photosensitive
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posted on May 10, 2004 04:22:58 PM new
I bought a item from a UK dealer with a low number (but perfect) feedback. The auction allowed US bidders and asked for bank transfers or International money orders. I wrote about shipping and insurance before bidding and all seemed well. The winning bid was $300+ and when I received the winning notice I learned that I was the first US winner the seller had ever had. He does not take PayPal, my understanding is that the USPS international money orders do not work in the UK, and I can not convince him to sign up for Western Union Auction Payments (the old BidPay). He must be signed up to get the money order in pounds. He wants the payment in pounds (I understand that) so I assumed (yes, yes I know about assuming) that WU Auction Payments would be ideal. Can anyone suggest anything other than bank transfers that will get payment to him in pounds quickly and safely?
Thanks
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
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fenix03
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posted on May 10, 2004 04:35:42 PM new
You can send the payment via Western Union Money Gram in USD. When the seller collects, they will be paid in GBP at the conversion rate of the day. Have them check and see if there is a Western Union office near them - they can do this at WesternUnion.com.
I have had a few customers that did not have PayPal use this service and all were surpirsed to learn that on average it was no more than 10 miles from them to their nearest office (and they were sending money - they's probably happily travel farther if they were recieving it  ).
There are a couple other options such as travelers checks if this does not work but I think a Western Union wire is the easiest way to go and you can send the payment online from their site.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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photosensitive
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posted on May 10, 2004 04:47:59 PM new
Fenix, I thought of a Western Union transfer and that may be the way I have to go. I'll get on their site and see if there is a fee to covert. There is a Western Union office near him. We have already established that. I sent a Western Union transfer years ago and I remember it as expensive and a bit of a pain. I know it will not be as simple as WU Auction Payments but I want the item do I had better do it.
Thanks
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
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sparkz
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posted on May 10, 2004 04:54:08 PM new
If he will register with Bidpay, he can receive a money order from them in GBP. See if he is aware of this.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
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stopwhining
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posted on May 10, 2004 04:59:49 PM new
i dont understand why he does not want to register with bidpay/auction payment.com as it costs him nothing,buyer pays the fee.
other options would be wire transfer and depending on where he is,Thomas cook travel agency and american express.
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
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fenix03
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posted on May 10, 2004 05:03:08 PM new
Photo - their fee is worked into the conversion rate. Your seller will not see a fee, he will jut be given a conversion rate that is slightly less than book.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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photosensitive
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posted on May 10, 2004 05:11:15 PM new
I just got off the phone with Western Union and my fee is $45 for the transfer and the exchange rate just went in the toilet. I am going to end up paying almost $100 more than the eBay conversion when I bid.
I tried to tell him how easy it was to use BidPay/Auction Payment, even sent him a link to the registration page and the FAQ about getting paid in pounds but he won't do it. He did say he would register for PayPal is I insist which seems a lot more trouble than BidPay.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
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stopwhining
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posted on May 10, 2004 05:47:26 PM new
talk to your bank and see how much is wiretransfer.
Thomas cook travel agency would even sell you cash (pounds) ,but you must bring us cash with you.
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
[ edited by stopwhining on May 10, 2004 05:57 PM ]
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fenix03
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posted on May 10, 2004 06:30:23 PM new
I would look into Travelers Checks... you can order travelers chechks in GBP from American Express.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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bizzycrocheting
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posted on May 10, 2004 07:25:16 PM new
Whenever I purchase from the UK and they usually don't accept paypal, I offer to pay their paypal fee. Usually they tack it into the shipping fee or add another 50p to cover it. Maybe he'll let you do that??
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photosensitive
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posted on May 10, 2004 07:36:22 PM new
Thanks for all the advice. I am going to sleep on it and make a decision in the morning. He is not registered for PayPal and I think that will be more complex than WU Auctions Payments. One way or the other this is a widget I have to have.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
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agitprop
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posted on May 10, 2004 08:58:21 PM new
Check with your bank on the cost of a draft or cashier check denominated in GBP drawn on a correspondent UK bank. These can be cashed free of charge in the UK by depositing into a bank account. Travellers checks are never really a good idea as they are treated as cash but cost more than cash (bank notes) for little additional security.
Western Union Auction Payments are available in GBP but there is a $5 fee - details:
For a small fee of $5 USD (per transaction), Western Union Auction Payments will send you a cheque in British Pounds as a payout option, eliminating many of the problems associated with cashing a US dollar denominated money order within the United Kingdom. The Western Union Auction Payments service will convert the buyer's payment to you from US Dollars into British Pounds and send you a cheque from a bank in the UK. The payment will arrive to you faster and easier to cash or deposit, without the fees and delays of depositing a US dollar denominated money order. You must be registered with the Western Union Auction Payments service to take advantage of this option. You may choose this option when registering; if you are already registered, log into your seller account and change your currency acceptance within your profile.
(Can't think of any other options at present.)
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fenix03
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posted on May 10, 2004 09:32:34 PM new
Agit - maybe you can help - I have few customers here and there that do not have PayPal and do not understand what an international money order is. have no problem accepting payment in GBP I just need to know whatthe right term is to explain what I do accept. Is there a "british word" for international money order or a UK equivalent?
I'm coming closer to launch date on my website (no merchant account yet but I get a couple inquiries a day about a site so I cn't wait on that) and need to find the right terms to use when listing available payment options.
Many thanks!!
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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agitprop
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posted on May 11, 2004 04:18:26 AM new
fenix03,
I have few customers here and there that do not have PayPal and do not understand what an international money order is. have no problem accepting payment in GBP I just need to know whatthe right term is to explain what I do accept. Is there a "british word" for international money order or a UK equivalent?
Happy to share my knowledge: domestic UK bank transfers are free (so why use PayPal, an unregulated, unlicensed e-money company based in the US?) as are cross-border transfers in the Euro zone provided they are under EUR 12,500, and IBAN/BIC details are supplied. Nomenclature is almost the same for financial instruments except checks are spelt cheques, and cashiers checks are usually bankers drafts or cheques. International Postal Money Orders used to be available at most large Post Offices but aren't so popular these days with the advent of credit/debit cards. We occasionally get paid by domestic Postal MOs which can be cashed at any UK Post Office or deposited to any UK bank at no charge.
It's easy to open a UK bank account even if you are not living or resident there. Opened on there last year without problem an I'm on the other side of the world, but can check my UK bank balances in real time. You can also open UK based Euro accounts which offer the added advantage of free or low cost IBAN transfers (see above) - ideal for getting paid by EU customers. Bonus feature of Sterling or Euro accounts is much higher interest rates than those available in the US (though that will soon change). 
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stopwhining
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posted on May 11, 2004 05:17:36 AM new
agitprop,
are the UK bank deposits insured ??
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
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agitprop
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posted on May 11, 2004 03:26:32 PM new
stop,
Are UK bank deposits insured?
Yes, up to some 5 digit figure per account. (And no saving and loans associations like Texas to worry about.) Actually all EU bank deposits are currently guaranteed, but this changes next year in a move to streamline the EU banking sector.
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stopwhining
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posted on May 11, 2004 03:29:54 PM new
who is providing it??
In this country(USA),it is better to be a debtor than a saver.
pity the retirees who live on fixed income,will they ever see the phoenix rising from the ashes-that jumbo deposit earning 10-12%
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
[ edited by stopwhining on May 11, 2004 03:31 PM ]
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agitprop
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posted on May 12, 2004 04:12:10 PM new
stop,
who is providing it?? In this country(USA),it is better to be a debtor than a saver. pity the retirees who live on fixed income,will they ever see the phoenix rising from the ashes-that jumbo deposit earning 10-12%
Government back with some covered by private insurance schemes - varies from country to country. Most Europeans don't believe in carrying excess debt except for home mortgages.
Current yields on Euro and Sterling deposits are significantly higher than US Dollars ones. Some convertible bonds in major UK corporations offer 10 3/4% and pay out tax free twice yearly, also BP has a nice yield and loads of upside with rising oil prices.
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Kalf999
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posted on May 17, 2004 06:45:02 AM new
Just use a wire-xfer... for 300+ US$ it will be cheaper than BidPay,West.Union, PayPal, or whatever....!
I live in the E.U. ..it is not that perfect...but the only thing good about it, is that all banks actually don't ask fees anymore to send money to another EU-member...
 Talking about service...
Soon al kinds of adds will show up on the www :
Sign up for the E.U. now ! Free membership if you sign up now ! :P
Ciao !
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stopwhining
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posted on May 17, 2004 07:23:39 AM new
kalf,
do i understand you are wiring us dollars from one EU country to another??
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
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agitprop
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posted on May 17, 2004 04:52:45 PM new
do i understand you are wiring us dollars from one EU country to another??
No, she's talking about wiring Euros for free between EU member countries that use that common currency. FREE for sums up to 12,500 provided you use the IBAN and BIC details (printed on every EU bank statement). You can even send Euros to the UK for free provided the recipient has a Euro account with a UK bank
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