Postal Money Order versus Bank Money Order ???

One major benefit of using the postal service for MO's and anything else is their willingness to pursue fraud by people using their services, including mail. Smart crooks do not correspond by mail, take USPS MO's, or mail packages USPS for that reason.

Jax2 and Richingoth,
Thanks for your corrections on USPS mo's. My local post office had told me explicitly that they did not offer international money orders, and directed me to a foreign currency broker or a bank if I wanted to send money orders outside the U.S., or in any non-U.S. currency.
However, I just looked at the USPS website - they say their international money orders go just to $700, and they are valid only in a specified list of countries. The current list of countries on the website is missing most of Europe and Asia, but the website may be out of date.

If someone counterfeits a USPS money order, it is a federal offense. This tends to make counterfeiters stick with 7-11 money orders or the like.

my local post office will cash usps m.o.'s i've received right over the counter(amount within reason) just like a bank. the other factors of fed offense to tamper with, easy availabilty and inexpensive cost to purchase make them hard to pass up. kurt

They can be purchased in faily high amounts and if the transaction is over that amount you can simply purchase more than one.
They cannot be stopped for any reason and any bank treats them as a cashier's check.

IMHO this is the safest method of payment for anyone that cannot use a credit card or does not wish to use paypal because of their rediculous fee structure.

The Post Office really did their homework when creating these and they are really the most economical, best thing going.
I have requested them many times and most of the time will have to hold money orders because of high fraud issues.

Hope this helps!