PAYMENT
DISCOUNT (USPS Money Orders)
Some
items will list a discount for sending a USPS Money
Order
WHY?
(The
to-the-merchant charge is only part of it)
A
sale on a charge card where the card is not present is a
completely different situation then when the card is
"swiped" through a terminal. Getting one verified
(PROPERLY verified) to the point where one feels
comfortable shipping irreplaceable merchandise is getting
more and more difficult. When the charge companies
themselves can't verify it and we have to go to certain
banks; the phone trees and/or waits can be intolerable.
The fees keep getting higher due to fraud and phony
"cash-back" schemes. Whatever little protection there is
for a merchant; is ONLY if you follow EVERY
rule.
That
"other" big payment outfit you hear about now and then is
worse; much worse.
In
an attempt to balance this out; to avoid just not taking
the cards; which would probably harm us to the point
where we'd just scrap this stuff years earlier than need
be; we have slowly begun offering the parts at two prices
OR a blanket discount for sending a money
order.
Why
a Post Office Money Order? They currently clear quicker
than anything else; except something drawn on a Key Bank.
True that any money order would work; MANY will not
cooperate with anyone trying to get verifiable clearance
information. The banks still say things clear in a few
hours...they don't. When you then ask if after those few
hours you can take the money and spend it with no money
in any account they can grab they will say "Wait a
minute; we didn't say THAT"
So
we need to verify clearance; and that can take WEEKS on
many money orders; some we NEVER GET IT so then there is
a BIG problem. The money order has been deposited but we
have no proof it is really our money.
Hence
the USPS Money Orders which are not like that. For some
reason; the Post Office has this money thing down
perfectly.
So
in some cases we will take into account the risk and cost
and time loss and have two prices. That way you will
decide what way is better.
Again;
other money orders will work but it can take a VERY LONG
time for it to verifiably clear; if it EVER does.
FOREIGN ORDER. The lower price would apply if this
is a foreign order where you are sending in a bank wire
transfer.
