Paying with "old bills"?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by fortunateson, Jun 12, 2010.


  1. fortunateson

    fortunateson I hate Illinois Nazis!

    I'm selling something on ebay.
    Someone just emailed me - they want to pay in person with "old bills"

    What could this mean?
    I guess everyone here has some experience stashing things, but why would you keep old bills? Why not trade them out?

    Is this something I should be wary of?

    Do banks still take old bills? If so, how old?
     
  2. Wild Trapper

    Wild Trapper Pirate Biker

    Got a few old hundreds and some old fifties poked away for a rainy day. They don't have that strip in them and I don't rotate them out with newer bills when I resupply either. Just like the older ones better to have around.

    Actually I go through my cash when I go to the bank for resupply and pull out any old bills they pass to me. Shouldn't be a problem unless you suspect counterfeit.
     
  3. pcc

    pcc Monkey+

    Old bills were easier to counterfeit than new bills. If you're not comfortable with the person ask them to meet you at a local bank and exchange their "old bills" for new ones or get a bank check before you sell them your stuff.

    You can get one of those pens at an office supply store to help determine if it's counterfeit or not although they aren't fool proof. The pens don't work with bills that have been through the wash or with raised notes, that's where they bleach a low denomination note and reprint a higher dollar figure on it.
     
  4. fortunateson

    fortunateson I hate Illinois Nazis!

    Here's an update:

    She emailed me to say that "there have been some counterfeit bills popping up in the area" which is true and that "these are well worn 20s".
    Now to me that could mean one of 2 things:
    "wink wink no one will catch these bills"
    or
    "You won't have to worry because these are obviously older and therefore not counterfeit"

    I think she meant the latter although you could easily mistake her comments as the former.

    As far as detecting counterfeits - absent of a watermark or other device, I like to look at the crosshatch area around the prez and surrounding detail work as well as the quality and texture of the paper.
     
  5. melbo

    melbo Hunter Gatherer Administrator Founding Member

    Seems like an odd offer. Tell her you'd like to go older yet and take payment in 1964 quarters.
     
  6. UGRev

    UGRev Get on with it!

    when in doubt.. walk away.
     
  7. fortunateson

    fortunateson I hate Illinois Nazis!

    Problem may have solved itself. Now she's giving me the violins - "I'll have the balance within 90 days" - No thanks.
    Isn't it nice how the flakes always show their hand :)
     
  8. Seawolf1090

    Seawolf1090 Retired Curmudgeonly IT Monkey Founding Member

    I'd have her give the "Old bills" to the USPS and convert them into a good old-fashioned Postal Money Order - any 'hanky-panky' goes on, the offender is guilty of mail fraud - the Feds take that seriously! Better protection than cash money.
     
    DKR likes this.
  9. tacmotusn

    tacmotusn RIP 1/13/21

    Has the merchandise already been sent to her? If not, I would tell her the purchase is on layaway for 30 days maximum. Tell her any bank will exchange legal tender for legal tender, but counterfit bills will be confiscated. Tell her better yet, while at the bank just get a cashiers check. ...... Anything less or any more run around I would consider walking away from this deal as well.
     
  10. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    "Will ship within 30 days of receiving the balance, USPS MO only."

    Time to walk away, says me.
     
  11. Byte

    Byte Monkey+++

    USPS money orders are def the way to go when purchasing across distance with strangers. Very good level of fraud protection for both sides. I'd rather do USPS money orders than PayPal any day. The extra time waiting for the mail to arrive is worth the security they provide.

    Byte
     
  12. fortunateson

    fortunateson I hate Illinois Nazis!

    It is a big item - pickup only and she was contacting me before bidding to work out some sort of arrangement. Seems like everyone's trying to cut their own deal - "can you hold it?", "can you crate it?", "will you take a MO?"

    A lot of cashier's and MO advocates - but I have a question. - You know that they're the #1 method of fraud on craigslist and ebay because they're easy to duplicate?

    Is there something about postal MO that makes a difference?
     
  13. Byte

    Byte Monkey+++

    Oh I see on the hand pick-up. It is nice to be able to take cash in those situations but if you're at all worried about counterfeits ask her to purchase a money order and you can go have it authenticated and cash it with her present.

    USPS - Money Order Security Features

    Yeah. They are much harder to duplicate now. Stop in and mail a few things and ask to look at a new one. Or on the security features page there is a .pdf or htm link near the bottom that will show you what they look like. That way you'll know what one looks like if you're expecting one in the mail. Also, when I've sent one out it has always been with the understanding that an item might not be shipped for up to two weeks to ensure it's authentic.

    It's so crazy that we need to even worry about being so careful but with technology it's really too easy for unsavory people to take advantage of the trusting among us. I wish there were a fool proof way but all we really can do is make an effort to protect ourselves. That won't even ensure a 100% success rate though.

    Byte
     
  14. fortunateson

    fortunateson I hate Illinois Nazis!


    Thanks for that.
     
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