Hi all
No matter what some of us may think, Canada still isn't our 51st state.
Recently, Walter at Sphere made me an extremely generous deal on a manual, and asked for either a USPS international money order in payment, or PayPal with a surcharge sufficient to cover PP's rapacious fees.
What I found was -- the current fee for a USPS international money order is USD$4.50, and postage from the states to Canada is $1.10. Walter asked for a 7% PayPal surcharge. In my case, it would have been much cheaper to pay that surcharge, much as I hate PayPal. They're not my pal, friend; they're not my friend, buddy; they're not my buddy, pal. (with apologies to "South Park")
Your mileage may vary, especially as the dollar amount of the transaction rises, but I suggest that you work the numbers before you go to the post office.
Now, usually I do not mind a trip to the post office -- I telecommute to work 99% of the time, and it's a refreshing break to go to the PO. Most times, I meet some interesting people there.
However, yesterday? Not quite so much. If I have a chance to go to the PO today, I'm going to lodge a formal complaint against one of the workers who confronted me -- I cannot say "helped" -- because he was about as useful at actually providing my requested services as Neville Chamberlain was at ending World War 2.
Maybe I can get him fired.
All monetary things being equal, my disgust with PayPal was dwarfed by overweening frustration and dismay with that one Postal Service waste of oxygen employee. He made it truly a challenge for me to be civil to the other dedicated postal workers who DID take care of this situation for me.
Anyway, check prices for cross-border financial services first. It may be that the oft-reviled evil empire of PayPal is a better deal than USPS.
73 and have a nice day
Jim N6OTQ
