> Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 21:09:16 -0500
> From: The Maaslands <TheMaaslands@comcast.net>
> To: Classic Rendezvous <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Subject: Fw: [CR]Best way to pay in Euros?
>
> Greg asked:
>
> >I need to pay for a vintage bike item that's in Europe via Euros - any
> >recommendations as to where to exchange US dollars for Euros? I can do it
> >locally, but I'm guessing it will cost me about $15 in fees, and wondering
> >if perhaps there is a better way. International Money Orders in Foreign
> >currency have also cost me about $15 in the past....
> >
> >It'll be great when *everyone* takes PayPal - I just sent a payment to
> >Slovakia this evening via PayPal, and received one from Taiwan....
>
And Steven replied:
> $15 is a fair amount to pay for commissions and the sending of money, so on
> big items it is hard to do any better. If the item is small and worth a
> relatively small amount of money, I usually propose to the seller to accept
> US $ in cash. I simply put it in an envelope and mail the cash. Never lost
> anything yet. I always add in about 8% to cover exchange rate fluctuations
> and the hassle of changing the cash. In Europe the banks charge a straight
> commission and/or a charge of about 1-5% to exchange the money. It is my
> experience that they usually want about 3%. Here in the US, the service
> charges are higher than elsewhere when the bank is even ready to exchange
> the money. I have seen many a bank refuse to even get involved in any
> foreign currency exchange, or only upon pre-booking.
>
> Steven Maasland
> Moorestown, NJ
>
> PS: personally, I simply pay from my Italian bank account.
>
Uh huh....
I am aware of both the cost/hassle of traditional methods of money exchange here in the US (that's why I mentioned them! ;-) ), and the ol' cash method (which is what I normally use), but thanks for revisiting them.
Unfortunately, my account at Guido's Our Lady of Perpetual Pain National Bank and Car Wash is nearly empty, so that's not a viable option at this time.....
Can anyone answer my question in a more substantive way?
Gratzi,
Gregorio Parker
Ann Arbor, MI USA