How to mail a check?

[DCR]

I want to send seven people a check. It will be a surprise. I want it to be as safe and secure as possible. I would like to send it FedEx, but don't want to pay $31 each for seven of these. The only way I'd use USPS is if it was Certified/RRR, but I'd prefer not to use USPS. I'm on the fence about requiring a signature. Any suggestions?
Edit: Should it be a cashier's check?

 

[OurDee]

Postal money order.

 

[OurDee]

Do you need my address?

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I want to send seven people a check. It will be a surprise. I want it to be as safe and secure as possible. I would like to send it FedEx, but don't want to pay $31 each for seven of these. The only way I'd use USPS is if it was Certified/RRR, but I'd prefer not to use USPS. I'm on the fence about requiring a signature. Any suggestions?
Edit: Should it be a cashier's check?

I'm old enough that I used to mail checks to pay all my bills. Stick it in a security envelope, put a stamp on it and put it in the mailbox.

 

[mom45]

Just send it usps with tracking. I send checks all the time to pay bills.

 

[Cameramonkey]

USPS themselves came out and warned us not to use them to send checks. Because they can’t guarantee their security. Pretty telling.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

USPS themselves came out and warned us not to use them to send checks. Because they can’t guarantee their security. Pretty telling.

But I'm sure they're okay with mailing USPS money orders? That makes zero sense.

 

[Cameramonkey]

But I'm sure they're okay with mailing USPS money orders? That makes zero sense.

And apparently if they lose your money order in transit and even admit they lost the envelope, they still make you pay the fee to stop payment and get a (partial) refund. Which is pure bs. They should refund the whole MO AND the postage because they failed to provide the service you paid for.

 

[armalitesheepdog]

I'm old enough that I used to mail checks to pay all my bills. Stick it in a security envelope, put a stamp on it and put it in the mailbox.

 

[DCR]

What you're talkin' about is scaring me off USPS, which I was scared off of in the first place. Can't use a MO, too much $$. Oooh, unless I send multiple ones. Still, that's a PITA. Oh, and I think one of them may need to go overseas, hopefully not to China. Thanks for the responses, still thinking this one over.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

What you're talkin' about is scaring me off USPS, which I was scared off of in the first place. Can't use a MO, too much $$. Oooh, unless I send multiple ones. Still, that's a PITA. Oh, and I think one of them may need to go overseas, hopefully not to China. Thanks for the responses, still thinking this one over.

Overseas is a new wrinkle, but for domestic, you're way overthinking this. IMHO of course. I can't imagine being too paranoid to mail a letter or a check.

 

[JEBland]

I've used Moneygram for overseas. There's also Western Union. Last I reevaluated, can pickup Moneygram funds in cash (needs ref # and an ID). Would advise you to think about it before sending it as a surprise. It's pretty simple to send a USPS flat-rate priority envelope; if paranoid, probably want to require a signature/ID.

 

[OurDee]

Paypal

 

[Route 45]

I'd use PayPal, Venmo or Western Union/Moneygram before I'd send a paper check for any substantial amount.

Been a long time since I've actually written a check.

 

[JettaKnight]

I'm old enough that I used to mail checks to pay all my bills. Stick it in a security envelope, put a stamp on it and put it in the mailbox.

IKR. I'm not sure if this thread should make me feel old, or not.

I don't see the problem with simply mailing a personal check. Is there more to this story?

 

[JettaKnight]

What you're talkin' about is scaring me off USPS, which I was scared off of in the first place. Can't use a MO, too much $$. Oooh, unless I send multiple ones. Still, that's a PITA. Oh, and I think one of them may need to go overseas, hopefully not to China. Thanks for the responses, still thinking this one over.

Wait - you don't know who you're giving money to?

 

[BigRed]

I'm old enough that I used to mail checks to pay all my bills. Stick it in a security envelope, put a stamp on it and put it in the mailbox.

I still miss pony express.

 

[Creedmoor]

What you're talkin' about is scaring me off USPS, which I was scared off of in the first place. Can't use a MO, too much $$. Oooh, unless I send multiple ones. Still, that's a PITA. Oh, and I think one of them may need to go overseas, hopefully not to China. Thanks for the responses, still thinking this one over.

Send your personal checks in USPS padded Flat Rate Envelopes. $8.95 each.
They are 2-3 day Priority Mail, and they come with tracking.

 

[1nderbeard]

Zelle, Paypal, Venmo.

Checks are 20 years outdated.

 

[JettaKnight]

Zelle, Paypal, Venmo.

Checks are 20 years outdated.

I'd agree, but you have to have email addresses for those, sound like the OP doesn't even know that.