This really upsets me. I've sold some things on Ebay, and a few people have paid quickly and easily with Bidpay, which sends a Western Union money order straight to the seller. I thought that was a great idea because I was surrounded by businesses that claimed to deal in Western Union money orders, but when I went to cash the ones I received, every place I went to said they only SELL them. They don't CASH them. Well what the hell is the point of selling something that can't be used?! What am I missing here? Where on Earth can you cash a Western Union money order?!

No replies yet... I bet that's 'cause no one KNOWS! I don't think those damn money orders can be cashed...

You cash it at your bank like a check.

lovemachine said:

REALLY?! Well I feel sheepish...

hIsMiRRoR said:

LMAO

Probably sent the items already too? 's ok.

What is up with some American ebayers???? I can't stand the newbies that pay twice or buy duplicates and then say they only wanted one. Or ones that buy something and THEN ask questions.

Three words - NON PAYING BIDDER

International money orders from the US cause a problem. The few times I've accepted them I couldn't cash them because they were too expensive - $10 more for them and $5 for me. Just not worth it.

Never tried Western Union though.

is bidpay like paypal? i think paypal is the best way to pay for your auctions.

Famboozled said:

then you agree paypal is best?

Christopher said:

Well, yes and no. Yes in that it's the most readily available and also yes in that I make money using its services (paypal means money coming to me so it precipitates a positive feeling on the whole), but no in that they can be very ruthless and they're greedy.

Famboozled said:

how much do they skim off the top?

i think its great..considering i used to hate sending cash or certain types of money orders to overseas sellers on ebay....cuts alot of that stuff out.

Christopher said:

Well, paypal takes from me 3.4% + £0.20p per payment.

On top of Ebay's listing fees (usually around $0.65 for me) and final value fee (5.25%) it's quite a lot.

Bastards.

hIsMiRRoR said:

Several years ago, I had $3200 wired to me in Boston via Western Union. As I recall, the convenience store where I picked up the money first issued me a Western Union money order for the $3200. I then endorsed the money order over to the store, just as if it were a check, and they gave me $3200 in $20 bills from their safe.

And no, there was nothing illegal about the transaction. A landlord refused to accept my personal check at the time of lease signing, so I had to arrange for a short-term loan and have the funds sent to me in a form that the landlord would accept.

Lesson learned: When moving to a new city, open a bank account there well in advance of your apartment hunt, so you can get a cashier's check if necessary. (I say "well in advance" because funds deposited into newly-opened accounts can be blocked for something like 10 days.)

I use them all the time to pay bills etc. Always worked fine.
You can also cash one in at a normal grocery store, if you buy something.

Go to one of those bs check cashing places.
Charge you 5% or less with ID

Part of my wife's job is to work Western Union...she says:

*Deposit into your bank account, the only downfall is that it takes a week
to clear.

*Call WU customer service 1-800-325-4045...they can give you a list of places
where you can cash your check.

Famboozled said:

I am an American Ebayer. And the money orders came from America, just another state. Yeah, I did already ship the items. That was a long time ago actually and I've been looking for a place to cash the money orders ever since. They were small amounts, though, no more than $5, so it's no big deal really. I was just frustrated that they seemed uncashable yet a major auction payment website was using them.

Christopher said:

Bidpay is like Paypal, only Bidpay mails a money order to the seller and Paypal instantly trasnfers the money to a Paypal account. There is a small charge with Paypal, but I find it the fastest and most convenient payment method. Some people won't use it, though, and that's where those damn money orders come in...

matt said:

Wow, they gave you the money? I've been going to places that sell Western Union money orders and asking if they can cash mine for like $5 and they won't.