do you accept payment by mail?

new guy · 07-07-2009, 06:05 PM

Well, the first time I noticed that, but I just got notification of a sale from my processor that someone sent in a check for my downloadable ebook. ebook sells for $37. PLUS they paid an extra $3 manual processing fee.

Seems kind of weird to me but, hey, I'll take the sale.

Are you giving your clients different purchasing options?

I have also heard people say that they increase their sales rate significantly by accepting orders over the phone. Are you leaving money on the table?

Not everyone uses paypal

Rich Struck · 07-07-2009, 06:09 PM

I have a little one page thing I sell and every so often I get a money order in the mail. I think some people are afraid to use credit cards online, either that or they just don't have one. I prefer checks in the mail anyway, it saves on fees and it is better than getting bills.

GuerrillaIM · 07-07-2009, 06:11 PM

Companies like to pay by check so I like to offer this option.

Scott Stamper · 07-07-2009, 06:38 PM

For small sales I don't take payments by mail, sort of defeats the purpose of an automated website. Plus you run into problems of traveling. What if you want to take a three week vacation? You can't because someone might mail in a $37 check then raise a fuss when a week later he doesn't get a download link.

Back in the days of BBS systems (late 80s early 90s), I had a software package that I sold online. The biggest problem was cashing the checks. Every day I would get 10, 20 and sometimes 30 checks in the mail all for $39. Then I would sit in my car and stamp each check, fill out the deposit slip and make a runs to various banks.

It was a real pain. It was only worse if I didn't visit my PO box for a few days, they would really pile up.

I would have to use different banks, because branch managers could not grasp the concept of what I would doing. Large deposits of checks from all over the country was a red flag for some reason. It was not un-common to have my funds "frozen" pending a bank investigation, even though my business was incorporated and I had a current city business license. Now a days you mention that you have an internet company and the banks will bend over backwards for your account.

I much prefer the way I can automate sales with a merchant account, automated delivery for downloads and outsourced physical delivery.

I don't care if I never see another check in the mail again.

new guy · 07-07-2009, 06:44 PM

Oh, I hear that. I don't do it myself but my payment processor actually does. So someone goes to the website, fills out the details, selects pay by mail option and then the order sits there until the check comes in. They charge an extra $3 to the client to do this - no skin off my nose.

It is still all automated to me. Just found it interesting.

07-07-2009, 06:05 PM	#1
new guy HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: , , Canada. Posts: 162 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	do you accept payment by mail? Well, the first time I noticed that, but I just got notification of a sale from my processor that someone sent in a check for my downloadable ebook. ebook sells for $37. PLUS they paid an extra $3 manual processing fee. Seems kind of weird to me but, hey, I'll take the sale. Are you giving your clients different purchasing options? I have also heard people say that they increase their sales rate significantly by accepting orders over the phone. Are you leaving money on the table? Not everyone uses paypal
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07-07-2009, 06:09 PM	#2
Rich Struck Senior Warrior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Scotland, SD Posts: 1,225 Thanks: 42 Thanked 278 Times in 181 Posts	Re: do you accept payment by mail? I have a little one page thing I sell and every so often I get a money order in the mail. I think some people are afraid to use credit cards online, either that or they just don't have one. I prefer checks in the mail anyway, it saves on fees and it is better than getting bills.

07-07-2009, 06:11 PM	#3
GuerrillaIM One Man Army War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,890 Thanks: 93 Thanked 309 Times in 182 Posts	Re: do you accept payment by mail? Companies like to pay by check so I like to offer this option.

07-07-2009, 06:38 PM	#4
Scott Stamper Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA, USA. Posts: 1,351 Thanks: 1 Thanked 20 Times in 16 Posts Social Networking	Re: do you accept payment by mail? For small sales I don't take payments by mail, sort of defeats the purpose of an automated website. Plus you run into problems of traveling. What if you want to take a three week vacation? You can't because someone might mail in a $37 check then raise a fuss when a week later he doesn't get a download link. Back in the days of BBS systems (late 80s early 90s), I had a software package that I sold online. The biggest problem was cashing the checks. Every day I would get 10, 20 and sometimes 30 checks in the mail all for $39. Then I would sit in my car and stamp each check, fill out the deposit slip and make a runs to various banks. It was a real pain. It was only worse if I didn't visit my PO box for a few days, they would really pile up. I would have to use different banks, because branch managers could not grasp the concept of what I would doing. Large deposits of checks from all over the country was a red flag for some reason. It was not un-common to have my funds "frozen" pending a bank investigation, even though my business was incorporated and I had a current city business license. Now a days you mention that you have an internet company and the banks will bend over backwards for your account. I much prefer the way I can automate sales with a merchant account, automated delivery for downloads and outsourced physical delivery. I don't care if I never see another check in the mail again.

07-07-2009, 06:44 PM	#5
new guy HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: , , Canada. Posts: 162 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: do you accept payment by mail? Oh, I hear that. I don't do it myself but my payment processor actually does. So someone goes to the website, fills out the details, selects pay by mail option and then the order sits there until the check comes in. They charge an extra $3 to the client to do this - no skin off my nose. It is still all automated to me. Just found it interesting.
	Please read the sig file rules