Cod

[seeker]

I'm curious, I've noticed that most, if not all sellers are unwilling to ship anything COD by USPS or other carrier. I imagine that there is additional cost for this service, but that is something that could be dealt with in the agreed price. Since, occassionally, some members are willing to accept a check sent prior to shipment, why not COD? For those of us who do not use credit cards, etc., this is the only means that would ensure that both parties do as agreed. Is there some other factor involved that I'm unaware of?

[superklye]

I thought this thread was about fish when I first saw the title.

[seeker]

Yes, I saw that too, but after it was too late to edit.

[Treason]

I mailed $185 US in cash in an envelope from west coast Canada to southeast US for a motherboard and CPU combo. I made sure to fold a piece of paper letter style around the bills so it would appear to be a letter. Neither the two of us had heatware or ebay references. Transaction took a month.

Why doesn't anyone here do what I did? Because everyone here has heard one online scam story or another over the years.

As for not using USPS, I think most people here on this forum are hardware enthusiasts and want their paid hardware within 1 to 3 days, so they demand courier service.

[seeker]

I'm not at all fond of the idea of sending cash by mail. As far as online scams, that is exactly the reason that I thought that a COD would be a solution that would protect both people. How would anyone pull off a scan with this? The only thing that I can think of is that if a shipper sent a box of cutup newspaper instead of what was agreed. As far as the buyer is concerned, I don't think he could do anything except pay up.

[superklye]

I mailed $185 US in cash in an envelope from west coast Canada to southeast US for a motherboard and CPU combo. I made sure to fold a piece of paper letter style around the bills so it would appear to be a letter. Neither the two of us had heatware or ebay references. Transaction took a month.

Why doesn't anyone here do what I did? Because everyone here has heard one online scam story or another over the years.

As for not using USPS, I think most people here on this forum are hardware enthusiasts and want their paid hardware within 1 to 3 days, so they demand courier service.
Priority Mail takes 2 days usually, 3 days tops. And it's cheap.

[Stoneyguy]

I could be wrong, but I think you can use Paypal without having a credit card.
.

[saturnotaku]

Is there some other factor involved that I'm unaware of?

Because both buyers and sellers want to make sure they're protected. The easiest way to pay for things without using COD, cash or personal checks is to buy a money order at the post office. The fee is only $0.95, and you have to pay for them with cash or a debit card. I've used this method both as a buyer and seller and it's always worked extremely well.

[seeker]

Because both buyers and sellers want to make sure they're protected. The easiest way to pay for things without using COD, cash or personal checks is to buy a money order at the post office. The fee is only $0.95, and you have to pay for them with cash or a debit card. I've used this method both as a buyer and seller and it's always worked extremely well.
If a money order is used, it would have to be sent prior to the seller shipping the item, which means that he is protected, but not the buyer, he has to trust that the seller is not a scammer. Personally, I go by the practice of not trusting anyone, so that makes it impossible to transact any business this way. The only exception that I have ever made to this, is in ordering minor purchases from an established retail outlet, where I would expect that their reputation is more important than a few dollars. If I were buying anything major, I still wouldn't deal with them. That is the reason that I generally deal with local vendors, because I at least know that I getting what I paid for.

[saturnotaku]

If I were buying anything major, I still wouldn't deal with them. That is the reason that I generally deal with local vendors, because I at least know that I getting what I paid for.

Even if the seller has a solid reputation on eBay and/or Heatware? You should never have a problem with a seller who has a good rating.

[seeker]

Even if the seller has a solid reputation on eBay and/or Heatware? You should never have a problem with a seller who has a good rating.
Perhaps you are right...I hope so. But, I have had enough problems with local retail vendors and manufacturer support, not to need to add another layer of doubt that I can't see that is necessary.

However, my question pertained to an acceptable method of payment, rather than the issue of individual integrity. I just can't understand what either side has to lose with CODs?