Hello eBay Members, I have learned from an eBay transaction, that using PERSONAL CHECKS or MONEY ORDER to pay for your items it's not always the best thing to do, specially those expensive items as the eBay policy states that eBay doesn't have anything to do with the transactions you make at its website.

(Correction on October 2009) eBay has made big changes on 2009, now you are required to have a PAYPAL account to pay for your purchases, so Checks and Money Orders are not longer an acceptable method of payment, also eBay has now an 1-800 phone number with a  great team of representatives willing to help solving a problem that you might encounter while shopping at eBay. 

Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash transfer services such as Western Union or MoneyGram !! transactions OFF-eBay don't get the eBay/PAYPAL protection.

On February 2007, I won the item #160081833627 from seller Alrose, I paid $234.80 for it with a personal check, however, the SELLER/UPS made a mistake sending/delivering the item to a wrong address

I did call PAYPAL but they couldn't do anything because I didn't use PAYPAL to pay for the item but a personal CHECK

I reported the seller to the eBay Safety Team but they couldn't do anything, I did contact the eBay customer support and I got some suggestions on what to do but not a real solution.

After dozens of emails every week to the Rude Seller, finally on 06/04/2007, (four months later), I got a check from UPS for $222.00, $12.80 short, plus a Retaliatory Negative Feedback from the seller.

So, I suggest you to OPEN a PAYPAL ACCOUNT to pay for all of your eBay transactions and you will be "covered for up to the total amount you paid for your item", you may use Checks or Money Orders for small transactions or for LOCAL PICK UP

Thank you for reading