Infuriates me that BidPay keeps sending me those 'we're so convenient'
messages because it takes 2-3 weeks to clear a US$ money order here and
banks charge about $10 to do it. I also have to wait for it to show up in
the post - 10-14 days from the US. Record so far was 6 weeks from sale to
spend.
I've suggested to some buyers that they use a 'Swift' bank-to-bank transfer
- 'cos it's cheaper than Western Union transfer and it arrives here in
local currency. Very simple and should be very cheap. But, banks seem to
have decided that it should cost US$15 and one guy was quoted $30! Absolute
rip-off. My Credit Union will do it for free, except for a small margin on
the exchange rate.
So much for globalisation? Big guy gets the benefits, we get the bill.
Andrew
>
>I always use bank money orders (my wife works there so it doesn't cost me
>anything). Also, using BidPay, etc. requires a credit card to get the
>money order sent out. The bid-ask spread for the exchange rate used by
>credit cards is much higher than used on a bank money order. In one case
>I noticed a 3.5 cent difference. On a hundred item this cost nearly
>covers the cost of using the bank money order (mine charges non-staff
>customers $3.75), so BidPay, etc. really is not that great a deal. I have
>also received payment a few times from BidPay and had a horrendous time
>cashing the money order received from Western Union (no currency of
>denomination stated on it). Until electronic payment systems have ALL the
>kinks worked out, I will stay with bank money orders. At present their
>ABSOLUTE cashability a security far out-weigh the extra wait time for the
>item.
>
>
>-Bill
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Chris O'Neill [<mailto:coneill@xxxxxxxxxxx>mailto:coneill@xxxxxxxxxxx]
>Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2001 9:58 AM
>To: andrew fildes; olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: [OM][OT] Forwarded- Ebay & Paypal.com- The Good and the Bad
>
>
>
>If I'm not using PayPal, I send a money order from my bank because
>Bidpay charged US$5 (at least) and my bank doesn't charge anything.
>Or, to be more precise, my bank doesn't charge anything extra above
>the excessive and oughta-be-illegal service fees they're already gouging
>me for. :-)
>
>
>Regards,
>
>
>Chris
>
>
>On 9 May 2001, at 22:29, andrew fildes wrote:
>
>
>> I still have buyers who send me a money order by post, despite the fact
>> that I suggest BidPay, and it costs them a 10-15 day wait.
>
>
>---
>I'm *not* a Zuikoholic.... I'm a Zuikohobbiest!
>Chris O'Neill (coneill@xxxxxxxxxxx)
><http://www.nucleus.com/~coneill>http://www.nucleus.com/~coneill
>
>
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