On Fri, 2008-08-29 at 02:07 +1200, Apptech wrote:
> Bank transfers tend to be at a fixed amount AFAIK whereas I 
> believe Paypal charge a percentage. The former can be 
> iniquitous for small amounts and the latter is iniquitous 
> for most amounts. There is no reason apart from "because we 
> can, and people are stupid enough to use us" for people to 
> charge a percentage for moving money around at your risk wrt 
> exchange rates etc. Even the exchange rate calculations 
> allow them a margin.
> 
> If changing money NEVER do it in an airport or similar. 
> Anything that advertises itself as a money exchange, 
> especially if it does so in French (country irrespective) 
> should be shunned like the plague. The small dealers just 
> outside will almost always offer you a superior rate.

Good advice, although what I do is I have the money in hand before I
ever enter the country.

Most banks have major currencies on hand. If they don't they can order
it, which only takes a few days. I've never had problems getting Euros
or British Pounds here in Canada. As for USD, my bank actually has bank
machines that will dispense USD!

TTYL

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