An alternate way to pay from Australia is to:
1. Go to your bank and get an international check in US dollars made out to Morning Earth for the amount needed.*
2. Go to the post office and get a Registered Post Priority mail envelope. The envelope will cost $3.30 AUD
3. Mail the envelope to me Registered with Recorded delivery also checked to the following address. Postage cost will be about $11.65 AUD
Mail to:
Morning Earth
Att. Arthur Park
1126 Hoffman Ave.
Royal Oak, MI 48067
USA
Why this payment method?
You know that, with all international money exchanges in every country, we do not receive nor can we buy foreign currency at the official international posted rate of exchange. That rate also changes every day up or down. For example, on June 10, 2009 the official exchange for $100 AUD was $80.8330 USD today July 2, 2009 the official exchange is $79.8021 USD. When making the exchange through the travel agency in Australia the usual events are: 1. Your bank takes a percentage for the transaction. 2. The travel company takes a percentage for their transaction. 3. The receiving travel agency may also take a percentage for receiving and crediting the funds to Morning Earth. If you only lose 2% on each exchange you may have lost 6% by the time Morning Earth is credited with the money you sent. However, most often the exchange rate is 3% each exchange meaning your loss could be as much as 9%. That means if you sent the AUD equivalent of $866 USD through the travel agency, by the time Morning Earth is credited with it the amount credited could be as little as $788.06 USD. If that is the case, because there is no cushion in the tour price you will owe ME that difference when you arrive in Korea. (If you sent money this way, I have sent you an e-mail noting this possibility.) NOTE: I am not basing this from knowing exactly what was received and credited to ME since I am still waiting to learn those figures. I am basing this discussion on prior knowledge of standard money exchanges. Incidentally, there is little regulation on what is charged to exchange money. I have seen as much as 7% on a single exchange by a hotel.
If you use the postal system described first above, as one of you did, you are sending USD directly to me and there is no loss except at your bank plus the cost of envelope and postage.
Again, I am not certain how much or if the travel agencies in Australia and Korea took any percentage for their exchange. It is a concern I have and I thought I should share this concern with you. You can use whatever method of payment you choose. But there may be some adjustment necessary in Korea if you send AUD to Korea instead of USD to me.
I apologize for not suggesting the first option earlier but I did not know it was available to you and some of you asked for a way to pay in Australia.
