Long time lurker, but I’ve never bought anything from the forum. How do most make payment??

USPS Money order

Many prefer a USPS money order , but I will no longer accept one.

Although the gun Community does not do counterfeits there is that concern outside of the gun community.

My primary reason for not accepting them is because most of the post offices in my community are unable to cash them over $75. They cannot be deposited on your smartphone to your bank and if you do not have a bank local to you (my current predicament) they cannot be cashed at all.

People can have their Bank send a check directly to me for no charge in most cases or they can write a personal check out of an old fashioned checkbook.

Others May disagree, but I've never had a problem with a check from a 24-hour campfire member.

Cash, U. S. Postal Money Order, Personal Check, PayPal. Pretty much depends on what is being purchased and the amount..

Phil

I agree that a USPS money order is a pain in the butt. You cant get them cashed at a post office because they NEVER have enough cash so you have to deposit them and usually wait for them to clear before you get your money. My bank will do a cashier’s check for little or no fee and if a seller doesn't want that - then I will reconsider a purchase.

I have no problem depositing a USPS money order using my mobile device. I still prefer discreet Paypal.

Thanks, Dinny

For me, a check edeposited is the quick and easiest.

Money order or a money app like pay pal Venmo or cash app

PayPal. Money order.

Or the new thing. Zelle thru banks.

Like PayPal both are parties are protected.

Bank info protected. Still can be ripped off.

If USMO is the only choice I have for payment, I do not buy. Too much pain. I have bought a ton of things and pay with my check, allowing the seller to hold until check clears. Checks clear overnight in ost all cases.

I've deposited several money orders via my bank apps through both of my banks.


I like PayPal as it's a click of a button and a done deal.


Everything has it's risks and pros/cons.



Biggest thing is be cautious of who you buy/sell from. Knock on wood, I haven't been burnt yet and I do a lot not buying and some selling/trading on various forums. But, I've lost some deals because I was doing my homework.

Zelle, PayPal, Venmo are my go to but will take a MO or cashier check

Will never buy from anyone that only wants a USPS money order. Absolute pain in the a** waiting in line for over an hour every time to get one when the wife can bring me a bank cashiers check. According to her USPS Mos are one of the most counterfeited payments out there right now and she would know.

I’ll accept a MO but if I’m buying something it’s PayPal or I don’t buy.

There’s a lot of honest guys on here but it would only take one crook to upset my day.

Want a real headache....let a money order get lost in mail...ask me how I know.

If I’m selling I will pretty much take any form of payment; PayPal, Venmo, USPS MO or personal check. If it is a big ticket item I would let the check clear before shipping. When I’m buying I prefer to use PayPal or Venmo. Would use MO if seller required it.

This...

PayPal is good, except for firearms, which they refuse to do. And I won't deal with anyone who suggests cheating PayPal out of their fees by using F&F.

Personal check is very convenient as long as it is understood the check must clear before shipping.

USPS money order is a pain. But, as either buyer or seller, I try to accommodate the other party as much as possible. Everyone's situation is different.

I don’t so money orders after one got lost in the mail. It took 3+ months to get my money back. I was fortunate in that I got it back. There are too many easier ways to pay.

Paypal gift. Just do your research on the person selling it. Been using PayPal for 10 years now never a problem if you do your due diligence and it’s the fastest way to get the ball rolling. I don’t have time to get money orders and won’t buy if that’s all they accept.

I had pay pal backin the day. A couple of friends of mine were 'caught' buying gun parts with pay pal and Pay Pal locked their accounts, making it unable to access their money. It was also very difficult to get pay pal off their accounts. When I got married about 10 years ago and we started new accounts, I decided to never let pay pal on to my bank account. I dont need that kind of hassle in my day to day life.

I’ve never cashed a USPS MO at a post office. I just take them to my bank and have never had a problem.

I have never had a problem cashing a USPS money order at a bank either and if it is for a small amount like $1-200, they have usually been able to cash them at the Post Office. I like them because they have an online website to check on the validity of the check number, the check itself has many anti-fraud features and I am told that the Postal Inspectors can be aggressive at investigating and prosecuting inter-state postal fraud.

In the end, the determining factor is how much money is involved and how much do you trust the buyer. If you look at money orders and bank checks, they look very simple and easy to forge plus check with your bank and ask them when you know that the check has actually cleared. It is hard to get a straight answer and I have come to the conclusion that it could be over 6 months before there little chance of the check bouncing and if it does bounce, your bank will immediately debit your account for that amount. PayPal certainly has it's advantages but if it is for gun related purchases and a large amount, you still have risks. I understand why people opt for face to face.

I only take uspsmo if I’m selling. Bought and sold lots of stuff using them, and never had an issue. Got one in mail yesterday. Had to drive by the bank. They cashed it in 30 seconds.

I will take a personal check if the buyer is willing to wait for it to clear, which doesn't take near as long as it used to. All the banks I've dealt with will tell you if a check has cleared. just give them the acct. no., check no., and amount.

Just went through this a few days ago with USPS MO... took it to the post office and , as usual, they said they didn't have enough cash on hand to cash it. But I was able to deposit it in my bank account with no hassles, so I guess it wasn't a total loss... I've used paypal many times for gun related purchases and I think I've used it for a couple gun buys, but I don't specify what I am buying and don't even remember ever having to specify on the paypal page what I am buying, so I don't understand the issue with being turned down my them? Also, paypal tried for years to get me to give them my bank account information and I told them no way... haven't had any repercussions because of it and still use paypal when it is convenient ....

I also offer to send a check and wait for it to clear just to make it easy for everyone involved.... but whatever works best is usually what I do....

I have a separate bank account used exclusively for paypal.

Another option that works instantly I've used is a Walmart money transfer. Buyer goes to any walmart and gives them cash with your name/address (make sure it matches your ID).

They give him a PIN which he gives to you.

You go to any walmart, present matching ID and PIN and you get the money.

https://www.walmart.com/cp/online-money-transfers/1089406

Cash or a personal check and waiting to clear is the only positive way to get your money. There are counterfeit USPS MO out there....I have mine verified at my local rural PO before I deposit. I will take cash, personal check or USPS MO only on firearms.

Check is the easiest.

Aside from the 'how to pay' question, there's another serious question entailed in all of this; how does one rationally deploy trust and assess risk in these transactions on the fire. No amount of scrutiny (of the question) will yield a scenario where both parties can operate in a zero trust environment. I suppose an escrow could qualify, but still, both the seller and the buyer end up extending some form of trust to the escrow holder. If you hold a personal check until it finally clears, sure, you as the seller might be extending zero trust, and therefore entail zero risk, but the buyer is extending maximum trust, and maximum risk. So you see, no one on the fire can transact in a zero trust environment.

As a person that sells here on the fire, I've found it beneficial to extend trust to my buyers. This exposes me to potential fraud, but I know my degree of risk, and, I know the benefits of a properly executed transaction that had trust built in as a material part of the transaction. I 'earn' a positive reputation, and so do my buyers.

Now, for the large dollar amount transactions, such as firearms and such, it would certainly be beneficial if the fire had an escrow service, but we don't, and so we end up extending trust anyway. So long as we've done due diligence (buyer and seller), we should have access to a better determination of risk. You can't separate the two.

I'm a guy, I use my head and gut. I've shipped more than a fare share of stuff before ever receiving payment and experienced that same from others.

Yep, me too, on other forums. I'm kinda newish here, but, on the large I think people that participate here, are very good people.

This

That is potentially a very slippery slope. When a site begins to actually facilitate transactions by providing financial services to its members, it attracts the wrong kind of attention, including from the states that like to collect sales tax on online purchases. Just ask eBay...and Armslist. The site does not want that kind of exposure.

I take Cash, Check or USPO MO.................. So far I have NEVER waited for a check to clear before shipping....... bank cashes MOs on the spot...

Most times, you tell me funds are on the way, I will get your item on the way too. Sometimes you will get what I sell before I get your money.......... Knock on wood, haven't been dicked yet!!!

Not quite sure why one should be 'on the hook' longer than the other, but that's the way most operate....

Do a little research in the classifieds and you can steer clear of most issues....

So far I haven't done any deals that were over $300, I might act different if we were trading a couple a grand of paper and goods though.

Didn't think of that. Very good point.

Yeah, I've never waited on a check to clear. If you got a brain, this stuff isn't complicated.

I've deleted PM's sent about purchasing an item, simply because they didn't start or end it with their REAL name.


Communication is king. Phone numbers, email etc etc. Letting people know when you'll mail payment, when payment has mailed, when payment was received, when you plan to ship item, when item is shipped etc etc.

I sold one item, zero communication, but money etc was sent promptly. Also no communication that the item was received. Sure, no problems, but I'd never sell/buy to that individual again. Just how I operate and again, communication is king.

I've done $3k purchases here and no problem, but I trust me most of all. Besides, I'm the type that would bury myself alive just to show you that I can use a shovel.

If the ad specifies, Money Order as only form of payment,...I pass right on by. No Money Orders, period.

I’m with you one1shot. Spending 30 minutes driving to the post office, waiting in line, interacting with pleasant postal workers - all so I can do something that I could’ve done in 25 seconds from my phone - doesn’t happen for me in 2020.

I have purchased and sold several items on the fire. I don't pay with or accept gaypal. USPS money order or personal check is always fine with me for payment. If someone only accepts gaypal I don't buy. That's just my personal preference. I understand it's much easier for many people and I understand that. I don't blame them for keeping it simple.

To answer your question directly, I make payment in a manner to which the seller and I agree. I'm always willing to walk. As to receiving payment, I always let the buyer choose between three methods: personal check, postal money order and paypal. Ya, ya, I know paypal is anti-gun. That just makes it all the more satisfying when I do a gun deal under the radar using their services. To each their own.

Me too.....👍

I've sent a personal check for everything I've bought on the fire and I always told the other party to wait until it clears to ship. Most of the time they ship it before anyways, but I've never had one of my checks bounce.

Holy schitt. The only thing buyer/seller A and buyer/seller B agree on in this thread is that buyer/seller C is doing it wrong.

Y’all don’t use wampum?

Someone said he won’t deal with someone willing to cheat PayPal! Nice! Give them their fees. Watch what they do to return the favor if they find out your buying/selling guns.

Someone else said PayPal locked his buddy’s account. So? It’s 2020. If you have money IN your PayPal account, you’re doing it wrong.

Only use USPS money orders? Y’all must really hate your personal time and like your bank tellers and postal employees more than I do.

Y’all crack me up. We’re grown men. Talk to the buyer/seller and agree on something and then both of you uphold your end of the deal. If the seller isn’t willing to compromise and you can live without the item, thanks but no thanks. If the item (like Danny’s syrup) is worth enough for you to go fight your local USPS to pay him the way he wants to be paid, then buck up and deal with it (so you can get that syrup).

You’re more likely to get scammed by a bogus seller than by the means of payment. We see them on here every few weeks, it seems like. Pay attention to who’s selling, do your homework, and don’t get burnt. It isn’t rocket surgery.

I pay by check.....pm my name.....phone #.....email.....hold till it clears is fine also drop an pm when check is sent....bob