My ban, however, locks the exchange rate at the time of transaction,
not when the check clears (I was converting Canadian to US) and holds
the check (in my case anyway) for three days.
I figured that the bank made about $750.00 US on my exchange ($50,000
Canadian turned into about 34,375.oo US) based on the "official"
exchange rates published at the NASDAC and other exchanges.
For the amount on money I was dealing with a penny made a $500.00
difference, and the fluctuations each day made or lost as much as
$.03... I finally gave up on trying to optimize the exchange, since
keeping the check in my pocket had an opportunity cost equal to the
interest I wasn't earning...and just deposited the check into a money
market account.
I should have asked the list for advice... (MJB, I love the list, but
contributing that check to Fat Chance just wasn't in the cards!!!)
BTW, my bank advised that exchange rates for checks is better than for
cash.... they don't have as much handling expense.
A very frustrating experience for a not so well informed sojourner
into the world of finance.
PMcQ
Several Triumphs...
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: CASH THROUGH U.S. Mail
Author: curry@wolfenet.com at Internet
Date: 1/9/98 12:24 PM
Justin, etal,
When my son was going to school in Vancouver, BC, I became well aware of the
troubles of currency exchange through the mail. The US Banks will make out
Bank money orders in most currencies based on the current exchange rates.
The banls on the other end will also deposit the money based on their
impression of those rates. Problem is, they very likely are not the same
between banks on any given day. Therefore, what you have to do is agree on a
sum and a currency and get your money order (Cashier's check) made out in that
currency. The final problem is that most banks will wait until the check
clears before releasing funds. (That is also true in the US for out-of-state
checks in many banks)
Joe Curry
Justin Wagner wrote:
> Dear Odd...
>
> If we're talking about a few dollars... it's not really that big an
> issue... but there is a certain point, where we're talking about amounts
> that you dno't want to just lose.
>
> I do NOT like the idea of people using cash to buy my gaskets.
> Particularly, if they don't know me... i.e. people that aren't on the
> newsgroup... because... if that cash becomes lost... I don't like the
> feeling that they might, in some way, suspect that I had received the
> cash. I don't want that cloud hanging over me nor my business.
>
> I also don't like the idea of sending cash, because it only encourages
> theft among those few bad apples in the postal service. I'm sure in
> their pursuit of cash, many of our letters and packages become
> "missing"...even though they didn't have cash in them. If everyone
> would just follow the rule of NOT sending cash...that would take a bite
> out of the dishonest post worker's profits.
>
> Domestically, I accept personal checks or money orders. I realize that
> foreign customers must pay a fee for an international money order...
> and this is unfortunate. In the future, I hope to have VISA
> capability... but that's down the road... and doesn't apply to the issue
> of buying and selling of used parts between private parties.
>
> All I can say is, it is foolish to send cash. Domestically, I see no
> excuse not to use a check or money order. Internationally, I can see a
> need to consider the money order costs... at the same time... do the
> parties involved always have the right kind of currency anyways?
>
> In closing, I say again... when a check is stolen and cashed, the BANK
> must eat the loss... hence, neither Triumph enthusiast need be
> victimized by lost funds and there need not be any doubts about each
> other's integrity.
>
> --Justin
>
> Odd Hedberg wrote:
> >
> > Justin,
> > that probably goes well for You Americans and Your domestic business...
> >
> > But I doubt if You, or Your bank, would be fully satisfied if I sent
> > You one of my checks from over here when I order a pair of Your nice
> > new Spitfire head gaskets... Or am I wrong?
> >
> > All the business I've done with people on [and off] this nice list
> > have been done by mailing cash and notifying the other party about
> > when I mailed it. I've bought VERY hard to come by parts from the
> > other side of the Atlantic some times [as some of You know...] and
> > it has always worked out just fine. For instance I bought a second
> > set of Speedbleeders only recently and got the wrong thread on two
> > of them (NOT their fault - VW Jettas in the US seems to have different
> > rear brakes compared to ours in Sweden...], mailed them back and
> > received the correct pair VERY fast. No problem. And he also got paid
> > with cash in a letter. Easiest way for me - I save the equivalent
> > of ~ USD 7 each time [the cost at the bank for an Internationally
> > negotiable check] and a couple of times of such wins equals the
> > eventual loss on a letter gone astray in the mail... And for the
> > seller: nice, plain greenbacks...
> >
> > SHOULD a letter go missing, OK then I only have to bite the apple
> > and send another pile of greenbacks I guess. But so far it have
> > not happened, and probably never will with the obviously nice bunch
> > of people we have on this list. And with trust in The Mail...
> >
> > Just a thought...
> > Yours
> > /Odd
> >
> > Justin Wagner skrev:
> > > Ummm.... you were asking people to send CASH????
> > >
> > > You've got to be kidding.
> > >
> > > If a check is lost... it can be replaced... if cash is lost...
> > > you've got a big problem. Your customer has no way of knowing
> > > whether YOU really didn't receive the cash or not... Your honesty
> > > would now always be at question... and the only way to save face,
> > > would be to eat the loss and send the product or replace the
> > > "lost" cash...
> > >
> > > CASH through the mail is foolish.
> > >
> > > Understand, also... if a check is lost... and cashed by the thief...
> > > the BANK must eat the loss... as they are responsible for the
> > > failure to pay the bearer. (I used to be a bank teller.)
> > >
> > > NEVER SEND CASH... NEVER ASK FOR CASH...
> > >
> > > --Justin
> >
> > --
> >
> > Odd Hedberg
> > Pomonagatan 4
> > S-74236 Isthammar International liaison secretary,
> > Sweden Triumph Club of Sweden
> > '70 Spitfire Mk3 FD82497LO Signal Red
> > E-mail: odd@triumphclub.se / odd.hedberg@bigfoot.com
> > Club URL: http://www2.passagen.se/triumph/
> > Home Telephone: Int+ 46-1731 7131
> > Geographical Position: N 60deg15min E 18deg23min
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------
|