange I just let them know they have to send out within 2 days. MO I ask for certified mail so they can't say they sent it and I never got it.....

I have never had a problem with either in 7 years.......and that used to be half of how people paid before....

[GreenZebre]

I'm getting tired of giving Paypal so much money, so for large items that will take a while before they are ready to ship I welcome checks or MO.

I realized too that Paypal is taking a portion of the shipping fee so I've been loosing money there too.

Recently I've also had buyers asking for substantial price reductions which I do consider if I get payment w/out fees.

[Former_Member]

It's really personal preference.

[SiennaCeramic]

I stopped taking checks, because I wanted to avoid any ugly business with a bounced check, and I just recently stopped taking money orders because having "Other" as a payment option was continually confusing new buyers. I've even lost sales because of it. A new buyer gets freaked out that they don't have a Paypal account, chooses "Other" thinking they are going to pay with a credit card, then the only way to get paid is to cancel the entire transaction and have the buyer start over.

[SiennaCeramic]

By that time it may have been several days, several convos later, and the buyer drops off the map.

[Studio463]

I have a card reader app on my iPad and cell phone so if people don't want to use use Paypal I am able to process their debit/credit card information over the phone. It also works great for local orders and fairs because i have a credit card swiper that attaches to my smart phone or ipad.

I still lose a small percentage in processing fees, but for some reason a lot of people are more comfortable telling me their credit card info rather than using Paypal so I'm happy to offer the service.

[Former_Member]

Wow, that's awesome Allison and a very good idea for fairs/shows.