BleepingComputer.com: Amazon.com To Stop Accepting Checks And Money Orders

I've always liked Amazon.com because they have been so solicitous of their customers. They ship stuff nearly right away and have fair return policies, etc.

But today I received an email stating they would no longer accept checks or money orders starting September 8. This isn't a problem for me, as I have a debit card. However, this might be a problem for other people who maybe don't feel good using a credit/debit card online. Amazon's acceptance of these older methods of payment allowed the fiscal holdouts to buy things without endangering their credit card information.

Starting next month, everyone will be forced to use the same method of payment. I feel like these companies are trying to force everyone to conform to what they want. Honestly, I think an envelope full of money should be acceptable payment!

Who's with me?!

Hi, I agree with you up to the point of sending large amounts of cash in the mail. That just isn't even safe. But especially after the news the other day..40-Million Credit Card Numbers Stolen, I feel we are all in jeopardy online.

In case someone is not aware of the story I mentioned...Feds crack largest U.S. identity theft

My take on it, I open a business it is my decision how to accept forms of payment. No one else's responsibility, because I have to deal with the transactions with my bank. You as a customer are free to utilize my service and conform to my methods of how I operate, or look elsewhere. No one is forcing you to come to my business. This is called free enterprise. If my choices affect my bottom line then who's fault is it. I've lost customers. I've lost revenue stream. No one to blame. But if you disagree with me you are free to find another vendor who will accept your form of payment. This is called a business transaction.

Poor customer service or just a change in operations policy initiated by unseen operations issues? Hard to judge in todays economy. Either way it's just a business transaction and both sides are not bound to play nice, and free to find other suitors.

I sell on ebay and like 99 percent or more pay with paypal but I still say the option should be open for other payment forms.

Would it be un-libertarian to require businesses to accept all forms of payment?

OmegaWolf747, on Aug 7 2008, 05:43 PM, said:

No envelope full of money, otherwise I'm with you. Amazon likes being a sniveling weasel to the system and the banks probably pressured Amazon to get their customers to open or use existing bank accounts with Amazon (guess bank foreclosures are worse than the media is letting on). Why they would discontinue the acceptance of postal money orders is beyond me.

Well, I agree with you that sending large amounts using emails is not safe, nowadays there are many methods are available to for payments, hope everyone aware of this method...

Money Orders and even Bank Cashiers checks are being counterfeited in large numbers now.

Seems the only item merchants want around me is a valid Debit Bank Card - as they can verify the transfer immediately.

KoanYorel, on Aug 28 2008, 05:13 AM, said:

Counterfeiting is a big pain in the butt, however postal money orders are considered pretty safe because of their security features and retailers like Amazon shouldn't stop accepting them because of problems with other, easier to counterfeit, payment methods.

Simple solution.
Prepaid debit cards.
You can buy them most everywhere.
Usually cost around $5, plus the amount of the card.
My credit union offers prepaid Visa cards for $1.
Only hitch is they are for specific amount.
Example-you purchase a $50 dollar card.
Use it a time or two, you may end up with a couple of bucks left to spend.
Then you gotta figure out what you can buy that comes close to that amount without going over.

I think Amazon and others are moving towards Postal Money Orders, due to security reasons.

As far as, is this fair? ... it's fair for the company or businesses.

We as shoppers have to find, what's best for us.


Poppy