Safe way to send money order?

AKMG · #1 10-31-2006, 01:11 AM

Being a college student and all, I don't really have a credit card. However, I just won a Trident Stiletto on **** and it's quite a hefty sum. Is there any way that I can pay for it via money order and have it be "protected" or "secured" in case the seller decides to run away with the money and not ship me the item?

Rotti · #2 10-31-2006, 07:46 AM

Sending a money order is prety much like sending cash I think.
Just make sure he has realy good feedback and that it's not just artificial feedback that he put together before trying to scam someone.

AKMG · #3 10-31-2006, 05:12 PM

How do I know if his feedback is artifical? His feedback is 100% and he has aboug 381 items, but I'm still a bit skeptical because it's such a large amount of money.

Demiurge · #4 10-31-2006, 05:39 PM

If you look at feedback, make sure there's a good mix of selling and buying feedback. Some scammers have been known to pad their feedback with buying a bunch of little things from people here and there. 381 items and 100% is pretty good. It's hard to have 100% positive even if you're a straight shooter, because everybody ends up dealing with a lousy buyer or seller at some point who leaves relatiatory bad feedback and whatnot.

If you're a college student, you may think you can't afford to have a credit card, but then again you can't afford to lose a crapload of money on a transaction that goes awry... hell, even if the money order is lost in the mail, the money's gone. Credit cards aren't bad, and you should really have one with a small limit so you can establish some revolving credit.

Moibanez · #5 10-31-2006, 06:29 PM

AK, see if your bank can issue you a temporary credit card or put the money in a bank account and pay for it with a debit card, debit cards and credit cards are safe. money orders are like cash. once he gets that money order it is his . Shredderjosh just posted today about being ripped off for 1200 dollars through western union,and never got his guitar. be really careful I hope it works out for you, and good luck with your new gear....................mo

Lefty Robb · #6 10-31-2006, 06:56 PM

Debit cards all the way, its free, acts just like a credit card (although banks put caps of usually $500/day on them unless you contact the bank and they can bump it to whatever amount you want for 24 hours) and the card is protected agenst fraud thru the bank.

I Never, ever send MO's unless I have too..

Rich · #7 10-31-2006, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lefty Robb

Debit cards all the way, its free, acts just like a credit card (although banks put caps of usually $500/day on them unless you contact the bank and they can bump it to whatever amount you want for 24 hours) and the card is protected agenst fraud thru the bank.

I Never, ever send MO's unless I have too..

Talk to Rick Beatty about how safe your debit card is. He lost $900 when he bought a camera online from a NYC store and got nothing, and absolutely no backup from his card.

Moibanez · #8 10-31-2006, 09:41 PM

I guess it depends on your bank Rich ,I got $1200 back from Suntrust bank for a bad transaction. So I know my debit card is safe.

Rotti · #9 10-31-2006, 10:59 PM

Maybe your parents can put it on thier credit card and you give them the cash.

ZOMB13 · #10 10-31-2006, 11:24 PM

damn
I never realized MO were unsafe
I really don't want to get tangled with a credit card, but after reading the horror stories, im paranoid

**Ayrton** · #11 10-31-2006, 11:38 PM

I got burned using a MO one time and that was enough. I was lucky I got my $350 back, but I am the exception.

phantoms · #12 10-31-2006, 11:43 PM

Ask the seller if they mind going through an escrow service such as escrow.com

Rich · #13 10-31-2006, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moibanez

I guess it depends on your bank Rich ,I got $1200 back from Suntrust bank for a bad transaction. So I know my debit card is safe.

Some debit cards are VISA and that may be the difference. I don't know a lot about them because I've never and won't ever have one. I do know Rick got screwed royaly using his while thinking he had card protection. There's a thread here about it [although a few years old].

ZOMB13 · #14 11-01-2006, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

Some debit cards are VISA and that may be the difference. I don't know a lot about them because I've never and won't ever have one. I do know Rick got screwed royaly using his while thinking he had card protection. There's a thread here about it [although a few years old].

Oh do you do online deals Rich?