Exchange Difficulties Buying Software or Other Goods

Posted by Daly de Gagne
Sep 16, 2012 at 09:14 PM

This may be off-topic but is nonetheless relevant to some members.

I am wondering if anyone has had problems in exchange rate transactions when buying goods.

For example, I recently bought a piece of software for $149 US - the company handling the transaction charged my credit card about $170 Canadian, even though there was only a difference of a couple of cents between the US and the Canadian dollars.

I complained to the software vendor who passed it onto the company handling the transaction. That company told the software vendor it was a fair difference, that martket rates are taxed diligently, and it was more reasonable than if my credit card had been directly charged.

I said I didn’t think so, and checked with my bank manager who agreed with me.

So I wonder how common this sort of a situation is.

Thanks.

Daly