USPS only...?

[ISS]

I always use a Bank Check drawn on my Bank. Never had an issue in more than forty years. I get one at my Bank, I mail it, the seller gets it, when they take it to their Bank it is immediately cashable (like "show me the money" now), and they send the product the same or next day.
USPS only goes (iirc) to $750). So, for $1600, like for something I bought here I get to pay for three.

I just ignore ads that say UPSP MO only. So far, life goes on.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I use a money order service countless times from Barri Money Services LLC, who has a booth right around the corner from my Business at a local grocery chain.

Nobody has ever complained.

 

[kelbro]

I always use a Bank Check drawn on my Bank. Never had an issue in more than forty years. I get one at my Bank, I mail it, the seller gets it, when they take it to their Bank it is immediately cashable (like "show me the money" now), and they send the product the same or next day.
USPS only goes (iirc) to $750). So, for $1600, like for something I bought here I get to pay for three.

I just ignore ads that say UPSP MO only. So far, life goes on.

If by Bank Check you mean Cashiers Check, scammers fake those now too.

I still wait 7-10 days after I deposit them to ensure that they clear. Yes, your bank will take the deposit and show the funds as 'available' as long as you have enough in the account to cover it. If it bounces, they deduct it from your balance.

I will very seldom mess with postal money orders. My bank will not accept them via online deposits and the post office usually does not have enough cash on hand to cash them. I don't live in town so multiple trips to the PO is not desirable.

 

[Gary in MD]

Yup, I have been told by banks that money orders, postal and otherwise, can be faked. I have been telling guys that I’ll take their personal check and also prefer to pay with my personal check. When I get a personal check in the mail I can deposit that using my iPhone in about 30 seconds, no need to go to the bank.
Since I usually only deal with guys that are established and have a trader history, I’m thinking that’s as safe as any. If it’s a good guy then I’m safe, if he is a scam artist then he will try and screw you regardless of form of payment. YMMV

 

[6.5 forever]

Yup, I have been told by banks that money orders, postal and otherwise, can be faked. I have been telling guys that I’ll take their personal check and also prefer to pay with my personal check. When I get a personal check in the mail I can deposit that using my iPhone in about 30 seconds, no need to go to the bank.
Since I usually only deal with guys that are established and have a trader history, I’m thinking that’s as safe as any. If it’s a good guy then I’m safe, if he is a scam artist then he will try and screw you regardless of form of payment. YMMV

I do the same!

 

[rlporter507]

Walmart money orders are cheaper, wells fargo bank, and you can take them to wal mart to cash.

 

[Big_Daddy]

.........
I just ignore ads that say UPSP MO only. So far, life goes on.

I feel the same way....100%

 

[RabbitSlayer]

I have heard people having a hard time cashing usps MO. The post office may not have the cash on hand. I live in a town of 800 people. I bet the PO doesn't keep 1k on hand for MOs. I used to use them for all forum transactions. Someone tried to scam me with a fake bank MO once for car parts. I don't care how they pay now, but I wait till I know payment has cleared before I ship.

 

[ELR LVR]

This is one reason why am for electronic means of payments
kind of hard to Scam someone claiming you did not get paid, or that they received their money
---
if you ship a M/O a guy could still claim he didnt get it
(I have had a sent M/O get lost in the mail once which is frustrating)
If you send elec payment, it shows up they got it
---
sure a guy could try to scam you out of elec funds and never ship your item
but same thing with a M/O
---
At least with Elec payment, you can see they got it

 

[DogBuster]

My sales I’ve made here I always request a personal check or MO

Personal check takes only 2-3 days to clear…then item shipped

USPS money orders can be easily verified with the number shown in pic

 

[pdog06]

USPS money orders can be easily verified with the number shown in pic

Thanks for that info! Good to know we can verify it as good.
I used to always want a MO but accept a personal check from paid members. Now I will accept a personal check from anyone but just wait till it clears my bank before shipping an item.

 

[Jdne5b]

It’s not the time to clear that is the problem, it’s the time for your bank to notify you if it bounces or is fake. Some banks are better than others at this. Some banks use a 3rd party processor that could add another layer and time to the notification.

Just because a bank will cash a check, doesn’t mean it’s “available now”. They’ll pull the funds from your account later if it’s fraud or nsf. The only funds available now are if you send me a cashiers check for Bank of America and I walk into a Bank of America as a non account holder and they cash it. Some/most banks won’t even do that now because of fakes.

I haven’t had a Post Office be willing to cash a postal money order in years. For even as low as $300.

Postal money orders are about the only payment method I strongly prefer not to take. One of my banks won’t even let me mobile deposit them.

 

[PhilC]

I have heard people having a hard time cashing usps MO. The post office may not have the cash on hand. I live in a town of 800 people. I bet the PO doesn't keep 1k on hand for MOs.

Town with our PO is 300 people, we live in their delivery area 3mi away. They, also, don't have cash on hand for USPS MO if over $100 or so. Forces me to drive 17mi to next town with a PO that has a lot of traffic to cash MOs. Not my preferred method of payment for obvious reasons.

 

[jds holler]

Yup, I have been told by banks that money orders, postal and otherwise, can be faked. I have been telling guys that I’ll take their personal check and also prefer to pay with my personal check. When I get a personal check in the mail I can deposit that using my iPhone in about 30 seconds, no need to go to the bank.
Since I usually only deal with guys that are established and have a trader history, I’m thinking that’s as safe as any. If it’s a good guy then I’m safe, if he is a scam artist then he will try and screw you regardless of form of payment. YMMV

I'm in this camp, but I've never done the "pic of the check" thing. I've gotta see if my banks have this provision. Sounds cool as can be.. jd

 

[jxb]

Almost anyone can cut a fake check, doesn't matter what type. This is why you never want to cash one at your bank and use those funds before they have fully cleared (5-7 days last I checked). Actually for two reasons, it could be a forged check or could be valid but the sender puts a stop on it. Either way if you've pulled those funds then when it bounces your account gets a withdraw for that amount and if you have a low balance and overdraw... oh boy...

One way around it is if you have an account at the same bank the check is issued on you can go to a branch and have their check verified for funds before cashing it. However there's a catch to this (sorta), I recently found that Wells Fargo only does this without a fee if I have a checking or savings account, having just another account doesn't cut it. Lame, but is what it is. Point is, if you don't like fees ask before doing the transaction.

 

[M-61]

Yup, I have been told by banks that money orders, postal and otherwise, can be faked

Told exactly the same thing Also holding postal mo for three days.
Actually I no longer sell anything and seldom buy, so I have no skin in this game really.
As far as buying from a LGS, I have 3 close by. Two I don’t deal with at all because of a really bad attitude.

 

[M-61]

I'm in this camp, but I've never done the "pic of the check" thing. I've gotta see if my banks have this provision. Sounds cool as can be.. jd

Works perfectly for me with the few checks I receive. And I’m a long way from being skilled with my I phone

 

[shoot4fun]

While I prefer Cashier's Checks to other forms of payment, I will accept USPS MO's if that is what my buyer prefer to send. Here is the best part of accepting ANY form off payment for me; my bank always verifies that it is valid before depositing.
I have had one occurrence where I received a check drawn on a money line account. My bank could not verify it. I called the sender and explained. I offered to return the check, allow another form of payment or to let the bank put a 10 business day hold on the funds to insure it went through. I advised I would ship immediately upon that check clearing. He agreed to the last option and, in the end, all went without issue.
@ISS I was thinking USPS max is $1,000 per money order.

 

[mtncwru]

USPS only goes (iirc) to $750).

Domestic USPS Money Orders go up to $1,000 (https://www.usps.com/shop/money-orders.htm)

I like them as a seller over other MOs or cashier's checks because I know what they look like, and I can immediately verify the issuing details online. I dislike them (as others have noted) because I can't deposit them online.

I really dislike them as a buyer both because they require me to make a special trip and if they get lost in the mail it can take 90 days to get everything sorted out, vs. a personal check where I can throw a stop-payment on it without leaving my house.

I'm in this camp, but I've never done the "pic of the check" thing. I've gotta see if my banks have this provision. Sounds cool as can be.. jd

It's really great! If you're with one of the Big Banks (BofA, Chase, Wells Fargo, etc.) it will be through their mobile app. You may have to dig a bit to find the "Deposit Checks" button -- my bank hides it a bit. Once you find that button, though, it should walk you through step-by-step. I always write on the check that I deposited it, mostly so I don't forget and try to deposit it again.