I've bought several firearms and gadgets in the past via money order.
Seems there are a lot of places these days that will only take credit.
I guess money orders and bank checks are being faked to often.
I've also been told not to use debit, as it is not safe.
Anyway, I'm wanting to order a fairly expensive rifle.
What is the best way if you have no debit or credit cards?

Get a credit card!

The one firearm I bought online, I used a credit card as I do when I buy anything online.

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I'm 67. I don't do timeouts.

If the seller is a reputable dealer a check or bank transfer is fine but never send these to unknown individuals. Credit cards and Paypal are the best because you can claim your money back if there is a dispute. Credit cards usually give up to 180 days to initiate a chargeback. The same applies for CC's used through Paypal. Though the seller may charge extra for CC transactions. Paypal will. You can always use a friend's CC and pay the money into their card before you purchase even if the cost is above their credit limit.

Credit card is best but I also use a USPO money order sent certified mail, return receipt. That way if the seller says it is lost and you request a replacement, you can prove they received it. A USPO money order never expires and could be cashed years later.

With no cc or dc it would seem to me that mo is your best/easiest option. You could do bank wire transfer but my bank charges $35 for that and you've got the hassle of making it happen.

I use a visa cc and don't see much downside. Pay it off every month and monitor charges regularly online.

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God spelled backwards is dog.

WARNING - PayPal will not allow firearms transactions. Read their terms of service.

If they find out, they will freeze the funds in your account for a few months. Ask me how I know...

Didn't know that. I know they've got a bug up their ***** about tobacco. Anyway haven't been caught yet
Thanks for the heads up

With the gun purchases I have made online I used a credit card. I don't mind paying the extra fee that is usually involved just knowing that I'm covered incase the seller is not on the up and up. I just have a problem dropping a money order into the mail to someone half way across the country that I don't know even with good feedback.

Depends on the site.

At Bud's Gun Shop I send them a check.

At GrabAGun I use my Discover card.

I did bank wire transfers for all my purchases from members on this forum while I was deployed in the desert. The US Military Postal System was unpredictable in getting mail in or out. (I got to vote twice in the last Presidential Election because a whole Shipping Container of Absentee Ballots got "lost").

Ditto credit card.

I've read several posts in the past regarding risks/potential problems associated with money orders. However, from the above responses, other forum members have not had major problems. Only dealing with a reputable seller is my first "Go-No Go" decision, regardless of the firearm or the price.

My favorite method is a cashier's check, payable to the seller by my bank, and sent to the seller via Priority Mail, with a tracking number. I have bought many firearms using this method and have never had a problem for the seller or my bank.

When Bud's has what I want, I'll send them my bank info (account number and routing #) for an electronic funds transfer (withdrawal) from my checking account. If you're concerned about fraud, open up a separate checking account and only keep sufficient funds in the account to cover your firearm purchases.

My other favorite method, when I can convince the seller to agree, is to go to the local branch office here in Georgia for their bank and deposit the cash in to their business bank accounts. They can call the branch themselves before I arrive and provide the branch officer with their account info if they don't want me to have it. They will have the funds in their account in five to ten minutes. I have made three firearm purchases using this method without any problems.

I have also used my credit card. I don't mind the 3% upcharge. It's a small price to pay to obtain the transaction security that is mentioned above by other members.

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That's what we do!

American Express is my favored credit card, as they provide excellent customer protection. If the seller is an established retailer, I pay by personal check if I can.

I've found that most sellers will accept personal checks, with the understanding that goods will not ship until the check has cleared their bank.

There's also a prepaid credit card.

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Thread Killer.

I think that's the most important thing to keep in mind:

With all other forms of payment, be it money order, cashier's check, debit card, or cash, your money is gone, and if something goes wrong, you have to try to get it back.

With a credit card, it isn't, and you don't. I have disputed quite a few charges in the decades since I got my first card (although none gun-related), and I've never ended up having to pay one of those.
On the other hand, I don't even want to think about the battles for refunds...

Is there a reason you do not have a credit card?

Someone suggested using a friend's credit card. I would say that is a lot to ask of a friend! Especially if you do not believe CCs are a good idea in the first place.

Others have posted to the effect "if it is a reputable dealer ..." Since it is an "expensive rifle" you might want to buy ONLY from a reputable dealer. If you know nothing about the seller, you may want to reconsider. Sure, he may be honest but there are a lot of sellers who aren't.

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You're shy a few manners.

I mainly use my bank issued credit/debit card but--ive also done transfers too without a hitch. Luckily, my bank doesnt charge any fees to do transfers.

Credit card for everything

I prefer credit cards.
I have sent personal checks to Buds and Forum members.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I consider the debit card to be a curse on humanity.

CC for convenience & security.
Cash for nice discount.
Many times, cash is still king... But only with reputable dealers.
Private sales, OTOH, provide anonymity, and preclude those tragic boating accidents.

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50 Years of DSOTM

That's way I keep basically a zero balance in my PayPal account. If I need to send someone money I will transfer it to PayPal from a separate bank account.

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A closed mouth gathers no foot

One of the orneriest things a buddy did was to introduce me to Gunbroker. I've bought several (too many?) guns there, and always pay with a Postal Money Order.
On-line purchases from major companies, I'll use my small-business Debit Card. Not enough in that account to ruin us if it gets hacked or over-charged.
My daughter gave me one of those electronical book tablet thingies that I can order books from Barnes & Nobel. Haven't started the process of actually buying any books yet, but when I'm ready to, I'm gonna get a pre-paid or low-limit credit card just for that; a couple hundred dollars will cover a lot of books, and if it gets hacked, there's no huge hit on our finances. Acebow

I always use a US Postal Service Money Order and send my payment by US Mail. The Postal Service will aggressively pursue mail fraud and any one who fails to complete a transaction when completed using a US postal service money order sent by US mail commits mail fraud. I've never had an issue, but this gives me a level of confidence.

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

Acebow...overcharge is that they can get you for alot. Why not so credit carda where you can only be liable for up to 50 dollars max?

False but true. Sometimes. Depends in who is pursuing. Sometines it doesnt really get pursued.

I have to respectfully disagree.

I did have an issue and I do not believe it was pursued at all, certainly it was not pursued aggressively. I tried following up several times but the reps from the USPS pretty much ignored me. Fortunately, the MO was for only about 40 bucks.

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You're shy a few manners.

If you do not have a cc, look into getting one that has a 1% back option if paid off the following statement. I use one for online purchases, vacation expenses, and gas. The 1% can add up over the course of the year.

There are also CCs that charge 0% interest if you pay the bill off promptly.

Personally, I can't see how anyone can get along very well without a CC. I got my first CC when I was traveling for a company and I decided to rent a car on the weekend (yes, the company provided a car, but I had to share it with others). I found out that I could not rent a car. They insisted on a CC. This was circa 1990.

Unless you carry around bags of cash or have great friends who will wire you large sums of money, you really should have a CC for emergencies.

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You're shy a few manners.

wampum .

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Forum consigliere

Hmm, I've never encountered anyone who required a CC. I've always used an MO. What's more, seems like a lot of GB dealers chrage extra for a CC.

One advantage, I guess, is that if there's a problem, you can contest the charge.

I'm always willing to send cash to the folks who will accept Confederate money.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Get a credit card and pay it off in full every month. I've never paid a penny of interest on mine.

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Common sense isn't so common.

Bought 2 Smiths online (actually 3):
gunbroker and gunsinternational
Used a VISA credit card both times no problems ...

I'd use a check or a pre-paid Visa.

Money orders I would avoid, if they are lost in the mail or the seller is dishonest there is no way to recoup the loss as far as I know.

I have never purchased a firearm on line but do a lot of other buying on line. I will use Pay Pal first or I have a dedicated account with a debit card that I can also use. With that dedicated account, I put in just enough funds to cover my purchase so if someone wants go go after it, it is empty 99% of the time and is in no way connected to my household checking account.

I gave up on credit cards years ago simply because of the interest and fees they charge. Now I know there is no interest when you pay the balance in full every month but how many people actually do that?

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NRA Life member

All CCs dont charge interest if paid off inmediately. I think you have 28 or 30 days to pay without interest on most if not all credit cards. I am not aware of any who charge interest right away

I can't see carrying less than two credit cards. Worst case, I was in Portland, OR, and my CC company froze my card. NIGHTMARE!!!

So I always carry two, just in case there is a problem.

Reputable online seller, I'll use debit plastic. Bud's, electronic check, USPS Money Order, and even regular check. Fraudulent selling or payment for firearms is a big no no with Federal jurisdiction.

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Bob

Debit or credit card. Or I suppose you could get one of those prepaid Visa cards from Walmart.

Layaway. When I pick it up it is paid for and I break the cost into four payments to slip under the "radar".

That's how I feel about credit cards or banks in general. I have a debit/credit card from my Credit Union that has been pretty trusty and if they catch too much activity they'll call me right up and if I stop it, I'm not liable.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Too much activity can be vacation in Oregon. That's why I carry two. They got me in New Orleans a few years ago, too.

I like banks; they are massively important to our prosperity.

Lots of people, me included, pay their CC in full every month.
Between business and personal I charge thousands of $$$ each month. I have 2 cards that give cash/credit back on all purchases. Percent varies from 1% to 5% That is deducted from my balance the following month.

Yeah, if I get overcharged once, I won't do business with that company anymore. If I get overcharged by a large enough amount, it might be worth pursuing through legal channels. So far, that never happened when we had credit cards; now that we don't have one anymore, it's not an issue.
Not sure I understand the question re:'50 dollars max', but if you mean what I think you do, that's the idea of a pre-paid or low-limit card--even if they cheat or hack, they won't get much. Not using the debit card for the household or little business, they wouldn't be able to cripple us financially.
Hope that helps. Acebow

No. You totally misunderstood.

With a debit card, you can be held liable for the full amount of fraudulent charge. With a credit card, by law it is only 50$ which your bank can charge you for. This is why cc is king over debit to me.

I've had two or more fraudulent debit card charges and each time the bank credited my account for the bux, pending investigation, and the credits were never reversed. Different strokes for different banks?

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Bob

Yes. I phrased it as can be held liable. Credit card companies rarely charge $50 max limit.

Aha! Now I understand. My bank will honor my claim of a fraudulent charge, just like a credit card--don't remember the max I'd have to pay, as it's never been an issue. But I do want the low-end card for that book thing; I don't trust electronical devices, regardless of how much we have to depend on them. But having some good reading on one skinny little computer thing would be way more convenient than a half dozen actual books, on those rare occasions I need to travel somewhere. Acebow

Every month for 25 years.

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Common sense isn't so common.