Paying for a shipment from Bangkok to the UK in Thai Baht - which is the best method?

My colleague in the UK wishes to pay a manufacturer in Thailand for a consignment they are preparing for shipment to UK. The value is around 50,000 Baht.

As far as I can see he has three choices:

1. Pay by PayPal (Manufacturer will accept this method)

2. Pay by TT with the UK bank remitting Thai Baht.

3. Pay by TT in sterling.

Paypal have bad exchange rates, but as far as I have been able to ascertain, they are marginally better than the rates used by UK banks to buy Thai Baht. Paypal is also free of fees for the buyer, and as he is dealing with an unknown supplier, it is also safer.

Pay by TT in sterling would be the cheapest, but it will get messy as he will not know in advance exactly how much is received this end.

As it is only £1,000, I suggest Paypal is the best way to proceed for now. If the business grows, then he can look at TT'ing pounds sterling.

Any thoughts, especially from anyone who has experience on this on this would be most welcome.

Thank you,

Mobi