# Can I pay for Straight Dope stuff without a credit car(d)?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-pay-for-straight-dope-stuff-without-a-credit-car-d/269061
**Category:** About This Message Board
**Created:** [October 13, 2004, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-pay-for-straight-dope-stuff-without-a-credit-car-d/269061 "2004-10-13T19:36:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2004, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-pay-for-straight-dope-stuff-without-a-credit-car-d/269061/1 "2004-10-13T19:36:24Z")
Pardon me if I’m not supposed to ask this here. I followed the link on the shopping page and sent an e-mail to whomever, but I haven’t got an answer.
I want to buy the stuff on the Straight Dope shopping page, but I don’t have a credit card! Is there any way I can print my order and send it in with a check or money order?
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### Author:  [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2004, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-pay-for-straight-dope-stuff-without-a-credit-car-d/269061/2 "2004-10-13T22:26:04Z")
credit car?
…
Sorry. Can’t think of a witty response to that
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### Author:  [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)
#### Post date: [October 14, 2004, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-pay-for-straight-dope-stuff-without-a-credit-car-d/269061/3 "2004-10-14T11:45:16Z")
I have no idea how that works, I’ve brought this to the attention of them who do, so you should get a response fairly soon.
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### Author:  [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)
#### Post date: [October 14, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-pay-for-straight-dope-stuff-without-a-credit-car-d/269061/4 "2004-10-14T15:27:27Z")
To answer your question, no, online they only deal in plastic.
If you’re in the Chicago area, you might be able to buy it from them direct at the Reader office. Otherwise, perhaps a friend with a card might work something out with you – you reimburse them in some fashion.
The cost of doing real-life commerce like that makes handling checks and money orders problematical for a small business – an actual staff person has to open envelopes, deposit money, keep track of things, etc. It’s also expensive for a business to have to deal with the situation if things go wrong – if the check bounces, for instance, it’s far more expensive trying to collect it than it’s worth in many cases. The company gets dinged by their bank as well, which is counterproductive to what they’re about there. This is why the Reader doesn’t allow checks and money orders for subscriptions.
They added on PayPal recently just for subscription orders; I don’t know if they can use PayPal for the store, but I’ll ask if they can add that in.
your humble TubaDiva
Administrator
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [October 14, 2004, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-pay-for-straight-dope-stuff-without-a-credit-car-d/269061/5 "2004-10-14T15:32:56Z")
> [@Elenia28](#):
>
> I want to buy the stuff on the Straight Dope shopping page, but I don’t have a credit card!
Do you have a bank account? Most banks these days can issue Visa branded debit cards that work just like a credit card for most purchases and debit the funds directly from your checking or savings account. My bank issues them by default when you sign up for ATM access, but some will only issue a standard ATM card, unless you request otherwise.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [October 14, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-pay-for-straight-dope-stuff-without-a-credit-car-d/269061/6 "2004-10-14T16:29:37Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#):
>
> To answer your question, no, online they only deal in plastic.
>
> If you’re in the Chicago area, you might be able to buy it from them direct at the Reader office. Otherwise, perhaps a friend with a card might work something out with you – you reimburse them in some fashion.
> your humble TubaDiva
> Administrator
Okey dokey. I’ll see if one of my friends will let me pay him, and then use his credit card.
I wanna buy some books!
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### Author:  [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)
#### Post date: [October 14, 2004, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-pay-for-straight-dope-stuff-without-a-credit-car-d/269061/7 "2004-10-14T17:46:04Z")
We love that, we always do.
Besides, Cecil says we can’t have a new book until y’all buy up the old ones, so every bit helps.
your humble TubaDiva
Administrator
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [October 14, 2004, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-pay-for-straight-dope-stuff-without-a-credit-car-d/269061/8 "2004-10-14T20:48:29Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#):
>
> Besides, Cecil says we can’t have a new book until y’all buy up the old ones, so every bit helps.
! How many do you think I’m going to buy? One of each should be sufficient, I hope.
Oh, and thanks to whomever fixed my title. Credit Car?
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### Author:  [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)
#### Post date: [October 15, 2004, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-pay-for-straight-dope-stuff-without-a-credit-car-d/269061/9 "2004-10-15T19:47:53Z")
Books do make nice Christmas gifts, you know.
Just a suggestion. 🙂
your humble TubaDiva
Administrator
Get your shopping done early, enlighten the world, put a buck in Cecil’s pocket, there’s no down side to this scenario.