Tip of the Week: Don’t Fear the Money Order

There is no question about it; surfing GunBroker can be annoying.

Whether you are just trying to get a good deal on that new product that is sold out everywhere else or you are after that elusive, discontinued gun, the prices can be infuriating.

But there it is — you finally find the gun you are looking for, and it is priced well with no bids on it. As you scroll down to look at the shipping price, you see that the seller only accepts certified checks or money orders.

What? No credit card? Just close the listing and move on, right?

That is what most people do. The convenience and security of a credit card is just too hard to pass up for most people. Additionally, people are lazy. Most people either don’t want to go out and get a money order or don’t even know how.

I was that person once. Clicking away as soon as I saw no credit card. But guns, especially out-of-production items, have gotten insanely expensive. “I know what I got!”

So many, many years ago, I decided to break that rule and bought something off GunBroker with a money order. I ended up paying less than half of what the next listing of that same gun was going for, and I didn’t have to get into a bidding war.

It was great.

What is a Money Order?

A money order is a document that allows someone to pay a pre-specified amount of money from prepaid funds.

When you fill out the money order, you pay for it immediately, and you either pay in cash or withdraw the money from your bank account with a debit card.

Note: Not all places will allow you to place money orders with credit cards, but some do.

This means the money order is guaranteed since it has already been paid for. It functions exactly like a cashier’s check. The only difference is that cashier’s checks usually have a higher limit on the amount you can put on the check.

The money order can then be mailed off to the seller’s address, and unlike a regular check, they don’t have to wait for funds to clear since the money order is prepaid. They can ship the item right away, knowing they have their money.

Why Do Sellers Use Money Orders?

Most credit processors charge a fee every time a credit card is used. Some sellers pass this fee on to their customers, while others don’t. Money orders allow them to avoid the credit card processing fee entirely.

Some sellers don’t sign up for GunBroker’s quick checkout, and those same people may not have any other means of processing a credit card transaction.

Another reason is that a lot of the folks selling are old-school. They may want to avoid “paper trails” and not have any gun-related stuff on their credit card statement, or they may just want the security of what is the equivalent of instant cash.

Where Do I Get One?

You can snag a money order from a number of places. Banks and credit unions will have them on hand.

Grocery stores will often work with Western Union to offer money orders. You can usually get this done at the in-store bank or the customer service desk. Some pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, as well as other retail stores, have money orders too.

Another popular option is at a U.S. post office. Postal money orders are tracked very closely, and they are serious about hunting down people who attempt to scam or misuse them.

The fee to get a money order typically ranges anywhere from 75¢ to $5. It is pretty cheap.

How Do I Fill One Out?

Great question! While I could make a full-on guide, there is already an excellent video tutorial by the YouTuber The Stuff I Use Channel.

Is It Safe?

Short answer — yes.

While a seller could theoretically take your money order and not ship the item, it is exceedingly rare.  

The best way to avoid this problem entirely is to check the seller rating on GunBroker. Look for both an A+ rating and a reasonable number of reviews attached to the account.

Scammers usually only get 1-2 people before the account is flagged. They may make a few fake alternate accounts to give themselves a few positive reviews, but it is usually less than 10.

A good rule of thumb is if they have an A+ rating and at least 15 reviews, the account is almost assuredly legitimate. When in doubt, contact the seller directly and/or the FFL they plan to use to verify.

Final Thoughts

While this article may sound like a lot to consider, it isn’t that bad. A 15-20 minute trip to the store, pay for your money order and a cheap envelope, stick it in your mailbox, and put the flag up.

It is a little legwork, but it can save you a ton of money. I’ve snagged my fair share of killer deals just because other people passed on those ads due to the money order or certified check requirement.

Don’t let that cool gun pass you by. Watch the video, find out who does money orders near you, and grab that gun! Be sure to avoid overpaying for a Garand, too! Check out our article on why Now Is The Time To Buy an M1 Garand!