Ebay Payment Problems

[Ted Shultz]

Just thought I would tell everyone that might take Postal money orders when selling on Ebay or just plain selling to first see if you can cash the money order??
I went to cash a postal money order and ship the item that I had sold on ebay. The clerk said the money order was possably a fake. Enter Night mare?? They called in the feds, took the money order and I was the one they treated like the counterfiter?? It was not fun. So strong addvice is to find out if the money order is for real first and then cash it before sending part or order.
I think when I sell something on ebay or anyplace else I will just take a personal check and state there is a 10/12 day hold before shipping.
Has anyone else had a simmilar experience?? -- Ted

[Bill Sherlock]

Ted,

I've come across at least one ebay seller who was only accepting payment by PayPal due to counterfeit postal money orders. My preferred method of payment is with PayPal as money orders here cost too much for a minimal purchase. Think most US banks don't want to accept cheques from Canada or charge an exhorbitant handling fee if they do. Canadian banks also charge a more exhorbitant handling fee to convert cheques written in US dollars to Canadian when debiting it to your account. Cheaper by far to buy a money order in US dollars rather than write a cheque in US $ on a Canadian bank account.

If you're going to be selling on ebay for the long haul, might as well sign up with PayPal. The fee they charge would likely be offset by higher bids from people like me who usually pass up items from sellers not offering PayPal.

Bill

[John Hanson]

I'm with you Bill, I've passed up stuff just because they didn't take PayPal... it's a pain to go get a money order, and if they're having trouble getting some cashed, then what's the point??? It's sad it's all come down to this...
Good luck to you , Ted... I hope they get it all straightened out!
JH

[Steve Barr]

If someone purchases an item from me with a usps postal order, I use it to pay for the shipping and then get the cash back from the post office clerk. If it doesn't pass their test, I don't ship. So far, no problems. I do like the convience of paypal, and usually can cover most of the paypal fees with a higher than actual shipping price that was paid by the buyer for S&H. Why do you think that a lot of items listed with a shipping fee being higher than actual shipping. It all gets passed on. I know that when I buy something.

[KidDynamo]

Originally Posted by Ted Shultz

I went to cash a postal money order and ship the item that I had sold on ebay. The clerk said the money order was possably a fake. Enter Night mare?? They called in the feds, took the money order and I was the one they treated like the counterfiter?? -- Ted

Well......what is the upshot of it all? Was the money order a fake or not? There is a lot inferred in your posting but not much practical value is imparted if accurate ending details aren't provided.

[Andrew Mackey]

I recently sent a P.O M.O. as payment for an Item I bought on eBay. Seller stated she didn't get it. PO will not investigate loss for at least 3 months.
Andrew

[Rudy]

I think that there are pros and cons to both paypal and money orders. I have bought over two hundred items on e-bay, and i always pay with a bank money order with never any delays or problems. The money orders that i buy are from my local bank, and they are drawn on a bank, in Delaware USA.they have security features on them that can't be copied.As far as taking cheques, from the US i have never had any problems. Most of the people in the gas engine hobby are good about paying. It also helps to have a US chequing account at your local bank in Canada so cashing them is also no problem. Money orders are only $2.00. I don't do paypal because of all of the horror stories that i have read and heard.I only bid on items that take money orders, and if you e-mail the seller most of them will take a money order. As far as getting my stuff right away, i don't care about a 12 day waiting period. this is a hobby after all and i am in no rush.The world would be a much nicer place if everyone wasn't in such a hurry??

[T0M]

I have sold a few hundred items on ebay. I only take postal money orders and I cash them at the post office before shipping item. I have heard of the fakes, the post office checks mine out on the spot. Your post office should have a daily list of all serial numbers issued including the one you want cash. I have not had a problem yet.
Tom

when i get money orders, i always hold them to the sun light and look for destinktive markings in or onthe money order, like a artificial water mark or a strip of something going through the money order, something ONLY the official printers make. also check to see if the money order smears, if it does that, its no good.

[Ralph Leonard]

I'm new on Ebay, so I read these post with great interest. Before my feedback score reached 5 I had three attempts to cheat me. Very discouraging. One buyer was $1.20 short on a money order dated three months before the auction. Tried to lie out

One seller sent a rusty torque converter that smelled of burnt transmission fluid insted of the new item adverstised. Tried to lie out

One buyer sent cash (one dollar short). I didn't challenge, lowered shipping level and accepted a few cents loss.

All in a period of about six weeks. Taking advantage of a newby fresh off the turnip truck???

Thankfully, its not all bad, I've had some very pleasant transactions. In fact I'm having fun matching wits with some of these guys

[Gailey Henderson]

I only buy on ebay and use moneyorders have had no problems with150+buys I got a porta band saw for $35.00 from a paypal only he wouldnt take a MO and relisted it and relisted it with out paypal only it went for $160 I found a perfect handle triple lever screwdriver I needed for my collection one went for$70 and the one with paypal only went for $32 I had my son get the paypal one for me . My observation is Paypal only items have less bidders and 25 %less price . If you are selling leave (only)off if you are buying look for the (only)

[Ted Shultz]

I will try to keep you all updated on what happens with the POMO - I did get a call from some Postal worker late this afternoon telling me that I could pick up the MO at another Postal location??? I asked if it was good and they wouldn't reply.
I did get a kick out of the gal postal worker and the clown dressed and saying he was a postal inspector. They had magnifing glasses looking for the so called water line. They tried it under lights and even went outside. This all was happening at around noon during rush hour. People all around and all looking at you as if you was a criminal. I was kinda Pi--ed but kinda laugh about it now.
Will let all know how things come out. - Ted

[Andrew Mackey]

I had ordered some wooden model planes from a vendor on eBay. I was told it would take up to 2 months, as they were being custom built. Needless to say, I used PayPal. I still do not have the items paid for, and paypal will not make good on the payment (over $400). eBay says, as the auction is more than 60 days old, we have no responsibility. My son recently sold a Buick Turbo crank. Hi bidder used paypal. After 1 month, bidder returns crank-postage COD, and states the crank is not as advertised. Crank was taken to 2 seperate machine shops that verified authenticity of item. In the meantime, the bidder complained to paypal that the item was mis-represented, and received a full refund. The amount was charged back to my son. He has now filed a complaint, as he is now out over $60 for the COD charges, as well as the bidder has reneged on his eBay purchase contract. Again, as the auction is more than 60 days old, eBay won't act on this cheat.
Andrew

[Paul Spence]

I bought an item off eBay for $108 and the seller only took postal Money orders. So I picked up a P.M.O and mailed it at the same P.O.. Well after a week, the seller says he never got it. After two weeks, still no M.O.. So I sent him a check which he got in two days, and two days later I had the item. In the meantime I went to the P.O. where I got the M.O. with all my paper work, photo ID, filled out some forms, and another $3.50, and it all went to the LOST/STOLEN M.O. processing center in St. Louis .. I was told it takes some 60 days to receive a refund in the form of another P.M.O from the date of issue of the first M.O.. A few weeks later, I got a letter from the P.O. saying that they received my Lost/stolen report and that it is being processed. Now it's been months and still no refund . They sure take your $'s without asking any questions except do you want more stamps, or can we help you with anything else today . Guess what, two weeks ago I got an email from the seller who had found the orginal money order mixed up in some paperwork and subsequently returned it to me. I can't do anything with it because it's no longer good. I'm still out the $108 + the $3.50 + My time just trying to have fun in NJ . Never had a problem with PayPal.

[Bill Schaller]

Originally Posted by Andrew Mackey

My son recently sold a Buick Turbo crank. Hi bidder used Paypal. After 1 month, bidder returns crank-postage COD, and states the crank is not as advertised. Crank was taken to 2 separate machine shops that verified authenticity of item. In the meantime, the bidder complained to Paypal that the item was mis-represented, and received a full refund. The amount was charged back to my son. He has now filed a complaint, as he is now out over $60 for the COD charges, as well as the bidder has reneged on his ebay purchase contract. Again, as the auction is more than 60 days old, ebay won't act on this cheat.
Andrew

Andrew,

the problem with these types off claims is it would take a court of law a week to figure out who is right, and who is wrong. How can Paypal or ebay know if you are wrong, or he is wrong? should they take your son's word, or the buyers word? maybe the buyer is the world's greatest crank expert, and the guys at the machine shop are wrong. There is probably a Buick BBS out there where a guy is complaining about a seller who lied through his teeth about a crank. How can Paypal or ebay possibly know? The guy really went to a lot of work if his plan was just to stiff your son for $60, and your son has the crank.

That being said, this sort of thing happens 100,000 times a day to Walmart. it is part of selling something. Your son is out $60. how much would he had sold it for locally for cash, with no guarantee, and no returns, hand delivered? Learn from it, and move on. it's not like your son is out the crank, the $60 and the paypal amount. My Friend's daughter just lost over $3400 cash on an cashiers check scam, so at least you didn't get burned too bad.

[hit-n-miss166922]

Hi!!! I have been using "Western Union" money orders, that cost 49 cents, and have not recieved any coments from the sellers that I have sent them to!!!! I guess they work????????????

[Mike Inglis]

its too bad bidpay ended, i used that when paypal wasnt an option and never had any problems

[Al Wait]

When you send payment of any type by mail, don't cheap out. Use Certified Mail, with a return receipt. This seems painfully obvious. It is still not an absolute guarantee, but it helps. Al Wait