Help me figure out how to pay for something in Germany

[Patrologia]

I need your help, especially those of you who are German or do a lot of business in Germany. I'm trying to buy a book from a German bookseller through a site called booklooker. It doesn't seem to have the same kind of set-up as Amazon, where the buyer pays Amazon and Amazon pays the seller. Instead, you do business directly with the seller. Direct Bank transfers seem to be so common in Germany that nobody makes provision for other methods of payment.

Can anyone tell me if there is a way to pay that way
1. from Paypal
2. from my own bank without incurring another $15-25 in fees
3. some other alternative

Thanks all.

 

[Trompe le Monde]

im in a neighboring country. its much the same. banking is not as "developed". rent, personal payments, everything is a wire with IBAN and kontonummer. any method involving 3rd party (e.g. paypal) would incur more hassles

 

[Patrologia]

It seems like I might have to try to find a friend with a German bank account and ask them to handle the financial end for me. There seriously needs to be a way for US accounts to get in on this. I guess perhaps our banking system is busy with other things at the moment.

 

[Gruntle]

I could help you out, just send me a pm if interested.

 

[Douglas]

https://www.xoom.com/germany

 

[Patrologia]

Thanks guys, both of you.

Gruntle, PM sent.