How to send money from Germany to U.S. via post

Happy 4th everyone,

Can anyone suggest the best way to send a sum of money ($50) to a private person in the US? The recipient doesn't want a bank transfer, due to bank fees on her side. I bank with Comdirect so do not have a bank branch here. A friend tried to organise a US dollars cheque for me with Dresdner Bank but they don't seem to be able to issue it and are looking for the recipient's IBAN, Swift codes etc. (for a cheque???) German banks don't seem to really "do" cheques!

What would be the easiest and cheapest option? Would it be easier to do this from within the US? (My brother is currently there.)

Thanks
dd

Yes

Very informative answer. OK, so I'll get my bro to look after it. Cheque? Postal order? What's the most common?

Postal Money Order. Will cost around $2 over the MO Amount.

A check is easiest and cheapest (especially for the recipient) -- free except for postage as long as your brother has a US checking account. If he doesn't, you'll have to have him do a money order.

When I lived in Prague, I needed to send some money back. I just got USD AmEx cheques and sent them back via registered post (that way there was a tracking number and my friend had to sign for it).

Thanks DK, thanks Gen. I'm not sure what kind of account he has since he's only over there for the summer. This is also the reason why I was trying to do it myself from here, but it's just proving far too complicated.

A bank account is not required to buy or cash Amex Travelers Checks or Postal Money Orders.
Most people in the US know about Postal Money Orders, While many still don't know what an
Amex TT is or how it works. Postal MO is the best way to go if you have somebody in the US
(Or a US Military base) that can get it for you.

XETrade/Custom House currency is the easiest and cheapest way I know of, once you get your account set up.

You will transfer the EUR from your German bank account to an account in Frankfurt and then they will send a check to the recipient in the US. The exchange rates are pretty good and there will be no other fees other than their modest spread.

Can you not use PayPal? The recipient wouldn't have to pay bank fees and the PayPal fees would be minimal for $50.