Who Sells the Best Personal Checks? Personal checks, despite the rise of digital payments, still hold a valuable place in our financial lives. Ever wondered why people continue to use checks when so many transactions have gone digital? You may be surprised at just how often personal checks prove their usefulness.
Very Good
Carousel Checks is a family-run business that's been around since 2003. Its headquarters are on the southside of Chicago, and they do all of their printing and manufacturing in-house. That includes not just personal checks but also business and computer checks, address labels, checkbook covers, pre-inked stamps, and many other related products. Also, FYI, there are several brands under the Carousel Checks umbrella (including Checks on Sale, Bank Checks Plus, and Extra Value Checks), and you'll find all four of those in our reviews.
3,000+ check design options
Getting your personal checks from Carousel is really straightforward. The easiest way to get right to the kind you've got in mind is to identify what your top priority is. Budget? Click on the "Shop Now" button by Value-Priced Checks. Security? Carousel recently added Hologram Checks to the repertoire, and they're featured on the main page of the website. Cute design? Carousel shows you some of their most popular options, in categories like Stylistic, Animals & Wildlife, and Scenic. And, if you've got a less traditional personal check format in mind, Carousel still has you covered: just scroll down to see options for Side Tear, Top Stub, Desk Set, and Secretary checks. There are over 3,000 designs to choose from, so have fun browsing some of the fun options.
Competitive prices
To give you a basis for comparison across the personal check printers on our list, we looked at the same three options on each site: basic blue safety checks, parchment hologram checks, and a popular patriotic design. Here's how Carousel measured up:
Watch for charges on "extras"
Just keep an eye out for additional charges. We were caught a little off-guard by some of them during our ordering process, like having to pay $0.49 each for the little cardboard box that checks typically come in, or being offered EZShield Check Fraud Protection for $3.99 per 100 personal checks. It's up to you if you just want to throw your checks in a drawer or reuse a box from the last time you got them, and you can read the details on the fraud protection add-on to see if it's necessary. At least you're given the option here, instead of having those fees automatically added to the cost of your checks.
Preview your personalizations
Once you've selected the checks you want, you'll carefully enter all of the standard information: your name, address, bank name, routing and account numbers, and so forth. You can also pay a bit extra for a signature line message, for a specialized font, or even to add clipart. Each addition costs $2.50. With extras or without, you'll be able to see the preview of your checks as you make each change, so you'll know that it looks exactly the way you want it before you place your order.
Coordinating accessories
Speaking of extras, Carousel will make you a few more offers as you work your way to the checkout. Need deposit tickets? Double window envelopes? How about a cover - in a plain solid color or coordinated to match your check design? It's easy enough to click "No, Thanks" if there's nothing you need.
Costs can add up quickly
We wish that Carousel Checks had been a little more upfront with their shipping and handling charges. On a single box of American Pride duplicate checks with one upgrade for the font, our cost started at $16.99 and wound up at $34.12: it defaulted to trackable shipping via DHL for $8.95 (though we could have opted for free bulk shipping), plus a $3.60 handling fee and then sales tax. There was also an option to cut two days off the processing time for a "rush this shipment" fee of $6.99, but we appreciate that this upgrade wasn't the default setting.
Average delivery speeds
How fast will your checks arrive? If you choose bulk mail and you live within the lower 48 United States, your order should come within 2-3 weeks from the date your order is placed. Opt for Priority Mail if you're in a hurry, but you should still expect it to take 6-10 business days to get your personal checks. Deliveries to Alaska, Hawaii, the USVI, or Puerto Rico will take 3-4 weeks via bulk mail, but the same 6-10 business days if you choose Priority Mail delivery.
Save with a pop-up discount
Want to save a bit on your order of personal checks? When we visited the Carousel Checks site recently, we got a pop-up discount offer of 15% if we signed up for their mailing list. It had a minimum order requirement of $14.98, but most purchases of personal checks will qualify.
Fantastic reputation
You're not going to do much better than Carousel when it comes to reputation. Not only does the company maintain a perfect "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, but there were also zero complaints filed against Carousel in the year leading up to this review. For a large business, that's impressive. And, in Google reviews alone, Carousel has earned over 3,000 5-star ratings. We found lots of compliments from loyal customers who wouldn't dream of using another company to print their personal checks, giving plenty of praise for the friendly customer service reps and the on-time delivery of their orders. The only complaint we could see was that some people have had issues with the checks tearing cleanly at the top, but we all know that happens fairly regularly with checks no matter where you get them.
You can't go wrong ordering your checks here
Of the four related stores that sell personal checks, Carousel comes out on top. It seems to pull together the best aspects of the company and put it all in one place. It's missing just a bit of transparency with respect to pricing, keeping Carousel Checks from earning a perfect score, but we have no problem recommending this site as an excellent choice the next time you need to replenish your supply of personal checks.
Continued from above...
Personal checks, despite the rise of digital payments, still hold a valuable place in our financial lives. Ever wondered why people continue to use checks when so many transactions have gone digital? You may be surprised at just how often personal checks prove their usefulness.
First off, checks offer a level of reliability and comfort that some of us just aren't ready to give up. If you've grown up writing checks for rent, bills, or groceries, the process feels familiar and trustworthy. Plus, having that physical piece of paper as a record can be reassuring, especially if you like to keep track of your finances in a tangible way.
Another great thing about checks is the control they give you. When you write a check, you decide when and how the money leaves your account. There's no immediate electronic withdrawal, which can give you a bit of breathing room to make sure everything is in order. This can be a real plus if you're managing your budget carefully and want to avoid any unexpected hits to your bank balance.
Checks are also widely accepted. While it's true that digital payments are common, not everyone accepts them. Small businesses, local service providers, and even some individuals might prefer or only take checks - or they charge extra if you pay with a credit card (DMV, anyone?). In these cases, having a checkbook handy can save you from scrambling to find an alternative payment method.
Just because checks are a little old-fashioned doesn't mean you have to get them the traditional way: ordering checks online is almost always cheaper than getting them through your bank. Plus, these providers tend to give you more options to customize your checks with different styles and security features, so you're not stuck with the basic (boring) designs your bank might offer.
Speaking of styles, personal checks come in a huge variety of designs. Whether you like classic, no-nonsense patterns or want something fun and colorful, there's something for everyone. You can find checks with themes ranging from nature scenes to cute animals, and even get personalized checks with your own photos. It's a great way to add a personal touch to your finances.
When you're ready to order your checks online, here are some things to look for when choosing which company to use:
The experts at Top Consumer Reviews have researched some of today's most popular options for ordering personal checks online. Use this information to choose the best place to get your checks in a style you love, delivered right to your doorstep!
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