letters

10 bore · 03-07-2014, 04:37 PM

ok, people in the know might be able to answer this. I filled out my research letter form set it on my desk and said "don't forget to bring it to work to make out my check and than get stamp to mail it on way home". On the way to work it hit me ,forgot the form! Why can't this be done like we do our membership, on line, This might not work for everyone but for most I think it would. Start the page with enter S/N here. if there are records than hit next and continue on to finish the request. If no records ,than say, can go on no records available. Would anyone else want it set up this if its possible? what do the people in the know say?

scott

C.O.B. · 03-07-2014, 05:02 PM

Doing it online would preclude the $40 payment. There would have to be some way for the payment to be processed befor the letter was completed.

10 bore · 03-07-2014, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Anderson

Doing it online would preclude the $40 payment. There would have to be some way for the payment to be processed befor the letter was completed.

Just like your online membership. pay at the time you order the letter. with pay-pal, ect. might take the same time to receive your letter but would be a nice way to order them. I would have a few more by now, one thing or another stops me from putting my form in the mail( like todays problem). Than a few years go by.

Angel Cruz Ortiz · 03-07-2014, 05:16 PM

I second that emotion....

Steve Hodges · 03-07-2014, 05:26 PM

Scott, I am not "in the know" by any means, but I do think your idea has merit. Other than the PGCA loosing 2.9% + $.30 per transaction, or possibly as low a rate as 2.2% for non-profits based on transaction volume, I would think that the ease of the money transaction and record keeping system provided by paypal would be well worth the money spent. Like you said, we can do it now for membership fees. Just my $.02.

Pa SxS · 03-07-2014, 05:48 PM

I'm not against it and it has been discussed by the BOD. I can't do this on my own, the BOD has to take the steps to make it happen.

Bill Murphy · 03-07-2014, 06:32 PM

Yes, I would like to receive a message that tells me that there is no information available, by email, before the payment is processed through my Paypal account. The A.H. Fox Collectors Association does it that way and they are way below PGCA on the food chain. Of course, I am the first to admit that the PGCA system meets my needs very well since I don't have a Paypal account. Thank you for your job well done, Chuck.

10 bore · 03-07-2014, 06:46 PM

Set it up in a way ,If there were no records available you wouldn't be able to go beyond that part of the S/N search. You would be done at that point, scott

J.B. Books · 03-07-2014, 07:27 PM

Going to the Post Office to get a postage paid envelope or stamps sounds like a small thing but it's an extra trip and where I live it's close to going to the DMV, lines and waits can be long and thus discouraging. I have been meaning to get around to order a letter on a DHE I have had for a few years now but as Scott said lack of envelope and stamp, common in this day and age because I seldom need either, has kept me from getting around to it. I guess I am not alone. If I had the ability to sit at the computer, fill out the form, authorize payment via PayPal I would have gotten the letter a long time ago as silly as that sounds.

Double Play · 03-07-2014, 08:16 PM

Pete,
This had been discussed in the past but our previous Researcher was comfortable with the way he was doing things so that is how it stayed. Each of our Staff members has a pretty free hand in how they do things as long as it's in the best interest of the PGCA and our members. Chuck recently brought up allowing membership request electronically using pay pal as we do membership and I believe you will see that happen in the not to distant future.