prepay

So, i'd like to prepay, but the prepay system seems really unsafe and uncertain, any suggestions?

You just have to mail a check to James a few weeks prior to the event.  I used to do it when I was poor and in high school - never had a problem.

I do it when I'm not poor and older.  Saving five bucks for doing nothing is a good deal.  $60 a year - maybe more.  12.5% savings for spending nothing cannot be beat.

On the one occasion James didn't get my check (I sent an online bank check to him via Snail Mail, he thought it was junk mail - understandable, given how much there is these days and it looked like a credit card offer), he honored it at the event and dealt with it when he got home.

For those of us who hate writing checks, or are limited by the number we can write per month, is there any hope of an online method, via paypal or some other similar series of tubes?

The post office charges less than a buck for a postal money order.

James also accepts cash.

Cash is illegal to send by post, however, which complicates matters.  It's also generally not a good idea (tm).

It most certainly is not illegal to send cash by post.  It might be inadvisable, but most certainly is not illegal. 

I'll echo Charlie's statement, please do NOT send cash by postal mail, regardless of whether or not it is legal.

James has stated he does not want to use any sort of electronic payment system at this time.

Its not illegal to mail cash.

It says on every piece of paper currency (under the Federal Reserve seal) "This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private"
I have a story about a $1000 note in 1980...