Question (no Michaelm please)

[noguaranteeofsanity]

Yeah i think that is the best idea, given the hassle of shipping it from overseas and having to sort out the duty and excise with customs. I would volunteer ship it or deliver it myself, but Sydney is a bit like LA and really spread out, so could be an hour or hour and half drive away, so again is easier just to order it online and let them deliver it.  All those stores I listed are large chains that are very common and are owned by two massive companies that have a duopoly australia wide in the grocery and liquor market, so they will definately deliver anywhere in or around Sydney.

Just checked and there are a half dozen M McFarland's in the phone book, so would have to ask someone who knows.

[John 3rd]

In. His work is FANTASTIC!

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: rader

Now, how do we get his address? Does anyone on the forum have any ideas on this? Does anyone know his full name? Maybe we can look it up in a Sydney online phone directory? But that could be dicey. Is he connected with Matrix?

John said up near the top that he could arrange the delivery.

[chesmart]

Now we need the address. wdolson can you get his address somehow ?

[PaxMondo]

Please see post 7 above.  John has already stated he can get it delivered.

[wdolson]

ORIGINAL: noguaranteeofsanity

The exchange rate has been hovering around parity with the US dollar for a while, currently 1 Australian dollar is equal to 1.02195 US dollars, so probably isn't too much of a problem or neccasary to worry about it too much.

Edit: See here for rules on importing alcohol http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/AlcoholandTobaccoFactSheet.pdf We do have strict laws regarding importing meat, fruit or vegetables, because we do not have many pests and diseases here like mad cow, but alcohol is pretty safe in that regard. However the government taxes all alcohol, which is why there are added restrictions to stop people avoiding the tax.

I was thinking about cutting down on the losses. Every time you exchange a currency, the bank, credit card co, or Paypal take a cut. If the donations were received in Aus dollars, then they could be used directly to buy something in Aus.

I think ordering something in Aus to be delivered in Aus is the best option. I don't have his address, but I know who does, and JWE is probably thinking along the same lines.

Bill

[cohimbra]

I'm in (with paypal). 

[Gunner98]

ORIGINAL: n01487477

ORIGINAL: che200

I think the best solution would be to get one of the former Devs to contact Joe Wilkerson to get Michaels Address and he sends it to the person who lives in Australia that way we can keep it simple. Then we send the money via paypal to him and he sends the present to michael. If you guys need any help setting the paypal account i can help out.

There are online Australian booze delivery companies too ... Anyway, I'm in for a penny [;)]

Of course this could lead to some disagreement about the best Single Malt Scotch out there .. I go with the Macallan 12 / 24 year.

We are asuming that he drinks Scotch - probably a safe bet - so perhaps a smother choice than Laphroaig. Perhaps a Dalwhinie 15, although an older Macallan may be the trick.

B

[Hortlund]

Im in.

[sanderz]

Count me in. Very impressed with all the updates fixing bugs and improving interface - really helps to keep the game alive.

[CaptBeefheart]

In, but only if it's Balvenie (just kidding).

Cheers,
CC

[Banzan]

Might it not better to find a shop that delivers and offers vouchers ? That way he could decide on his own what to get ?

Oh, and i am in, too. [:)]

[SuluSea]

Should we pool the money together via Bill and figure out how much we have to play with? The idea of shipping though an Australian company sounds like a great idea for our money to go the furthest unless someone lives close and is able to deliver.

[witpqs]

I'm in.

[LST Express]

me too.

[oldman45]

Count me in

[chesmart]

Ok when do we start donating?

[JWE]

ORIGINAL: wdolson
I was thinking about cutting down on the losses. Every time you exchange a currency, the bank, credit card co, or Paypal take a cut. If the donations were received in Aus dollars, then they could be used directly to buy something in Aus.

I think ordering something in Aus to be delivered in Aus is the best option. I don't have his address, but I know who does, and JWE is probably thinking along the same lines.

Bill

I am thinking along precisely the same lines. I've seen this before, where everybody wants to get together and do something, but everyone goes off on a different tangent and nothing ends up happening. So I have a proposal.

1) One of us, and I nominate Wdolson because I know he is a straight up person and won't screw this up, opens a simple deposit account, or creates a separate ledger entry in their own account.
2) Anybody wanting to contribute sends that person (Bill) a check (cheque). None of this paypal crap or other tech nonsense guaranteed to get you off the hook; put a damn check in the mail and send it to Bill, and make it out to Bill. And Bill will deposit it (and I know he will, because I trust him).
3) Bank deposits are at date-of-deposit currency conversion rates, so one can send a check for Dollars, Euros, Zlotys, Rubles or Sheckels. No worries.
4) Openly post a cut-off date. Any checks received after that date will be destroyed (and I know Bill will do that, because I trust him).
5) After the cut-off date, Bill sends Michael an email that says "In recognition of your exemplary support of the WiTP-AE Game and User Community." along with a list of contributor's names.
6) And then it's like user's choice; wire transfer, Bank Check; the "means" are endless. Michael gets a well deserved encomium that he can use as he wishes.

A very simple thing. Send the "designated depositor" a simple check for maybe US $5.00 (or equivalent, or more) and have faith that it will go to where it needs to. I suggest Bill because he is universally accepted as an honest citizen here. I'll be glad to help him if he wants. Send a PM to the "designated depositor", saying who you are and they will send you a name to put in the Payee field, and an address to send it to.

If Bill is ok with this, he will say so.

[chesmart]

Please Lets use Paypal as well as for some of us it is more effective.

[Sardaukar]

My bank doesn't even issue cheques..and also in Finland they have not been used in 20 yrs... So that option is not available for me. So, lets use PayPal. I don't mind paying bit of exchange charges for good cause.