I’m wanting to purchase something from someone here in the fleamarket, and they want a bank transfer.
My bank doesn’t like doing them. I have to go to the main office, wait for a banker (not just a teller, but someone to go into an office and sit down with). And, the last time I did it, they were hesitant to even do it, and kept telling me “these are usually used for much much larger transfers”. Oh, and they charge a HUGE fee.. $60.00 just to do it, and then some % of the transfer amount on top of it.
So, this seems excessive. Is the seller asking too much of me, or is my local bank the problem?
I basically want to know how other people handle international payments, and if bank transfers are standard… even if my bank doesn’t think they are.
In Europe it’s not uncommon to do a bank transfer. But then it is relatively easy and without any cost nowadays. In this case it sounds like it’s easier to use paypal.
Actually, they’ll take paypal if all else fails. (people here are great!) (I dont like paypal either, but they are the easiest)
Interesting to know bank transfers are basically free in Europe. Also, I heard back from a friend and they can do transfers online with their bank and pay a $40.00 fee.. That’s much better than my bank, but still not great.
Tank God Sweden doesn’t have the Euro or US Dollar. All those coins could have stayed in the 17th century
However, this means that a bank transfer to the Eurozone costs something like 10-30SEK. By law it can’t cost more, but the sheer inconvenience! You have to know routing codes, the address of the recipient’s bank and correctly write down numbers which are longer than will fit on a 2TB HDD.
I’ll take PayPal, Payson (local Swedish variant with escrow) or Google checkout any day! Plus most companies take this convenient invention called a card. Welcome to the 1970’s! The transfer method is too cumbersome, so I’ll just take my business elsewhere. Life is too short…
I think it’s only yet another example of the little bank emulating the crook methods the bigger banks use. It ranges from extortionate fees to sheer economic terrorism (Goldmann Sachs et al, looking at you!).
One could argue that the card companies wanting a cut out of every transaction, or PayPal etc do the same thing. But, their fees are less. Wish more people had the decency to accept PayPal or something similar and told the buyers to pay the fee (gifting money thru PP etc) if losing a small amount of money is that much of a trauma.
Telling the banks to GTFO is the only way to make them adapt to the 21st century for smaller customers too
Yep, I started my paypal account back when I started to deal a lot on ebay. It is by far the best and easiest way I have used to handle money transfers. And the little fee paypal claims is really nothing to talk about. If one cant afford to pay whatever is included - shipping / handling fees I would say the best thing is to mow another lawn and you’re there ;).
Bank transfers may be common in eu, but is a hassle to do from outside, but it’s probably harder to see the problems with this from within.
So my proposal to all of you who doesn’t use paypal - get an account and make it easier for everyone :P.
But of course, that’s just my opinion. But since the question was there, I thought I’d say what I think :).
Depends on the bank. Some of those don’t accept international money transfers made from the on-line banking.
Some, like mine, do.
Also, parts of the EU don’t use the Euro so it might complicate matters. Other countries in Europe aren’t part of the EU. Banks in the US, Canada, Oz, etc follow their local set of rules related to international transfers.
The point here might be that PP handles this for you. With your bank YMMV.
and make it easier for everyone :P.