Is it ok to accept a postal order for a heavy and expensive item?

Mumolulu

Buyer has asked to pay via this method due to a bank problem.

I am happy to accept, but if he didn't receive the parcel could there be any comeback? Item is heavy so I won't be posting recorded/tracked etc.

Thanks

frivolous_fay

Are you sure you wouldn't like to use tracking if it's that expensive?
What makes you think they wouldn't receive it?

Mumolulu

frivolous_fay wrote: »

Are you sure you wouldn't like to use tracking if it's that expensive?
What makes you think they wouldn't receive it?

I'm not suggesting they wouldn't receive it, I'm just always on my guard when buyers seem 'out of the ordinary...?!! or ask unusual things!' Maybe I shouldn't be so suspicious, but I am selling as I need the money so don't want to be out of pocket having to refund if the buyer claims they haven't had it.

Isn't tracking really expensive? Because it is a heavy item, the postage is already quite high.

Crowqueen

No, they don't have any comeback directly through eBay over a PO - it's safer for you but not so safe for them. They would, however, be advised to start a small claim should it not arrive and you disclaim responsibility for the item. You are always responsible for getting the item to the buyer safely - always.

If it's over a certain value it would be very foolish not to send it tracked - you are only insured up to £41 with standard post, so if you don't send it tracked and it goes missing not only do you have an upset buyer you would still have to refund, you wouldn't be able to claim anything back, since you didn't take out the proper insurance on the item. Tracking may mean you have to fund it out of your own pocket, but better that IMO than an angry upset buyer with no item.

The buyer should have comeback whatever way they pay, and postal insurance is for your benefit, not theirs. I would be pretty upset if I trusted you with a non-electronic payment and you didn't send an item I'd paid quite a lot for with proper insurance. I'd probably take out a small claim if the worst came to the worst. So considering what you should do shouldn't mean the buyer - who pays for the item and would be definitely out of pocket themselves - loses out should you not take steps to ensure they receive the item they paid for.

Expensive items do go walkabout in the post if not sent properly, and it's really, really in your own interests as a seller to try and fund some insurance for the package out of what you got for the item.

soolin

Insurance is for the sellers benefit not the buyers and regardless of how the buyer pays you must cover yourself against loss.

charlies_mum

If you print your postage label through Paypal, you can send by Parcelforce. Up to 30kg for £10.99, and you can arrange for them to collect

macfly

If you are suspicious toward a buyer who is giving you a payment method as good as cash, then selling isn't for you.

martindow

Whatever carrier you use check that your type of item is covered and that insurance is adequate. Like RM carriers include cover up to a certain value (often 50 pounds) and need to buy extra to cover an expensive item.

You need to treat the PO like a cheque if it is crossed and allow it to clear. Uncrossed POs can be cashed immediately but these are less common.

soolin

Actually it has occured to me that OP can't benefit from the reduced paypal parcel rate as buyer isn't using paypal.

I had a similar thing last year or so , it didn't dawn on me at the time either until I couldn't work out how to print a paypal label as buyer had paid by cheque.

macfly

martindow wrote: »

Whatever carrier you use check that your type of item is covered and that insurance is adequate. Like RM carriers include cover up to a certain value (often 50 pounds) and need to buy extra to cover an expensive item.

You need to treat the PO like a cheque if it is crossed and allow it to clear. Uncrossed POs can be cashed immediately but these are less common.

Most banks do treat them as cheques, but you don't need to wait for them to clear. Cancelling a postal order is much more difficult than cancelling a cheque. The process takes months.

Crowqueen

martindow wrote: »

Whatever carrier you use check that your type of item is covered and that insurance is adequate. Like RM carriers include cover up to a certain value (often 50 pounds) and need to buy extra to cover an expensive item.

You need to treat the PO like a cheque if it is crossed and allow it to clear. Uncrossed POs can be cashed immediately but these are less common.

Actually, the reason you wait for a cheque to clear is because funds may or may not be available. A crossed PO is a cheque drawn on the Post Office - if it bounces we're all in deep trouble.

With cheques the funds are posted to your account the next working day (and are accessible with the proviso that if the cheque bounces they can be withdrawn, though there were extra safeguards brought in a few years ago to protect the payee after a certain length of time), so it doesn't really make sense to wait the normal time for cheques for a PO.