Re: [OT] eBay Yet More - FSE & Painted

> Grant wrote:
> 
> >    They just need to shop around for better banks.
> 
> I like the phrase "just need to".
> 
> This assumes that the person has contact with other folks from other
areas and realizes things can be better... and that they actually have a
choice in their area. Progressive Bank offers free chequing (spelled
checking down here) accounts, but even if they offered free money orders
you aren't going to get it with that account. On the other hand, you can
usually get an account with monthly fees at larger banks that offer
things like free international money orders. If you're a college
student, do you really want to pay $8 to $12 a month just so the
occasional international money order is free? If you are working and
have your pay transferred to your account automatically (as well as an
automatic debit for your car insurance, car loan, etc.), do you really
want to go to the hassle of switching banks just to buy some stuff once
or twice a year from Britain?
> 
> My point is that there are substantial hurdles for a lot of folks in
the U.S., particularly those in rural areas, when it comes to financial
transactions across the Atlantic. I was pointing this out as one reason
why eBay auctions of GZG products can hit prices higher than Jon sells
them for by mail. We have anecdotal evidence that GZG games and figures
are less prominent in the U.S. than they were when Geo-Hex was
distributing them. The "just buy them from the U.K." comment that many
of us (myself included) tell players looking for the rules and figures
just isn't an option for some Americans.
> 
> Allan
> 

   I was actually just kidding, but that said there are still options. 
You can
 order international money orders from the US Post Office.  They send
them from
 a central site, so there is a fee and some time lag, but it is a viable
option
 for infrequent orders.  I don't remember how much it costs.  It is also
very
 easy to get a credit card now to allow you to order directly.	If
you're 
 making small orders that you would pay cash for anyways, you can just
pay the
 card off immediately, and it's no additional cost to you.
   I don't mean to diminish the difficulties you may have ordering from 
 England.  I'm just trying to say that there are workable options
available to 
 almost everyone who might be ordering.  The relatively tiny group of
customers
 who might not be able to order are most likely too small to justify an
entire 
 US distribution arrangement.

  grant