USPS money order

Clodbuster · Jan 6, 2013

A buddy is buying some "parts" online from another site and the seller wants a USPS money order. What are the good and bad points for using this compared to the other means of payment?

I can't say what kind of "parts" as that usually gets the post deleted if you all know what I mean. LOL.

j meyer · Jan 6, 2013

I work part time with the Post Office- these money orders can be done for less than $1000- the fee per money order under $500 is like $1.10 and over $500 is $1.50. They are super cheap and very secure- if the seller wants it, just do it.

Patsdeere · Jan 6, 2013

It can also be a scam. They cash it and poof there goes the money and now what do you do?

Clodbuster · Jan 6, 2013

If it would be a scam, which I doubt, is their more concern from the cops as it may be postal fraud to mess with a USPS money order?

Zachary Hoyt · Jan 6, 2013

They are relatively safe, I have sent and received quite a few over the last three years. Basically I would say if you think the transaction is legitimate they are a safe way to pay and be paid but if it looks fishy don't do it, they will not save you necessarily.
Zach

Larry NEIL · Jan 6, 2013

My SIL is a NAVY pilot and since He got an 18 mo. assignment in England, I decided to send cash to my Daughter, Him and two Grandkids. Checked with my bank about the most secure way to send $ an d easiest for them to turn it into cash was. I thought money orders or travelers checks. VP of the bank said the way things have changed that I would be just as well off sending a personal check, which I did.

Zachary Hoyt · Jan 6, 2013

Forgot to add I once received a random non-USPS MO for a tractor part that when I held it up to the light had a watermark of VOID all over it, something like one VOID per square inch. I sent it back to the buyer and told him to send me a real USPS one (which I had asked for the first time) and never heard anything more so I did not mail the part to him.
Zach

Pops1532 · Jan 6, 2013

They're not completely safe but they're better than a cashier's check. They're a very secure form of payment for a buyer. Before feebay pushed everyone into accepting pay pal the preferred form of payment was a USPS money order. We've received several hundred of them without problems. I've also used them for payment many times as well.

Hoofer B · Jan 6, 2013

Is it cat parts?

Clodbuster · Jan 6, 2013

Something that needs an FFL.

SweetFeet · Jan 6, 2013

Does your friend have a PayPal account? If he does, and the seller has one also - he can pay the guy via PayPal and find him by using the sellers email address to look him up in PayPal. We have done this for a couple of out of state tractor parts we bought.

john in la · Jan 6, 2013

The fact that he used a USPS money order is not going to help you with fraud.
In fact you can send cash; check or what ever. If you send it threw the mail and do not recieve the part that is mail fraud.

Walt Davies · Jan 6, 2013

I won't use anything but PayPal its insured and they have to have the correct bank info on the other end to get payed.. If order something and don't get it they reimburse you.
Walt

k6zrx · Jan 6, 2013

The Postal Inspectors will get involved if you get scammed.

I dealt with them over mail theft, good people where I am at.

Josh

ihredo4 · Jan 7, 2013

If the Postal Money Order crosses the State Line would it not count towards a federal offence? I was told that was the case but have never had to check on it fortunately.

greygoat · Jan 7, 2013

If its for a larger amount, a small town Post
Office might not have enough cash, on hand, to
pay out. But my postmaster told me to "Take it to
the Bank". I was suprised..a bank will take a
postal money order just like a check !

Traditional Farmer · Jan 7, 2013

USPS Money order is about the safest way to conduct a transaction from a distant buyer.

Lazy WP · Jan 7, 2013

Can't use Pay Pal on this type of part. They have a tendency to put a hold on your account.

Pops1532 · Jan 7, 2013

Grey
I've received hundreds, maybe thousands of postal MO's. Never thought of trying to cash one at the PO. Always took them to my bank. Never a problem.
Walt,
Paypal favors the buyer. All the buyer has to do is say they haven't received their item and PP can pull the payment out of the seller's bank. Sellers that have shipped items can be out their item and the payment.
Plus the seller has to pay a fee to get paid.

If I were selling something I'd rather risk a personal check than use paypal. The only good thing about PP is you get your money faster.

mkirsch · Jan 7, 2013

USPS money order is as good as cash, but secure because only the person whose name is written on it can cash it.

Probably the best way to transfer money by mail.

Most fools are not going to ruin their reputation, even if it's a fake identity, over a $20 item. $20, even $100, doesn't go very far and it's a LOT of work to set up the scam. Sure it happens but usually that person is an idiot and you'll notice something off about the deal before it goes through.

USPS money order

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