[Closed] I wonder if guys who put cars on the auction for sale and will only

I've emailed sellers before i bid in the past and asked that same question.

Some will....some won't.
I guess they have their own motives which are none of my concern.
Most of the time - if they won't accept my personal check, I 'pass' too.
There'll be another down the road to bid on eventually.

I, too refuse to bid on auctions where Paypal is the only payment accepted.

I figure if they don't trust my personal check, the heck with them. And the way I look at it, the buyer has more to be concerned with than the seller, because we're buying USED goods and if we've not dealt with that seller before, we don't know what condition the car is really in.

I'll also add that both seller and buyer have "ratings" of all of their respective sales on the auction site. So it's easy to see whether a guy has had issues either buying or selling.

In today's world, as soon as a personal check is deposited or cashed, the money is deducted immediately from the buyers account. There is no waiting to see if the funds are available, and if they are not, the seller is going to know. And the seller doesn't have to send the car until that has happened.

A cashiers check/money order proves nothing anymore.

As for Pay Pal, I used it once back in 2007 and it was not only a headache, I never got my merchandise. I will never use it again.

All the people that post on this Forum, as far as I'm concerned are friends and reputable. If we can't trust each other in a seller/buyer transaction, that is really sad.

I've not sold any cars on the auction, but I've bought many, and everyone that I've bought from can vouch for my handling of my part of the transaction as being 100% good. And everyone that I've bought from have been equally handled well.

So if someone here is not going to accept a personal check, it's my thought that he isn't really interested in selling his cars.

Good Point George

I have had 53 transactions on this site (all as a buyer),
and I have a perfect rating. If someone insists on a cashiers
check or money order, and will not take a check, I will
not bid on their model. I refuse to have go to the bank
and stand in line to buy a model car. Just not worth the
hassle.

Wow, I'm surprised at all the resistance to PayPal, it's super convenient for buyer and seller both!

No waiting for a check to arrive in the mail and clear; as a seller I can ship immediately, and as a buyer I can compete my purchase from the comfort of my home one minute after the auction ends!

My experience is the opposite George. I've been screwed twice on diecast purchases.

Both times here. If I had paid with paypal I'd have gotten my money back. Jay tried on both occasions and got NADA other than banning the seller! If a seller won't take paypal unless it's a seller I know..I PASS!

Not having bought or sold on this site I can speak only of my experiences elsewhere using paypal in both directions, buying and selling. Since the mid 2000's paypal is all I have ever used. They do take a comission from the seller, its not a lot but along with the auction commission and the cost of packaging materials, does add to the cost of the sale. It all adds up.

I have not used a check in over five years and no longer have a check book, not with electronic payments at point of sale and using internet banking now takes the place of checks.
Cashiers checks - forget it. The check costs money and bank lines a total drag.
I havent been inside a bank in years - no need to anymore.

A question relating to the auction facility here: payment by internet banking transfer from the buyers bank account directly into the sellers bank account. Would that work for you chaps?

However, PayPal, just like eBay, when something does get all unstuck, its the devils own job to get the problem resolved - a liitle like mud wrestling an eel. There is nobody to talk to just computer generated responses. Dreadful, but thankfully, down sides are rare.

David, I think what it comes down to is, that if we are known well on this Forum and and all of our buyer/seller transactions are rated 1+, there should be no reason that a seller should not take a personal check from a buyer.

And like I said in another post, the seller has the advantage of waiting until he gets the personal check before he sends out the car. If the check is no good, no car.

Bruce, this is going to surprise you and most other here, but I will not use electronic banking. And that will be a surprise to all because I worked 35 years in the banking business.

My reasons of course are my own, but in a nutshell, all the electronic banking that is available today was created as a convenience for customers, but the reality of the issue is, it has opened up the can of worms called "fraud" and "identity theft".

The banks and the media WON'T tell you that, but it happens. When your accounts are hacked or your computer hacked, you've bigger problems than you'd have had if you'd just stayed writing checks and visiting a bank once a week or so.

And bottom line is, that every time someone chooses to use electronic banking, they are only making it easier for the banks to eliminate employees and jobs.

As I said, my reasons are my own. But I've remained doing it the old fashioned way. I have a checking account and I write checks. I go to the bank and I go to the post office. It's not an inconvenience for me in the least. And I have a far less chance of being hacked or having my identity stolen.

Can it still happen, of course. But I'm doing my best to prevent it.

So take my personal check on a sale, or no sale. I move on.

GOLD is my payment of choice - but as long as I get paid ... that's all this seller wants

That’s very true Barry and I have my checking acc linked to PayPal

So indirectly I AM paying with a check without wasting a physical check and stamp plus waiting for the check to clear etc... best of both worlds really!

I agree George. I always accept personal checks on this site. In fact, I prefer them.

I have done business with so many of you over the years, I usually ship before the check clears. Never had a problem. I am the current leader in sales/purchases on the site (I believe) with a score of 903. I might have a couple of neutrals in that total. I think the record holder was my friend Bob White, who we lost a few years ago.

Might as well get used to it. Electronic banking/checkout is the present and will continue to be so forever. Paypal takes things a step further by guaranteeing the purchaser's purchase and the seller's sale. Unlike using a personal check, cashier's check or money order, If a sale or purchase bombs out everyone is usually made whole. It may take a bit of time, but the percentage of success is in favor of paypal.

Many think that a Cashier's check guarantees payment. It doesn't. The maker can stop payment on it, likewise a money order and both can be stolen or forged. Banks don't like cashier's checks because they have to reserve funds for everyone that they issue. That ties up their money. And, with a check machine, a personal check looks exactly like a cashier's check. I used one for 37 years in my business.

If one wants more assurance use a postal money order. But forget trying to get the PO to help if the sale bombs.

Years ago this site used to be frequented by the same group of collectors who got to know each other on a personal basis. That also changed years ago. We no longer see that many familiar faces and the admin is powerless to recover a loss through any legal means. All it can do is hope to negotiate with reasonable persons - if it can locate them.

So, if you take offense at the rejection of your personal check - no one cares, it's not personal and you are opening yourself to more fraud and problems than if Paypal is used.

You also are not going to save someone's job by using a personal check/standing in line to have human interaction. Think of how many jobs were eliminated by the invention of the bar code. Did you object to that bit of progress?

Today's need is convenience and speed. Cashier's and clerks are being replaced by phone apps and delivery drivers.

Just my opinion backed by personal experience.

I agree

You sum up the situation perfectly. I always use PayPal if available as a means of purchase and if not I use my credit card. Both offer safeguards if the interaction goes south. It's the 21st century y'all!