international payments, how?

[bojan]

There is this manufacturer in China, having in stock the product I want to use in one of my projects..
The problem is, apparently they accept only wire transfer for payment.
And this attracts bank fee (which is not insignificant), but the total cost wil still be far less than Edmund Optical price, including shippment.
Anybody has experience with this form of payment?
Thanks in advance!

[Kunama]

If the company is one you trust exists, then you need the IBAN and Swift Codes and all their details and head along to your bank to make the transfer.
Don't forget the customs forms as well.

I have done this a few times to Turkish and Finnish companies.

[glend]

Many Chinese companies can be accessed through Aliexpress, where you have payment options. Personally, if they are so small and localised, i would look elsewhere. If they are selling a copy of something available through Edmunds there are likely to be other suppliers as well. Can you say what it is?

[RickS]

I do reasonably frequent bank wires to the USA and use ofx.com. Their charges and forex rates have always been much more reasonable than the local banks.

Cheers,
Rick.

[bojan]

Thank you all for your replies :-)
The company is well established, it is Bxoptic, and I trust them, since I have dealt with them before... but it was official, not in private arrangement.
This is why I have a problem now - how to place an order and how to pay for it.

[Somnium]

i have done some purchasing of equipment from the states and New Zealand, Ozforex has been really good. they are fast, cheap and have good rates.

[bojan]

Well, after some more correspondence with them, they accepted Paypal after all :-)

Still, thank you all very much for the info, it may be useful for me (or someone else) in the future.

[RickS]

Ozforex is now ofx.com.

[Shano592]

Just used them yesterday, to send wads of cash to China (for work).

Their exchange is very close to the midline, especially when you compare them to the Big 4. And the more you send, the closer it gets.