Jan 31, 2017, 9:50 pm
Last edit by: shdflyer
11/3/17: The vast majority of popular prepaid debit cards are now blocked via a register hardcode at most locations.
This is the thread for 2017. The previous discussion can be found here.
Newbies: READ for days and learn before trying. It is best to know what you are doing, so start slow. Refer to cards as "Debit" not gc.
"Money orders can be purchased at any Post Office™ location.
Pay for your money order with cash, debit card, or traveler’s checks."
Fees:
$0.01 to $500.00: $1.20
$500.01 to $1,000.00: $1.60
Most post offices allow split payment (multiple debit cards) for one money order up to a max of $1000.
Example of how to split payment:
1. "One MO please for $998.40. Id like to pay with 2 debit cards, $500 on each."
2. Swipe first card and enter pin.
3. Remind teller that its "$500 on that card". They will change the amount on their screen to $500. Transaction goes through and a small receipt prints.
4. Swipe 2nd card, enter pin.
5. Done.
Note: If you encounter a problem with the second card and have to cancel the transaction, it can be very difficult to recover your funds on the first card. Always have a back-up payment method available (bank debit card or cash).
GC Information: The fine print on the back of the package shows the bank issuer. Don't buy GCs with tampered packaging and always use cards ASAP.
Visa OneVanilla and Vanilla GC issued by Bancorp work at PO.
Visa/MC Gift Cards issued by MetaBank have not had any success at MOST USPS anywhere in the country since around September 2016.
These will NOT work if the clerk uses a touchscreen
These MAY work, and often do, at small, rural post offices where clerks do not have touch screens.
Visa Gift Cards from Walmart issued by Green Dot have stopped working for MO purchases for some.
GAME MOSTLY OVER, MOST USPO are HARD CODED to NOT ACCEPT NON BANK DEBIT CARDS
Exception seems to be small, rural post offices where clerks do not use touch screens.
This is the thread for 2017. The previous discussion can be found here.
Newbies: READ for days and learn before trying. It is best to know what you are doing, so start slow. Refer to cards as "Debit" not gc.
"Money orders can be purchased at any Post Office™ location.
Pay for your money order with cash, debit card, or traveler’s checks."
Fees:
$0.01 to $500.00: $1.20
$500.01 to $1,000.00: $1.60
Most post offices allow split payment (multiple debit cards) for one money order up to a max of $1000.
Example of how to split payment:
1. "One MO please for $998.40. Id like to pay with 2 debit cards, $500 on each."
2. Swipe first card and enter pin.
3. Remind teller that its "$500 on that card". They will change the amount on their screen to $500. Transaction goes through and a small receipt prints.
4. Swipe 2nd card, enter pin.
5. Done.
Note: If you encounter a problem with the second card and have to cancel the transaction, it can be very difficult to recover your funds on the first card. Always have a back-up payment method available (bank debit card or cash).
GC Information: The fine print on the back of the package shows the bank issuer. Don't buy GCs with tampered packaging and always use cards ASAP.
Visa OneVanilla and Vanilla GC issued by Bancorp work at PO.
Visa/MC Gift Cards issued by MetaBank have not had any success at MOST USPS anywhere in the country since around September 2016.
These will NOT work if the clerk uses a touchscreen
These MAY work, and often do, at small, rural post offices where clerks do not have touch screens.
Visa Gift Cards from Walmart issued by Green Dot have stopped working for MO purchases for some.
GAME MOSTLY OVER, MOST USPO are HARD CODED to NOT ACCEPT NON BANK DEBIT CARDS
Exception seems to be small, rural post offices where clerks do not use touch screens.
Buy MO's at Post Office(2017-2018)[Gift Cards no Longer Allowed]
Mar 10, 2017, 9:13 pm
#361
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: USA
Posts: 139
That's crazy (in a good way) that some of you guys can do $10k in one visit! I've been doing this MO thing for about two weeks now and going to four a five different PO a week. I only do $498.75 which always bring the total amount to $499.95 on one GC and I do four in one sitting.
Doing four swipes is just about as much as the postal workers can take before I can tell they are getting annoyed and the wheels start churing in their heads as to what I'm up to.
Anyway, today I went to a different PO location for the first time in Manhattan, NY. When I approached the window and told the postal worker that I wanted to buy four money orders on four different receipts he wanted to know what type of debit card(s) I was using. He made me show him the cards and rudely said, "we don't accept gift cards... we are no longer doing that". Even though this are the exact same type Vanilla One gift cards I've use at all the other Post Offices. He was adamant and he would NOT even let me attempt to buy a money order. He went on to say that the only debit cards they are accepting have to be issued by a known bank with my name printed on front of the card. WHAT?!? I didn't put up a fight at all. I wanted to get his employee number and name so I could report this incident so without missing a beat, I bought one stamp so I could get a receipt.
When I got home I called the USPS 1800 number and reported what happened and then I also emailed.
I would [redacted] my pants if all post offices in Manhattan stopped taking Vanilla One GC. I was wondering if I'm asked again show what form of payment I'm using to show my 'real' bank debit card and then switch-a-roo when it's actually time to swipe the card. LOL
Any comments are suggestions folks?
Doing four swipes is just about as much as the postal workers can take before I can tell they are getting annoyed and the wheels start churing in their heads as to what I'm up to.
Anyway, today I went to a different PO location for the first time in Manhattan, NY. When I approached the window and told the postal worker that I wanted to buy four money orders on four different receipts he wanted to know what type of debit card(s) I was using. He made me show him the cards and rudely said, "we don't accept gift cards... we are no longer doing that". Even though this are the exact same type Vanilla One gift cards I've use at all the other Post Offices. He was adamant and he would NOT even let me attempt to buy a money order. He went on to say that the only debit cards they are accepting have to be issued by a known bank with my name printed on front of the card. WHAT?!? I didn't put up a fight at all. I wanted to get his employee number and name so I could report this incident so without missing a beat, I bought one stamp so I could get a receipt.
When I got home I called the USPS 1800 number and reported what happened and then I also emailed.
I would [redacted] my pants if all post offices in Manhattan stopped taking Vanilla One GC. I was wondering if I'm asked again show what form of payment I'm using to show my 'real' bank debit card and then switch-a-roo when it's actually time to swipe the card. LOL
Any comments are suggestions folks?
Last edited by ChrisFlyer66; Mar 11, 2017 at 7:42 am Reason: personal attack
Mar 11, 2017, 6:39 am
#362
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: NY
Posts: 523
Did you read this thread? Why are you going to so many different PO's? Find one or two that work and do multiple there and fill out the form, if necessary. Not only does it take you a long time to drain, but in the event you are investigated, it looks like you're trying to bypass the FTR. If you want MS to exist, you really need to be doing it as legitimately as possible.
"By federal law, the United States Postal Service is required to obtain information from the purchaser of money orders, wire transfers, and stored value cards when the dollar amount of cash purchases total $3,000 or more (31 USC 5325 and 5331). Multiple purchases during one business day totaling $3,000 or more must be treated as one purchase, and the information must be obtained if a Postal Service™ employee knows or has reason to believe that multiple purchases are being made."
"By federal law, the United States Postal Service is required to obtain information from the purchaser of money orders, wire transfers, and stored value cards when the dollar amount of cash purchases total $3,000 or more (31 USC 5325 and 5331). Multiple purchases during one business day totaling $3,000 or more must be treated as one purchase, and the information must be obtained if a Postal Service™ employee knows or has reason to believe that multiple purchases are being made."
Mar 11, 2017, 8:25 am
#363
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
PS: there is no such thing as "safe volume", only inherent risks that one should always be prepared to deal with.
Mar 12, 2017, 11:17 pm
#365
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
Mar 13, 2017, 7:18 am
#366
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
inherent risks are attached to MS and it is up to the individual to know beforehand what these risks are, and if one is not willing to face these risks, they better not engage. IOW, MS is not for the faint of heart.
Mar 14, 2017, 7:10 am
#369
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
there's none that I know of regardless of what others say. contrary to what most were saying about filling out forms would get one off the hook, there are reports saying otherwise.
inherent risks are attached to MS and it is up to the individual to know beforehand what these risks are, and if one is not willing to face these risks, they better not engage. IOW, MS is not for the faint of heart.
inherent risks are attached to MS and it is up to the individual to know beforehand what these risks are, and if one is not willing to face these risks, they better not engage. IOW, MS is not for the faint of heart.
You have to take what a lot of people say with a huge grain of salt, just because it is posted here in the forums doesn't mean it is true. I've been doing this now for 3.5 yrs, I keep telling people MSing is a marathon not a sprint, but of course there are people who say BS about that..
Mar 14, 2017, 7:25 am
#370
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 437
Just an observation. It seems like debit card machines in PO works differently in different locations. You can get an MO in one of them and 5 minutes later stop by another PO 5 miles away and it does not the same prepaid cards.
Another thing. Some prepaid cards like US bank issued MCs from OD, one week it works the other week it does not.
Just like government, super inefficient and does not make sense
Another thing. Some prepaid cards like US bank issued MCs from OD, one week it works the other week it does not.
Just like government, super inefficient and does not make sense
Mar 20, 2017, 8:56 am
#371
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Cincinnati
Programs: AA, Hyatt
Posts: 371
I mean, some of us MS for profit, not for miles or whatever, so yes, it is a sprint. Money now is worth more than the same amount of money spread out over time. Anyone that took a finance course ever would be able to tell you that.
Mar 20, 2017, 9:10 am
#372
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 26
Just an observation. It seems like debit card machines in PO works differently in different locations. You can get an MO in one of them and 5 minutes later stop by another PO 5 miles away and it does not the same prepaid cards.
Another thing. Some prepaid cards like US bank issued MCs from OD, one week it works the other week it does not.
Just like government, super inefficient and does not make sense
Another thing. Some prepaid cards like US bank issued MCs from OD, one week it works the other week it does not.
Just like government, super inefficient and does not make sense
Can MCGC from US Bank be used to by MO at PO?
Mar 20, 2017, 9:20 am
#373
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: BOS, PVD, HYA
Programs: MR, TYP, AA, B6, DL, WN, HH, MB, 2V
Posts: 658
Just wanted to drop a quick thank you for the information on this thread 
I've moved plenty of GCs through Walmart and Kmart, but today was my first time at the Post Office! Had some Vanillas I had to use up.
I've moved plenty of GCs through Walmart and Kmart, but today was my first time at the Post Office! Had some Vanillas I had to use up.
Mar 20, 2017, 1:10 pm
#374
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,438
New post office opened near me, so I figured I'd at least try to buy a MO with a metabank GC from giftcards.com. No dice. Where's a good place to buy a VGC with a credit card that is NOT metabank and therefore will be accepted at a USPS?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Mar 20, 2017, 1:25 pm
#375
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 998
OneVanilla, google it, it has a list of vendors.