esmith
Member
Is paying for a rifle through money order safe to do? What happens if i mail the seller for a gun a money order and he just doesn't ship out the rifle? Would i just be out of luck, and out of a lot of money?
Paying through money order?
- Thread starter esmith
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If you are this worried,I would not even do it.
All the good deals on the internet won't save you the money or grief from one bad ripoff.
Local stores in your area that clearly state their terms of sale are your good friends in this respect.
I just returned a great holster that I just could'nt use and exchanged it plus a small amount of money for two fifteen round mags for my Ruger P95 pistol.
The transaction took all of five minutes.
Try that on the internet.
Remember that you have to pay for shipping,insurance and now sometimes taxes as well depending on where you live or buy from.
An extra thirty five dollars gives you a concrete place you can walk into for the same rifle,it is worth going to that store.
All the good deals on the internet won't save you the money or grief from one bad ripoff.
Local stores in your area that clearly state their terms of sale are your good friends in this respect.
I just returned a great holster that I just could'nt use and exchanged it plus a small amount of money for two fifteen round mags for my Ruger P95 pistol.
The transaction took all of five minutes.
Try that on the internet.
Remember that you have to pay for shipping,insurance and now sometimes taxes as well depending on where you live or buy from.
An extra thirty five dollars gives you a concrete place you can walk into for the same rifle,it is worth going to that store.
WardenWolf
member
Depends. If you bought it from an established seller on a site like Gunbroker, or someone who otherwise has good feedback, it's fairly safe. I do business in money orders all the time. Keep in mind that, in the case of a money order, you still have their name and address. If they only offer you a P.O. box as an address, however, I wouldn't do it.
As a buyer, I like money orders because they're convenient and widely accepted. If anything goes wrong, you've got their name and address. Never send a money order to a P.O. box, though, unless you've previously established their legitimacy.
As a seller, I like money orders because they're convenient, I get paid in cash, and it's a non-reversible transaction. The latter bit is in reference to Paypal scammers who file a dispute and get their money back after you've already shipped them the item, or people who make up fake cashier's checks and it gets back-charged out of your bank account once it bounces. If a money order turns out to be fake after the fact, you've still got your cash and the USPS is going to send Federal Marshals after them.
As a buyer, I like money orders because they're convenient and widely accepted. If anything goes wrong, you've got their name and address. Never send a money order to a P.O. box, though, unless you've previously established their legitimacy.
As a seller, I like money orders because they're convenient, I get paid in cash, and it's a non-reversible transaction. The latter bit is in reference to Paypal scammers who file a dispute and get their money back after you've already shipped them the item, or people who make up fake cashier's checks and it gets back-charged out of your bank account once it bounces. If a money order turns out to be fake after the fact, you've still got your cash and the USPS is going to send Federal Marshals after them.
if you're worried about the security of you money when using a money order, look into postal money orders:
http://www.usps.com/money/sendingmoney/moneyorders/welcome.htm
i've used them many times (although not for firearm purchase), but i always felt relatively safe... i never get money orders from the bank.
postal money orders are even better for the seller, as you know you get your money for keeps, but i think the buyer can have some sense of safety as well knowing that if someone tries to pull a fast one you can file a complaint and get the feds involved... just be sure to keep the stub.
http://www.usps.com/money/sendingmoney/moneyorders/welcome.htm
i've used them many times (although not for firearm purchase), but i always felt relatively safe... i never get money orders from the bank.
postal money orders are even better for the seller, as you know you get your money for keeps, but i think the buyer can have some sense of safety as well knowing that if someone tries to pull a fast one you can file a complaint and get the feds involved... just be sure to keep the stub.
bullseye308
Member
USPS MO is the way to go. If they bugger that up, they get the feds after them. The feds have no sense of humor.
alanjtc73n
Member
USPS MO also has a phone number you can call to verify the authenticity of the MO. The best way to go for large sales.
I purchased 4 rifles on gun broker.. It was a good deal of money and I used money orders.. No problems whatsoever. Just think when u go to a pawn or other type of gun shop and buy a gun, you don't know if there is something wrong with it and you know a lot less about the seller than you would buying it on gunbroker or Auction Arms. I like gun broker and money orders better even than buying from some small scale gun shops, because I know the guy's history and money order are very traceable.
esmith
Member
Okay USPS postal money orders are the way to go. But if he doesn't ship the rifle how do i call the feds on him? And more importantly, how do i get my money back?
Ridgerunner665
Member
No offense...but you're being paranoid.
If you're that worried...don't buy online...most transactions are trouble free, but every now and then one goes south.
I prefer money orders for payment...I don't know the particulars of how to deal with it if it goes wrong...but I do have the sellers address.
If you're that worried...don't buy online...most transactions are trouble free, but every now and then one goes south.
I prefer money orders for payment...I don't know the particulars of how to deal with it if it goes wrong...but I do have the sellers address.
esmith
Member
It isn't that i don't trust the seller. I just want to make sure i get what i am paying for. If i send a MO to a seller, he has my money, and he also has the choice whether or not to ship the goods. If he doesn't ship what he is selling, im out a lot of money.
Paranoid, i don't think so. Safe, assured is more like it.
Ridgerunner665
Member
True...but you're NEVER completely safe when buying online...that was my point.
FWIW, I've bought and sold several things online...no problems (YET!)
FWIW, I've bought and sold several things online...no problems (YET!)
Nathanael_Greene
Member
Good Lord, don't let PayPal know, or your account will be suspended, and so will his.
To the OP: if you're really concerned, don't do the transaction. If you're a little worried, a USPS money order is probably the best way to go. But if you get ripped off, don't imagine that the Post Office will send a troop of investigators to your rescue. You'll submit a complaint, and never hear another word.
knockonit
Member
Money grams, Walmarts Money order, they can be bought at a lot of grocery stores for .49c,
USPMO, are great, but here in Arizona it takes upwards of an hour and half to get thru the lines, I did however get one, one time in 45 minutes.
I have a C & R and was buying quite a lot, I have never had a problem sending, recieving payments, most sellers will hold the Cashiers check and or money order for a week to ensure clearance, I for one don't mind.
Paypal froze my account and had lots of $$ tied up till I got it straightened out, screw them.
good luck, with whichever avenue you go.
rj
USPMO, are great, but here in Arizona it takes upwards of an hour and half to get thru the lines, I did however get one, one time in 45 minutes.
I have a C & R and was buying quite a lot, I have never had a problem sending, recieving payments, most sellers will hold the Cashiers check and or money order for a week to ensure clearance, I for one don't mind.
Paypal froze my account and had lots of $$ tied up till I got it straightened out, screw them.
good luck, with whichever avenue you go.
rj
I've bought and sold on ebay for years, when selling I always ask for a USPS money order. When buying, I almost always use one, if not, I use a bank money order from my bank.
I try to go by feedback, but, we all have to start somewhere. And, sometimes some people don't have any feedback to go by.
I try to go by feedback, but, we all have to start somewhere. And, sometimes some people don't have any feedback to go by.
TehK1w1
Member
USPS money order sent via registered mail works great!
orionengnr
Member
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Basically, you don't. This in Internet Myth #999. Do a Google search and you will find plenty of evidence.
Bottom line: There is no 100% safe method. USPS will not sic the Postmaster General on some dummy, and Paypal sucks (literally; see www.paypalsucks.com). It's on you to do your homework on the seller. Most are honest; a few are not. You can search on this forum or any other.
Nathanael_Greene
Member
Yes, really. I certainly don't agree with it, but it is their policy.
And from their online help (emphasis mine):
Quoheleth
Member
Another option is get a pre-paid VISA from someplace like Wmart. It's like a temporary CC - you put XXX amount of dollars into the account and that's all. I think Walmart's cards have a $5 activation fee...still cheaper than paying first class postage plus deliver confirmation, return receipt, etc. Then when you use it, you not only have an instant transaction but you have the power of VISA behind you should the deal go bust.
Q
Q
A USPS MO will no more or less insure you get your rifle than any other form of payment. It's a good way to send money and it's about the only payment other than cash and paypal that I accept. But no matter what, you are sending someone that you probably don't know money and hoping they send you a rifle when they get it.
I've done many Gunbroker deals, dozens of forum classified deals and many hundreds of Ebay transactions and had only 3 problems...and 2 of those were eventually completely resolved. So, over the course of probably $15,000...I got stuck for $23.75.
Stick with long time members here, take a minute to look at their posting patterns...take a look at an Ebay and gunbroker sellers feekback and you should be fine.
I've done many Gunbroker deals, dozens of forum classified deals and many hundreds of Ebay transactions and had only 3 problems...and 2 of those were eventually completely resolved. So, over the course of probably $15,000...I got stuck for $23.75.
Stick with long time members here, take a minute to look at their posting patterns...take a look at an Ebay and gunbroker sellers feekback and you should be fine.
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