How popular is Wire Transfer.....

Wire tranfser is a fools way to lose the money.
A bank transfer is at least tracable. A wire transfer is sending money to any scam artist who can sucker the bait into sending it.
Of course some honest person may want it.. but no way is it a safe way to send money. So sending cash via Western Union, or some other cash to go place is foolish.
On the other hand a bank transfer is from one bank account to another. The recipient has to have a legitimate account, and in the case of fraud, you have a real target to show the police where it went.
(But be aware, they send the money to a NUMBER, that is it. If the number is in error, you are gonna have a hard time getting it straightened out. Use a bank transfer for big ticket items, or international only.IMO)
With a wire transfer, they will just tell you "too Bad" nothing they can do.
Sending money orders is another way to send money. Bank money orders are expensive, and can be forged, same for certified check. The best money order is a United States Postal Monney Order. It is cheap to buy, easy to send, very reliable,and is you trust the buyer, can bo deposited in your checking account just like any check. If you feel concerned about the buyer, you can go directly to a US post office and cash it for cash, right on the spot. (IF the post office does NOT have enough cash, and most will not!, then get as much cash as they will give you, plus buy a NEW postal money order for the rest of the money. Then you have a guaranteed real money order you can deposit in your checking account as you bought it yourself, for this 'peace of mind' the cost is about $2. for the new PO money order)

There might be a terminology problem here. A bank transfer is often referred to as a wire transfer so wire transfers are common and are safe when they are bank to bank.

Western Union transfers are frequently used by scammers because you can collect the funds by simply giving the code number to the Western Union office and picking up the money.

Avoid it at all cost. I can't agree with Elizabeth enough. And I like to ad if a seller is asking for either wire or bank transfer. Even if honest as the day long they should relize that it can and will raise a red flag. Use only a paypal type system or credit card. I will only send personal or money order when feedback is high. So don't feel bad thinking you missed out on some good deals. You might have saved yourself allot of headaches and money out of pocket.