What do you do when Post Office Loses Money Order sent to Seller

[bushmaster1313]

I won an auction on Gunbroker.
Sent USPS Money Order via Priority Mail.
Local gun shop e-mailed FFL to seller
Seller says money order did not arrive.
USPS tracking ends abruptly 10 days ago, without delivery.
USPS wants 60 days to issue a new Money Order.
Seller would like to be paid.
I would like to pay and have gun shipped to Local FFL.
What do I do?

I could pay seller via credit card, but if Money Order was stolen and cashed by thief I do not think Post Office will refund my money.

 

[Herknav]

Contact a postal inspector. If you kept your receipt, and the PO shows no delivery, I'd think they live for moments like this.

 

[catach22]

I once had sent some gift card to various members of my family for Christmas...After determining that none of my relatives received them I went to the post master. Turned out to be internal theft.... To make a long story short i was 4 years before i received my settlement

 

[ladder13]

I sold a 500 mag about 3 years ago to a buyer in Colorado. They sent the money with delivery confirmation, but not requiring a signature. After a week the buyer called and asked me if I had shipped the gun.
That's where things went south as I tried to explain that I hadn't received payment, and they said yes it had and sent me the tracking number. It showed "delivered". I tried to reassure a pissed off buyer that I wasn't stealing their money.
I told them to go to the PO and find out what happened, and they were advised to file a claim and wait, up to 2 months or more.
The MO and envelope showed up in my mailbox 3 weeks later. Was it delivered to the wrong address? Who knows.
The gun was shipped, the buyer was very happy to get it.


Another time, maybe 2 years ago, I bought a set of pre war N frame stocks from a gent here on the forum, regular post, no delivery confirmation. The stocks never made it here, though he kindly refunded my money. I had hoped they would have showed up eventually, so I could send him money, it never happened.

 

[smitholdtimer]

USPS Money order

The one time I caved and sent the seller a Money Order there was a delay in its delivery, that's when I went to the post office to learn all the horrible things that accompany that Government document and the lack of options for the purchaser. After this valuable lesson I have learned to do without anything that requires an United States Postal Money Order, I cannot afford it!

EugeneNine has nailed it!

 

[TenTea]

Same same.

I waited the 60 days and the PO determined that the MO had been fraudulently cashed in NV on its way to CA.

I got my money back awhile later, less the MO fee and filing fee...in other words, for the exact amount of the MO which was like $30.

Some terrible stories out there, but thankfully...rare.

I would have been much more nervous (and angry) is it was many hundreds (or thousands) of dollars, especially if nothing happened with my case!

 

[Hellraiser]

One thing ya can do and be honest 'bout it... tell that seller...

"The check's in the mail".

 

[hangnoose]

DITTO

File a claim with the P.O. and WAIT. Mine was never cashed, just "lost", makes you wonder how much mail is under the seat in the mail truck, or thrown in the garbage as some of those videos show. Nothing wrong with the postal money order itself. I no longer leave mail in my mailbox for pick up, and something with a money order is worth a trip to the P.O. to mail it there, certified/ rectumfied/registered/insured/ Gps implanted/ return receipt/ fingerprinted/ and anything else you can think of. I usually use a debit/credit card/pay pal. Of the FEW times I've used USPS 2 have been "lost", I got re-imbursed both times EVENTUALLY.

 

[4506517]

I filed the paperwork and they sent me checks less than 60 days later. Once you file the paperwork, the money orders cannot be cashed.

 

[hangnoose]

IT ONLY SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME

When you need the gun/part for an upcoming event/shoot/hunt. like a kid waiting for Christmas, or a gun crank waiting on a gunsmith.

 

[EugeneNine]

The one time I caved and sent the seller a Money Order there was a delay in its delivery, that's when I went to the post office to learn all the horrible things that accompany that Government document and the lack of options for the purchaser. After this valuable lesson I have learned to do without anything that requires an United States Postal Money Order, I cannot afford it!

EugeneNine has nailed it!

Looks like someone deleted my post, probably didn't think I was serious but that is exactly what happened. It got to where they would get mad at me because I started forcing them to wait for me to read off all the claim tracking numbers as soon as they gave me a new claim tracking number and the same old promise that someone would call within 48 hours.

 

[bushmaster1313]

I filed the paperwork and they sent me checks less than 60 days later. Once you file the paperwork, the money orders cannot be cashed.

I am not sure this is correct

 

[bushmaster1313]

Well

I am now in Postal Money Order Limbo.
Priority Mail Letter with the money order cannot be tracked past September 24 and I am waiting for Post Office to let me know if Money Order has been cashed.