Mojmir Pavelka Seed List and Photo Galleries

Hi Lori,

Thanks for posting the links! I have never ordered from these folks before (either Mojmir Pavelka or Vojtech Holubec), but have wanted to for a while. I noticed that they accept personal checks in USD as a form of payment - have you ordered from them this way before? I would be very interested in hearing about your ordering experiences. Thanks!!

Saori

Hi, Saori,
I've ordered from both Pavelka and Holubec with no problems.  I actually sent bank drafts in Euros, drawn on a bank in Munich, previously.  Note that for personal cheques, Pavelka requires a 3 Euro fee (for the bank to cash the cheque).
We'll have to compare the goodies ordered some time, and of course, the results of planting later on!

Hi Lori,

Thanks for the info! I had been thinking that dealing with the American bank fees for issuing bank drafts in Euros would be more expensive and more of a hassle than adding three Euros to write a personal check, but now I'm not so sure. I'll get hold of my bank and see what they have to say. These folks have a great selection of seeds that I would love to try, but I want to find the best way to pay that works for everyone. Thanks for sharing your experience, Lori!

Has anyone in the US has experience either with using personal checks or bank drafts to pay for these seeds?

Thanks!!

Saori

Not in the U.S., but I have ordered from both, and I simply sent cash-- I should ask Lori how the bank draft worked-- my impression was that that was very expensive? I also didn't use registered mail to send the cash-- that also would have cost as much as 1/4 of my order!

I literally just received my seed order from V. Piatek, another Czech collector. I have bought from Holubec for years, and Jurasek as well. Here is Piatek's website: [ftp=ftp://http://www.alpine-seeds.com/seeds.html]http://www.alpine-seeds.com...

Edited to add the following link (I found that the original link did not seem to work for me):
http://www.alpine-seeds.com/contact.html

Cohan, my bank account allows bank drafts at no charge, so it was a good option for me.  However, this year, since I had some euros kicking around, I have also taken a chance and sent cash in the mail... hope it gets there!

Peter...
Oh no, more temptation!

Thanks for the information! It seems like cash might be the way to go - I talked to my bank and they have a pretty hefty charge both for wire transfers and checks in Euros. Plus, there's no telling what the bank on the other side will charge. Just curious, if anyone has bought Euro cash, where did you get it? Your bank, or a currency agency? I think my bank offers a better exchange rate, but they also charge a fee and have a high minimum limit, which a currency agency wouldn't have. I would love to hear any advice you might have! Peter, if you don't mind my asking, how do you pay for your orders?

There was a $5.50 charge for processing my U.S. check. That was it. So for me it was virtually painless. And since they always send at least one or two 'bonus' seed packets, it washes out the charge. The entire process, from me mailing him the order with my check, to receiving the seeds, was 3 weeks.

Thanks for all the information! It's very helpful!

Lori wrote:

Cohan, my bank account allows bank drafts at no charge, so it was a good option for me.  However, this year, since I had some euros kicking around, I have also taken a chance and sent cash in the mail... hope it gets there!

Peter...
Oh no, more temptation!

Wow-- your bank/account sounds a lot more exciting than mine!! I couldn't even transfer funds between Canadian banks at no charge... I sent Canadian cash, there was no need to pay even for conversions... and if I remember right ( may not) I think Pavelka took Canadian dollars at par with Euros! Not sure if I will order this year, have a lot of things to sow already....
BTW- speaking of bonus seed, Holubec sent a lot of it!!
Still, its a lot easier dealing with the South African seed vendors I've dealt with-- they take PayPal and/or credit cards! No idea why these vendors don't...

Perhaps it was different in the past, Cohan, but just to clarify (for the sake of these Czech seed collectors' bank accounts!)...

Both the Pavelka and Holubec current seed list prices are in euros, and the instructions say that they accept some foreign currencies in payment but for the equivalent value of the cost in euros (not at par).  

I have found both vendors to be extremely generous with "bonus" seed packets!

Yes, by all means, please make payments according to instructions in the seedlists, not anything I remember from years past...lol
Speaking of lists, just got Alplains catalogue in the mail-- I would order and check availability etc online (more photos online too) but it is fun to have the paper copy to look at at times when I'm not in front of the computer.. can't imagine how he can still afford to mail those out!

Lori wrote:

With permission to post it, here is Mojmir Pavelka's 2011-2012 seed list:

Such wonders!!

And here is his website with photo galleries:
http://www.pavelkaalpines.cz/Photos/index.html

Oddly, still the old list on his website..