General Discussion

supernova

(39,346 posts)

112. Do all most all my business online

Thu Feb 7, 2013, 01:47 PM

Feb 2013

Last edited Fri Feb 8, 2013, 09:35 AM - Edit history (1)

I don't even have a checkbook anymore. I sign up for services and products online and pay for them online too. If it's hacked, I will just cancel my card and get a new account # and card.

In fact, a business that doesn't have electronic billpay is unlikely to get my business. A couple of exceptions:

1) I've applied to a few farmer's markets for the season and they required checks for app fees and membership. I had to go to the credit union to get paper checks for those. The CU lets me get up to 5 checks at a time. I will probably just keep doing that. I don't think I'll use more than 20 checks this whole year. Maybe not even 10.

2) NGO seed companies sending out seeds. I'm sending away to a seed nonprofit for gardening seeds. They want a 2.00 check to cover mailing expenses. I can see that. Epaying is still more expensive for the business than snail mail.

edit: Spelling. Since some merchants are easily hacked, I am considering getting a prepaid debit card (found most everywhere, esp dollar stores and convenience stores) for online shopping.

Other than that I use my debit card and cash. No need for checks. I even pay my county taxes with my card, and since I go to the tax office, I get a nice physical receipt for that.

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Do you pay your bills on line? How often do you use snail mail? [View all] cali Feb 2013 OP

I use the post office for everything. my business. my bills. my letters. robinlynne Feb 2013 #1

you should make this a poll n/t shanti Feb 2013 #2

I mail stuff about 3 or 4 times a year. hobbit709 Feb 2013 #3

That's my experience too, I wish they had spam filters that worked with paper. badtoworse Feb 2013 #70

I use it for quite a few things Posteritatis Feb 2013 #4

I don't pay anything online. I use the snail mail and I don't know what I would do without it. southernyankeebelle Feb 2013 #5

I bought 10 stamps around Jan 2012, right before they raised the prices. Travis_0004 Feb 2013 #6

Nearly all of my bills are paid online. TexasTowelie Feb 2013 #7

I use the P.O. most of the time. I've had my bank information stolen nine times online. shenmue Feb 2013 #8

And getting out of that mess takes forever. Luminous Animal Feb 2013 #48

same here, bank account wiped out not once but twice unapatriciated Feb 2013 #69

Keep an up to date antivirus and antispyware service at all times ecstatic Feb 2013 #104

I pay most of my bills by regular mail bluestateguy Feb 2013 #9

I avoid the post office at all costs justiceischeap Feb 2013 #10

They are entitled to breaks and lunch... Sekhmets Daughter Feb 2013 #16

You must live in my town. Always a long line and LibDemAlways Feb 2013 #39

Between the mandate and the economy Sekhmets Daughter Feb 2013 #11

We probably do > 1/2 our shopping online Nevernose Feb 2013 #12

I shop online a lot, but my deliveries are usu. UPS. nt Honeycombe8 Feb 2013 #116

I almost never use snail mail. nolabear Feb 2013 #13

Mail like that hasn't been the PO's bread and butter for a long time. LisaLynne Feb 2013 #14

packages will be delivered because no one can deliver them cheaper. madrchsod Feb 2013 #28

I still use a PO Box, and have for 15 years quinnox Feb 2013 #15

I live in a really rural place 2naSalit Feb 2013 #109

My wife uses flat rate USPS shipping for knitting projects 2-3 times a month. X_Digger Feb 2013 #17

I pay my bills by snail mail. Louisiana1976 Feb 2013 #18

I send snail mail about once every three months.... mike_c Feb 2013 #19

My use of snail mail has been reduced to about 12 per year, not including Christmas cards. slackmaster Feb 2013 #20

my wife uses the post office madrchsod Feb 2013 #21

I use snail mail most of the time, it creates good jobs, and it's cheap. bemildred Feb 2013 #22

Always use "snail mail" they have earned my trust rurallib Feb 2013 #23

here's a tip: mail things to yourself when you fly instead of paying airline fees liberal_at_heart Feb 2013 #24

+100! n/t Lugnut Feb 2013 #94

I pay most online. It works great. I pay one by snail mail Liberal_in_LA Feb 2013 #25

All monthly bills are either direct debit or paid online FarCenter Feb 2013 #26

One letter a month. Prism Feb 2013 #27

I pay two bills by mail--one only comes once a year, and to pay it online they MADem Feb 2013 #29

I pay all my bills by regular mail mac56 Feb 2013 #30

It is vital to home-based internet businesses jberryhill Feb 2013 #31

good point. I receive lots of USPS parcels in the mail all the time. liberal_at_heart Feb 2013 #34

+10,000 djean111 Feb 2013 #36

I'm with you jberry truegrit44 Feb 2013 #56

All my bills are paid online. I let the bank pick up the postage. n/t RebelOne Feb 2013 #32

I pay my bills online. I shop online. djean111 Feb 2013 #33

Hee hee pipi_k Feb 2013 #37

Online all the way pipi_k Feb 2013 #35

The only bills I pay on line are my mortgage Blue_In_AK Feb 2013 #38

Not everyone has a computer or regular access to the web. texanwitch Feb 2013 #40

Not one person in this thread has said they don't have a computer and internet access jberryhill Feb 2013 #44

maybe there's DUers out there that have to go to the library to pay bills and to get on DU. liberal_at_heart Feb 2013 #46

Very sporting of you to admit that you are utterly ignorant brentspeak Feb 2013 #41

not at all reality based of you not to acknowledge that the USPS cali Feb 2013 #45

so should we start closing down libraries since not as many people read paper books anymore? liberal_at_heart Feb 2013 #52

I pay bills by snail mail; I refuse to do e-billing Hekate Feb 2013 #42

Online for > 90% OutNow Feb 2013 #43

I do not ever use it. I have not used it for years. n/t Agschmid Feb 2013 #47

I use the post office for Broken_Hero Feb 2013 #49

I've probably set foot in an actual post office once during the last 20 years War Horse Feb 2013 #50

Love some US Postal Service, but I pay everything on-line. Hoyt Feb 2013 #51

I receive and pay ALL my bills via the snail mail. northoftheborder Feb 2013 #53

In addition, mailing packages is much less expensive via the US Post Office than the alternatives. northoftheborder Feb 2013 #55

I mail something out every week Smilo Feb 2013 #54

About online bill paying... pipi_k Feb 2013 #83

Thanks, I do that for a local company, Smilo Feb 2013 #103

Why don't I send more snail mail? ScreamingMeemie Feb 2013 #57

I never use it. Terra Alta Feb 2013 #58

I have a feeling we'll be sorry when the US Postal service is drowned in the bathtub.... Walk away Feb 2013 #59

I use my local post office for bills, and personal correspondence. peacebird Feb 2013 #60

I don't pay anything online, I use the mail for all bills. nt Raine Feb 2013 #61

I still use the mail to pay most of my bills. I don't want anyone taking Luciferous Feb 2013 #62

"NO" and "OFTEN." Tomorrow, in fact, I will get a book of stamps and mail bill payments. WinkyDink Feb 2013 #63

Always use the U.S. Postal Service (nt) bigwillq Feb 2013 #64

I pay my bills (and receive them) by mail. Blue_In_AK Feb 2013 #65

The people who think an end to the USPS and "snail mail" is fine need to remember that snail mail, kestrel91316 Feb 2013 #66

I pay most bills on line, I also use the USPS constantly for many reasons and purposes Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #67

6 letters this week.... Historic NY Feb 2013 #68

This is a Constitutional question, from my perspective. Laelth Feb 2013 #71

I am totally with you on this. 2naSalit Feb 2013 #106

Most of my bills auto-pay FreeJoe Feb 2013 #72

All online. My credit union will cut a paper check and mail it. XRubicon Feb 2013 #73

But that check is mailed by the CU...that is still you mailing your check. Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #75

Yes, CU does mail it. nt XRubicon Feb 2013 #76

We don't use Tien1985 Feb 2013 #74

Do you know what year had the highest volume of mail? Brickbat Feb 2013 #77

I can't remember the last time I mailed a check. Motown_Johnny Feb 2013 #78

At work I mail about 20 letters a day. Travis_0004 Feb 2013 #79

I mail 2-4 bills per month but I rely on USPS for many deliveries csziggy Feb 2013 #80

Do you have packages delivered to your home after shopping online? That's 'snail mail'. HiPointDem Feb 2013 #81

I use the post office haikugal Feb 2013 #82

Most of my bills I receive and pay online NoPasaran Feb 2013 #84

I cant even remember the last time I used the post office. bunnies Feb 2013 #85

ebay needs the USPS. pansypoo53219 Feb 2013 #86

I've paid them online but reverted to snail mail if the treestar Feb 2013 #87

Some online, some by mail. Lars39 Feb 2013 #88

I mostly receive mail riverbendviewgal Feb 2013 #89

I don't even remember having Saturday Canada Post delivery service u4ic Feb 2013 #90

The USPS handle more mail in a week Than the Canadian system does in a year. Egalitarian Thug Feb 2013 #93

I'm well aware of that u4ic Feb 2013 #95

I wasn't being clear/explicit enough, apologies. Egalitarian Thug Feb 2013 #96

Ok...let's set the record straight u4ic Feb 2013 #97

I didn't realize that you were a different person, my bad. I would hope that you can understand Egalitarian Thug Feb 2013 #98

No worries u4ic Feb 2013 #117

I moved to northern Ontario in 2005 riverbendviewgal Feb 2013 #100

I wondered about that u4ic Feb 2013 #114

I don't think I've used it more than a couple times my whole life. white_wolf Feb 2013 #91

Your belief is irrelevant, it's the facts that matter. n/t Egalitarian Thug Feb 2013 #92

Mostly pay bills on line Sherman A1 Feb 2013 #99

I pay some bills online wryter2000 Feb 2013 #101

I get a couple of magazines. Occasional greeting cards. alphafemale Feb 2013 #102

I pay bills Go Vols Feb 2013 #105

I mailed a few party invites last month, first time I'd used snail mail in about 2 years - lynne Feb 2013 #107

I would never pay my bills online. HappyMe Feb 2013 #108

Almost completely online. GreenStormCloud Feb 2013 #110

Very rarely send mail, but receive a lot KatyMan Feb 2013 #111

Do all most all my business online supernova Feb 2013 #112

I pay all my bills by mail Populist_Prole Feb 2013 #113

I pay my lawn guy once a month. I pay all else online. Use FedEx for packages (cheaper) Honeycombe8 Feb 2013 #115