The problem is that the US financial system, as related to banks, is one of
the western world's most unsophisticated systems. I think that it all goes
back to bank laws that were created to save local banks from being taken
over by large banks. Many of these 'one-horse' banks have no great need for
international transactions, and leave that business to Western Union and
the like.
Sincerely,
Roger Key
At 10:16 AM 09/02/2002 -0500, George S. wrote:
[snip]
For the non- US members, here's how it works. We go to our local PO, pay
the amount of the M.O. and fees (which are high) and we fill out an
'application'. We then actually have to mail this application (another fee
for postage) to a mysterious central US facility (in St Louis, Missouri)
and then no one knowws what goes on from there, but we're told it gets
issued and sent out from there.. Shrouded in as much secrecy as Olympus'
Wyoming facility.
What a Byzantine system. In Canada, you ask for either a Canadian or
International money order, what currency it's denominated in, and the
Canada Post person behind the counter whips one up for you on the spot.
You pays your money, you takes your M.O. ;-)
Similar situation in banks. I've been able to get immediate M.O.'s or bank
drafts in over a dozen major world currencies without a problem, and
immediately. Imagine my surprise when, during one evilBay transaction, a
guy in San Jose who was buying stuff from me told me he was "unable" to get
a M.O. or other negotiable instrument in Canadian dollars. Now *that*
wasn't something I expected to hear from a beneficiary of what is possibly
the world's most sophisticated financial system...
Garth
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