US PostOffice and buying miles cheaply
Jun 2, 2004 | 9:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Hoboken, NJ
Posts: 17
US PostOffice and buying miles cheaply
I just thought of something...If you were to purchase a money order from the US Post Office for say $3,000. Are you allowed to put this on a credit card? If you could this would be a real cheap way to accumulate miles fast for a few dollars, not to mention free money earning interest.
The thought of buying $3,000 worth of Money Orders from the Post office with an Amex card that gets 2 miles per $,Then moving the 6,000 MR Points into Continental, which gets me 12,000 Hilton Honors Points is a wonderful thought. Anyone know if this works?
The thought of buying $3,000 worth of Money Orders from the Post office with an Amex card that gets 2 miles per $,Then moving the 6,000 MR Points into Continental, which gets me 12,000 Hilton Honors Points is a wonderful thought. Anyone know if this works?
Jun 2, 2004 | 9:46 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Onepass, Skymiles, Worldperks, Hilton HHonors Silver, Mariot Rewards
Posts: 708
Originally Posted by lwagman
I just thought of something...If you were to purchase a money order from the US Post Office for say $3,000. Are you allowed to put this on a credit card? If you could this would be a real cheap way to accumulate miles fast for a few dollars, not to mention free money earning interest.
The thought of buying $3,000 worth of Money Orders from the Post office with an Amex card that gets 2 miles per $,Then moving the 6,000 MR Points into Continental, which gets me 12,000 Hilton Honors Points is a wonderful thought. Anyone know if this works?
The thought of buying $3,000 worth of Money Orders from the Post office with an Amex card that gets 2 miles per $,Then moving the 6,000 MR Points into Continental, which gets me 12,000 Hilton Honors Points is a wonderful thought. Anyone know if this works?
Jun 2, 2004 | 10:15 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 231
Sorry chap, I can tell you with 100% confidence that this does not work, the USPS will not allow you to pay by credit card. I have tried many times. Cash or debit only.
I wonder, if we looked around, if one of the more sketchy money order services would do it.
I wonder, if we looked around, if one of the more sketchy money order services would do it.
Jun 2, 2004 | 11:36 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2003
Location: 1 hour from Khao Yai, Thailand. No longer Bangkok, China, Taiwan , Palm Coast, FL, LA, or Chicago though still exiled, again, from the Bay Area.
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Posts: 5,574
I understood that the BofA USAir DM check cards had been generating miles for USPS MO purchases. I'm waiting to see if it still works or whether they plugged that one too. Still, the best deal out there is still Charter One, as they are showing up as a purchase.
Jun 2, 2004 | 11:40 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Reno, Nevada
Posts: 7,368
Originally Posted by rbAA
I understood that the BofA USAir DM check cards had been generating miles for USPS MO purchases. I'm waiting to see if it still works or whether they plugged that one too. Still, the best deal out there is still Charter One, as they are showing up as a purchase.
Mike
Jun 3, 2004 | 5:19 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: BLR
Posts: 294
USPS made a mistake once last week
I was able to purchase a money order using my credit card last week. I always used my Delta skymiles card at USPS as I get double miles and I didnt know it was not allowed for money orders.
Anyway, transaction made and I leave without thinking twice.
I had to purchase another money order a few days after that and this time, the alert person behind the counter told me that someone has made a mistake the previous time.
Anyway, transaction made and I leave without thinking twice.
I had to purchase another money order a few days after that and this time, the alert person behind the counter told me that someone has made a mistake the previous time.
Jun 3, 2004 | 5:29 am
#8
Flyertalk Evangelist and Moderator: Coupon Connection and Travel Products
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Milton, GA USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum Elite, Hyatt Discoverist, Radisson Elite
Posts: 19,217
I believe there have been several threads on this in MilesBuzz over the years.
Concensus seems to be that while it occasionally happens; it is not supposed to. And it is normally considered a cash advance.
Search in MilesBuzz.... which is where this thread probably should have been posted.
William
Concensus seems to be that while it occasionally happens; it is not supposed to. And it is normally considered a cash advance.
Search in MilesBuzz.... which is where this thread probably should have been posted.
William
Jun 3, 2004 | 6:42 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: DFW
Programs: AA PLT->GLD|HH Gold|SPG PLT->GOLD|HGP Gold|MR Silver
Posts: 1,985
As this thread is not about a mileage run, but rather other creative ways to potentially earn miles and/or points, I'm going to move it to MilesBuzz. Please continue to follow it there.
Thanks!
Dave, a.k.a. dmfriedman
Moderator, Mileage Run
Thanks!
Dave, a.k.a. dmfriedman
Moderator, Mileage Run
Jun 3, 2004 | 7:30 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Augusta, GA, USA
Programs: DL FC, NW
Posts: 3,522
Not to be mean-spirited, but in theory you could 700 miles for the mo fee (I think lees than a buck. You could then cash the mo back to your account and so on and so on. That's why only cash for cash instruments.
Jun 3, 2004 | 12:01 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: LA, after growing up in London and living all over Europe
Programs: Ex-BD, ex-NW, ex-AA, BA Gold
Posts: 1,459
Originally Posted by ginandtacos.com
Sorry chap, I can tell you with 100% confidence that this does not work, the USPS will not allow you to pay by credit card. I have tried many times. Cash or debit only.
I wonder, if we looked around, if one of the more sketchy money order services would do it.
I wonder, if we looked around, if one of the more sketchy money order services would do it.
Jun 3, 2004 | 1:03 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: LI, NY
Programs: AA EXP, AAdv since Day One
Posts: 2,702
OK, so if we can buy US stamps with a credit card with no surcharge fee how do we convert stamps back into cash?
Does the USPS give refunds? Can I walk into a post office with a roll of stamps and say "I want my money back"? You shouldn't have to show a receipt since they are the only ones who sells them and the price is fixed nationwide. Hmmmm?
Does the USPS give refunds? Can I walk into a post office with a roll of stamps and say "I want my money back"? You shouldn't have to show a receipt since they are the only ones who sells them and the price is fixed nationwide. Hmmmm?
Jun 3, 2004 | 1:40 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2004
Location: LAX
Programs: CO Platinum HHonors Diamond Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,312
Originally Posted by inlanikai
OK, so if we can buy US stamps with a credit card with no surcharge fee how do we convert stamps back into cash?
Does the USPS give refunds? Can I walk into a post office with a roll of stamps and say "I want my money back"? You shouldn't have to show a receipt since they are the only ones who sells them and the price is fixed nationwide. Hmmmm?
Does the USPS give refunds? Can I walk into a post office with a roll of stamps and say "I want my money back"? You shouldn't have to show a receipt since they are the only ones who sells them and the price is fixed nationwide. Hmmmm?
If ever I could think of a good justification for a USPS worker to "go postal", it would be them dealing with having to count out $1000 worth of stamps that someone wants a refund for.
Sounds risky to me... 
peace,
~Ben~