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]
Jan 12, 2017, 4:17 am
#78
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Georgia
Programs: Delta Platinum, Bonvoy Titanium Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 105
Jaded
Plus... metal card.... I'm a little ashamed to admit I want to use it all the time just to hand over a metal card and see the person on the other end get surprised.
I hate the metal cards because they're hard to cut up after one year in the drawer!
I wish I had this much enthusiasm. Hitting this game too hard has made me jaded and emotionless about all this.
Yep...I vaguely remember coming home with that first $500 VR, depositing it onto BB and immediately paying off the CC before the gremlins somehow caught on and snatched the money back.
I just burned about 6 grand in the last two months on a trip and holidays...
Wait I'm confused...you actually paid real money for a trip somewhere? I have read about that before but always assumed the writer was just making up the story.
Jan 12, 2017, 9:02 pm
#83
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 13
Vanilla MGC issued by Bancorp bought at Sam's worked at POs. I also picked up a OV MGC from Sam's but found out later that it was issued by Metabank. Haven't tried it at the PO b/c the wiki said Metabank GCs haven't been working at POs...but I see that someone had success a few posts up with a Metabank MGC.
Jan 13, 2017, 2:31 pm
#84
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: FL
Programs: BA, AA, DA, UA, CO
Posts: 212
Vanilla MGC issued by Bancorp bought at Sam's worked at POs. I also picked up a OV MGC from Sam's but found out later that it was issued by Metabank. Haven't tried it at the PO b/c the wiki said Metabank GCs haven't been working at POs...but I see that someone had success a few posts up with a Metabank MGC.
Jan 13, 2017, 3:40 pm
#86
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 161
I just used one of these at PO today, zero issues, in and out in <5 minutes
Jan 13, 2017, 10:38 pm
#89
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 998
So is this standard practice, or was I setting off internal alarms in the clerks mind? I went to buy a $425 One vanilla from Walgreens and she asked for my ID... did she input anything or was she just checking? Will the post office ask for ID for a $415 money order? The less personal details recorded the better...
Jan 13, 2017, 10:41 pm
#90
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,153
So is this standard practice, or was I setting off internal alarms in the clerks mind? I went to buy a $425 One vanilla from Walgreens and she asked for my ID... did she input anything or was she just checking? Will the post office ask for ID for a $415 money order? The less personal details recorded the better...
With debit, PO clerks shouldn't give much trouble.