US Dollar Exchange Rate

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 12:21 pm

Is this a good time to buy astro stuff from US?

Anyone care to share any stories of previous good buys due to exchange rates?

Live rates at 2010.08.17 03:56:00 UTC:

1.00 USD = 1.35714 SGD

1 USD = 1.35714 SGD
1 SGD = 0.736846 USD

orly_andico · Post by **orly_andico** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 12:38 pm

I'd say it is :-D

The bad news is, the Paypal exchange rate is only 0.71

Am not sure what the credit card exchange rate is but I don't think it'll be any better (and paying cash is scary/difficult).

Still good... it was 0.69 when I started working in SG.

Post by **weixing** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 5:43 pm

Hi,
I'm going to upgrade my focuser very soon... [smilie=cheer.gif]

Have a nice day.

andeelym · Post by **andeelym** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 6:17 pm

I am also going to buy some stuff very very soon! haha.

vivid · Post by **vivid** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 7:35 pm

I have purchased shipped items about 9 or 10 from the US, but not astronomy stuff but DIY Hifi/audio stuff. All below 1.40 actual, credit card would be about 1.42-1.45 or something. Not a lot lah...

The heaviest was this.... Danley DTS-10 kit. The shipping papers stated 138kg. Beats any scope+mount/tripod huh....

And Bax / Schenker only charged usd 550, via air. So seriously I don't know why astronomy stuff shipping so ex.

Crazy one...sea freight more ex.

Sea door to door = $800.00
Air Door to door = $550.00
These quotes were from DB Schenker

Scott Barker
General Manager
Danley Sound Labs
tel. 770-535-0204
fax. 770-535-8485
cel. 678-617-2635

http://www.danleysoundlabs.com/tapped_h ... L=DTS%2010

Buying speaker drivers, loudspeakers very troublesome, quite a number of times stuck at Customs & Excise. Magnets too powerful, screwed up the X-ray scanners.

Post by **Airconvent** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 11:47 pm

sure or not ! [smilie=crying.gif]

I was in Switzerland a few weeks back and the credit card bill finally arrived. They were using exhange rate of 1.41. Talk about profiteering! [smilie=crying3.gif]

cloud_cover · Post by **cloud_cover** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 12:19 am

Well, 1.35 is the mid-market rate, and generally no end user or small time forex trader can get that rate (I think. I don't do Forex)
Still, 1.41 is a but overboard. UOB says their rate today is 1.36+ (shoud be the rate their CCs actually use)

vivid · Post by **vivid** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:40 am

Airconvent wrote:sure or not !
I was in Switzerland a few weeks back and the credit card bill finally arrived. They were using exhange rate of 1.41. Talk about profiteering!

Correct mah, they will earn from the exchange rate, much more than money changers. Nevermind that they are a bank themselves.

usd23.00, Citibank charged me 32.67, which is 1.424. Just last month. So 4% additional?

UOB also charge additional what, I remember from some of my foreign purchases.

orly_andico · Post by **orly_andico** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:59 am

Go with Paypal. They make money off the exchange rate as well but like I said, yesterday the conversion was 0.71 SGD / USD (a bit less than 1.41) (I bought something from astromart :-P )

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 8:31 pm

1.29 and counting. Any FOREX pros here to give some comments?