Best way to post money to the US?

BopNiblets

Bought some stuff off eBay, sellers won't use Paypal unfortunately, they give their address, so money order or something?
Western Union?

I was down in my local post office and bank and the An Post demon behind the counter said something about only having money orders in Euros for Ireland, and I want to be able to send in dollars so the seller won't have to do any exchanges

THEN I went to the bank and they said they charge €50 on money orders under a certain amount or something and it would cost too much for me...

Now, looing at the Western Union website they seem to charge 7.50 on the amounts I want to send...

Any ideas?

BuffyBot

There is a reason why eBay don't recommend using Western Union. If something goes wrong, you're screwed. The money can't be reclaimed

BopNiblets

I'm not risking any vast fortune here or anything , but I didn't know they don't recommend WU... so what other options are there?
The thing I'm looking for is like a cheque that I can send in dollars, that I put in an envelope, send off and the guy gets it and can cash it, right?

Heh, I'm a n00b, stupid non-Paypal-ers.

Ruu_Old

Yeah its called an international bank draft. I used to get them at BOI all the time, it should only cost you around 2-4 euros, no more. Get your bank draft for 50 US dollars, stick it in an envelope and the seller can cash it in any bank in the US.

Dades

Ruu wrote:

Yeah its called an international bank draft. I used to get them at BOI all the time, it should only cost you around 2-4 euros, no more. Get your bank draft for 50 US dollars, stick it in an envelope and the seller can cash it in any bank in the US.

Just a heads up...

A bought something in Canada, and paid by sending an International Bank Draft. Despite numerous pleas and irate calls to Bank of Canada (the bank in question) - they would not clear the draft for 30 working days. They basically treated it like a dodgy cheque.

Maybe US banks are looser, but I kinda doubt it.

I would WU the cash - have used them several times and though they are pricey they are quick.

Ruu_Old

Thats really odd, The Atheist. You would imagine the Bank of Canada deals with them on a fairly regular basis. I cash dollar drafts in a small central illinois bank all the time, no problems whatsoever, weird that.

Dades

Ruu wrote:

Thats really odd, The Atheist.

Not just odd - a serious pain in the hoop!

Maybe you can just be unlucky with who you deal with.

BopNiblets

I've asked to see if the guys bank will accept international bank drafts, thanks guys.
Otherwise I found a Western Union type of service called eMoneygram, they work out a little bit cheaper than WU.

nlgbbbblth

I have bought at least 50 items from US ebay sellers using US dollar bank drafts.

In every single case the seller has sent the goods upon receipt of the draft without waiting for it to clear.

BopNiblets

Yeah?
Well, I sent the money via Western Union, but I'm never using it again, too much hassle. Especially after the guy wants more money for postage.
Dumbass! It costs me 7.50 to send you more! :mad:

It's rediculous, I won the item from him for 1 cent, and was prepared to pay a decent amount for postage as it would need a parcel, that was fine.
But along with the WU charges and the more postage he wants, it would cost me at least 4 times the amount I was willing to pay in the 1st place! :rolleyes: