Sending Money Order

[tgxiii]

I'm about to send money order to a couple of people who I bought items from. Since I've never done this before, I don't know how I should go about it.

When mailing the money order, should I use certain services? Or is First-Class mail fine?

[RicheemxX]

I always send with delivery confirmation and possibly signature authorization or certified depending on the person and if I've done business with them in the past. If its someone i know or trust then first class is ok

[tony_j15]

EDIT: stupid comment, didnt understand the context of the question.

[Bill in SD, CA]

If they have really good feedback (like Ebay) then regular mail is OK.

If your concerned about the transaction then certified mail with return receipt protects you if you need to file against them.

Take photocopies of everything.

Still a crap shoot in the end.

Only been burned once.

Hope I have the need to visit Sacramento sometime.

Bill

[RicheemxX]

Originally posted by Bill in SD, CA
If they have really good feedback (like Ebay) then regular mail is OK.

If your concerned about the transaction then certified mail with return receipt protects you if you need to file against them.

Take photocopies of everything.

Still a crap shoot in the end.

Only been burned once.

Hope I have the need to visit Sacramento sometime.

Bill

sacramento huh you need me to look him up for ya??

personally i always like to have some sort of confirmation that it was recieved unless its someone i know or have had good business with in the past, but even then you never know.

I've used USPS MO's several times and I always send them in Security Envelopes (the ones you can't see through) and am sure to put as much info on the MO as possible. The name, address, what I'm getting, etc . . .

Usually sending normal mail, 1st Class will get the MO to the person in a timely manner. Taking the extra steps of sending DC# and/or Proof of Signature is not a bad idea either. There's a phone # you can call to see if a MO's been cashed, but can't find it right at this minute. Another link to check out is the USPS's Send Money & Payments page. I've not used it but I'm going to find out more about Pay@Delivery.

In short, check the references of who you are sending to. If there's any doubt in your mind, don't do the deal.

[tgxiii]

It's not actually the guy I bought it from I don't trust, it's the Post Office. The guy I'm buying stuff from is very well-known here and his heatware references have nothing but good to say about him.

So I can just go to the Post Office, tell them what it's for, and they'll tell me what services I need?

You don't have to tell them anything except how much it's for. Keep in mind, MO's have to be paid for in cash or a debit card. No checks or credit cards. The actual fee for the MO can be paid for by cash/credit/debit/check. I figure, if you've got the cash to buy the MO, you've probably got the $0.90 to pay the fee.
Just walk up to the counter, ask for a MO for $X and they will give you the MO. You will then need to fill out the info, be sure to remove the top part as that is your receipt. After that, put it in a Security Envelope w/ a stamp and send it to who you're buying from.

[tgxiii]

Thanks, everyone. I'ma head out to the Post Office now.

[volunteer]

You're right not to trust the post office (and a few of their employees who have been caught in stings). I don't use money orders because they are not economically traceable. Your bank sells them but most of the time they are not issued by your bank. check that out first. Whatever you send, stamp or write boldly on the back POSITIVE ID REQUIRED> Puts the responsibility on the cashing bank. I always use delivery confirmation. Since the post office won't let you send first class mail, regular envelope, with delivery confirmation, it is cheaper to send a "package" Make sure the envelope is at least 3/4 inch thick at some point and it can go first class, package, delivery confirmation. Less expensive than signature, etc.