UGLY! Money Orders and USPS

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Emanym Ton

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Sep 21, 1999
Messages
762
After reading Sarge's reply to smoky's post I thought I would start a new thread to find out other people's experience with USPS.

Since the end of October I have lost 4 Money Orders (all of which were replaced and eventually the sales were finalized at an additional cost of $10/ea for the trace AND new Money Orders AND $3/ea to send 'Priority' TWICE!) which were sent 'Priority' through the Post Office. To top it off and make the season more merry I sent a knife (Again, 'Priority') back to a dealer for repairs...... Same result: Gone! I know it was the holiday season but COME ON!!!!!!! I was just wondering what the HELL happens to these things? Are they forever circulating through various Post Offices? Each trace came back 'un-cashed' so I don't think anyone tried to snake the Money Orders either!? I always used the Red, White, Blue half-sized envelope and those things stick out like a sore thumb!? Not to mention the Red, White, Blue BOX I sent the knife in! To this day still no reply, new information, or returned mail on these items! Luckily, in my frustration, I found an alternative that some may be interested in checking out:
www.paypal.com

An electronic service that allows you to 'beam' money to anyone with an email address even if they are not registered users. Works from CC and electronic bank account transfers and is generally FREE (But they do have a $5 fee for CC I think)!

Adding up $10/trace, $6/double 'Priority' shipping, and the time and frustration of lost items gets costly and quickly out of hand! Even if this site had a fee it would be a deal!

Just wondering if anyone else has found a way around the USPS and their 'selective delivery' service or wanted to share their horror stories with the mail!

Fuming!,
Shawn

------------------
'With aching, trembling hands
We cling so tightly to them
Long after they have turned to dust.
..... Dreams die hard!'
SMC
 
Hey, this looks interesting.

Just checked their site but didn't find
any mention about $5 CC fee. They say that they make their money by earning the interest on the money that is deposited (it takes some time for a recipient to receive his cash).

Does anyone know anyone that tried this?

K.
 
Shawn,

That sucks! I've only had one problem with USPS - once I sent cash to a friend, used a small sized (not business) envelope with a Priority Mail sticker I bought from USPS vending machine. The sticker (like a huge stamp) was on the back of the envelope, the address written on the front (no room for the sticker there). It got to my friend - 2 and a half weeks later.

Ever since I use the free BIG cardboard-type Priority Mail envelopes to mail a letter or MO. I've sent knives in bubble-paks USPS P/M with no problem.

Do you drop them off at an overnight USPS P/M box, or to a clerk? I always either drop mine off at the PO, Mail Boxes Etc, or leave them for my mail carrier.

Better use UPS to send that knife/gun video to James after you watch it...

biggrin.gif



Nick
 
Sent payment for a knife on the 26th should have arrived before 3 pm on the 27th,hasn't been delivered it yet.$11.75!!!!!
I like doing business with personal checks.Money orders cost,and you can't stop payment right away.Then you don't have to wait for your money.Lost a lot of money orders.Do not like sending money orders.

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have a"knife"day
 
Thanks for the support guys! At least I'm not the only one experiencing this.

jeegeet,
The person who told me about PayPal told me he has made over $7,000 in payment to MT. I have registered with them but am still waiting for the address confirmation to come in the........... OH NO!........... Mail!
wink.gif


Chetchat,
Actually I was thinking armed escort for the video. I've put an add in the paper for bodyguards but haven't received any word back! They must have MAILED their resumes!
smile.gif
I did make sure to mail everything from the Post Office and once dropped it into the blue box to make sure that all 'Felony' laws apply and people would be less likely to tamper but I simply have no explanation for why, what, where, how things got messed up and just know it is on the USPS end! Sucks for sure!
mad.gif


nifrand,
Yeah, I am like you in that I can't believe how little that amount of money buys you at the post office! Strange that for 32 cents they take a letter from coast to coast but for just under $12 can't do it any faster! What the?!
mad.gif


 
While I' m not sure about a Postal money order alone in an envelope, do use their confirmation service. For only .35 more your priority packages' progress can be monitored. It is not a tracing/ tracking# per se but their site allows you to see when and where it is when first shipped and same when it arrives at its destination, whether it was left, refused, signed for (if requested), or a note was left for another attempt. Believe me, most carriers and even some managers of the PO are unaware of this service. This .35 service can help cut the "BS" sometimes among the PO workers. Hope this helps a bit.

L8r,
Nakano
 
Nakano 2,
Now that is something I did NOT know. I will definitely try that in the future! An extra 35 cents is WAY cheaper than what it has cost me so far! I'm not sure if there is anything wrong with the Post Office Workers or the Post Office itself but assume that like many other government agencies is simply filled with BS and problems that allow for things to drop through the cracks. I spoke with one Letter Carrier who said in addition to regular deliveries he was required to carry 4 'bundles' (he had a special name for it but can't remember it) of separate advertising paraphernalia to be delivered to each house?! What a nightmare!

I just hope whoever intercepted my butterfly knife knows that the broken pin can be replaced by the right sized nail beaten into place..... A fact that I, unfortunately, learned after mailing it in for repairs!
frown.gif

Shawn
 
So far, I've been preyy fortunate on "receiving" MO's by USPS. None have been lost so far, and all my knives have showwn up!

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Knives & Things
Mike Payne
 
I don't want to jinx myself, but the worst problem I experienced with priority mail was a package that was delayed for a few days & wound up soaking wet at its destination with an apology note from the PO. Fortunately, I had done a decent job of packing it & the contents were undamaged. Insurance is cheap and, although it is a pain to have to file a claim, it does provide that added measure of safety if something does go wrong.

The delivery confirmation idea is also a good one. As Nakano mentioned, many postal employees aren't even aware of its existence. If your local PO doesn't have the forms, as mine didn't, you can order them online from the PO .

As to PayPal, I've used them several times now & they are great. There was one problem when a buyer entered a wrong e-mail address for me but that was it. BTW, there are no fees for using their service. The minimum amount they will charge your credit card is $5. For example, say you have a positive balance of $30 with them & you want to send someone $31. They will charge your credit card $5, send the $31 to the person you specify, and leave a $4 positive balance in your account. There is an added benefit to using this service -- they are currently offering a $10 credit for each new account as well as a $10 credit for each referral.

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Cheers,

--+Brian+--

He who finishes with the most toys wins.



[This message has been edited by bcaffrey (edited 01-29-2000).]
 
USPS is my vehicle of choice. They ship fast and safe, I always use delivery confirmation for important stuff. Also USPS money orders seem to work best for me. Takes time if they lose one, but I have not lost one yet... knock on wood... Don't even get me started on UPS...
 
copfish, mpayne,
Thanks for the replies. Glad to hear someone is doing okay with them. I plan to ship insured from now on and use that tracking form as well!

bcaffrey,
Thanks for the info on PayPal! I knew I read something about $5 and CC but didn't know what it was for sure! Sounds like a GREAT service and I can't wait to try it out. Hopefully sellers on this forum will be receptive when I offer to pay that way. Seems like it takes all the guesswork out of it and it would be an easy way to fund your collection cause you could send them checks on the sneak without the wife knowing and all the time have a running balance!
wink.gif

Shawn
 
I used USPS Priority Insured 99% of the time - never had a problem EVER until recently: it took 6 workings days after I mailed a box from MA to TN (must have been the snow storms, and ice that messed up the airlines that carried the US Mail).

USPS money orders are great - you can cash them at a USPO, or your bank. The newer post offices have the mo printed in few seconds.... I love it.
smile.gif


I use to use the conformation (chartreuse tag, but I got away from it for a while, I just started using them again .... $0.35 is cheap for peace of mind.

USPS Priority is #1 IMHO, gotta love something that we all help PAY for....LOL.
biggrin.gif





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Ray 'md2020'
 
MD 2020,
They are convenient and used to be fast and if my recent end results were different I would have no complaints. BUT..... That is the most frustrating when there were no problems before and then to have 4 problems all around the same time. However, my faith is somewhat restored from your positive feedback! Thanks for the post!
Shawn
 
Well, I neglected to mention that I didn't have any problems with USPS so far either.
smile.gif


But using the PayPal service is extra cool as it saves the turnaround time and saves a trip to get the MO.

I just signed up for it. It doesn't FULLY work right away in the sense that before you are allowed to send more than $210 you must confirm your home address (they send a secret number via regular mail).

Cheers,
Kris


[This message has been edited by jeegeet (edited 01-29-2000).]
 
jeegeet,
Looks like I'm the 'sacrificial lamb' for the past few months, 'takin' one for the team'... etc.

Maybe I could start my own E-Business.? I'll keep ordering things through the mail and they will get lost so all this attention is focused on one person. Hmmm? At a rate of one knife per month you can sign up for my 'unique service' and let me add that 'knocking on wood' is not only an antiquated way of dealing with this problem but also an unproven one!
wink.gif
Everyone out there feel free to email me regarding the sign up! Your knife returned if any trouble with the mail in the first month! Volume/Group Discounts! BF Members 50% off! Only one knife every TWO months!
smile.gif


BTW, I too am waiting for my confirmation letter to arrive in the mail from PayPal but it has been a week already...... Going back to the site now to re-initiate contact!

Thanks,
Shawn
 
Originally posted by Emanym Ton:
jeegeet,
Looks like I'm the 'sacrificial lamb' for the past few months, 'takin' one for the team'... etc.
Click to expand...
Hmm, It sure looks like it. Let's hope it is only temporary. As far the PayPal is concerned, I hope I get this confirmation soon. I talked a person I was dealing with into PayPal transaction, but the amount was higher than the initial limit.

So I am a little bit pissed off
mad.gif
as they should post such an information on their info page in a VERY CLEAR WAY.

K.
 
Ok, so I just read PayPal's page thorougly and I found a mention about the limit. BUT ONLY IN THE FAQ SECTION!

Who reads all the damn FAQ, they think? :|

K.
 
Same here. They should put such info up at the front under 'COST' or the like

Hattie

Originally posted by jeegeet:
Ok, so I just read PayPal's page thorougly and I found a mention about the limit. BUT ONLY IN THE FAQ SECTION!

Who reads all the damn FAQ, they think? :|

K.
Click to expand...



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Jeegeet & Hattie,
I hear ya on that one. It took me awhile and a lot of bouncing around their site before I found that disclaimer. I hope I get the address confirmation today so I can put all the preliminary stuff to rest and start BUYING knives!
wink.gif


Shawn
 
Darn - thought I had the Holy Grail! I have a knife to pay for in Israel, but Paypal doesn't do international. Grumble, grumble. Gotta find another way to get him the $$ without eating a conversion fee.

But wait till y'all see my new toy...

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AKTI Member #A000832

"That which does not kill me just postpones the inevitable."
 
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