I just ordered some parts for old loks from Ritter for the first time.
I was pleased to see they take PayPal. I was easily able to send them the required Euros.
What a huge savings over a wire transfer - I wish more vendors would accept PayPal in
Germany.
Eric

Isn't Paypal a mandatery requirement of Ebay? At least in the US and UK. Paypal is great 99.9% of the time but if you have an issue there are quiet a few unhappy users.

Unless its changed it's not required in Germany. At least the last time (about a year ago I think), I had to pay $45 for a wire transfer from the USA to Germany.
Eric

Stefan,
It is not only the US that demands payment for Wire Transfers.

IN OZ bank fees for an International Draft range from $16.00 to $30.00
FOr a Wire Transfer it ranges from $30 to $65 (Depends on Bank) Plus you need to know what the receiving bank charges are.
This is a pain as it is hard to find out. SO you have to take a quess and Over pay and hope that it is enough.
If it is not enough to cover the charges , you do not get the goods as you have underpaid, so you find out the shortfall and possible charges, get another wire transfer etc. Very Expensive.
Paypal are making a lot of money in fees. FOr an international Transaction fee is about 4% to the receiver. National transactions about 2%. also they use an exchange rate about on a par with visa AFTER Visa charge 1.5% International Currency fee.
A Lot of European Firms may not take Paypal but will accept Credit Cards. But then you have to have your credit card on File.
paypal is handy.
Banks have been criticized here for their charges but it is like water off a ducks back.

N

PS:
I believe that Ebay and Paypal are rgistered in Switzeland

We've had this discussion in another thread. Bank transfers are only free within the Euro zone, and possibly extended to a couple more countries like Switzerland and within Scandinavia.
My bank charges me £20 sterling, and we are members of the EU!

Paul, in Europe (or at least in the EU plus other "modern" countries) wire transfers are just as easy as PayPal. In fact, most people nowadays can easily perform their payments by computer directly from the sender to the recipient - FREE of any charges. See here in English if you are interested:

http://www.currency-iso.org/tksepa_home.htm

Ebay will never succeed in making PayPal compulsory in Europe - we simply don't like monopolies here. And I regard it as a bit blue-eyed to think that Ebay will keep the charges low forever - especially if they think they have no competition. As soon as they believe that they can risk it, they will let the PayPal fees soar skywards. And then we will see some members here searching for simple and cheap alternatives - like wire transfers within the SEPA zone.

-

Edited by user 19 November 2010 02:39:51(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

My bank charges me US$45 for a wire transfer. Crooks.

In the reverse direction, somebody in Switzerland sent me an electronic bank draft in CHF. It arrived here via a bank other than my own, and I received a money order from that bank made out in my name for an amount far less than the listed rate for that date. I was hoping to be able to receive the amount in CHF, which I can hold on to until needed for a trip or until redeemed at my bank for a money order to send out in payment for another item.

The disadvantage of PayPal is that in addition to the 4% they charge the recipient, they also charge an additional sum when the money is transferred to an actual account and they do not pay interest on money that is held by them on account.
That, I suppose, is where PayPal will really brings in money in good times.

Regards

Mike C

Today Paypal abolished fees to transfer Money from the Paypal account to a Bank Account or CC Account. SO That is a bit of a savings, in reality they only charged $1 per transfer so not too bad.

Nev