Sending payment in US dollars

Scarlett

Hiya
I don't buy stuff on ebay very often... I just BINed an item in the US, thinking I could pay via paypal, but the seller doesn't actually accept paypal from outside the US (why not? I thought it would be the easiest safest way to accept payment). So I can't pay via paypal, and the only other options are:

Personal check/Money order/Cashiers check

The buyer will only accept US dollars. I'm a bit clueless as I haven't had to send payment to the US before, and I haven't really had to get a money order or cashiers cheque before either!

What's the best (safest, cheapest) way to do it? Can I write a personal cheque from my bank in US dollars?

Where do I even get a money order or cashiers cheque from (I'm guessing the post office and a bank, respectively).

Sorry for being so dopey, any help appreciated.

Oh I should add that the item is $15 incl postage.

Moglex

Was it made clear in the auction details that the seller didn't accept PP from outside the US?

soolin

You've really got two options, both rather costly I'm afraid. Firstly ask your bank about raising a US dollar cheque for you and post that off, but that is likely to cost you a minimum of £7. Alternatively, and only with the sellers permission, send them dollars by a secure tracked and signed for airmail method. You can probably get some dollars from the Post office commission free, but the postage method you will have to use is likely to be expensive.

It is very rare for a US seller not to take paypal, do they look OK feedback wise ?

Incidentally, you cannot raise a dollar cheque yourself as your cheque book is a sterling one and cannot be used to write a dollar cheque.
Soo

Hintza

Have you contacted him? And assuming he did make it clear why not send an email apologising and seeing if he will do it as a one off..lots of groveling etc .

Scarlett

@ Moglex - it wasn't as explicit as "I do not accept paypal from accounts outside the US"; it was "Bidders from outside the US must mail in payment." I didn't really read it/take it in because I just saw the paypal sign and assumed I could pay that way.:o

@ Soo - his feedback is 98.2% positive with no negs in the last six months. Thanks for the payment advice.

@ Hintza - I have contacted him once, but as it was my error in not reading the payment instructions properly, I feel like I should just pay the price.

Hintza

Scarlett wrote:

@ Soo - his feedback is 98.2% positive with no negs in the last six months. Thanks for the payment advice.

Feedback on the low side, dig deeper into his negatives.

soolin

Scarlett wrote:

@ Moglex - it wasn't as explicit as "I do not accept paypal from accounts outside the US"; it was "Bidders from outside the US must mail in payment." I didn't really read it/take it in because I just saw the paypal sign and assumed I could pay that way.:o

@ Soo - his feedback is 98.2% positive with no negs in the last six months. Thanks for the payment advice.

Firstly if he is displaying the paypal logo then you should go back to him and insist you pay that way.

Secondly 98.2% is not particularly good feedback wise, so watch your step with him.

Soo

JohalaReewi

Hintza wrote:

Feedback on the low side, dig deeper into his negatives.

You can use the Ebay neg finder tool here...

http://www.toolhaus.org/