Overnight payment

I have always used USPS Priority Mail with no problems. However, I prefer to send through Paypal. Good luck with your situation,

Bob

Thanks bob! Was going to go that route but the ups store is very close to my apt.

I guess it depends on what you are trying to accomplish.  If you want to make sure the person gets the money/payment as fast as possible, I'd use PayPal or some similar electronic payment method.  Western Union still does moneygrams too.  You can also use FedEx to send an envelope with varying speed.  Next Day by 10AM is about the fastest and the fee for that has become fairly high.  You can put whatever form of payment you want in the envelope.

 

A long time ago I used to run auctions by e-mail.  Most people paid by check at the end of the auction although a few elected to send cash (at their own risk).  All of them sent their payments by regular old first class mail (even the few bidders in Europe and the UK).  First class mail is generally pretty fast and safe for payments.

 

I guess my bottom line is a check or money order by regular first class mail is quick enough for me.

Paypal.  It works.  That's why it's so popular....

Paypal is your friend.

I mailed hundreds of priority Mail packages and a couple of times it did take several weeks. Probably the package was behind a machine or belt until someone cleaned up lol. But for sending money Pay Pal is the best.

Whenever I ship USPS priority mail I get the tracking number service, I think its $0.80 more but it gives you a way to know where the package is. Mailing checks I would use first class mail and if it is for a large amount I would get the delivery confirmation service.

franktrain   

I'm not sure what the original post is referring to, although I assume he means UPS because he later mentions having a UPS store nearby and paying an "extra $8."

 

UPS (United Parcel Service) does not offer "Priority Mail"--USPS (U.S. Postal Service) offers Priority Mail.

 

UPS (United Parcel Service) offers Next Day, Next Business Day, 2 Business Days, 3 Business Days, and Ground services.  All of those offer online tracking services.

 

When I send a payment for something, I almost always send my check via regular USPS First Class Mail--nothing special--or pay by credit card if it is a business.  I ship most things via UPS Ground (and occasionally Priority Mail) unless someone needs/wants a higher-level of service.  I don't use PayPal anymore and don't intend to use it in the future.

 

There hasn't been a train item made that I needed to pay for or receive overnight or the next day.  A little patience goes a long way.

As a matter of interest Allan, why don't you use Paypal? Your tone suggests a problem with them?

Can't you track it?  It's guaranteed (UPS Commercial)  in most cases or $ back.

Very Very True.

I had a problem with them some years ago, Dave, and it never was resolved.  Where money is concerned, I usually follow a "one strike and you're out" principle.

I used Paypal whenever possible.  I know there are those that hate it for particular reasons, but it has never given me a problem and is widely accepted by almost any reputable online business.

 

As far as speed... I just wait if needed on a check to clear, that I send regular first class USPS.  

If I want something to get there overnight, I use FedEx.  I've never gotten the same reliability from other services.

 

You mention Priority Mail, that's a USPS service that promises 2-3 day delivery, not next day.  UPS has no Priority Mail product.  Did you send it UPS or USPS?

 

Note that all of these services have tracking, so you should be able to find out what the status of the shipment is.

PayPal if a payment needs to be fast.  Otherwise the Postal Service - 2 to 3 days is fine.  They perform a darn good service for minimal $, IMHO.

 

As far as packages, I've had only one buyer who was anxious for delivery, because of a birthday.  I convinced him to save $ and that the PO would get it there in time.  It did, and he was grateful.  And myself, I've certainly never been in such a hurry to receive a train item that I paid extra. 

Thanks guys for all your input! I just was impatient as allen said. Shoud have just gone with good old snail mail usps and saved the $8.I have never sent any letters from ups store I've always used usps. I checked and allen is right! I talked to them and they said I was misinformed by the young lady at the counter. ( new college undergrad just started) the other person on duty that day did not offer to refund the money. I did Not make a big deal out of it and just accepted it for what it was. Mistakes happen! Guess getting something off the buy and sell board does just require patience. But It was a present to myself for my birthday and was hopping to get it by the weekend.

I ship a lot of things and always use USPS Priority and have never had a problem.  I don't like Pay Pal and try never to use it.  If I'm to receive payment just drop the check in the mail.  Never had a problem with that either.

I'm not sure the USPS guarantees 2-3 day delivery with priority mail anymore.  I talked with someone at the post office about this a long time ago.  I think the only service the USPS has that will guarantee delivery time is Express Mail.

I currently use Paypal as well.  Money can transfer immediately. 

 

There are also some banking tools that are on the market and/or coming onto the market that allow for electronic transfers as well.  Haven't tried any of these, however, as Paypal seems to work perfectly fine.

 

Jim

I'm sure that guarantee is too strong a word, but that's what they quote and in my experience over 100's of packages, almost always deliver.  I have had a couple coming and going that took longer, one that I received took almost a month!

The USPS does not guarantee there priority mail delivery, there is small print below the 2-3 days in the Post Offices stating not guaranteed. With all there cut backs the Postal Service made many cut off times earlier for express mail as well. As far as pay pal vs personal check, pay pal has  buyer protection so if you don't receive a item or it has been misrepresented they reimburse you which I used a couple times when the seller didn't ship. Banks have service charges on almost everything they do anymore. 

 I sent money overnight by Priority over night service ONE TIME too. It took 4 days to arrive. Because I raised a rucus at the post office the lady behind the counter finally told me the truth. Quote:"What people do not know is once your mail leaves here it is in the hands of private carriers and we no longer have any control over it". THAT is why things get there late.

Rob

".....the lady behind the counter finally told me the truth". Quote:"What people do not know is once your mail leaves here it is in the hands of private carriers and we no longer have any control over it".

 

Thanks for the info Rob.  That's something that I was not aware of.

 

 

Thanks for confirming what I remember about Priority Mail.  Where I am, regular first class mail usually gets there in 2-3 days so there is no real advantage for a letter.  When I used to ship more, I liked it (Priority Mail) because it was relatively easy to get the right sized box and it was free. 

The only guarantee the USPS gives you  you with Express Mail is they refund the postage if not delivered on time. Once I expressed a check overnight to my wife and signed the signature waver and they still didn't leave it and the PO used the excuse that if they feel it's unsafe to leave it they don't have too a lame excuse not to reimburse. With pay pal as long as you ship to the confirmed address the buyer and seller are both covered under the protection plan if not your both on your own.

I'm curious about PayPal buyer protection for private sales.  Do you really get protection?  I figured that was only through eBay, since they own PayPal.

i sent something priority to my daughter in NY.  she got a note in her mailbox that it required a signature (it didn't) and to come to the post office to pick it up.  she went.  they couldn't find it.

 

several weeks later it got returned to me.  there was no reason for the return indicated.  

 

if it is something important, i use UPS.  i want that tracking number.

 

if a payment, paypal works for me.

Just, a word to the wise!

In the past, it seemed, whenever I ordered something, I would get an E-Mail with a tracking confirmation number of 'TEN' characters from 'UPS Mail,' and the message would tell me to click onto a link, to find out the shipping message for me.

The problem is, which I found out from United Parcel Service, that their tracking number system consist if 'Eighteen' characters and the 'Prefix' is always: '1Z' (Numeral-One and Letter-ZEE) and they are NOT UPS MAIL!!!!!!!!!

Ralph-RJL

I guess that I'm just an old school ol' phart. I learned my lesson the hard way. Back in 2005 I had PayPal ID Theft. All my money was traced to the Caimen Isl. The mess was taken care of, however, the lower extremities will freeze over before I use PayPal again. If my checks are not good enough..I guess the seller doesn't want my $$. The same holds true on the forum. Our fellow Forumites (Guys & Gals) are a bunch of good folks.

I use the USPS for all my needs. Send it First Class and relax. If that makes you uncomfortable get a Tracking ID w/ Delivery Confirmation.

You get protection. If you file a complaint they hold/freeze the seller's funds.  I had a problem with something suspected stolen -- or at least not delivered by UPS.  Luckily the seller had another and was able to reship.  Don't know how it compares to say, American Express Protection.

I sell and buy a lot on the forum.  I tend to like USPS Money orders and checks, but will take paypal occasionally when I know I can use it to pay a bill.  But the 3-4 business days it takes to download to my account really forces me to lean towards checks and USPS Money orders.  By the way........   I fond that although I appreciate the fact that people send me the occasional check USPS Priority mail, I am just as happy getting it through the regular mail.  It generally is just as fast. 

There is no such thing as priority mail UPS.

Yep, I think I said that some time ago.  I think he was talking USPS, not UPS.