From: crystal@glia.biostr.washington.edu (Crystal)
Subject: Re: Jim Young Worshippers
Organization: University of Washington
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 16:43:00 GMT

In <1992Sep8.081755.5455@bristol.ac.uk> ccsw@bristol.ac.uk (EthaStorm) writes:

>His old system is a 1.2WB Amiga, now a tangled heap of plastic and semiconductor

What in the *world* caused that?  I don't think any of us have heard  *exactly*
what happened, or what the damages to the machine were.  Only that it "blew
up".  Kinda hard to imagaine a computer exploding under normal (or even
abnormal) use.  Please enlighten...

>The letter that was put out to the network was a REQUEST for help, not a 
>DEMAND. The letter was along the lines of "If you liked my work, and you
>want some more, please help!" here was also a deal for purchasing THREE disks
>full of UNRELEASED modules for (I think) $15. 2.4 MBytes worth of mods (about
>3 full ones with the size Jim works to *8) ) for $15. Healthy trade!! No rip 
>offs!! Is that so wrong?

Not wrong at all...lots of people sell things to raise money.  Price is quite
reasonable in 15$ AMERICAN dollars, but in pounds sterling it translates to
34$ American plus added fees...  In general, it's a hassle (see my findings
below from when a friend and I were trying to figure out how it could be
done)

>ONE U4ia mod? $1? 2? $5? If you like(d) his work, then please send him what
>little you can spare. If 200 people send $1 each to him (or Travis, his proxy
>in The US) then that's $200. With the exchange rate, that's about 100 pounds
>sterling, just under half way to getting a new Amiga. I'm sure that with
>your support he could scrape up the rest to get himself back on the road.


--------------
Well, I checked with the bank and the post office and the options are still
a bit ugly... 

Bank:

1) A bank draft can be made out in pounds Sterling, but the cost to do so
   is 10$ US

2) We can purchase the currency itself (1, 5 & 10 pound notes), but it needs
   to be ordered since most banks don't carry foreign currency on hand at
   all branches. It must be paid for in advance, and usually can be at the
   bank on the following day.  No charge was mentioned for the direct
   exchange, although it was mentioned that the bank draft gives the
   "best exchange rate" so I assume there are a few pennies per pound added
   to the over the counter method as a hidden "handling charge".

Post Office:                                           

1) If we choose the bank draft method, postage is .50 per half ounce to
   Britain.

2) If we choose the currency method, it should be sent via REGISTERED mail.
   The cost for Overseas Registered Mail is 4.40$ plus the .50 postage. If
   we want a return receipt, add another 1.00$.

3) J-R has mentioned that it takes 14 days for mail between the US and 
   France.  I seem to remember Britain having periodic postal strikes, so
   who knows how long it will take (when the mailboats go on strike, this 
   puts international mail at a standstill!  When I was in London in '72,
   there was a mailboat strike.)
   
4) Registered mail takes LONGER because it must be signed for every time
   it changes hands.

So, with the exchange rate at $1.99 for each US dollar, U4ia's L17 turns
into 45$ US very quickly.  

And the potential CUSTOMS hassles for importation of foreign computer
technology haven't even been addressed yet!

And U4ia wonders why he hasn't received any help from us...it's one H*** of
a hassle (unless he moves to the USA..)

Crystal
  ;>

Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.audio