Can someone clarify this about postal orders.

ArmchairTycoon

I don't often receive payment for eBay items with a postal order, it has been some time since I did so but from what I recall I was required to sign for it and provide ID when cashing it at the Post Office, am I correct?

I have just had an item bought from me on eBay and the buyer sent me an e-mail saying that he was sending me a postal order on Monday morning in my username, also said he was using a library computer so he wouldn't be able to respond to e-mails and to call him on his mobile phone number included in the message, except he has omitted to include it in the message so I cannot contact him to ask him to put the postal order in my name.

I am getting a gut feeling that this buyer is going to be awkward, they told me to make sure I packed the item properly as they had a few recently that were badly packaed, now me feedback and ratings should reflect the fact I pack my items well.

Oh and the buyer send the e-mail outside of 'My Messages' so I copied and pasted his message and my reply into 'My Messages' and asked him to send the postal order in my name, but I doubt he will get it before he has sent the postal order.

StaffsSW

It depends if the PO is crossed or not - I've received a few Postal Orders with my business name on them, but I've been able to cash them at the Post Office without any problem.

If it is crossed, then it would need paying into a bank account like a cheque would.

On the plus side, if there are problems with the postal order then you can offer to return it to the buyer, and all this time the item will be showing as unpaid. It's also outside of the buyer protection policy which gives you a slight advantage in contesting any possible negative feedback.

frivolous_fay

It's going to be fun banking a postal order written out to your username!

pinkgem

i've had a postal order in my ebay id before, cashed it fine. my boyfriend also often cashes postal orders in my name.

StaffsSW

I should have said that my eBay user name is also my business trading name, which is why it was no problem in my instance...

StaffsSW

pinkgem wrote: »

i've had a postal order in my ebay id before, cashed it fine. my boyfriend also often cashes postal orders in my name.

If you have cashed them, then it means they were uncrossed, and in this case it does not matter what is written on them, as they are as good as a handful of coins and notes.

ArmchairTycoon

Okay thanks for your help, I would be suprised if it was uncrossed though, it negates the point of a Postal Order, if it can be cashed by anyone, then the buyer might as well just send cash in an envelope.

StaffsSW

That's what I don't understand about buyers who use them - by the time they have gone to the cost and effort of buying and posting one, paypal would be quicker easier and cheaper for them, and they are no more secure than cash - only a little less conspicuous in the postal system.

I'm not complaining - less fees for me, and I use them towards payment at the Post Office when I'm sending goods out.

pinkgem

stevew8975 wrote: »

If you have cashed them, then it means they were uncrossed, and in this case it does not matter what is written on them, as they are as good as a handful of coins and notes.

yes they were all uncrossed. crossed ones get paid in to my bank account.

ArmchairTycoon

stevew8975 wrote: »

That's what I don't understand about buyers who use them - by the time they have gone to the cost and effort of buying and posting one, paypal would be quicker easier and cheaper for them, and they are no more secure than cash - only a little less conspicuous in the postal system.

I'm not complaining - less fees for me, and I use them towards payment at the Post Office when I'm sending goods out.

It may be a safer option for the buyer if they use eBay infrequently, dormant PayPal accounts are commonly hacked by scammers, it might give the buyer greater peace of mind knowing they don't have to log in every so often to check all is well.

grunnie

I like postal orders especially uncrossed ones as I use these at the post office to pay the postage of my other ebay parcels. The crossed postal orders are just like a cheque - take them to the bank and pay them into your acount. No paypal fees with postal orders. I wish everyone would pay by uncrossed postal order. I pay a fortune in paypal fees each month which I really grudge.