International Shopping - exchange rate frustration

Sal

I am interested in your opinions on this one...

I had been eyeing up some sneakers online, took a screenshot to post here for feedback. I decided to go ahead.

The price shown was $219NZD last week - there was no sale.

When I purchased a week later I was charged $265NZD.
I queried this and was told it was a website glitch, the price shown was the AUD price (annoying but I can understand this)
However........$219 AUD equates to about $235 NZD.
I then looked at a promotional email for another set of sneakers at $229AUD, charging $279 NZD, when the exchange rate is actually about $243.

This company is charging NZ customers an extra $25-$30 compared to Australian customers. There is no shipping or sales tax or customs involved.

I have gone back to them for feedback.

Delivery and service has been excellent. I have yet to decide if I keep the sneakers or not - at the moment I feel ripped off.

I understanding companies do not want to charge shipping - it puts people off. The truth is shipping around Australia will be equal to shipping here (shipped from Melbourne)

In essence I do not have an issue with the price of the sneakers, it is more the model that I am charged more under the cover of Exchange Rates.

I don't usually shop internationally - I have purchased this brand before from NZ retailers.

Is this the norm, or is this unusual, or is there something I am missing?

Thanks in advance

2 months ago

Shopping

24 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Brooklyn

Veteran

I have sometimes browsed US shopping sites that charge in AUD and found that they charge way more than the exchange rate (plus delivery of course). So I think this might be a common practice. I’m not sure if there is some justification (maybe added insurance or handling costs) or if it’s just a bit of price gouging. I guess the key question is: if you had been quoted this price initially, would you have gone ahead?

2 months ago

Joy

Veteran

I would have honored the price quoted originally. I think you are right to feel overcharged.

2 months ago

Lee

Active Member

I don’t have experience but I would be bothered too.

2 months ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I sympathize. Most international sites do quote in my local currency but there are so many factors with ordering internationally - shipping, taxes/duties, time. I do just factor in the extra costs as the price of doing business and avoid as much as possible. In this case, I would ask myself if the shoes that you did receive are worth the price you actually paid and try not to take the extra cost personally. Perhaps easier said than done.

2 months ago

pirouette

Active Member

We have the same issue here in Ireland when we buy anything from UK. The euro price is much more than the sterling price even when you convert the currency. There is also import duties so it makes ordering from UK more expensive. I now order from Amazon Germany rather than Amazon Uk as it’s cheaper.

2 months ago

Ginger

Veteran

I have seen this from a UK company as well. I've browsed the UK site and done the conversion, and the US site prices are at least 25% more. It does seem to be standard practice.

2 months ago

Jules

Veteran

This would be annoying enough for me that I wouldn't shop there. I have made that decision a few times when the Canadian and US prices are out of whack (but to be honest, shopping from US websites who haven't set up a Canadian business often doesn't make sense when I start to look at shipping and returns, so it's more an exception when they have set it up in such a way that it all adds up for me).

2 months ago

Irina

Veteran

I understand how frustrating it is. And this is one of the reasons I never order from EU or US sites with USD prices only.

2 months ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sorry, Sal. It's annoying

I've seen this happen from some Euro and British sites I order from. It's always cheaper to order the item from its home country. Shipping to the US can be free though, so it can make little difference in some cases.

2 months ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I've seen similar, Sal, and it is very frustrating indeed. For us it is often the duties and import fees we are charged, plus we have additional sales tax in most provinces. I understand why it leaves a bad taste, especially if you are unsure about the shoes in the first place!

2 months ago

Helena

Veteran

Completely understand your frustration! We Canadians have similar irritations - even though the US, which is the most common international order here - is only 2 hours drive from my house! The additional cost is often well more than the exchange and the costs of shipping and returns are completely offputting!

I think you are quite right to expect them to honour the cost they promoted, not what they "meant" to promote! In fact, I'm surprised that's not required by law. For goodness sakes!

2 months ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Hmmm, yes I looked back on your post about the sneakers and indeed the NZ $219 was very clear. I’m guessing this wasn’t Styletread as they have an NZ$ site? I must say I never check their Australian site to compare prices though. But sometimes I look at labels in store where the store sells in both countries and our price (let us say Trenery or Veronika Maine) looks high in comparison to theirs. Too high for me most of the time! I have to be really sure that I will love the item and wear it to death in such a situation.
It’s looking to me like you won’t be able to change the system. If you really love the sneakers you will soon forget the extra cost but will be wary of that site in future?

2 months ago

Sal

Veteran

Thanks all. I will try the sneakers on again this weekend and make a call. I am sure when I clicked buy now $265 probably came up - I only remember seeing shipping was free. I don’t think I really have a legal right here. At the moment I have a sour taste about the sneakers and am tempted to return for that reason. It will cost me to return them but that’s okay. But I will make a decision - honestly there are always more shoes!!

I usually shop locally - I like to see my money go to places in my city even if it is just paying the staff wages. But every now and then I am tempted with something and I had COVID so spent about a week at home - always dangerous isn’t it!!

2 months ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Glad you're over COVID though

2 months ago

Sal

Veteran

Yes I was sick Friday to Monday with a couple more days in isolation to be safe - but back into the world as from yesterday. Bout 2 for me, and very similar to the first time.

2 months ago

Sal

Veteran

It was Rollies Jenni - I have purchased three of their designs over the last five years, two from NZ retailers and once in 2019 online.

Tracking has shown me that shoes get so much wear that I am less price sensitive than I used to be.

I will make a decision in the weekend on the sneakers - but in future I will check this more carefully. Whilst I am happy to pay a premium at times I would have rather the extra $30 went to a NZ retailer who was stocking them..... it's where I struggle with online shopping internationally - it doesn't help local jobs, there is no tax to support the economy. So I think there is some guilt with this mixed in with my frustration - I can do better and not shop because I am sad in bed with covid!!

2 months ago

Bijou

Veteran

Sal, I so get this, as I have experienced very similar buying from US retailers online. Sometimes things work brilliantly, and I am thrilled with my overseas purchase, but in many instances, not being able to see the fabrication or fit in real life makes me regret the purchase. I am on team buy local - something has to be amazing to tempt me now. The fact that it costs so much to return items is hard if the item meets your needs.

2 months ago

avicennia

Veteran

I would be very annoyed by this. I can understand marking up prices for different markets, but what you’ve experienced (being charged more than the quoted price) seems fraudulent.

2 months ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I don’t think you should blame yourself for shopping online when you had Covid! The purchase sounded well reasoned.
I feel worst about international shipping (which I have only done from Australia and only for shoes) when I have to return something. This is rare ( I think twice in 7 years of Styletread ordering, with about 6- not looking it up right now- orders altogether. But I guess that’s a third of the time or so.) It’s because of the carbon issue and waste of theirs and my time or money. Their money because shipping is free to me in these orders. I try so hard to get it right! I don’t seem to feel guilty about the loss of local tax/wages. Which kind of puzzles me? Because I am good at guilt, ha ha. I guess I feel the local shoe stores are not meeting my needs/wants at a price or in a style I am happy with so I will give my money to someone who can?! Funny how we can feel guilty about different things
I agree that with tracking you have realised the price of the sneakers is acceptable, within reason, because they will be likely to get lots of wear. So if you like them, hopefully the bad vibe would go away with time?

2 months ago

Sal

Veteran

I have packaged up the sneakers to return.

After trying them on with three likely outfits I don't love them - and whilst a return will cost $25 - this is the best option as I get $240 back

Sneakers are funny in that just a shade lower or higher cut can make the difference. I quite liked these with one pair of wide leg pants, but didn't love them with my jeans or with shorts.

Lesson learnt I hope! I really did not need to fill that wardrobe gap quickly as I have lots of other shoes. I should have waited for a local option where I live OR until I was visiting somewhere so I could see in person.

I did get an answer from Rollies that their platform is managed by a third party person etc - their service was pretty good and the Pace is a well constructed sneaker. I sized up on reviews which was the right call, but it wasn't quite right in my heels ( right length, right width in the front, but a bit wide in the heel area).

Thanks all for your comments and advice!

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2 months ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Good on you Sally. Sorry about the $25 but yay for the $240 back!
It’s tricky to know what we “need”!
I have managed to buy nothing this year so far in clothing/shoes- I am sure this will change at some point! I have a bigger wardrobe already than many.

2 months ago

Runcarla

Veteran

I feel your pain, Sal. Like other Canadians, shopping out of country is a ‘mare. Our dollar is currently worth 1.35 US, and depending on the site taxes, duty, and shipping could add to the cost.

When I got my green pleather pants (Finds) below, from Ann Taylor, I did feel burned when extra fees (taxes and duties) got tagged onto an already spendy conversion. Thank goodness they fit, and I didn’t have to deal with returns! The sour taste I was left with soon dissipated, however, and I’m well on my way to amortizing the cost with a high number of ‘wears’ and a very high happiness factor.

I was rather astounded when an order placed for a wool winter coat through a Canadian MNG (Mango) site at Canadian dollars, no extra costs beyond the expected taxes, and free shipping - was shipped from Spain! I know Mango is a Spanish company. The label lists the fabric as Italian wool and the coat made in Morocco!

I’m very interested in the provenance of the garments I purchase, and I have a personal mission to avoid ‘made in China’. I’m always chuffed to find ‘made in Canada’ garments, and one of my 2024 objectives is to drop my coin as close to home as possible by shopping local B&M.

Regarding third party sellers - I’ve noticed a few bigger stores doing this! At least one place I shop lets you filter out third party sellers, which is something I do! That way I don’t run into return shenanigans. If I really like something that has a third party seller, I see if I can get that item directly from the seller.

Custom Find

by Runcarla

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2 months ago

Sal

Veteran

Thanks Carla! I am peace with it now. I don’t actually mind paying for shipping- overtly. In this case the shipping and ER variations are clearly built into the price by the online platform. I suspect that people are so against paying for shipping that this is the policy.

It’s that angsty shopping that made me angry with myself. Not the choice of shoes - they were well thought out but in the end I had fit issues - but I had no desperate need for them - l could have waited.

And when retail is struggling - I do want to support local.

I do like made in NZ or Australia. Increasingly hard to find though and very expensive!

2 months ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Glad you're at peace with it all, Sal!

2 months ago

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