Just sell your btc on montgox as you can choose EUR or US$ and have that money transferred to your account
Yes - but the bank fees for transfering/exchanging the Eur/dollar to a UK GBP account would most likely wipe out any profit.
What's tricky is that the price jumps around a lot. Say you do your buy and then price takes a big drop. Now your funds are tied up and you need to wait for it to come back up. Another consideration is how long it takes your mate to be able to withdraw it to his bank account.
I transfer the btc to my mates (Japan) Mt gox account - upon confirmation of said btc my mate sells immediately (or at least at the 7% requisite markup).
That being said, if you still want to do it then you could check out Skrill, they're a solid company. (formerly named Moneybookers) "Sending money costs 1% of the amount sent but is capped at a maximum of €10"
Thanks for your input. i just wonder what exchange rate Skrill uses as this could be the point at which they claw back their low (1%) fees.
There must be someone that has done/is doing this.
How unrealistic is it to leave Japan with (physical) Yen - then get it cashed out at a UK post office with no commission charged ?
How much of that 7% arb could realistically be maintained ?
Or would I just be better buying £1k of btc and holding it ??