Being send physical money.

[scrumplet.livejournal.com]

I'm slowly having regrets for allowing a customer send a physical payment for a purchase they made to me. They couldn't get paypal to work so they asked for my address and I gave it to them.

Should I be worried?
Concerned?

Did I screw up big time?

I'm a newer artist that is still learning the way of business.

EDIT AND MORE INFO

I have not received the money yet sadly.
Do not tell me how dumb I am. I am learning and this mistake is going to teach me a lesson.
I went about this with Furbuy. And I was selling an adopted character that I did not use.
I know I could have gone to the seller and give them back to character, but I saw others use Furbuy and I wanted to try it out.

The seller bought the character at full price that I originally paid for and they left a comment on the product page asking about giving physical money for me. I went ahead and contacted the buyer and gave them my address to send the money to. I did give them the full res image sadly..

I just contacted them telling them I never got my money and they can't use the character.
i don't know what to do if they ignore me on that




PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON'T BASH ME FOR MY STUPIDITY. I LEARNED THAT THIS WAS A TERRIBLE MISTAKE AND I WILL NEVER DO THIS AGAIN. AND IF YOU WANT TO REPORT ME AND MAKE ME AN UNTRUSTED BUYER/SELLER, I UNDERSTAND.

Comments

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

So long as the product has not left your hands this is okay. However in the future, I don't advise doing this as money orders can be faked, and it isn't a good idea to send cash via snail mail.

Do not send anything until payment gets to you.

[bigblued.livejournal.com]

Do not send anything until payment gets to you *and* the check/moneyorder has cleared. I'd wait at least 7 days. These days the banks do you the courtesy of making the money available right away, but will take it back and hit you with fees if it turns out to be bad.

[smokeandspots.livejournal.com]

I've taken money orders in a pinch but I make sure my commissioners who do that know they will not see anything from me until I have the money in my hands. As for giving them your address, it's nothing to worry about unless they are displaying stalker behavior. I've been taking commissions for a decade now and this has not happened, so you should be just fine. :)

[skanrashke.livejournal.com]

Always wait til checks or money orders clear, with checks I wait 30 days before sending out product because otherwise REALLY SKETCHY people can attempt to reverse the charges(to my understanding) by claiming someone stole your identity or something. Cash is okay, its just a hassle if they want a refund. I suggest putting a clause in your ToS that any cash purchases are non refundable.

Otherwise if people insist on paying via cash or money order, make sure they insure and track that letter because people will claim that stuff gets lost a lot.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

No, you haven't screwed up. I take physical payment all the time!

Just make sure that the payment has cleared first if they send a check or money order, like other folks here have said. I'd also suggest making it clear to customers that cash is strictly at their own risk, because mailing cash always has the possibility of losing it.

There are some risks doing this, but there are risks in doing any kind of business. The worst damage a customer has ever done to me was through paypal. Doesn't matter what form of payment to you take, there will be risks.

[mistresswolf.livejournal.com]

I typically don't accept mail in payments just because it makes everything take longer. If someone really really can't use PayPal (and isn't in my country to do an interac bank transfer) then I will allow it, but will only accept concealed cash in an amount that includes no coins. Also, they send it at their own risk. I haven't done it in ages, but it is a possibility. I'd never do more than a stickman pose sketch until the money is in my hands.

Also, I'd have them send it to my business since I only offer digital goods and would rather not have people knowing my home address if I can help it.

[darkheartsclub.livejournal.com]

stuff like that is fine, just do not deliver full product until you have the money

[selunca.livejournal.com]

I used to do this a very long time ago. I accepted personal checks or money orders only. I honestly only had one or two clients do it and just waited till the check was in my hands, and deposited (cleared) before sending.

Most people realize if their going to pay this way that their going to have to wait for it to clear. If they don't understand or are unhappy about the wait, don't take payment that way.

[teekchan.livejournal.com]

I agree with everyone else.

I also make sure to state any physical payment (item or money) is the responsibility of the sender. if it gets lost, it's on THEM. (Unless its an item bought for me from an online store)

If the sender doesn't wanna pay for tracking to save a few bucks, thats fine. But it is on them.

[canilupine.livejournal.com]

Postal money orders are the most secure form of mailed payment. I actually prefer money orders over Paypal because I disagree with Paypal's policies.

If a postal money order is lost or stolen, it can be cancelled and the money will be refunded.

[hidden-kyuubi.livejournal.com]

Has it arrived yet, or...?