Are bank checks a safe method of receiving payment for auctions?

[erikiksaz]

I'm selling something on ebay, and a potential buyer sent me this:

"I am traveling at the moment and I will be in the States for the next
two weeks. If my bank mails you directly a bank check (you will
probably want to wait to clear since I can not request a money order.
The money is withdrawn from the account as soon as I request the check
but it is not a money order) which you will probably receive Wednesday
or Thursday 14 or 15 May. Could you guarantee delivery (in
Indianapolis, Indiana) between 19 to 21 or 22 May?"

How safe is this? If bank checks have to clear just like normal checks, there wouldn't be enough time. If i received it on May 14th, a Wednesday, there's only two business days for the check to clear before i must send the package UPS 3 day air in order for him to receive it between 19-22 of May.

And he says that bidpay is not an option, even though i do not see that as a possibility. He says that he can pay through the bank account on paypal, but if that's true, he'll have a debit/check/whatever card from the bank, and he could use that card to fund bidpay, right?

Is something fishy here, i've gotten two offers from people that are "visiting" so far.

 

[Garet Jax]

I take personal checks all the time, but I never ship goods until after the check clears. This is the hard part. I don't know of an infallible way to determine the check has cleared.

 

[codeyf]

Ask what bank it will be drawn from. If it's a national bank, you can just take it to a branch and cash it.

 

[crypticlogin]

I think this buyer wants to pay with a bank check drawn from outside the US? If I were in your shoes, I'd ask what bank they plan to draw from and work from there.

 

[RossMAN]

Yes they are safe, however you should wait at least 10 business days (2 weeks) for them to clear. I have personally SEEN people get scammed after only waiting 7 days, on the 9th or 10th calendar (not business) day there was a stop payment placed or it was claimed lost/stolen.

To protect yourself, request guaranteed funds only.

A cashier's check or money order, no personal or business checks.

 

[erikiksaz]

Originally posted by: codeyf
Ask what bank it will be drawn from. If it's a national bank, you can just take it to a branch and cash it.

But, i thought the problem with checks was that they had to clear. Cashing isn't an issue, is it?

It's just what i remember from when i was a kid. I had a check written out to me, and my sister cashed it, and handed me the money. A few days later she told me the check bounced.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

take the check to Western nion or Ace check cashing.

 

[erikiksaz]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
take the check to Western nion or Ace check cashing.

No!!!! I'm sick of those places. I would call them, ask for their policies, but when i got there, things seemed to change or the "money order cashing" part of their businnes would be closed.

 

[bozo1]

If it's a cashiers check drawn on a US bank, you can call the bank to verify that it is good. If it's a foreign bank, I wouldn't touch it.

 

[ElFenix]

cashiers checks are nice.

 

[codeyf]

Originally posted by: erikiksaz

Originally posted by: codeyf
Ask what bank it will be drawn from. If it's a national bank, you can just take it to a branch and cash it.

But, i thought the problem with checks was that they had to clear. Cashing isn't an issue, is it?

It's just what i remember from when i was a kid. I had a check written out to me, and my sister cashed it, and handed me the money. A few days later she told me the check bounced.

I'm saying, if for example it's a Bank of America check. You could go to any BofA branch to cash the check. When they cash it, they'll check the account first. If it is a valid account with available funds, they'll give you cash. If for whatever reason it's no good, you'll know right then and there.