I am working on all the invoices and looking at the rand today it is around 6.9. When I quoted it was 7.22

An example Option 1 with an upgraded room.
at Birkenhead house.

Day I quoted Rand was at 7.22 - cost was $7215

Now today just a few weeks later at 6.9 now cost is $7549.

I am wondering if I should do invoices at a more realistic figure of an average of the last two years about 6.5. Hate for you to all be in shock if the rand is at a level where your expected cost raises so much. Going down is easy - costing more is no fun. In April with ROAR it was about 6.2.

If I did the estimate of costs at an exchange of 6.5 then it would be $8014.

Perhaps this would be a better idea. When I quote rates to people I always use this average of 6.5. THis is a probable amount based on the last two years.

Will be finishing these up tomorrow. Would you prefer a more realistic figure?

Ngaire:

Why don't you just quote the whole thing in Rand and leave it to us calculate the "current" equivalent rate.

I'll echo Marc's suggestion. What a great idea!

Here's a link to the currency calculator I use:

XE.com

Agree with Marc. Quote in Rand is perfectly understandable. - Michele

Happy to do that but when I do I always get a ton of comments to the contrary - I dont understand RAND will you PLEASE quote it in US dollars. You three are savy but many people dont want to bother doing a conversion. I gave up doing that a long time ago.

For Marcies world cruise group I used a 6.0 conversion rate to show the US dollars and then put the rand amount on the invoice under additional comments.

I think that is what I will do is divide it by 6.5 for the US dollars and put the rand amount in the additional comments part of the invoice.

I have it all calculated of course so it is not difficult to do at all.

I see where Ngaire is coming from, most want to see it right away and in dollars. If she does 6.5, easy to add or subtract 10% from a dollar amount to give a range of possibilities.

I'd be fine with a Rand quote, too. I hate that you are already having to stress over this, Ngaire.

Not stressing over it Pam, just thinking about the best way to handle it. Want to "please the troops" and not have to do it a second time.

I have just finished doing spreadsheets with all the Rand to 6.5 calculations and will do the invoices with both figures tomorrow. Waiting for some final paperwork I want from K&D first and then I will be running through payments on Monday or Tuesday and send you invoices to show deposit and details of your safari. Check those carefully to be sure I have you on the option you want. Very simple to make an error with all the different options going on here.

Will probably show the RAND amount on the invoice figures and then the conversion to US dollars below so I can add the actual rand realised from your $1000 deposits.

Remember even these RAND figures are just an estimate as well. The only thing we have locked in at 2007 rates are the game lodges and Birkenhead house. It helps but there is alot in here we dont have properly priced yet.

Ngaire, sounds good, showing both US $ and ZAR. I would rather have you go on the conservative side - 6.5 sounds good to me. I'd rather be worst-case scenario and plan for that, rather than have an unpleasant surprise. Although, I bet that checking the exchange rate will become a weekly (maybe even daily?) thing in the Rudi household! :)

Am I the only one who is actually excited to read "I'll send you invoices to show deposit and details of your safari"...? Ahhh! Makes this seem like a reality!

(edited to add little jumping guys <img border="0" alt="[bounce]" title="" src="graemlins/ubbbounce2.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[bounce]" title="" src="graemlins/ubbbounce2.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[bounce]" title="" src="graemlins/ubbbounce2.gif" />

Doing it in Rand is fine with us too. Tom has been checking it several times a week.

Rand is fine as it's easy to find conversion tables online nowadays.

Did all the invoices yesterday.

The body of the invoice is in Rand.

UNDER ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

(1) I have the conversion rate at 6.5 with the US dollar amounts.

(2) I outlined the option number you requested, and the dates of your option, and the properties you have booked.

(3) Many already have extra nights or other issues unique to their booking. These are also noted.

(4) All waitlists are noted

I am still waiting for some more paperwork from a couple of you and would appreciate you getting that in to me as soon as possible. I know Debbie emailed those with missing documents on Friday. I know it is a hassle but I must get this all done to process the booking. Once I receive all the documents and a contract back from K&D we will do the deposits.

Then I will get the RAND exchange we actually received for our $$ and add that to the invoice in Rand. Once that is done I will email everyone their invoices.

Please read the invoices and be sure that you have the option you wanted, and that your waitlists and special requests are on the invoice.

It is a complex group already with all the different options so I would appreciate each of you carefully checking the details. There is bound to be something with this many details either I dont know you wanted or I misunderstood.

Hope to get these in your hands next week so if there are any discrepancies I can work on that before I leave for the Navigator on August 8th.