On Fri, 5 Jan 2007 09:22:16 +0000, "Bodvar Bjorgvinsson" <bodvar at gmail.com> wrote:
>So, why should it be any more complicated for a US citizen to purchase >from a foreign country in the local monetary system than vice versa? Because US banks, unlike those in other countries, charge extortionate fees for any transaction involving "foreigh exchange". For example, mine charges $US75 *minimum* to process a check not in $US. Even in $CAN. Canadian banks are far more accomodating, as are those in the rest of the world, AFAIK. Of course, credit-card payment eliminates the problem, as credit-card companies automatically handle the exchange at market rates. -- Jeremy H. Griffith, at Omni Systems Inc. <jeremy at omsys.com> http://www.omsys.com/