Paying for books and stuff on the internet without bleeding

[mz]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_transfer

In my part of the world, the standard way to pay for anything more than a few euros is a bank transfer. It's quite easy, doesn't require you to travel anywhere physically and there's no paperwork.

I don't like credit cards and the number giving, paypal etc taking cuts and a million other things associated with that.

I also read from that article that making wire transfers in most US banks is very costly (12 to 25 dollars per time). Are there any banks that are exceptions to this like international ones?

Say I would like to buy something from some of the esteemed gentlemen here that are trustworthy: I make an order, then when I've made the money transfer (potentially with given invoice number), they can send me the material. Nobody makes any real money in the middle. Both pay a few dollars per year for the bank account that they are using anyway and that's it.

I know that at least within Europe all this should be a breeze. But what if I want to order stuff like APR? Distance shouldn't matter if I order electronic stuff. But strangely the distance between banks becomes the limiting factor here.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

In the United States wire transfers are costly and seldom if ever used by consumers. As an example of the cost, Bank Of America as of November 2011 charged $25 to send a wire and $12 to receive one within the U.S. For international transfer, it charged $35–$45 outgoing, $16 incoming.[3]However, fees may vary from bank to bank.

We used a specialist service (NZ Forex) to transfer between UK and NZ banks at a better rate, but it would still not be ideal for very small payments.

 

[beachhead1973]

How do you feel about abebooks.com?

Depending on what you are after, you can often get some really great deals, even on rare titles. And you are working with small book sellers, not Amazon or what have you.

 

[GeorgeA]

I use PayPal, which is connected to my "other" checking account. When I buy something, for example from APR, I go online, order, pay, and magically some merchandise (electronic or otherwise) comes my way. I assume PP takes a cut before my payment gets there, but I also assume Scott knows this and modifies his pricing accordingly. It is simple and as close to worry-free as you can get on the Internet, so I'm not sure what capabilities or protection a direct bank transfer would add. I get the point about the middleman's cut, but the banks are in effect middlemen in the transfer scenario anyway so I'm not sure there's a way around that.

 

[Orionblamblam]

I assume PP takes a cut before my payment gets there

Something like 2.5% + $0.35. That means for higher priced stuff, it works out to about 2.5%. For really cheap stuff (like my ill-conceived "dirt cheap documents" at $0.50 each), the hit can be pretty massive.

I've heard of other systems that take a fixed percent or take a fixed sum. A few months back i read of one that takes a fixed $0.25 per transaction... fan-bloody-tastic if you're dealign with sizable transactions.

I gather that PayPal had some serious issues in its early days... but since i've been using it, the biggest problem has been that every now and then the automated system that's supposed to send me an email when someone buys something... doesn't send that email. A problem that can be dealt with in a minute with a personal email.

There are, no doubt, better systems possible, and perhaps even available. But PayPal is as close to universal as currently exists.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

I vote for Paypal too. Its pretty decent, and 2.5% isn't a huge cut compared to the eyewatering charges banks want for international transfers outside Europe.

$8 - you pay 55c to Paypal.
$20 - you pay 85c to Paypal.
$100 - you pay $2.85 to Paypal.

 

[Richard N]

In most cases, PayPal and credit card fees are paid by the Seller. The Buyer does not pay fees for PayPal or credit card use unless the Seller expresses transaction fees for paying that way as a condition of the sale. PayPal and credit card companies will refund your money if a seller taking payment through those services does not deliver the goods. With transfers, the Buyer will have little recourse if the Seller does not perform. Transfers may also expose your bank account information to the Seller.

 

[aam641]

I would agree that PayPall is the most convenient option. Credit cards are also quite safe, provided that the other party is trustworthy. Also in Canada, interac e-transfer is the best way to safely and quickly transfer larger amount of money.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Email_Money_Transfer