how long to recieve payment?

dogwood

I wrote the showmethemoney email about this yesterday, but never recieved a reply. :cry

I've recieved many checks from SM for print and download sales in the past, but here it is the middle of the month, and I still haven't recieved the payment that I first requested via email last month. My account shows that the money has been paid, but here I am without a check/payment.

I'm in Oregon, checks are sent from California, and usually only take a day or two to arrive in the mail.

So at what point do I start to get worried that the post office either lost the check or delivered it to the wrong address (which happens ALL the time in my area-- at least once a month I end up with my neighbors mail).

And... more to the point... if SM can take money out of my bank account for my yearly subscription fees, why can't they put money back into that same account? Direct deposit is not a new concept. And it's cheaper than the U.S. Mail.

So why is SM still relying on a 19th Century method (the U.S. mail) to deliver checks? That's about as cutting edge as the pony express.

Plenty of other successful businesses have given up on using the mail to make payments (google comes to mind-- but in fact, so does just about every utility and mortgage company in the nation-- not to mention the IRS and state revenue offices).

Anyone with SM care to explain? And how do I track down my current check?

Andy

dogwood wrote:

I wrote the showmethemoney email about this yesterday, but never recieved a reply. :cry

I've recieved many checks from SM for print and download sales in the past, but here it is the middle of the month, and I still haven't recieved the payment that I first requested via email last month. My account shows that the money has been paid, but here I am without a check/payment.

I'm in Oregon, checks are sent from California, and usually only take a day or two to arrive in the mail.

So at what point do I start to get worried that the post office either lost the check or delivered it to the wrong address (which happens ALL the time in my area-- at least once a month I end up with my neighbors mail).

I'll be sure Toni gets back to you asap... it should be there by now, for sure, I'd say. She can also lookup your check.

And... more to the point... if SM can take money out of my bank account for my yearly subscription fees,

We don't exactly do this, we bill a credit card - two very different types of transactions

why can't they put money back into that same account? Direct deposit is not a new concept. And it's cheaper than the U.S. Mail.

So why is SM still relying on a 19th Century method (the U.S. mail) to deliver checks? That's about as cutting edge as the pony express.

Plenty of other successful businesses have given up on using the mail to make payments (google comes to mind-- but in fact, so does just about every utility and mortgage company in the nation-- not to mention the IRS and state revenue offices).

Anyone with SM care to explain? And how do I track down my current check?

Timely post, Pete... I just spent the last hour and a half on the phone with a company talking about this.

The spirit's willing, and it's on my list of things to accomplish. Keep in mind, we're a small, company, keeping things going, 28 people doing the work of probably 75 Might sound silly but checks do get done, each month - and while there are better ways, we do get 'em done. I'm sorry yours hasn't shown up and as I said I'll ask Toni to get to you as soon as possible.

I fully expect to have electronic payment options in the future.

Thanks for caring, and for posting, and for telling us like it is!

Andy

Oh and Pete:

Checks go out by the 8th of the month - today's the 13th... not unusual for the USPS to be delayed. Give it a few more days, I bet it'll show up.

If after Friday you don't have it, holler to me at the help desk, ATTN: Andy

dogwood

Andy wrote:

Oh and Pete:

Checks go out by the 8th of the month - today's the 13th... not unusual for the USPS to be delayed. Give it a few more days, I bet it'll show up.

If after Friday you don't have it, holler to me at the help desk, ATTN: Andy

Okay, this part is good to know. Thanks, Andy.

And I know SM has been looking at other ways to make payments for a while-- you mean it's not as easy as simply clicking once and it's done? You don't have anyone on staff who wants to enter in hundreds of routing and account numbers into a data base? Just a guess-- it might be a bit of a pain to set-up initially, but after that, it would probably save SM time and money.

Besides-- postage rates are going up again in May...

DrDavid

How about PayPal payments (to personal accounts, it's free)?

David