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 25, 2017, 2:14 pm
#406
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: USA
Posts: 139
Yeah. How do people dare ask a question on a forum, when they would only need a few hours trying to find relevant information within hundreds of posts in a handful of relevant threads. Those noobs...
Mar 26, 2017, 6:31 pm
#410
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: a hotel room, somewhere...
Posts: 962
If the answer is so difficult to search for, perhaps it's time for someone to take the initiative, buy a USB visa, attempt to liquidate it at the PO and then report the results back to this thread...
Mar 27, 2017, 7:39 am
#411
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: BOS, PVD, HYA
Programs: MR, TYP, AA, B6, DL, WN, HH, MB, 2V
Posts: 658
Can't we all just play nice? 
^
To the people looking for handouts - stop asking. Start looking. Nobody on this thread has problems with fair, well thought out or researched questions. The "Does this work or not" questions are frustrating because the answers aren't all that hard to find. Research a bit, try a few things yourself, and come back with interesting, thoughtful arguments and answers.
To the people being short and snarky - relax. There's always going to be people looking for a free ride, just ignore them, and let's get back on the MOs from PO subject, right? I mean no sense in getting a notification for this thread every time somebody just says "Read the wiki." Ignore the questions you don't want to answer, and just keep rolling. I'd venture they're more likely to stop asking if they get ignored, rather than fighting with them and stoking the fire.
So, how about those money orders?
^To the people looking for handouts - stop asking. Start looking. Nobody on this thread has problems with fair, well thought out or researched questions. The "Does this work or not" questions are frustrating because the answers aren't all that hard to find. Research a bit, try a few things yourself, and come back with interesting, thoughtful arguments and answers.
To the people being short and snarky - relax. There's always going to be people looking for a free ride, just ignore them, and let's get back on the MOs from PO subject, right? I mean no sense in getting a notification for this thread every time somebody just says "Read the wiki." Ignore the questions you don't want to answer, and just keep rolling. I'd venture they're more likely to stop asking if they get ignored, rather than fighting with them and stoking the fire.
So, how about those money orders?
Mar 27, 2017, 11:23 am
#412
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,269
I've read the wiki and about 80% of the posts from late November (the last time I tried buying a MO at the USPS) until now. I think I know the answer, but I'm looking for confirmation or additional advice.
Question: Do OV (Bancorp) from CVS still work to buy MOs at the post office? Answer: Yes (please confirm).
Going through the thread, I've read a few sporadic reports of problems, but nothing widespread. The problems seem to be a few USPS locations that won't take gift cards at all and some temporary glitches (possibly connectivity issues) that worked themselves out.
Is that accurate? I'm in Michigan, and after doing the CVS-OV-USPS-MO trip a couple of dozen times over the past two years, this is the first time I've ever had an issue. I tried to buy a book of 20 stamps plus a $489 MO, and it wouldn't go through. I confirmed the balance on the card was $500, went back and tried to buy stamps plus a $400 MO. No luck. Assuming OVs still work, any ideas what went wrong?
Question: Do OV (Bancorp) from CVS still work to buy MOs at the post office? Answer: Yes (please confirm).
Going through the thread, I've read a few sporadic reports of problems, but nothing widespread. The problems seem to be a few USPS locations that won't take gift cards at all and some temporary glitches (possibly connectivity issues) that worked themselves out.
Is that accurate? I'm in Michigan, and after doing the CVS-OV-USPS-MO trip a couple of dozen times over the past two years, this is the first time I've ever had an issue. I tried to buy a book of 20 stamps plus a $489 MO, and it wouldn't go through. I confirmed the balance on the card was $500, went back and tried to buy stamps plus a $400 MO. No luck. Assuming OVs still work, any ideas what went wrong?
Mar 27, 2017, 1:26 pm
#413
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: LAX
Posts: 44
I've read the wiki and about 80% of the posts from late November (the last time I tried buying a MO at the USPS) until now. I think I know the answer, but I'm looking for confirmation or additional advice.
Question: Do OV (Bancorp) from CVS still work to buy MOs at the post office? Answer: Yes (please confirm).
Going through the thread, I've read a few sporadic reports of problems, but nothing widespread. The problems seem to be a few USPS locations that won't take gift cards at all and some temporary glitches (possibly connectivity issues) that worked themselves out.
Is that accurate? I'm in Michigan, and after doing the CVS-OV-USPS-MO trip a couple of dozen times over the past two years, this is the first time I've ever had an issue. I tried to buy a book of 20 stamps plus a $489 MO, and it wouldn't go through. I confirmed the balance on the card was $500, went back and tried to buy stamps plus a $400 MO. No luck. Assuming OVs still work, any ideas what went wrong?
Question: Do OV (Bancorp) from CVS still work to buy MOs at the post office? Answer: Yes (please confirm).
Going through the thread, I've read a few sporadic reports of problems, but nothing widespread. The problems seem to be a few USPS locations that won't take gift cards at all and some temporary glitches (possibly connectivity issues) that worked themselves out.
Is that accurate? I'm in Michigan, and after doing the CVS-OV-USPS-MO trip a couple of dozen times over the past two years, this is the first time I've ever had an issue. I tried to buy a book of 20 stamps plus a $489 MO, and it wouldn't go through. I confirmed the balance on the card was $500, went back and tried to buy stamps plus a $400 MO. No luck. Assuming OVs still work, any ideas what went wrong?
Mar 27, 2017, 9:41 pm
#416
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
Indeed, there is no consistency to the failures and policies. Just random acts of kindness. But as the herd continues to overgraze the town common...
Mar 28, 2017, 1:31 pm
#417
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,432
Had my first negative experience with a clerk who looked on the verge of going postal. I asked my usual request of two MOs of 1998.40 each. he inputs the data and I said "I will be doing four swipes of $500.00 each please". He snarls at me and says, "Oh no you won't. I will only do one swipe." I thanked him and left and went to the PO in the next town and had no problem doing it as I usually do. Really nasty dude. Thankfully this PO was in an area of the state I rarely go to so don't have to deal with that attitude.
Mar 29, 2017, 3:51 pm
#419
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,432
You can't add any other transaction. Simply buy the MOs as usual and then do a separate transaction for stamps/shipping, etc and payment for it with a different form of payment