Klarinet Archive - Posting 000274.txt from 2001/10
From: CBA <clarinet10001@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Wiseman Cases
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 00:11:33 -0400
I have a technical question for whoever is good with
international currency. (It is music related.)
My question came up on a much smaller scale earlier
this month about Abe Galper's books, but was easily
fixed by a small financial transaction by someone in
England.
I am in the process of purchasing 2 Wiseman cases from
Howard Wiseman, who was at the Clarinet Fest in New
Orleans. The $456 (I believe this was the amount he
had on his brochures, PLEASE correct me if wrong, as I
can't find mine) was in US dollars. When I was
contacted about sending money for the 2 cases, Howard
Wiseman said the amount in US Dollars Would be $918
(close to the amount I'm thinking of) but that he
cannot accept US dollars. The actual price would be
650 GBP (pounds). This would make the amount $923 by
the 1.42 US to 1 GBP exchange rate he quoted. I was
more than accepting of this amount to send. The rate
online is 1.48 US to GBP,making the amount $962, which
I was still ready to pay, even though, I don't agree
with having to do the transfer of currency when the
original amounts at Clarinet Fest were in US dollars.
Unfortunately, Wiseman Cases, Inc doesn't accept
Credit Cards, leaving me to get the money transferred
to cash or check in Great Britain Pounds. In going to
the bank, (Chase Manhattan, where I bank) I found out
that the conversion rate here at a bank is 1.6 US
dollars to 1 GBP, making the amount $1040 dollars, and
then there is a $25 wiring GBPs or a $25 foreign bank
check fee to make a check in GBP. This brings the
amount to $1065 US, which is a hell of a lot more than
the original $912 for the two cases quoted at Clarinet
Fest. Western Union was even more...the conversion
there made the amount $1007.30 dollars plus an
additional $83 dollar wire fee, bringing the grand
total to $1090.30. Yikes! Even with the $1065 from
Chase Manhattan, this brings each case to $532.50, and
I agreed to $456.00.
This $153 (at the bank) makes the cases unaffordable
to me, and I am trying to find out a way to either get
the charges of the currency transfer down, or to
figure a way to get Wiseman to do the transfer.
Since the original prices were in print in US dollars,
is it my responsibility to do the currency transfer? I
would assume getting them the exact amount they asked
for in print makes it binding, no?
I am willing to compromise if a good solution is found
for the transfer. Any help is greatly appreciated from
the financial gurus of the list, which I'm sure there
are some out there.
I am looking for either...
1. A cheaper way to do the transfer from US to GBP,
but with a rate of transmission closer to the currency
exchange of the day. I would automatically get this
rate if I used my credit card, or at least close, and
would have no wire fee with a card, but Wiseman
doesn't take plastic.
2. A particular way to transfer US dollars in a way
that Wiseman Cases could receive the monies without
great expense. Or...
3. Find a good way to discuss this with Wiseman, as
the real financial burden for currency exchange is
theirs, I believe, since they printed US Dollar prices
for the cases.
Has anyone else gone through this process with Wiseman
Cases that ordered at Clarinet Fest? I don't believe
they are bad people, especially not Howard Wiseman,
who has been so helpful in the past with talking on
the phone, and in e-mail. I do believe that they
should have printed British prices if they expected
funds to be in that currency, and not US dollars.
HELP!!!!!
Sorry about all the financial jumbo, but I think it is
relevant since it is a discussion about dealing with a
non-international company that sells music products.
Kelly Abraham
Woodwinds - New York City
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