[Milsurplus] Re: Money Orders

[J Forster]

Barry Hauser wrote:

> I didn't bother with a $25 stop payment on a $40 check.  It was sent to
> someone with good feedback and I has spoken to on the phone.  It depends
> on the amount and  circumstances as to whether a stop payment is worth
> it.  If a check is cashed fraudulently -- by someone other than the
> payee -- you can challenge it anyway.  In some cases, banks ignore the
> stop payment and you have a bit of a hassle anyway.

If the bank ignores a written stop order, it's a slam dunk. No hassle at all.  Been there.

> Paypal at 2.9% plus 30 cents -- when it comes to on-line auctions -- is
> a MUCH better deal -- that is, if you evaluate the WHOLE deal -- like
> the impact on final selling price.
>
> If we're just penny-pinching, for many of us, there's no need to go to
> the post office on a regular basis, so a money order is a special trip,
> so figure in the gas, too.

I make the trip on a regular basis. The only additional thing is the time to get a MO....  under two minutes.

> But see my other post re paypal and auctions.  They're very sensitive to
> even one or two bids made vs. not.  Something going for $400 with the
> top bidder's max at $500, then someone comes in for $475 or $525 or
> whatever and the price finals at $480 or $505, etc vs the $400 it would
> have ended at.  Let's say it turns out the winner is paying with paypal
> -- so it's 2.9% of say $500 which is $14.50 plus 30 cents, so $14.80 --
> the seller lays out to get $100 more for his item.  Sometimes less of a
> factor, sometimes way more.  Even the failed bids of the paypallers
> drives the price up.  And the high bidder doesn't have to have cash in
> his pocket to cover his bid, so it can be as high as his credit line
> (and state of mind) will allow.
>
> The higher the selling price range, generally the greater the paypal
> effect (higher final price), but can also affect small things which can
> easily for double - -like $20 vs $10 -- in a heartbeat, also due to the
> convenience and quicker shipping aspect of things.

I don't care about quick shipping. Sometime in the month or two following a sale is fine.

> Do the math -- 2.9%
> of $20 plus 30 cents for 58 cents plus 30 cents -- 88 cents out of the
> seller's pocket to sell for $10 more -- much better by $9.12 net.  Don't
> take my word for it -- look at bid histories on completed auctions
> paypal vs. not.  You have to look at a lot of them as ebay is 90% paypal
> nowadays.

A very good argument to use MOs if you are a buyer, if actually true.  I don't sell on eBay for previously stated reasons. I prefer my privacy
to PayPal (eBay) intrusions. Hence, I use MOs.

-John