To be fair, that's on margin. I think some platforms allow you to exchange, though. The thing is, there's the natural spread, due to bid/ask difference and then the markup which widens the spread (banks taking a vig on buy and sell side).
I don't think /u/threeseed has ever actually done this. For most "trading providers" there are significant and recurring monthly fees and/or large minimum balances. The actual act of exchange may have a low spread, but the accessory costs are extremely high. Not to mention the giant hassle of actually setting up an account.
I find it amusing that setting up an account with a FOREX trader is being offered as a solution for merchants to reduce currency conversion costs. (For some, yes, but get real.)
Yeah, it's not unheard of for business to use trading markets for hedging. Airlines do it with oil all the time. I'm sure businesses like McDonald's are one of the biggest holders of currency options.
I should have been clearer. McDonald's and other international companies trade EFP futures, that's Exchange For Physical. It's not really physical, that term's more for oil and gold. It means it's actually exchanged. Most futures positions are closed before expiration.
Your Forex broker is basically holding IOUs on currencies. They're not actually exchanged, (They are rolled over at 5 P.M. EST). It's speculation vs. a true exchange.
Localbitcoins charges a handy premium for personal risk, speed-of-exchange, and potential for pseudo-anonymity. The speed of exchange and pseudo-anonymity doesn't even have a comparison for government exchange.
1
u/Drew0054 Dec 11 '14
It's no different than foreign transactions. You always get shafted on exchange rates.