quote:

So much for my ever using a USPS money order for anything. It'll be CC and the fee or nothing. And if the cost is too high with the 3% hit, I won't buy.

My LGS prefers to get USPSMO; because people can order stuff on a credit card, then later dispute it and the seller is out the money he had...the CC company dips into his bank account and takes the money w/o so much as a "by your leave"...he got fucked by some asshole who already had the gun and the LGS couldn't get it back...now he deals in USPSMO, CC, personal check(those guys wait until the check clears though before shipping)

I've never been comfortable enough to use Gunbroker.

quote:

Originally posted by Rinehart:
One thing you really have to pay attention to on gunbroker is the seller's request on method of payment. Some folks don't cotton to paypal or credit cards and want money orders. When that happens it slows the process down considerably.

also sometimes people who will accept credit cards will tack on an extra fee of maybe 3 or 4% extra for you using the credit card. You really have to read the fine print carefully or you can get snagged by this without knowing it.

quote:

Originally posted by sigcrazy7:
No, as a buyer you are NOT protected by using a USPS money order. In fact, you are more exposed than any other form of payment except sending an envelop full of cash.

Using USPS Money Orders, you are protected by the 98.3% criminal conviction rate of the USPS Inspection Service : https://www.albany.edu/sourcebook/pdf/t5742010.pdf

quote:

Originally posted by sigcrazy7:
My experience in a nutshell. Sent a USPS MO via certified mail. Seller said he did not receive. Went to PO, and requested a stop on the USPS MO. USPS issued a new MO, which I sent to the seller. Seller sent item. Fine.

Six weeks later, the original MO showed up at seller. Seller deposits it. Post Office honors it. PO sends me a letter stating I owed them for the money order since they had refunded my money on the original. I said that I had requested a stop payment. Post Office says that doesn't mean jack, they will still honor it. Post Office tells me to pay them or they will put a lien on my next tax return, and that my issue is with the seller, not the USPS.

You had a very bad experience with a pseduo-Federal government agency (USPS) which is connected with the U.S. Treasury Department. I don't know when this happened, but you still may have recourse under law. It can't hurt to review USPS Money Orders. If this occurred somewhat recently, you may be able to get your money back.

quote:

Originally posted by sigcrazy7:
So you see, when dealing with the USPS, you can be totally screwed if the seller isn't totally honest. Also, because the Post Office and the IRS are buddies, they have more power to screw you than just a simple money order from a bank. If you only accept USPS money orders, we don't do business.

I've never had a problem like you did, but it does help to know a USPS Postmaster, which is inevitable in small towns and communities. As I buyer, I feel most safe using Certified Mail and USPS Money Orders. I am confident that I will not be defrauded using USPS mail and money order with small towns with a known Postmaster.

The biggest problem, which I have already mentioned, is with gun dealers having simultaneous listings on Gunbroker and elsewhere, including their shop, but not keeping their Gunbroker listings updated and engaging into a "legally binding contract" in which they balk when noticing that they have already sold the firearm listed for sale.

quote:

Originally posted by signewt:
I've never been comfortable enough to use Gunbroker.

Common items for sale are simple, just check feedback and pay attention "cash discount" (avoid credit card fees). Collectibles are more complicated. The latest item of my interest was this SPRINGFIELD ARMORY OMEGA, 45,38super, 10mm, NO RES, but I just curious about the current selling price.

A rare Springfield Omega chambered in 3 calibers was listed for sale was recently recently sold on Gunbrtoker.

Those are very to find, and I've only found one set for sale, ever.

Springfield Omegas chambered in 3 calibers are hard to authenticate and even harder to find, but not impossible. Around $3,000 was a reasonable price at the time I bought mine. The Gunbroker market priced it at $2,125, which is about right since the honest seller explained with careful wording that the item looks correct, but might not be correct.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by rh:

Using USPS Money Orders, you are protected by the 98.3% criminal conviction rate of the USPS Inspection Service :
[QUOTE]


Sorry, but this is a meaningless statistic. Of course they have a high conviction rate - they only prosecute the cases that they know that they will win. Just like every other law enforcement agency. If they can't win, they settle for a lesser offense, or just move on to another case in the stack. Your Gunbroker money order is never going to end up in a USPS criminal case, unless it is part of a pattern of fraudulent transactions (see the Federal Law Enforcement Manual, if authorized). And even if your Gunbroker loss ends up in a USPS criminal case, are you going to get reimbursed for your loss? While you are still alive, or will your Estate be paid once the case has been resolved through the court system.

The USPS Money Order does not adequately protect the buyer, but it is great if you are a seller.