Is it safe to buy goods online using a cashiers check

polkfarmboy

If you want to buy a set of speakers and the seller asks for you to send a cashiers check then is there a way to protect yourself ?

michaeljhsda2

Not that I know of. I wouldn't send a cashier's check to a private seller as it seems risky to me. YMMV

DMara

True, but it's even riskier to sell goods to polkfarmboy :biggrin:

polkfarmboy

So if your not paying with paypal then what other options do you have ? Can a personal check be sent with instructions to the bank for it not to be cashed until you receive your goods ?

BlueFox

polkfarmboy wrote: »

So if your not paying with paypal then what other options do you have ? Can a personal check be sent with instructions to the bank for it not to be cashed until you receive your goods ?

The goods do not ship until the check clears the bank.

audiocr381ve

I've sent a cashiers check and it worked out fine for me. Make sure the seller has some sort of reputation somewhere or beware.

heiney9

polkfarmboy wrote: »

Can a personal check be sent with instructions to the bank for it not to be cashed until you receive your goods ?

Are you serious? Is this some kind of joke? Send a note to the bank? :rolleyes:

H9

Toolfan66

heiney9 wrote: »

Are you serious? Is this some kind of joke? Send a note to the bank? :rolleyes:

H9

Yep!!! No joke!!! Can I have a hamburger and pay you on Tuesday??

VR3

How old is Polkfarmboy?

In some threads he seems 30+, in others he seems younger than 10...

This thread is common sense...

polkfarmboy

heiney9 wrote: »

Are you serious? Is this some kind of joke? Send a note to the bank? :rolleyes:

H9

I use cash credit cards and never need to write checks. I was referring to having the bank freeze the funds between myself and the seller until I receive the goods? But as bluefox says .... goods do not ship until the check clears the bank

cfrizz

Use a Postal money order, It won't stop you from being ripped off, but you can also sic the PO on them if they don't send the goods.

drumminman

cfrizz wrote: »

Use a Postal money order, It won't stop you from being ripped off, but you can also sic the PO on them if they don't send the goods.

True, if you use a Postal M.O. and seller doesn't uphold his end of the bargain it's mail fraud, a federal offense. The Postal Inspectors (theoretically) will investigate.

cstmar01

There really is nothing you can do.

My frist Videogon transaction was with a cashier's check. Sent it to a guy who had good feedback as well. Took over 3 months and a couple calls to the local police to get him to finally ship or even respond to me about where the stuff was at.

There is nothing a bank can do. We can do a dispute process however, the person who is supposed to get the check would have to claim they never got it and it was signed by someone else. I don't trust sellers with 0 feedback anyways.

Also never a way to "freeze" funds. The check would come back NSF if you did. Then the seller would say you bounced a check and is not going to be happy.

I only do cashier's checks if I A. Know the person. B. Trust them if I don't know them. I bought my mono amps with a cashier's check and had no issues. However the guy had great feedback, I talked to him on the phone, got email, name, etc and knew info about him so I trusted him and he came thru with no issues.

Even if someone pays me in a cashier's check and I don't know them I still will call the bank to verify the funds and also let it sit for awhile to make sure it clears OK.


oh and BTW just because you say to someone to cash a check at a later time and they put it thru doesn't mean crap. Once the check is written a person can go cash the check regardless of the date on it. Its up to the individual bank's policy if they will accept the check. Normally if the date is very old the teller shouldn't cash (at our banks) however it can be missed. If you like to write a check out and say don't cash until 10th but you get it on the 1st, the check can still be cashed and there is no rule against it. You are telling someone you have money there so it better be there, if its not well then you lied.

decal

VR3 wrote: »

How old is Polkfarmboy?

In some threads he seems 30+, in others he seems younger than 10...

This thread is common sense...

My thoughts exactly.

Syndil

Why isn't PayPal an option?

heiney9

Syndil wrote: »

Why isn't PayPal an option?

Some people don't use Paypal, few and far between. If I see someone on Ebay or Audigon that doesn't accept Paypal I just move on to the next seller. Not only is sending a MO, CC or PC inconvenient, it's not as safe as using Paypal. Atleast with PP you have some assurance of recourse, etc.

H9

DaveHo

C.O.D. if the seller will go for that. It will cost the seller a few extra dollars to ship it & you should eat that fee.

Drenis

My first ever eBay purchase was using a certified M.O. which i sent to a guy in North Carolina who sold me an old pair of Bose 701 towers about 8 or 9 years ago.

I was young and stupid but I didn't get ripped off. We are also talking about ~$700 too. I would never do it again knowing now.

tonyb

How much money we talkin ? If your not prepared to lose it, then don't do it. A cashiers check to Joe Shmoe in the middle of nowhere with no viable reputation has red flag written all over it.

Reputation is key here, if the guy has none, then pass. Otherwise, credit cards, C.O.D., paypal, are the only other options. I've sent product to people I know before even getting the cash, but you have to know who your dealing with first and foremost. Thats why our FM is a great place to buy gear plus we send Cathy knocking on peoples door should things go south.

Polkersince85

Nobody wants to be smitten by Cathy.

If you don't feel perfectly comfortable with the deal, don't do it. If you do send him a Cashier's check and never get the speakers. please don't whine about it for a month. Just chaulk it up as stupid tax.

cfrizz

tonyb wrote: »

How much money we talkin ? If your not prepared to lose it, then don't do it. A cashiers check to Joe Shmoe in the middle of nowhere with no viable reputation has red flag written all over it.

Reputation is key here, if the guy has none, then pass. Otherwise, credit cards, C.O.D., paypal, are the only other options. I've sent product to people I know before even getting the cash, but you have to know who your dealing with first and foremost. Thats why our FM is a great place to buy gear plus we send Cathy knocking on peoples door should things go south.

Polkersince85 wrote: »

Nobody wants to be smitten by Cathy.

If you don't feel perfectly comfortable with the deal, don't do it. If you do send him a Cashier's check and never get the speakers. please don't whine about it for a month. Just chaulk it up as stupid tax.

Tony you're lucky I like you so much, otherwise, you would be the first one I would smite! LOL! :razz:

Again, you can use a Postal money order & take a chance, sign up for Paypal, buy it brand new or just forget about the whole thing. If he has a good rep on Audiogon or ebay then I would take a chance, if not, walk away.

I don't use Paypal and always pay with MO. Have never had a problem, but all but one of my transactions have been here.

Just utilize common sense and you will be fine.

Syndil

heiney9 wrote: »

Some people don't use Paypal, few and far between. If I see someone on Ebay or Audigon that doesn't accept Paypal I just move on to the next seller.

Exactly my point.

codyc1ark

cfrizz wrote: »

Just utilize common sense and you will be fine.

Do we realize who we're dealing with here? :biggrin:

Tankman

cfrizz wrote: »

Use a Postal money order, It won't stop you from being ripped off, but you can also sic the PO on them if they don't send the goods.

This is the only way i would do this what you posted is about as safe as you can get when ordering in the mail like that when dealing with an indivual.#1,You buy with someone and use a money order safe.#2 the order is not sent buyer ripped you off.#3 this becomes MAIL FRAUD.Can carry up to 5 years in Prison.The money order can be traced and the US gets involve because it was mailed.

gudnoyez

I've bought stuff from people from this forum and paid with a postal Money order, it's a matter of trust. I just tell the person to cash the money order first before they ship the goods, lots of good trust worthy people amongst us here at CP, you can track a postal money order and I believe there is an option to have the individual sign for it, if you want.