Yet another eBay question - re: checks clearing

[Kristi1357]

Ok, I took a check as payment from a buyer (even though I normally do not do this). It was only $15, so I felt safe doing so.

Anyway, I figured I could just call my bank later to see when/if it cleared. I just talked to a rep. at my bank and they said I'd have to call his bank for that info! Needless to say, I didn't copy the check or anything, so I have no way of calling!

Do any of my fellow eBayers here accept checks? And if you do, how do you insure the check cleared? Do you just wait 10 business days and figure everything is fine?

I am so confused - esp. after reading the other thread about fake money orders!

TIA,
Kristi

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Normally if a check is going to bounce it hits back to your account withing five or six business days. Most people who accept checks on eBay will wait at least ten calendar days after depositing to ship the item.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

I can check my account online and so I always know what checks have been cashed and what funds are available or pending. Having said that, I never accept personal checks from eBay auctions. The cost to me for a bounced check is not worth the aggrevation. Instead, I do accept money orders, PayPal and credit cards via PayPal. If that loses me a few bidders, I just have to live with the loss of their business.

 

[Oscar5933]

I stopped taking checks and use paypal now. The funds come directly from their checking and when the funds clear paypal notifies you. With so many people on Ebay over 90% of the auctions take paypal.

Happy Ebaying!
Jen

 

[wendyl]

I under no circumstances accept a personal check. I have only had 2 customers in well over 1,000 transactions email me with a complaint about that. As an above poster mentioned, the cost and headache of depositing a check into your account that eventually bounces is not worth it. Also, I have read feedback for other sellers where a buyer left a negative for the package taking over 2 weeks to arrive--when the reason it was held so long was for the seller to wait for the check to clear. Most buyers understand that if they pay with a check, they are going to have long wait times, but some don't--and why set yourself up for that.