US money order help...

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

Hi...

I got a Washburn Dimebag WE333SC on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220907744210 & a guy in the US wants to buy it & pay by money order. I said I prefer paypal. I don't know much about a money order. Should I say yes & what are the risks?

TIA, Vic...

[BTMN]

I would insist on a United States Postal Service money order but I would procede cautiously. Ask your bank about ways to get the money to you safely without Paypal.

[murkat]

western union

[cynic]

If he insists on paying with a USPS money order, I'd enlist someone here on the board to cash it at a US Post Office to verify it's authenticity, then have them forward you the money via paypal.

I only say this because I'm pretty sure cashing them anywhere other than a US Post Office doesn't verify authenticity.

I'm sure the guy is near one of us? If not, I could offer my services as middle man.

edit: all that said, I'm with Jay and would suggest Western Union. It's easy to find and safe for sellers.

[whiskeyzulu]

Ask your bank if they'll cash it - bottom line guitar doesn't ship until funds have cleared in your account. Otherwise, to expedite sale, Western Union.

[cmatthes]

Keep in mind that you have absolutely no protection from eBay/PayPal if you go outside that system for payment. As a seller, eBay can always screw you over WITH PayPal in place, but you eliminate any possible recourse you might have had when you don't play by their restrictive rules.

[veatch]

Ask your bank if they'll cash it - bottom line guitar doesn't ship until funds have cleared in your account. Otherwise, to expedite sale, Western Union.

...and note "cleared" means "cleared", not "available". The bank may let you use the funds before the check MO actually clears.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'll let you know how I get on...

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

This guy has only 2 ratings on eBay where I have over 460 (166 sales in the last 12 months) + I have 100% feedback. I told him I prefer paypal on the advice of this forum but also told him I'll accept Western Union so long as he pays the fee.

I don't think I can say fairer than that.

He says he doesn't trust paypal as they lost him $2000 a couple of years ago (this makes me very suspicious). I get the feeling he's gonna say it's a MO or nothing. If that's the case, I'll end it right there...

I'd rather pay eBay their 10% + PPs 3.5% & be covered...

[cmatthes]

A wise decision.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

This is the reply I got:

Sorry man, I won't use Western Union, The only way I deal anymore on Ebay is U.S.Postal money order, that way I can track and cancel it if I don't receive the guitar. You got to see where I'm coming from on this....... I understand where you are coming from also so, I guess we can't do business........sorry man......

Just as I expected...

[veatch]

He did you a favor. There will be other buyers.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

SOLD! And for my asking price (I'd have taken 160)...

[crunchee]

+1 on what Veach said. Glad to hear it worked out favorably! Hard to beat a local sale, PayPal gets it's cut but it's secure. Just to mention, there IS a U.S. INTERNATIONAL Postal money order, available only at U.S. Post Offices. Regular U.S. Postal money orders can't be cashed overseas in other countries, but the International ones can. The regular U.S. ones used to be green, and the International ones were pink, though that may have changed as I haven't used them in awhile. They have counterfeit measures (watermarks, metal strip, etc) to prevent fraud. I wouldn't use any other money order if I had to, myself.

Edited to add: Funny how that prospective buyer didn't mention that, considering that's how he says he pays for Ebay stuff.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

Thanks everyone for your help

[Punkavenger]

I for one prefer using USPS m/o for several reasons so I wouldnt assume someone that wants to go that route is being dishonest or shady. For one my paypal account was hacked into and wiped out a few years ago. Really. It can happen. And no compensation from Paypal BTW... How safe is that?

Also paypal has been holding my payments for Ebay sales up to 21 days or so, even with my 100% rating. Who wants to wait three weeks to get paid? USPS m/o's are safe ... just bring em to the post office and get yer cash money before you ship. Simple.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

It's too difficult & too expensive to cash them in England. I sold the guitar now so no worries <insert thumbs up smiley>