Anyone else use money orders to buy guns?

[Lone_Sheep_Dog]

I'm worried that a money order I sent got stolen last week. I went to the post office to get a money order for $920 for a CMP M1 Garand. I bought the money order and then went out to my car to put all of my paperwork in order. I went back into the post office and went to the same clerk who sold me the money order. I mailed off my order certified mail with a return receipt request.

I've been trying to track the order on the usps website the past few days. It was supposed to be delivered Friday and the website is not showing any activity other than when I dropped off the order at the post office.

I think it may have been stolen at the post office by a postal employee. This is really worrying me because it is about $920. I've probably mailed around 15 money orders this year without a problem, but this is the largest one, and it also includes a copy of my birth certificate and drivers license.

Will I be able to get my money back if a postal employee already cashed my money order? I'm planning to go to the post office Monday to find out more information.

 

[Twiki357]

"the same clerk who sold me the money order" Hmmm, does make you wonder. I have always considerred the certified, insured, return receipt stuff to be a tip off of valuables inside. I have always used a very non-descript envelope for anything of value and drop it in the regular mail slot at the PO just so it doesn't attract any attention.

Hope it's just a fluk for you and it's all okay. Let us know the out come.

 

[Shadow 7D]

As long as you have the stub, you call the number and talk to the postal inspectors, yeah, the can literally reach into the bank account of who ever cashed it and pull your money out.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

For one, the postal employee would not be able to cash that money order. I am assuming that you made the MO out to CMP and, unless he is also an employee in accounting at CMP, he would be hard pressed to cash it.

For two, you could get your money back very easily as long as you have the receipts for both the MO and the certified mail. Easy to show that the delivery was not made and they would simply cancel that money order and fill you a new one out.

More than likely it was just lost or it is slow getting there. Why would you assume it was stolen by the postal employee when it is just a day late? Sometimes the website is a little slow in their updates for tracking. It's nowhere near as good as the UPS site for envelopes. Packages are about the same but envelopes do not go through the same hubs and are not scanned as often as packages.

 

[Mike1234567]

Post #3...

 

[Cosmoline]

It was supposed to be delivered Friday and the website is not showing any activity other than when I dropped off the order at the post office.

I think you're worried about nothing, friend. A delay over a weekend is not unusual. Particularly if you didn't express it. The USPS is not FedEx.

Personally I've been buying everything with money orders for a decade. I trust them more than a bank. Actually I've stopped taking personal checks for any personal sales. It's cash or USPS money order only. Lots of folks who've been burned by bad checks have learned the wisdom of this policy.

 

[WC145]

I've never had a problem at our little local post office, just yesterday I sent out an $800 M.O. to pay for a gun.

 

[Mike1234567]

I wrote to see post #3 regarding having your stub (receipt). However, USPS will not "collect" your money for you. They'll let you know who cashed it. This "may" help you... assuming the person didn't use solvents to remove your hand-written information and cash it at their local PO with a fake ID. If they did then you're scrood.

 

[medalguy]

In reality, USPS "tracking" isn't. Certified Mail simply means you have proof the letter was mailed, nothing more. Useful when you might need to prove you put something into the mail, like a tax return. Delivery Confirmation is just that, a confirmation that the piece of mail was delivered, somewhere. All they do is scan the label when the letter is put into the recipient's box or turned over to someone on the route.

If your letter is not delivered in a day or two more, you can talk to one of the clerks and see if they have any suggestions to try to locate it. If I remember correctly, the USPS won't really do anything until 30 days have passed. As someone said, USPS isn't Fedex.

If the money order is stolen, which is really unlikely, you can file a USPS Form 6401 and for a small fee, the USPS will replace the money order. They are actually a very secure method of sending money and you ARE FULLY PROTECTED.

 

[FROGO207]

Well they call it SNAIL MAIL for a reason. My experience is that it can take a bit longer than you anticipate for first class mail these days. I would not worry until 2 weeks have passed with no delivery.

 

[Mike1234567]

The last time I checked USPS will not replace a "stolen" cashed MO. They will replace a "lost" uncashed one.

ETA: It doesn't hurt to require the recipient's signature on delivery but it may be a bit inconvenient for them.

 

[bonza]

I'm sure your letter will be fine, just held up somewhere enroute. For future reference, next time send it Priority Post, it'll cost a bit more but is guaranteed 2-3 day delivery within the U.S., & includes a tracking number. I recently sent a large box (60"/33lbs) by Priority from Washington state to NJ, it arrived on the second day & was trackable all the way!

 

[dirtyjim]

I've been trying to track the order on the usps website the past few days. It was supposed to be delivered Friday and the website is not showing any activity other than when I dropped off the order at the post office

thats pretty much standard for the usps tracking service. its usually at least two days behind on whats actually happening with your package. i send stuff out all the time and get an email from the buyer thats its been received while usps still shows it hasn't left my post office

 

[Steel Talon]

Dont lay to much trust in the tracking system..

I've had items arrive before the tracking system started tracking. I've also had items tracked to almost destination. Then be routed somewhere else across CONUS and the tracking stops. Then arrive days later.

Best advise. Just be patient, talk to the Post Office

 

[dogtown tom]

Lone_Sheep_Dog ...I've been trying to track the order on the usps website the past few days...

USPS only offers "tracking" on Express Mail.

 

[CYANIDEGENOCIDE]

There is a reason USPS is going out of business, They Stink! Fedex is cheaper and more reliable, tracking is real time not uploaded after the item is delivered. That said I use USPS money orders exclusively for the simple reason that should it be stolen it is a federal crime, not just a state crime. If there is one thing the feds are good at it is making people's lives miserable. If it has to go USPS use registered mail, it has a $5,000 claim limit, it also costs $20.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

USPS tracking is about as good as basketball cleats. It's worthless.

 

[Lone_Sheep_Dog]

My package finally made it to the CMP. It took USPS 7 days to get the package delivered even though it is only a 2 hour drive from where I mailed it. They did not update the Track and Confirm website until the day it was delivered. I was really nervous all that time. Next time I will pay extra for FedEx or UPS so I can track the package.

 

[j2crows]

The only way you would, "lose" your money would be if you sent the M.O. without filling out the "to" and "from" part. If you mail a blank M.O. you might as well just send cash. If a M.O. is cashed by any other person other then the names listed on the M.O. you will get your money back. Granted it will probably take 2-4 weeks. I worked for the Postal Service for 34 years. You can't imagine how careless people are when sending M.O.'s or CASH through the mail. Not saying you did any of the above just saying what a lot of people do.

 

[GBExpat]

My package finally made it to the CMP. It took USPS 7 days to get the package delivered even though it is only a 2 hour drive from where I mailed it. They did not update the Track and Confirm website until the day it was delivered. I was really nervous all that time. ...

I have mailed a lot of items via USPS that were supposed to provide online tracking (not a single one was Express Mail, btw) and I have, unfortunately, found it to be not unusual for their online info to be quite hit & miss.

 

[Orlando]

2 HR drive and you mail ordered instead of driving to handpick your own rifle?????