selling trains online

I only sell items online once in a while. Checks, money orders, or PayPal (friends and family), it doesn't make a difference to me.

When you say online.....if you mean ebay Paypal is the only method permitted. The only other method ebay allows is the listing is a commercial credit card account. 

Selling here at OGR I like USPS MO best....I can ship same day w/o worry. (I have my postmaster look u the number of MO when I ship) But any method works for me. 

Speaking candidly... PayPal is the only way to go.  Personal checks and USPS Money Orders are certainly "acceptable", but they throw a wrench into the machinery more than they're worth -- especially if you're selling LOTS of items at a time.

Anything works for "one-off" selling here and there.  But when you're moving lots of items, there's nothing better than providing a shipping quote, then the buyer pays via PayPal, and then you just ship the item within 24 hours -- usually the same day.  Just makes life easy... and one less thing to manage.  Otherwise, you need to set stuff aside and wait for payment... and then wait again for funds to clear.

No big deal for a one-off sale.  But when you're listing a dozen items (or more), it makes a WORLD of difference when folks pay via PayPal.  

A comment about USPS money orders.  I learned, maybe I should have known, that USPS only accepts cash when issuing a money order.  I was fortunate enough to have had the cash in my pocket when I went to obtain one.  If a seller in the future insisted on this form of money order in the future it would be a non starter for me.  Paypal, cash in person or a check would all work for me as a seller.  My larger issue is the ability to get to the PO to ship, my work hours do not align well with the govt work hours.

necrails posted:

My larger issue is the ability to get to the PO to ship, my work hours do not align well with the govt work hours.

USPS picks up from my porch whether I'm here or not.  Since I live well off the road on a private drive, the possibility of someone taking the stuff is pretty remote.  I haven't been in a post office in many months.

USPS money orders have worked well for me. No problems at all. 

necrails posted:

A comment about USPS money orders.  I learned, maybe I should have known, that USPS only accepts cash when issuing a money order.  I was fortunate enough to have had the cash in my pocket when I went to obtain one.  If a seller in the future insisted on this form of money order in the future it would be a non starter for me.  Paypal, cash in person or a check would all work for me as a seller.  My larger issue is the ability to get to the PO to ship, my work hours do not align well with the govt work hours.

My PO will take cash or debit card as payment for MO's......just not Credit Cards as they can be refunddr through venfor. 

My post offices here too take cash or debit cards [when the system is up] As a seller I only accept Postal M.O. or Paypal.

I use Ebay to sell trains.  I also use it to buy trains.  Bay has made buying and selling quite easy, sometimes too easy.....LOL  Back in the day, I would sell off some items I no longer needed or wanted at train meets.  I compare a train meet to a yard sale, people want it for nothing.  There are thousands if not more, looking on the bay every day for trains.   

I also both buy and sell on eBay and though I prefer PayPal if a buyer asks I will accept a USPS MO. and usually receive a couple such request per year for someone to pay with a MO.   While on the subject of the USPS my long time carrier retired last Dec. and my new carrier does not give a "D" I am going to start a new topic about the USPS and would appreciate comments.  J

I use e-bay and of course Pay Pal for payment. I don't do that much selling but it works well for me.

AMCDave posted:

When you say online.....if you mean ebay Paypal is the only method permitted.

The policy now is that sellers must accept at least one form of electronic payment, it doesn't have to be PayPal, and is not limited to electronic payments only.

A big warning about buying a Post Office MO - You pay in cash and then mail the MO.  If it gets lost in transit, you must wait 90 days to receive a refund from the USPS. That is NOT acceptable in my book. Your $$$ is 'gone' for 90 days. I will only pay with PayPal or mail a personal check.

All of my on line buying and selling is done right here on the forum.  I'll take a check and if the buyer is a long time member who I consider to be in good standing I'll ship the item as soon as I get a check.  I can't remember the last time I waited for it to clear.  When I buy I prefer writing a check.  Purchasing a MO is a deal breaker for me.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

necrails posted:

My larger issue is the ability to get to the PO to ship, my work hours do not align well with the govt work hours.

USPS picks up from my porch whether I'm here or not.  Since I live well off the road on a private drive, the possibility of someone taking the stuff is pretty remote.  I haven't been in a post office in many months.

I found several of the post offices by me have a large package “chute” that is In The lobby and always open.  You may have to look at a few locations to find it as they are not everywhere.  I either used the printed labels from PayPal or I use an ATM like machine at the post office that prints postage.