Buyer wants to pay money order

padremurph · Jul 11, 2011

Never had this happen but a buyer won a $20 card from me and asked me for my full address so that he could send a money order.

Any feedback on what the risks are would be appreciated. Sounds sketchy but I have no idea.

Thanks.

alabamalongsnake · Jul 11, 2011

I've done it before but I think ebay stopped allowing you to accept money order technically. Although how can they really regulate it. Depends on buyers feedback I say.

cgilmo · Jul 11, 2011

nothing wrong with a money order

just make sure its good before you send.

enjoy no paypal fees

Boylen33 · Jul 11, 2011

Back in ancient times of Ebay, money orders were the #1 method of payment. I occasionally run into a buyer who wants to pay with a money order. I have no problems with it. Sure, it takes longer to get paid, but you don't have to pay Paypal fees.

As far as risks, he/she could always send a fake money order, or some oddball brand that is more difficult to cash easily. Ask him to send a USPS money order and that takes care of that.

One good thing is that it would be much more difficult for him to file and win a claim with either Paypal or Ebay since he didn't pay through Paypal. It would be much harder, I would think, for him to prove that he even paid if he did open a claim.

shayscards79 · Jul 11, 2011

I had a buyer on these boards send me a money order once. As soon as I received it, I sent the card out. It was legit.

padremurph · Jul 11, 2011

Thanks for the speedy responses. The constant eBay horror stories get me nervous haha.

gt2590 · Jul 11, 2011

padremurph said:
Thanks for the speedy responses. The constant eBay horror stories get me nervous haha.

If you can ask for a Postal money order from the USPS. That way you can cash it at the PO for free and send out the card at the same time. Plus, Postal money orders are much harder to counterfeit. I wouldn't worry about it for a $20 sale, but I've heard of people trying fake MOs on high-end sales.

You should be fine and like Bossman said, no fees. You just mark it as "Payment received" on the transaction.

KLARNOLD · Jul 12, 2011

Make sure the money order clears your bank first and ship the item with delivery confirmation

Voices · Jul 12, 2011

I have always paid with money order.Just wish seller's would except them more as i'm always sending them ?s if they except them.Gilmo hit the nail on the head.There are some things paypal doesn't have to know about.

SydBarrett · Jul 12, 2011

gt2590 said:
padremurph said:

Thanks for the speedy responses. The constant eBay horror stories get me nervous haha.

Click to expand...

If you can ask for a Postal money order from the USPS. That way you can cash it at the PO for free and send out the card at the same time. Plus, Postal money orders are much harder to counterfeit. I wouldn't worry about it for a $20 sale, but I've heard of people trying fake MOs on high-end sales.

You should be fine and like Bossman said, no fees. You just mark it as "Payment received" on the transaction.

I honestly miss the days of people sending money orders. I actually tried to put that I accept money orders in my eBay description, but they wouldn't let me list them.

morgoth · Jul 12, 2011

Money Orders good
Paypal bad

If you wait till they clear you have no problems and much less hassles than Paypal.

RiceLynnEvans75 · Jul 12, 2011

Voices said:
I have always paid with money order.Just wish seller's would except them more as i'm always sending them ?s if they except them.Gilmo hit the nail on the head.There are some things paypal doesn't have to know about.

The reason you have to send a message to ask is I believe ebay does not allow you to list in your auction that you accept money orders. I did that once and my auction was canceled about a year ago and that was the reason why. I have been able to put language indicating that I accept other things though, but the buyer needs to ask to verify for themselves and shouldn't just assume.

However, I find money orders to be much more reliable and come with a higher level of "seller protection" than Paypal certainly offers.

scotty21690 · Jul 12, 2011

Please let him send a MO.

I am one who always asks if I can pay via Money Order, because my Paypal account is frozen. I figure most sellers don't mind because there are no fees, but it's a pain messaging every seller I plan on buying something from. Which is why I don't buy from eBay much anymore :/

f2tornado · Jul 12, 2011

I put in my eBay descriptions something akin to: "most forms of payment accepted; Paypal preferred". This leaves the carrot out there for a buyer to ask and eBay has never had a problem with this verbiage (yet). You just cannot spell out check or money order. Perhaps 1% of my sales are paid with a money order. Not very common anymore.

Wes · Jul 12, 2011

f2tornado said:
I put in my eBay descriptions something akin to: "most forms of payment accepted; Paypal preferred". This leaves the carrot out there for a buyer to ask and eBay has never had a problem with this verbiage (yet). You just cannot spell out check or money order. Perhaps 1% of my sales are paid with a money order. Not very common anymore.

Agreed, I get about one every 100 or so auctions. Always happy to accept.

rymflaherty · Jul 12, 2011

As long as you wait to ship (and the buyer understands this) I don't think it should be a problem.
It'll actually save you a little money.

Really, in a situation like this, I think it's the Buyer that is actually taking the risk. Kind of a reversal from how thins usually work.

IndyKMB · Jul 12, 2011

morgoth said:
Money Orders good
Paypal bad

If you wait till they clear you have no problems and much less hassles than Paypal.

This. You absolutely need to make sure this clears before sending!

Mighty Bombjack · Jul 12, 2011

Pay with money order? Yes please! Thanks for the free money!

n1astrosfn · Jul 12, 2011

god i prefer mailed payments and even take checks (they clear my bank in 2-3 days). i even offer reduced shipping for mailed payments. i just got got paid 5 cash and a 20 mo recently and enjoy avoiding paypal. wish everyone mailed their payments

scotty21690 · Jul 12, 2011

n1astrosfn said:
god i prefer mailed payments and even take checks (they clear my bank in 2-3 days). i even offer reduced shipping for mailed payments. i just got got paid 5 cash and a 20 mo recently and enjoy avoiding paypal. wish everyone mailed their payments

Please post your eBay ID. :mrgreen:

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