Question
I have always used Bidpay for international payments but now that they are no longer in the business of selling money orders for online auctions I don't know what I should do.
I know for Canada you can get Canadian postal international money orders in U.S. dollars. It can be cashed (for free) at any U.S. post office but banks usually charge you a fee for cashing them. Is there an international money order for other countries?
I don't like paypal for international payment. DD was out $200+ on a auction when the item was said it was not received and they did a chargeback on paypal. You can't track the darn things to prove you sent it.
What's everyone else using or any suggestions.
Answer
I take Pay Pal and prefer it. Yes, I have had a chargeback...but that has happened in the US too. (No, I don't use DC on every shipment...it is not the magic bullet one might hope for.)
So, I recommend Pay Pal but if you don't mind waiting for your money international customers can get international money orders. Not all banks charge you for them just make sure they are made out in USD. There may be a bank in your area that you can open a free checking account at that will not charge for the international money orders...it may seem like a hassle to contend with but it's better than a big chargeback and better than losing international business. (I have some niche items that do very, very well in Europe, Australia and Singapore! So I am not going to let go of my international business.)
I know that many life in fear of the dreaded Pay Pal chargeback but maybe because I don't have big ticket items I just don't let it "hobble" me. As I said earlier...even when you have done everything you are supposed to including providing DC if Pay Pal is going to s*rew you over...it is going to happen no matter what so...I just have a conniption when it happens and continue to use Pay Pal as my payment option of choice. I have lost less money via Pay Pal than I have via bad checks so...it is six of one and so one and so forth!
Just my two cents and then some,
aae
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I take PP for international shipments as well. I haven't had a charge back *yet* and figure I'll throw a big old temper tantrum when I do , but I also have accounted for it as a cost a of doing business. If I had a B&M, I'd lose a certain amount to shoplifters. I just figure this is sort of the online equivalent.
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I guess I will take the paypal for international until something happens. I just don't like the idea of not being able to trace the item to see if they received it.
I've never had a problem with paypal so knock*on*wood.
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You could get a wire transfer (with SWIFT/IBAN international codes) to your bank account.
Another choice is Moneybookers (www.moneybookers.com).
Very similar to PayPal (even if much less popular), it is based in the UK but is available internationally, and seems to have very reasonable fees.
You will need a bank account to withdrawn funds from your moneybookers account (like PayPal).
Anyway... PayPal is still the best option for cross-border transactions IMHO.
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The Australian Post Office issues a money order in US Dollars that is drawn on Western Union. It may be worth checking out - I have heard of steep fees in the "boondocks", but mostly they have been easy and free to cash from those I have spoken to.
Another option is getting a cashier's check from the bank - just get your buyers to confirm that it is drawn on an American bank and you should have no fees - the cost to the buyer though will vary. Most cashiers checks drawn in US Dollars will be drawn on a US bank, and usually on one of the bigger banks in New York.
Kind Regards, Kevin
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moneybookers isn't approved to be used on ebay. The only approved payment methods on ebay now will be money orders, checks, paypal, and bank to bank transfer.
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Sellers insist that International Money Orders are available here in UK but my bank and Post Office haven't heard of them !!! and I have yet to find a Brit who has used one to pay for an auction !!
There are International Transfers (in whatever currency you like) but these tend to be very expensive £18 (about $35) !!!!! (no mattter the amount)
PayPal does have its draw back but is the quickest and most convenient. As a seller I see no alternative - unfortunately as this gives so much monopoly power to Ebay.
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I posted this in the other thread, but I'll post it here too.
Stormpay doesn't look like a good alternative to Bidpay to me. It looks like a paypal clone. I already have that and don't need another one.
Is anyone familiar with xoom? https://www.xoom.com/
Answer
I'll still use Paypal for international transactions under $100 as usual. Anything over that will have to be paid via bank wire transfer.