A request for one of the members in the UK

**Hothir Ethelnor** · 3rd April 10, 01:25 PM

Hi,

I was recently made aware of an opportunity to obtain my own clan's cap badge from our chief. (see this thread http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/g...cap-badge-191/)

Now, he is charging extra for USD checks sent to him. and instead of doing a bunch of math and trying to work with the exchange rate to make sure he has his money. I am wondering if someone who has paypal could expedite the process and get me one.

This is how it works. You bill me on papal in GBP (PM for email) I pay you, and let paypal take care of the exchange rate math. You write my clan chief and send him a check with my address.

I get my badge...

please PM me if you would like to help me out.

Thanks

Please write here if you PM me so I don't get a whole rabble of helpful people at once...

**BoldHighlander** · 3rd April 10, 11:35 PM

Have you tried an on-line currency converter?

XE - Universal Currency Converter for example?

**Hothir Ethelnor** · 4th April 10, 03:54 AM

I was actually hoping to avoid the 7 pound fee for sending a USD check.

**Schiehallion** · 4th April 10, 05:42 AM

Have sent you a PM hope you have seen it??

**Pleater** · 4th April 10, 05:47 AM

I was just off doing a PM as you'd had no offer when I looked - maybe flip a coin?

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**McClef** · 4th April 10, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by Hothir Ethelnor

I was actually hoping to avoid the 7 pound fee for sending a USD check.

Maybe because our system can only accept CHEQUES

I used to have to deal with the US ones and we were charged about £1.50 but that was back in the 80s and all bank charges have increased since then.

But remember that PayPal also charge fees of approx 4% of the converted figure also.

**Lallans** · 4th April 10, 11:45 AM

Myself, I have in the pre-creditcard days made good use of money orders, available from banks and other places. Are these now obsolete?

**Hothir Ethelnor** · 4th April 10, 11:56 AM

Well I have two helpful offers, I think that'll do.

Thanks guys.

**Pleater** · 4th April 10, 01:29 PM

PayPal has made it possible to send money between countries almost instantaneously, and revolutionised our little business as it is now about as cheap to buy from us from any country in the world as from the next county.

Pre PayPal it was expensive to send a cheque in your own currency as the banks charged a fee for changing the currency - sometimes the fee was larger than the value of the cheque so the recipient ended up out of pocket with a would be customer wondering why they did not get the goods they wanted.

I believe that many banks charged a fee for a money order in a foreign currency, so it was expensive to obtain one in the correct currency.

It can be difficult to calculate the amount to charge on PayPal - there is the 4 percent and a flat rate fee, but after a few undercharges we have got things fairly well sorted out.

Our banks in the UK are determined to make cheques obsolete - which will make things very difficult for many people who use cheques for all their transactions - including those with us (as Croucher Designs). Already bank cards are being issued which do not guarantee cheques, so giving small businesses the choice of risking taking a cheque or leasing a card reader machine which takes a slice off the price of everything in addition to its rental costs.

The other option is to use online banking - but the majority of those using cheques now are elderly and hardly likely to take to using a pc.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**BoldHighlander** · 4th April 10, 03:20 PM

[QUOTE=Hothir Ethelnor;871269]Now, he is charging extra for USD checks sent to him. and instead of doing a bunch of math and trying to work with the exchange rate to make sure he has his money. I am wondering if someone who has paypal could expedite the process and get me one./QUOTE]

You know, it may not do much good, but I'm going to email the chief & ask if he might consider setting up a paypal account.