The traditional personal check keeps losing ground to debit cards, check cards, and credit cards, which many merchants now prefer. Yet, an estimated 200 million Americans still have personal checking accounts, and many of them do not like to give out their credit card information online. They are leery of identity theft. They prefer to pay with old-fashioned paper, even when they know it will delay shipment of their auction winnings.

Accepting checks is one way to increase the market and the competition for your auction items. But you must state clearly in your selling policies that goods will be shipped only after the buyer's check has cleared.

Some auction sellers take a chance and ship as soon as they receive a personal check, especially for small amounts from buyers with good feedback scores. Most of the time, the checks are good, and trust is rewarded. Many other sellers, however, state in their sales policies that goods will not be shipped until the check clears, and they stick firmly to that rule. Be aware that it is very difficult to collect on bad checks, especially out-of-state checks for small amounts.