COD, Can I pay with personal check?

[jimrawr]

COD = Collect on delivery.

on the USPS website it says I can pay with a personal check, but someone at the post office told me cash only...

I think the dude at the post office must have been wrong, but does anyone here know for sure?

Heres a quote from the website

With Collect on Delivery (COD), we?ll pick up your customers? payment and postage for you. Your customers can conveniently pay with cash or a personal check

 

[VBboy]

1-800-PICK-UPS

 

[kt]

I think the sender specify what type of payment is acceptable for the COD. I've paid with personal checks before, but there was this one time the sender specify to accept cash only. So, I ended up having to run across the street to the ATM to withdraw cash.

 

[jimrawr]

Originally posted by: kt
I think the sender specify what type of payment is acceptable for the COD. I've paid with personal checks before, but there was this one time the sender specify to accept cash only. So, I ended up having to run across the street to the ATM to withdraw cash.

ahhhh, damnit

 

[jimrawr]

COD really doesnt protect you at all then... someone can send me a box full of rocks, and I gotta pay in cash if he says so..

do i get to inspect the items or anything before paying?

 

[onza]

COD is not good, because you get what you pay for at the spot... so if the contents are damaged you are stuck with it.

 

[Infos]

No, you can't inspect the contents before paying.
Generally the package will specify method of payment ie cash only
If nothing specified I believe you can just write a check.

 

[isekii]

I've been able to inspect COD packages because the delivery person let me.

I've had regular UPS ground shipping let me check packages because I had damaged packages with them previously and they had no problem letting me look.

If it was damaged, the just put into their little electronic pad that I refused the delivery and insurance was filed.

Just ask nicely if you can look over the package before you pay for it. I'm sure the delivery guy won't have a problem

 

[numark]

Originally posted by: isekii
I've been able to inspect COD packages because the delivery person let me.

I've had regular UPS ground shipping let me check packages because I had damaged packages with them previously and they had no problem letting me look.

If it was damaged, the just put into their little electronic pad that I refused the delivery and insurance was filed.

Just ask nicely if you can look over the package before you pay for it. I'm sure the delivery guy won't have a problem

UPS has the option of allowing you to inspect the package. However, the original poster asked about the Postal Service. They're prohibited for some reason from letting you even look inside the package before payment. Don't ask me why, but that's their regulation.

 

[jimrawr]

as long as I can pay with check I dont care... If the item isnt as described or something is wrong with it I can just cancell payment on the check

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: jimrawr
as long as I can pay with check I dont care... If the item isnt as described or something is wrong with it I can just cancell payment on the check

Right....but a lot of sellers who use COD don't allow checks in fear of them being bad.

COD sucks.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: numark

Originally posted by: isekii
I've been able to inspect COD packages because the delivery person let me.

I've had regular UPS ground shipping let me check packages because I had damaged packages with them previously and they had no problem letting me look.

If it was damaged, the just put into their little electronic pad that I refused the delivery and insurance was filed.

Just ask nicely if you can look over the package before you pay for it. I'm sure the delivery guy won't have a problem

UPS has the option of allowing you to inspect the package. However, the original poster asked about the Postal Service. They're prohibited for some reason from letting you even look inside the package before payment. Don't ask me why, but that's their regulation.

I've checked with USPS as well...... when I received a shipment of dsl modems that I bought on ebay.
USPS delivery man had no problem with me opening it up and counting how many modems there were.

 

[jimrawr]

So whats the best way to protect yourself when buying online? Im going to be spending around 700 bucks, thats why im worried.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: jimrawr
So whats the best way to protect yourself when buying online? Im going to be spending around 700 bucks, thats why im worried.

use common sense.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: jimrawr
So whats the best way to protect yourself when buying online? Im going to be spending around 700 bucks, thats why im worried.

The BEST way is an i-escrow, but good luck finding someone who will actually do it.

The other safest way would to buy from a store. Buy from a place like Anandtech and the seller has many positive feedback, or ebay and the user has many positive feedback.

 

[jimrawr]

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: jimrawr
So whats the best way to protect yourself when buying online? Im going to be spending around 700 bucks, thats why im worried.

use common sense.

common sense can only take you so far...

obviously im going to check his feedback and everything, ive got the sellers phone number, and i talked to him over the phone. I also got his adress but i dont know if its legit.

COD with a check seems to be the safest way to me.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: jimrawr

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: jimrawr
So whats the best way to protect yourself when buying online? Im going to be spending around 700 bucks, thats why im worried.

use common sense.

common sense can only take you so far...

obviously im going to check his feedback and everything, ive got the sellers phone number, and i talked to him over the phone. I also got his adress but i dont know if its legit.

COD with a check seems to be the safest way to me.

yep cod sounds good...
writing a check would be good as well...

make sure you write it out for his name and not cash

 

[dahunan]

<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.usps.com/send/waystosendmail/extraservices/collectondeliveryservice.htm">You can have your customers pay for merchandise and postage at the time of delivery.

With Collect on Delivery (COD), we?ll pick up your customers? payment and postage for you. Your customers can conveniently pay with cash or a personal check. COD also gives you the added security of insurance coverage against loss or damage of up to $1,000. COD is not available for international mail or for mail addressed to military Post Office (APO/FPO) addresses. </a>

The only way I would purchase via COD is if the seller clearly outlined what he was sending and Insured the package for the correct amount of insurance. Federal Offense if he cheated you.

If I was a seller I would NEVER accept a personal check via COD -- Never. The buyer could easily cancel payment on the check as soon as he closed the door upon receiving the package...<<<<???? Though.. if a buyer did that wouldn't he or she be committing a Federal Offense of some kind also???