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]
Apr 21, 2017, 2:09 pm
#573
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,507
Apr 21, 2017, 2:22 pm
#574
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 39
The USPS I normally hit up just got spooked by some newbie. I do regular 1k MOs once a week along with mailing textbooks. My usual teller just told me there's been a guy who started doing transactions just like me, except a bunch this past week. Dude is doing 5+ 1000 MOs a week, split payments, with "the same exact looking gift cards" Teller says he's gunna file a report. W..t..f. Do I lay off for a while or continue my regular habit? What's less suss? (Located in NYC)
Apr 21, 2017, 2:25 pm
#575
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 908
I am in 626. SG Valley. I only tried 1 PO, my go to one. I haven't tried another. I have been denied by the branch in Monterey Park like 6 months to a 1 year ago. I don't go to the big location /distro in Hacienda Heights either.
So pretty much it all depends on the cashiers, and if they know about the memo. Maybe I'll try small POs.
So pretty much it all depends on the cashiers, and if they know about the memo. Maybe I'll try small POs.
Apr 21, 2017, 2:28 pm
#576
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 908
The USPS I normally hit up just got spooked by some newbie. I do regular 1k MOs once a week along with mailing textbooks. My usual teller just told me there's been a guy who started doing transactions just like me, except a bunch this past week. Dude is doing 5+ 1000 MOs a week, split payments, with "the same exact looking gift cards" Teller says he's gunna file a report. W..t..f. Do I lay off for a while or continue my regular habit? What's less suss? (Located in NYC)
My PO, lady was cool with it. But one day I did too much. I did 3k of MO, and 2 hrs later I came back to do 3k of MO more. That's 6k in one day. The next day I came back, and lady told me the one in charge saw the transactions, and told her not to do that, etc etc. So she said,"yah, let's just stick to 2k max".
I have been doing 2k a day about 4 days a week the past 2-3 months or so because of all the credit cards I signed up.
Apr 21, 2017, 3:21 pm
#577
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 39
I think it all depends on how douche the cashier is.
My PO, lady was cool with it. But one day I did too much. I did 3k of MO, and 2 hrs later I came back to do 3k of MO more. That's 6k in one day. The next day I came back, and lady told me the one in charge saw the transactions, and told her not to do that, etc etc. So she said,"yah, let's just stick to 2k max".
I have been doing 2k a day about 4 days a week the past 2-3 months or so because of all the credit cards I signed up.
My PO, lady was cool with it. But one day I did too much. I did 3k of MO, and 2 hrs later I came back to do 3k of MO more. That's 6k in one day. The next day I came back, and lady told me the one in charge saw the transactions, and told her not to do that, etc etc. So she said,"yah, let's just stick to 2k max".
I have been doing 2k a day about 4 days a week the past 2-3 months or so because of all the credit cards I signed up.
Apr 21, 2017, 4:58 pm
#579
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,507
I am in 626. SG Valley. I only tried 1 PO, my go to one. I haven't tried another. I have been denied by the branch in Monterey Park like 6 months to a 1 year ago. I don't go to the big location /distro in Hacienda Heights either.
So pretty much it all depends on the cashiers, and if they know about the memo. Maybe I'll try small POs.
So pretty much it all depends on the cashiers, and if they know about the memo. Maybe I'll try small POs.
Apr 21, 2017, 5:53 pm
#580
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 908
Woah i dont think that kind of volume would fly at all in NYC. If the clerk openly said he's going to file a report, I guess that means pretty douche. So should I stop and look irregular, or keep going with my schedule of 1k a week? I think the even split payments really is what triggered this whole thing, its probably a highly unusual request by the subset of the population that legitimately uses debit to by MOs. And paying the fees in cash was the icing on his suspicion cake. The teller didn't ask to see my card until I said split payment, YMMV of course, but in a city where the MS opportunities are razor thin, word of caution.
A yr ago or so, when I went to the Hacienda Heights, CA main location (depot), some cashiers didn't ask quesiton when I did 500-1k. Then there was this one douche cashier. Asked for my id, went to the back office, then sold me the MO. After that, I don't bother coming back.
Apr 22, 2017, 11:01 am
#584
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 45
Yesterday (Friday), came into my usual USPS in MA.. the clerk who knows exactly what I am doing and say it's not illegal and she is MSing too, told me that she vaguely saw a memo to not allow buying MO with VGC anymore.. I assume the memo she received is similar to the one posted the other day (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28202809-post544.html).
She ran into the back and hop on the computer when I was at the counter to check and she couldn't find it (she was on vacation and just got back). She ended up letting me unload my $2k of cards and I sat there and chit chat with her (she is the only one at this PO and I was the only customer).
She say they may not let her split tender anymore and may want us to do one MO per card to collect the additional fees.. but she is unsure. She is going to talk to her Postmaster about it who is aware of MSing and MO.. I told her I would pop in and check with her next week before I go buy more OV..
She ran into the back and hop on the computer when I was at the counter to check and she couldn't find it (she was on vacation and just got back). She ended up letting me unload my $2k of cards and I sat there and chit chat with her (she is the only one at this PO and I was the only customer).
She say they may not let her split tender anymore and may want us to do one MO per card to collect the additional fees.. but she is unsure. She is going to talk to her Postmaster about it who is aware of MSing and MO.. I told her I would pop in and check with her next week before I go buy more OV..
Apr 22, 2017, 2:17 pm
#585
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: Spg Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,578
The USPS I normally hit up just got spooked by some newbie. I do regular 1k MOs once a week along with mailing textbooks. My usual teller just told me there's been a guy who started doing transactions just like me, except a bunch this past week. Dude is doing 5+ 1000 MOs a week, split payments, with "the same exact looking gift cards" Teller says he's gunna file a report. W..t..f. Do I lay off for a while or continue my regular habit? What's less suss? (Located in NYC)