What does USPS MO mean? Well, here is the correct answer and other tips of the day

mamun1024 said:
I thought ALL money orders were the same regardless of whether you get it from the post office or your bank......
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there are people out there printing off counterfeit money orders on what looks like a real cashier's check or MO. The USPS MO has ways to guarantee authenticity and if you cash it at the post office rather than depositing it into your bank account, it can't cause you an accidental overdraw when it bounces on the other end.
You can also call ahead to the post office to make sure they will have enough cash on hand when you arrive.

tip #1 -- don't trust the peel and stick on priority mail boxes -- always reinforce with packing tape. I also laminate my mailing labels with packing tape to protect them.
tip #2 -- order your shipping labels online and you save 5-10% and get free delivery confirmation. (insurance still costs $2.75 for the first $200 of coverage)
 
1066vik said:
there are people out there printing off counterfeit money orders on what looks like a real cashier's check or MO. The USPS MO has ways to guarantee authenticity and if you cash it at the post office rather than depositing it into your bank account, it can't cause you an accidental overdraw when it bounces on the other end.
You can also call ahead to the post office to make sure they will have enough cash on hand when you arrive.

tip #1 -- don't trust the peel and stick on priority mail boxes -- always reinforce with packing tape. I also laminate my mailing labels with packing tape to protect them.
tip #2 -- order your shipping labels online and you save 5-10% and get free delivery confirmation. (insurance still costs $2.75 for the first $200 of coverage)
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You can also verify a Postal Money Order by phone

Money Order Verification System at 1-866-459-7822
 
GregS said:
Tips? Don't charge 5% for paypal.:thumbup:
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Absolutely. :thumbup:Just give me a price to pay. My buying decision will still be made based on the final price whether I have to do the math or you do it for me.
 
FLymon said:
Grown people should be able to agree on anything, including whether to insure or not. It is however not a complete sale until the buyer receives his/her purchase in acceptable condition.
Personally I would never agree to "no insurance" as a buyer, and I would not agree to pay "extra" for it.
As a seller I would never ship without insuring so that if it gets lost, or damaged and is refused by the buyer, I am covered when PayPal takes the money back out of my account and returns it to the buyer who never signed for his/her purchase.
Bottom line, the seller should insure the package to cover his/her own a**, not protect the buyer.
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^^^ Agreed. :thumbup:
 
FYI for everyone that uses paypal. From what Ive read, in 2011 paypal is required by law to report all paypal members to the IRS who have either 10K in sales or 200 individual transactions. Non sellers, people who buy over 10k worth of stuff may also fall into that category as the IRS could easily bust chops and ask if you have been paying your use tax, just a little food for thought.
knife hunter said:
It will also help clean up the search function[/B] :thumbup::)
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+1, annoying crap.
&
+1 on not charging 5% paypal.
&
+1 on not self Insuring.

Anyone who does this is SHADY, IMO.
 
Over state any issues with the knife. I tend to describe (or did, when I sold) things worse then they are and mention everything I can. That way the buyer gets it and goes "Wow, this is better than described". Saves headaches too. Detailed pics help out too.



.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
From FEEDBACK: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly!

Sticky: *** How Should You Package Knives for Shipping? ( 1 2 3)
Cougar Allen

Sticky: *** Mailing Security
Esav Benyamin

Sticky: *** Suggestions for having a good Buying / Selling / Trading experience
Spark
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Thank you for linking these here, Esav! :):thumbup:

KnifeAddictAK said:
Over state any issues with the knife. I tend to describe (or did, when I sold) things worse then they are and mention everything I can. That way the buyer gets it and goes "Wow, this is better than described". Saves headaches too. Detailed pics help out too.



.
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^^^ Another great tip! Thank you, KAAK! :)

..............................................................

I usually go beyond when I package a knife for shipping...any of y'all who've received one from me can attest to this, LOL, but the one thing that I do that most of those who do a deal with me aren't aware of is that I snap a few images of the knife/item while getting it ready to roll. First, a clear pic of the item in question sitting with the USPS box and the 2 shipping labels to be used...then one of the knife all wrapped up with the first shipping label attached to it sitting next to the 2nd label on the box...and the last pic of the package all ready to be sent with the 2nd shipping label attached to the box. This is more for my end, but between this and the receipt showing the weight of the package, I feel that this will help with the insurance claim if I have to file one. Not tested yet, but just more proof to show what I sent and how I packaged it, if needed. Once I know that package has been received in the same condition as sent, I merely delete the pix off the camera.

Also, hold on to those receipts and insurance/Confirmation stubs until you know that the Buyer has received the goods in fine shape! :):thumbup:
 
If you add Paypal fees to the posted price of every listing you discourage a lot of people who want to pay the "actual" price with a money order. That's why it's important to make that distinction. A lot of whiny people like to insist on Paypal when you clearly stated your price is a CASH/NET TO ME price.

I usually include PP fees in my listing, and add in the details that a 3.5% discount applies to MO purchases. This has been beaten to death. It's a free market, buy what you want, but don't bitch when you didn't read the ad the whole way through.
 
Great info in this thread. Money Order, PayPal fees are only 2.9% (I generally round it up to 3% because in actuallity they take the 2.9% off the total amount sent. So it is not actually the sale price plus 2.9% but the total amount sent minus 2.9% of that amount), over exagerrate the condition of the knife but on the flip side as a buyer understand that people have different ideas of condition, and package the knife up like it's going to war.

Another tip which I surprisingly get asked alot is what does "SPF" mean. It means Sold Pending Funds. In other words I have a commitment from a buyer and am waiting for the money to arrive. This generally happens when the buyer pays with a Money Order and it has to travel through the mail.

Another pointer to help in determining the value of knives is to leave the sales price up for future reference. As a seller and buyer it helps to increase the value of the knives out there if people can search for what a particular knife sold for in the past and determine the value of that knife now. Granted there are occasions when somebody decides to give away a knife at a killer price for what ever reason but if that is only one out of 5 comparison prices you can weed that out easily. :)
 
Thanks for the thread. Was informative for me.

Is there a way, other than an agree inspection period, that the buyer can be better protected for a USPS MO?

Thanks
--Hugh
 
oeser said:


Another pointer to help in determining the value of knives is to leave the sales price up for future reference. As a seller and buyer it helps to increase the value of the knives out there if people can search for what a particular knife sold for in the past and determine the value of that knife now. Granted there are occasions when somebody decides to give away a knife at a killer price for what ever reason but if that is only one out of 5 comparison prices you can weed that out easily. :)
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Definitely!! I see very often in BF that people replace the Cost with "SOLD" taking out the most important information from the thread for future reference. This is first and foremost a reference and information site and secondly for exchange, correct?

I would request for this as well.

Cheers
--Hugh
 
brandon said:
If you add Paypal fees to the posted price of every listing you discourage a lot of people who want to pay the "actual" price with a money order. That's why it's important to make that distinction. A lot of whiny people like to insist on Paypal when you clearly stated your price is a CASH/NET TO ME price.

I usually include PP fees in my listing, and add in the details that a 3.5% discount applies to MO purchases. This has been beaten to death. It's a free market, buy what you want, but don't bitch when you didn't read the ad the whole way through.
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Payapl fee's on $500 are apx $20 (a gallon of gas per $100, rather insignif IMO) I doubt a lot of people are discouraged by that esp considering 99% of buyers prefer to use paypal over M/O. Also, I believe giving your M/O using buyers a 3.5 discount is against paypals rules and can result with paypal cannin your account. Not sure how they would enforce that one though.
 
dericdesmond said:
Payapl fee's on $500 are apx $20 (a gallon of gas per $100, rather insignif IMO) I doubt a lot of people are discouraged by that esp considering 99% of buyers prefer to use paypal over M/O. Also, I believe giving your M/O using buyers a 3.5 discount is against paypals rules and can result with paypal cannin your account. Not sure how they would enforce that one though.
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That really only applies to Ebay sales. For private sales, there is no way for them to enforce something like that.
 
I hear ya, T. :thumbup: I've had this line in my standard sales boilerplate for a few years now:

"Pay with USPS Money Order, the one you buy at the Post Office"

Never actually had a problem, but the more things you can clarify up front, the less chance of hassles and aggravation later.
 
Remember to fill out the USPS MO and keep the stub before you send it!!!!!!! Fill it out completely!

I made this mistake when in a hurry. No name, no signature, nothing! Just a blank MO, and I did not keep the stub part at all.

Knifehunter might remember this...........it went to him!!!!!!




As has already been said, I try to make the knife sound worse than it is. I also try to take some photo's with the worst reflection I can get to show scratches etc (usually in bright sun light).

I have never had any problems with complaints on knives because I really try to do this.
 
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My main things when selling/buying stuff online,and I have sold a lot over the years and never been ripped off or had anybody complain.I almost exclusively use USPS MO..PayPal is anti-gun so I do not give them any of my money.Some numbnut puts "bolt for AR15" in the notes section,my account gets frozen while PayPal gains interest on it.

Screw PayPal.

1) Pack the product the way YOU would want something packed that you just paid good money for.Over pack the crap out of it..The package will be thrown,dropped,shaken..just about anything..pack the box so all you feel is weight,not what may be inside.

2) Inform the buyer when you get the money and when you expect to ship the item.I always do this because I don't trust the USPS to NOT lose the envelope,so I let the person know when I got it.

3) Always insure..EVERYTHING.If you are buying,insist the person insure it as well.

4) If you say you are going to send the money to the seller on a certain day and you don't,let the seller know.Most of the time it isn't a problem,just common courtesy.Same thing goes if you say you are going to send the item on a certain day,if you don't let the buyer know.

5) Most of the time,I deal with someone I never met in real life,so there is no such thing as too much communication.

6) Above all,if something doesn't seem right,trust your instincts and don't do it.

Those are my basic guidlines when I buy and sell things.
 
I would like to add ''Mint'' means ''New Condition" and "New Condition" means "Mint''
I've seen so many posts over my few years with: New Condition Knife, Chips in the coating, resharpened, sanded handles, other than that it's "Mint''.
This is not in any way ''Mint'' or in ''New Condition''

Also if a knife you're selling has issues, Man up and mention them.
Nobody likes receiving a several hundred dollar + knife sold as perfect only to find scratches or damage that was never mentioned. This can hurt the Forum as well the Sellers future sales.

Thank you.

Oh yeah... And don't fry bacon naked
 
knife hunter said:
OK ,

USPS MO stands for:

United States Postal Service Money Order . You can purchase these at the Post office. It doesnt come from Western Union, and it doesnt come from your bank.:yawn:

It comes from the Post Office:thumbup::D


Hope this helps anyone that doesnt know cause I have seen old and new alike make the mistake. I have even been guilty in the past. I would have to say that it would be proprer etiquette to get permission to send any other form of payment than that requested without checking with seller first.

Hopefully, this will help next time you see this abbreviation so that you dont look foolish and send something other than you were instructed.:thumbup:

Hey, this has nothing to do with any single person or necessarily anything recent. Its the masses:D :cool:


ANyone else have any tips?


Let's Drink!:D:D
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There is a false sense of security surrounding USPS MO's. I work for a bank, and I can tell you that they are the most counterfeited MO out there. Period. We won't even cash them for known customers, they have to be deposited.
 
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