I don’t use bank checks very often, I’d prefer e-check facility most banks provide today. Where in you can send payment via email ID, phone number or simply by name and address. But there are often times when you need to write a paper check. When I last ordered paper checks it cost me around $40 for 50 leaves. This time, I did my research and obtained 200 leaves for only $12 from Bradford Exchange Checks.
Based on this experience my advice to you would be to go for cheaper online check ordering sites, rather than ordering them directly from your bank. It’s secure, convenient and cheap. While ordering I did my research on the sites that offer check order service. Here I’ll list of 5 tops sites to order checks from.
Pre-considerations
Different factors need to be considered when you plan on ordering checks online. You would definitely be considering the price, the delivery options, the security. Here are some factors that you can use as a guideline when choosing the company to order check from:
Delivery timeframe
Note that the shipping time provided to you is an estimate. They always say the word “within” X number of days. It is because the shipping depends on the production, the time when it would be dispatched, the courier, and postal services.
Processing times may also be different per site. These details are usually indicated or discussed when you check the website’s Frequently Asked Questions. Keep an eye for shipping and handling fees for shipping options of certain items. Take note as well if the originating place of the delivery of the items and accessories. There are sites that pull out their stocks from different locations, so the delivery of the entire order may not get to you all at the same time.
Security matters
Security of the selected delivery option matters a lot so make sure you check the sites credibility. Aside from that, try not to fall as a victim of cheap delivery options, because most of the time, that’s the slowest, very hard to track, and less secure. Check for the site’s offers on services for secure checks as this provides protection and great benefits for consumers.
Verify the amount – sale prices are temporary
Usually, the only prices that are displayed on the site are the introductory prices and offers for new buyers. For existing customers, prices for re-orders are most of the time not the same.
Below 5 sites which have its own advantages and disadvantages, and this could be of great help to you when you shop for checks online.
More than 300 check designs are offered by Bradford Exchange Checks. Every order is done via their secure server so they can protect the identity of the shopper who needs to enter personal and financial information. Shoppers also have the option to buy EZ Shield Check Fraud Protection for the price of $2.45 for every box of checks.
For this company, every box of checks has 120 checks in it and includes 40 deposit slips. Orders can be for 1 box to 4 boxes. Prices as follows:
Delivery time frames are significantly lesser compared to other online sellers. It can get to you within 12 to 15 days upon order confirmation. Expedited options only take 4 to 9 days.
Shipping rates can be anywhere within $6.95 (for secured and traceable shipping), to $12.95 for FedEx Ground. In-Plant Rush is also available for $4.95. Handling fees are not quoted until after providing the bank details that should show on the printed checks.
This is how (below image) many checks they sent me in early 2016. That’s too many checks for just $10. Amazing deal!
The website’s homepage made everything accessible to customers. On the left part is the category list which shows best seller checks and featured checks. It also shows images and prices. There’s a portion as well that shows the current offers and special deals.
Checks Superstore is famous for its 110% Price Guarantee. It matches the price of competitor’s products, and they would also provide ten percent discount to price-adjusted products.
You can easily track orders through their secure website, and on top of that, customers also have the option to buy EZ Shield Fraud Protection for the price of $1.95 each box for personal checks. This is designed to protect the identity of the owners of checks, as well as to protect their account from unauthorized uses and charges in case a different person receives the delivery of the checks.
Along with the features mentioned, Checks Superstore also takes pride in being given an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau. On records, they only have four complaints that were filed within the past three years, which is the least number of complaints compared to the other four sites that will be mentioned in this article.
The website also offers customer support via a toll-free number, email support, or snail mail option. The Frequently Asked Question part of their site is also informative enough.
The check prices vary as per design and type. They have available single checks, or duplicate checks. Each box of checks contains 126 checks. You can order half box, 1 box, and even up to 4 boxes. Prices are as follows:
$3.49 to $18.99 – personal checks: single – half box
$13.99 to $35.99 – personal checks: single – two boxes
$17.99 – for all designs of personal checkbook cover – leather
Upon order confirmation, allotted time for processing is 1 to 5 working days. For the delivery time frame, it may take 10 to 20 working days for standard delivery (this cannot be tracked), or select overnight delivery which may take 3-5 working days.
Shipping rates are anywhere between $2.99 and $30.99. You have the option to shorten the 1 to 5 working days for processing by making an extra payment of $4.99 “In-Plant Rush”.
This company takes pride in their wide variety of custom designs. They feature more than 250 designs.
Every box of checks contains 125 pieces for single checks and 100 pieces for the duplicate. Option to order 1 box, 2 boxes, or four boxes are available. Standard shipping may take approximately 25 days while overnight shipping takes approximately 9 working days. Prices are as follows:
$9.99 to $20.99 – personal checks: single – one box
$19.99 to $35.98 – personal checks: single – two boxes
$14.99 to $18.99 – for checkbook cover – leather
A handling fee of approximately $3 to $10 is applied to all orders. Standard shipping is free. Expedited options are available at the rate of anywhere between $6.95 and $23.95.
Since 2010 Carousel Checks has maintained an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Customer support is extended through a toll-free number available on weekdays, email and snail mail support, and an online form to capture questions or complaints.
They take pride of their rating for McAfee Secure from where each and every single transaction is being handled and completed through their secure server, still, for the shopper’s identity protection and account information. EZ Fraud Protection is also available for the price of $2.25 for each box. Almost all orders go through secured traceable shipping except for standard bulk mail.
For their designs, they have more than a hundred options to choose from. Every box contains 126 pieces for single checks and 102 pieces for duplicate checks. Both includes a ticket register and 24 deposit slips. Prices are as follows:
$5.49 to $15.99 – personal checks: single – one box
$10.98 to $27.00 – personal checks: single – two boxes
$18.99 leather checkbook cover, $13.99 cloth checkbook cover, $1.99 vinyl checkbook cover
Delivery cost for Carousel Checks are more affordable, but the time frame is much longer. Every order comes with a standard handling fee of $1.99. In-Plant rush is available for the price of $5. Methods can be bulk (12 to 21 working days), priority (6 to 10 working days), or UPS (4 to 5 working days.
Checks Unlimited makes sure the shoppers understand and realizes that the transaction with the company is secure. They did this by adding a Security page on their site. This page explains the security of the transaction conducted through the website. EZ Shield Plus, which is a fraud protection service, may be ordered as per the shopper’s discretion. Each and every order from this site can be tracked, with the exception of standard shipping.
Customer support is offered via a toll-free number, with support representatives available the whole week. They can also be reached by email or snail mail.
Check designs are more than 110 in variety. Every box of single checks contains 125 pieces of checks while every box of duplicate checks contains 100 pieces. Prices are as follows:
$18.99 to $21.99 – personal checks: single – one box
$27.98 to $33.98 – personal checks: single – two boxes
$13.95 to $19.95 – for checkbook cover
Accessories order may take 3 to 4 weeks for delivery. Orders may get to you anywhere between 3 to 15 days. Details are below:
- 13 to 15 days for Standard Delivery
- 7 to 11 days for Traceable Delivery
- 5 to 7 days for Guaranteed 2-Day
- 3 to 5 days for Overnight Delivery
Order processing time is for 3 to 5 business days but can be expedited by taking advantage of the In-Plant Rush.
Leave your opinions about ordering online checks, share your experience, readers.
Love your blog posts! Wish you had written this post a year back. BTW I used costco check services to get mine. Pretty decent to be frank! But will keep these sites in mind for future.
Excellent post!!
You can design your personalized photo checks the way you like. All you have to do is upload your photograph and send it to us.We also fade the image to meet banking standards, so you won’t have to worry about the picture obscuring the writing.