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 28, 2018, 9:02 am
#1366
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,322
You're better off doing this at Walmart and Supermarkets for random amounts so it doesn't look like an obvious MO purchase and trigger their request for you to supply a receipt for verification.
Keep in mind that these usually trigger a security block and you have to call in and provide them with a code they text to you. Process is cumbersome and takes 10-15 minutes to unblock each time.
Keep in mind that these usually trigger a security block and you have to call in and provide them with a code they text to you. Process is cumbersome and takes 10-15 minutes to unblock each time.
Mar 28, 2018, 9:17 am
#1367
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,402
I have not seen Discover Gift Cards.
Mar 29, 2018, 12:34 pm
#1368
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: New York, NY, USA
Programs: UA 1K - 2.1MM, HH LT Diamond, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 766
That is correct. They imposed a $30 monthly limit and option to request receipts to verify purchase was not a MO. This was done right after someone on Reddit posted how they planned to abuse the offer.
Mar 29, 2018, 12:37 pm
#1369
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: New York, NY, USA
Programs: UA 1K - 2.1MM, HH LT Diamond, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 766
I have seen Discover gift cards years ago with the "Novus" logo that were used as promotions, but haven't seen them lately.
Mar 29, 2018, 11:40 pm
#1370
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,044
May 30, 2018, 3:47 pm
#1373
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,322
From the USPS public cost and revenue analysis for Fiscal 2017, http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/fin...rts/fy2017.pdf --
They lost about $4.4 million on their money order business (compared to total system revenue of $70 billion). They lose about 5 cents per money order. Total MO volume was around 86 million items.
They lost about $4.4 million on their money order business (compared to total system revenue of $70 billion). They lose about 5 cents per money order. Total MO volume was around 86 million items.
Jun 3, 2018, 7:14 am
#1377
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
So raise the damn rates for USPO MOs, reopen the GEBIT access and lets get those USPS finances back in order. Else, it is time to shut 'er down. If cities and counties can go bankrupt and walk away from pension obligations then the USPS folk need to get some religion and talk sense to their management before their customers kick them to the curb.
