I just received a cheque. Normally this isn’t something i’d complain about [or maybe I would actually] but i’d entered my bank details ages ago and was expecting a direct transfer.
What gives? Is the RedBubble direct transfer line not yet in operation? Or have I missed a checkbox somewhere?
But I digress.
On a related, and slightly more interweb rant style note, I really hate cheques. They’re so primitive!
To think that in this day and age, you have to go into a bank, fill out a deposit slip [remembering your account number and bsb] write down the cheque number, date, branch name, amount, total and account name twice makes me even crankier than usual.
As a web designer, if i designed a form that was as complicated as a cheque deposit slip i would be fired on the spot. Actually, I’d probably fire myself and go live a pastural existence.
Mostly I think this is due to banks being lazy. They must validate the cheques over some network anyway, so why do I have to write a novella about my life story just to deposit it?
This is how cheques* should* work: You walk into the bank, give the teller the cheque and your card. You say “Dude, stick this in my savings account yo”. He swipes your card, retrieves your account details and does the rest. No need to write down what day it is twice.
By coincidence last week I cashed my first cheque from Cafepress. This meant 20 minutes of standing around while various forms were filled out and approved by the manager [being from cafepress, it was for American dollars]. Then the bank had the gall to charge me $15 for depositing it into my own account!
Bring on the cashcards ala Back to the Future II I say!
James Pierce
I hear ya … Though more often than not now at commonweath banks I just get to hand over a card, cheque and someone just deals with it… No forms is totally the way to go.
If it’s any consolation I’m at the next desk to the fine people that make sure our artists get paid, and I still got a cheque !
The truth is there is WAY to much going on in the Bubble HQ with us making sure t-shirts and a bunch of features are going to rock the bubble world that we decided to just do a big run of cheques and get all our artists paid up. We know it’s not perfect and we are going to try and do it all online and eletronic in the future. We hate extra paperwork even more than you do … trust me, we deal with tax, shipping and GST etc on your behalf !
museumofdirt
Hehe – Cheques eh?
The last time I deposited a Cheque, I did all the above, in triplicat etc, all the bells and whistles.
The lady at the counter (she was a trainee, so yeah, I’m one of those people who afford staff adorned with that illustrious title a little grace), did something wrong – I dunno what – but according to her, the system said that there was no account, which I guess made sense to me too as it hadn’t given ME any money for a few days either.
So, she called over her “call over” person/supervisor, who had a look at th eform, at the screen, at me, looked concerened and asked me for my card anyway.
A few momnets and a dozen keystrokes later, all was sorted.
Now, agreeing with Aaron, I have to ask – why couldn’t we have just cut the stress, saved time, saved trees, and gone for the card option first up????
Mik Efford
Haven’t you guys ever deposited a cheque into an ATM? Select deposit, enter amount depositing, wait for envelope to appear, add cheque to envelope, put back in slot. Voila!
I haven’t visited a teller in many a year, I thought everybody did it this way??
webgrrl
i actually get my bank (suncorp) to send me deposit slips and reply paid envelopes thru their message service on my online account. Cuz i loath goin into banks, queing etc – done my fair share of that, and like you said James Pierce, its so PRIMITIVE.
So yeah, i then fill out all dem details and drop it off in the mailbox and dats it.
But i agree, direct debit/internet banking or even PayPal option. And dont forget RedBubble team about BubbleBUCKS! We should have an option to leave in our account here so we can buy stuff within RB with our earnings (eg, like CafeCash in Cafepress)
Adrian Rachele
Comment as per Michael. Used to get paid by cheque every other week. Trip to the ATM. Wola!
Speaking of banks. You know that unless you have a buisness account here in the UK banks do not charge you for using ATM’s or even going into the bank. Not a penny.
Banks is OZ are the lowest of the low.
I did find that if you get a online account at HSBC in Oz, ‘NO’ monthly charges. It was the only one i could find.
Bridget a'Beckett
Wow Aaron, that was a passionate response! Don’t worry… if you preferenced payment by direct transfer you will be paid that way next time – just getting it all set up now, and in the interim wanted to make sure our artists received their payments.
So don’t fear, you can leave those primitive cheques to the banking kind…..
Apologies for inconveniencing you, although it did result in an entertaining journal entry!
Aaron Booth
Michael Efford – Thanks for the pro-tip!
Bridget – I totally understand why RB sent out a cheque, so no apologies necessary. I wasn’t ranting about that, I just got incidentally fired up [I’m a seasoned interweb ranter you see, http://monkstyle.net/?cat=14 ].
energymagic
In my case I just see it as money. I am grateful to receive it in any way I can. I celebrate the fact that a sale was made so simply. I love the fact that RB does all the hard work.
I also just like to deposit through ATM. Very simple. I hear your plight with the paperwork it is an effort.
Kathleen Cameron
I wish people liked my work that much… hmm I guess there is still time before I die to appeal to somebody’s wallet hee he.