Whistlesmiths/dealers-- payment question

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 3:17 pm

I'm curious about how other whistle makers and/or dealers handle international transactions.
PayPal works OK for me, assuming the customer's country has it available, and the customer has an appropriate credit card and is willing to use PayPal. I've had several direct bank transfers, but my own bank charges $20 to accept such a payment, and there are sometimes intermediary banks which also take a cut which I have the sad job of passing on to the customer. International checks seem to be sort of difficult. Any and all suggestions welcomed.

PhilO · Post by **PhilO** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 3:46 pm

Neither a maker nor dealer be I, but what about asking for international postal money orders?

Regards,

Philo

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 3:56 pm

from my experience with ebay, almost any foreign transaction is going to cost extra in some regard. checks and money orders get you a charge to cash them. paypal requires a transaction fee as well (one fee for membership to accept cc transactions, and another if you want your balance in cash). direct bank transfers are the most expensive it seems. converting cash will cost you too.

it's just a world of cost

chas · Post by **chas** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 5:42 pm

Aren't American banks outrageous when it comes to wire transfers? A lot of makers prefer wire transfers -- Grinter and Swayne come immediately to mind. I went to the bank (actually, it was the second bank I went to; my primary bank doesn't do international transfers), and it was going to cost $47 to wire $240 to Australia. Fortunately, he accepted a cheque when he learned of my plight.

I told this to some European friends who were aghast -- much commerce over there is by transfer, and it's cheap. I dunno why American banks discourage it. It can't actually be expensive, otherwise mortgages and other loans wouldn't require payments by debit.

Rant mode off.

BTW, Lee Marsh (I think) posted the name of a bank a year or two ago that does inexpensive international transfers.

raindog1970 · Post by **raindog1970** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 5:51 pm

I'm glad you brought this subject up, because it's something I too will have to deal with at some point in time.
I've only shipped one of my whistles overseas (UK), but I didn't get any education on international monetary transactions since it was a gift.
PayPal is something I've considered, but I haven't seriously looked into all the pros and cons of using it.
Please post your final resolution to the problem when you decide what's the best available option... you'll save me a big headache on down the line!

serpent · Post by **serpent** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 5:59 pm

I use PayPal exclusively. It's relatively inexpensive, and accepts a number of non-US currencies. Anything that keeps my costs and hassle down, benefits my customers. If I have to work at it, that costs me, and it's a cost I must pass on. Been there, done that with Australia and wire transfers. I bought a dijeridu via a friend there, and it wound up costing me an extra $40 or so to do the wire transfer. Outrageous! And Never Again. International Reply Coupons (Money Orders) are an alternative for countries that can't use PayPal. Unfortunately, that's going to have to be up to the customer. My margin isn't great enough to play too many games chasing after money.
Hope this helps!

serpent

Bloomfield · Post by **Bloomfield** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 6:25 pm

Have you ever realized that it takes about 30 seconds to get a credit check done, but that it takes five days for an out-of-state check to clear in the Greatest Country In the World That Is Going To Improve The Rest Of The World, Too? Can you just imagine the sums of money in checks-waiting-to-clear each day? The interest banks earn on it must be staggering. And on top of it, they will treat you like a criminal until proven otherwise if you walk into a bank to open an account. :roll:

I don't think you'll find better than PayPal, in a place where people order Pizza and DVD rentals on line but send a stack of checks by mail every month. (And in case you wonder: if you pay your bills "electronically" the bank prints a check and sends it by mail to your payee.) Pass the bottle.

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 7:43 pm

My bank charges a flat $45 for an international wire transfer. I've had no problems sending money to England, but the Australian banking system has a different swift code than the US banks and wire transfers to a checking account were not possible. Direct transfer to a credit card account wasn't a problem at all. I've also sent checks from my US based personal account to a pipemaker in Australia and added $30US to cover his banking fees for the transaction.

McHaffie · Post by **McHaffie** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 8:23 pm

PayPal. 'nough said!

It's cheepest and most conveneint for both parties that I've found.

Bretton · Post by **Bretton** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 8:42 pm

I just had to wire money to Australia for a melodeon I'm having made. My bank charged me $50 for an International wire transfer. I did ask the maker about sending a USPS International Money Order but he said he'd had trouble cashing these in Australia. My preference was just to send US$ cash via registered mail (which I'd done before when buying something from Australia) but the maker stated that he thought it was illegal to send cash through the mail... Anyone know if that's true?

-Brett

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 8:45 pm

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 8:47 pm

And the USPS money order isn't very good either. I was suprised they took my US personal check without any problems.

Daniel_Bingamon · Post by **Daniel_Bingamon** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 9:29 pm

I use Paypal for most transactions but will accept Money Orders, Travelers Checks. One person (I think in Finland) send me something called a 'Swiftcheck' it seemed to be ok.
Calculating Overseas Postage is usually a extra task.

I've purchased instruments overseas (Ebay Purchase) using Western Union (Bidpay).

Sandy Jasper · Post by **Sandy Jasper** » Thu Feb 27, 2003 12:58 am

International money orders work best for me. My bank will cash them with no problem. I suppose that is the advantage of living in a small town! Everyone knows who you are and where you live anyway.

If a customer can't get the international money order or if the fee is too much I will take a personal cheque which the bank is supposed to hold for 2 weeks. Again, they usually let it go but promise to find me if the cheque bounces!

I have also been sent cash by mail and that works fine for me providing the customer is comfortable. One time the cash came from Scotland and the customs people opened the envelope and put the money back.

I just love honest people!

I think the most important thing is for the customer to communicate with the whistle maker if a prefered payment plan is causing them a lot of grief or a huge fee. They may be willing to work out an easier arrangement!

All the best,

Sandy

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Sandy Jasper on 2003-02-27 01:59 ]</font>

Zubivka · Post by **Zubivka** » Thu Feb 27, 2003 2:32 am

I buy Travellers Checks from American Express, $US. It's almost like cash, but I can mail them just like checks.