Purchase Query: USPS Money Order Safety?
 

I am buying an old vespa and the deal that we worked out is for me to send the amount via USPS money order. Once he cashes I can have a USHIP.com guy grab my scooter. Do I have any protection if the guy cashes my money orders and then pretends like he doesn't know me and my delivery guy? I only have telephone calls with the guy and he seems upstanding I just don't know how this process works if there is an issue.

USPS Money order is the same as handing the dude cash. No need to wait for it to be cashed.

They have routing numbers and you you write in the name as you would a check. The system can be checked to see if it was deposited or cashed.

You have no details on the distances involved but, I'd have a contracted shipper show up, hand the money order over and take possession of the vehicle all in one fell swoop. It should also be dependent on handing over the title as well.

where is this Vespa?

yea agree with 70SATMAn. don't just mail him the money order. give it to your shipper. have your shipper hand it to him in person and grab the scooter with the other hand.

There was some fake USPS money orders going around, but the Post Office redesigned the money orders to take care of that. The seller might want some assurance that the money order is real by cashing it first.

that's when it's time to involve an escrow company :)

Possibly - but not one that the seller chooses. Make sure you select a legitimate escrow company.

I've found that USPS money orders offer no protection for you. Sent some for parts. Parts didn't arrive. Postmaster says sorry. Now if it was a BIG amount, they might have done something.

YMMV.

...and sometimes you just have to go with your gut. Check the guy's ebay rating (even if not bought on ebay). Can give you some sense of him. A little common sense goes a long way. If the guy is accessible, you have his cell #, address, e-mail address and have spoken with him at least a few times, you'll have to take a bit of risk. Nothing is guaranteed.

Ebay ratings don't mean squat! Had someone "attempt" to scam me on an amplifier several years ago, and that was one of his "defenses"..."I'm a power seller with a 100% positive rating". Well he didn't after I was through, but a few months later it was back to 100%. I still track that SOB's "sales" and get alerts....he tried to scam the wrong fellow and didn't stand a chance :D

money order should be transacted like cash. it does not guarantee the product. it's only a guarantee that the money goes thru. just you send $100 bills thru the mail, there's not a guarantee u'll get the product.