[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking. Baren Digest Friday, 23 October 1998 Volume 05 : Number 321 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Julio.Rodriguez@walgreens.com Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 17:07:29 -0500 Subject: [Baren 1929] Re: more P.O. problems I too had problems getting my hands on an international money order. The P.O. clerk told me at first that they only sold those for Mexico or Canada. To go to a bank for Japan or any other country. Then they mentioned something about $8.50 fee for other countries,,,,,eventually a manager came out and at my insistance looked up the details in a book...it turns out that they do sell international mo's for THREE countries : Canada, Mexico & of course....JAPAN. So they went to the safe (?) to look for one and after about 10 minutes came back saying they could not find them and thought they were out and once again recommended a bank. I got a upset and walked out in a bit of hanger after complaining about their negligence and lack of cooperation........ I then walked to my bank and inquired about int. mo's and was told that they were free of charge to me since I had an account there, but they had to be ordered and would take about one week. Tomorrow I will try another PO near my house to see if I have more luck! ------------------------------ From: Julio.Rodriguez@walgreens.com Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 17:18:00 -0500 Subject: [Baren 1930] re:correction That was........walked out in a bit of anger ! ------------------------------ From: David Bull Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 07:43:30 +0900 Subject: [Baren 1931] Re: more P.O. problems Julio wrote: > ...it turns out > that they do sell international mo's for THREE countries : Canada, Mexico > & of course....JAPAN. These are 'special' International Money Orders made out in the currency of the destination country - and which the US Post Office doesn't really want to sell. That's why you had so many problems ... But they also sell 'plain vanilla' International Money Orders made out in US currency, and which can be sent anywhere in the world. Nothing on the Money Order says 'Japan' or anything at all about the destination country. These can be bought in a couple of minutes at any US Post Office for a very small fee. > I then walked to my bank and inquired about int. mo's and was told that > they were free of charge to me since I had an account there, but they had > to be ordered and would take about one week. No, no, no, please no! This may indeed be very easy and cheap for _you_, but because it will have to be cashed by a bank, and not the Post Office, the receiver will be charged a fee of around $40~50 to cash it here. It's too late to suggest this now, but maybe we should have had these payments for the exchange case all go to one central person there in the States, and then sent over all together later. Maybe next time ... Dave B. ------------------------------ From: Gary Luedtke Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 20:02:18 -0400 Subject: [Baren 1932] Re: more P.O. problems Julio, save yourself the legwork and just call around. Start with the biggest P.O. within reasonable distance, or a P.O. in a multi-cultural neighborhood, or by a University, somewhere more likely to have a call for them than just the little local P.O. Good Luck. Gary ------------------------------ From: "Ray Esposito" Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 20:15:05 -0400 Subject: [Baren 1933] Re: more P.O. problems I am really surprised to read about all of these problems. Dave is correct. Any window clerk at any P.O. should know about international money orders. They cost $3. If you have trouble, ask to see the postmaster. He or she should know what is going on. One common problem you will run into is a particular window clerk may not have any IMO's in his/her drawer and will have to get one from another clerk or go to the safe where they are kept. There is absolutely no difference between a domestic money order or IMO except for the color (IMO's are pink instead of green) and the fact they say International on them. Anytime you have a problem, immediately ask for the postmaster. NEVER, NEVER buy an international money order from a bank. The charges are ridiculus. I agree with Dave that in the future, the money should be sent to one person and that individual can buy one money order. Incidentally, you may want to do what I did. Prior to becoming a subscriber to Dave's folios I wrote him a standard check. He e-mailed me asking for an IMO and explaining the high charges at a bank in Japan. On a regular visit to my local P.O. I asked the clerks if they had IMO's and told them I would be buying them on a regular basis. Knowing this and my need for Global Priority Mail envelopes, they make sure they keep a supply on hand. Thus, I never have problems at my local P.O. Cheers ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V5 #321 ***************************