# Just how good is a money order **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 12, 2000, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-good-is-a-money-order/29040 "2000-08-12T00:19:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2000, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-good-is-a-money-order/29040/1 "2000-08-12T00:19:45Z")
The thread on eBay sparked interest in this. I buy a lot and I noticed a lot more people are NOT accepting money orders but do accept checks I have heard it is much easier to forge a m/o and they are not as safe a checks. I know that if you lose it, it is next to impossible to replace. What is the SD? ---
**Author:** ![JCorre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3da27b/32.png) [@JCorre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCorre)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2000, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-good-is-a-money-order/29040/2 "2000-08-12T01:15:23Z")
You should try PayPal. Its free and instant. You can set it up so that once you get the money you can just wire it straight to your bank account. The real benefit is how fast it is though. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2000, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-good-is-a-money-order/29040/3 "2000-08-12T14:35:10Z")
A money order has a reference number on it. My bank said one can search for it for about 7 years… ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2000, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-good-is-a-money-order/29040/4 "2000-08-13T01:22:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Markxxx \* > **The thread on eBay sparked interest in this. I buy a lot and I noticed a lot more people are NOT accepting money orders but do accept checks.** I both buy and sell on eBay, and I notice the opposite- people more frequently accept money orders than personal checks. I myself prefer money orders over personal checks. Checks can bounce. Money orders can’t, since they can only be purchased with cash. Also, most sellers insist on a clearing time of about 10 days on personal checks before they ship your item, but if you send a money order, they ship ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2000, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-good-is-a-money-order/29040/5 "2000-08-14T20:30:37Z")
> [@](#): > > Just how good is a money order As compared to other “check” forms of payment, they rank somewhere in the middle. They have an advantage over personal checks in that they are not likely to be returned for non-sufficient funds. They are not as good as an official check in that money orders are subject to stop pay orders by the purchaser. ANY check can be counterfeited. Types of checks, from best to worst: 1. Official check 2. Cashier’s check 3. Money order/travelers checks 4. Personal/company check ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2000, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-good-is-a-money-order/29040/6 "2000-08-15T03:30:26Z")
Seems to me people are saying they are too easy to forge. So thus you get stuck with a “counterfeit(Sp?)” m/o