December 23, 2009:

After receiving several bad checks the past two years, we decided not to accept checks from anyone this season and went to cash only. It’s fairly expensive and kind of a hassle to get set up to take credit cards and debit cards for only about six weeks out of the year.

We tried to get the word out to everyone we could before you came to cut your tree. We had it in all of our ads in 15 different area papers and shoppers, two weeks of ads on Monroe radio station, our web-site and someone said they saw it on a Rockford Register Star ticker on a Rockford TV station. We also tried to remember to tell everyone that called, so most everyone knew about it when they arrived at our farm.

We are very sorry for any inconvenience it may have caused anyone. However most everyone was very supportive and understanding with our policy. There were only two people that left upset and didn’t buy a tree and for all we know they may have been the ones that would have written us a bad check this year!!!

I actually don’t know how anyone can enjoy Christmas with a stolen Christmas tree, but I guess it takes all kinds. After all it is criminal to write a bad check.

We have seen several stores in Janesville and Brodhead that have had signs up also not taking checks. I believe we are all going to have to be understanding with the stores that have gone to a no check policy during these hard times. I believe this will be the norm for some time to come and we are just going to have to get used to it. I know if we are still selling trees again in 2010 we are going to continue the policy. It is sure nice not having the hassle of trying to collect the few bad checks this year. And of course there is always one now and then that you do not collect and that is always reflected in the price of our products, so everyone suffers.

Paul Schilling

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