Watch that Amazon checkout total! - Blu-ray Forum

MacEachaidh · 08-14-2011, 02:52 AM

Interesting experience I've just had with an order from Amazon.com - I'd be interested in hearing if anyone had encountered anything similar.

I assembled an order, then proceeded to checkout, and hesitated ... the total was quite a bit higher than I had calculated it as. Even more so, since it was giving the total in AUS$, and the figure was higher than the amount I'd calculated in US$.

There's an option there to see the exchange rate Amazon is using, and that was my first eyebrow-raising: Amazon's exchange rate is 5 cents in the US dollar less favourable for Australians than the official exchange rate. (Usury!!) I know, pretty much everyone tilts the exchange rate in their favour, but really, a 5% loading is a bit steep.

But there was still an error of about US$8 not accounted for. I jumped onto the live Customer Service chat, and spoke to someone who was (trying to be kind) somewhat numerically challenged, and would only tell me that there'd been "an error" of US$8.23. She couldn't explain what, or how, or why. All she really did do was keep urging me to place the order "right now", and promise that she'd "adjust it afterwards".

(The amount of $8.23 bears no clear relationship that I can find to the price of any of the items in my order, all of which were listed at the same price in the checkout as they had been on their item pages where I'd added them to my cart. How does Amazon's software miscalculate what should be a simple addition? And if I hadn't questioned the checkout total, would Amazon have simply pocketed the extra money and nothing more said?)

Anyway. I don't mean to be alarmist, but am I alone in thinking this is all a bit shonky?

Has anyone else had a strange pricing experience with Amazon?

Black13teen · 08-14-2011, 03:33 AM

Yeah, I noticed that a while back. Theyre rules unfortunatly. Its just a case of willing to pay the price or not. Still beats buying all titles locally.

Nommag · 08-14-2011, 03:33 AM

I have placed two orders with Amazon.uk and both times when I got through to the final price there was 5 pound off my first order of 25 pounds and maybe like 14 pound off my 50 pound order so I was quite happy. I'm unsure why there was a discount though but I'm not complaining.

Black13teen · 08-14-2011, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nommag

I have placed two orders with Amazon.uk and both times when I got through to the final price there was 5 pound off my first order of 25 pounds and maybe like 14 pound off my 50 pound order so I was quite happy. I'm unsure why there was a discount though but I'm not complaining.

They deduct the tax UK residents pay which is helpful.

LordCrumb · 08-14-2011, 04:34 AM

I always do all my orders from Amazon US in their currency for that exact reason..

Russ103 · 08-14-2011, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KaiGusto

I always do all my orders from Amazon US in their currency for that exact reason..

Yep. I'm fairly certain if you use their currency conversion to get prices in AUD and pay your order as such, they actually charge you a "exchange rate conversion fee". Same as a bank does.

MacEachaidh · 08-14-2011, 04:49 AM

I asked the customer service person about that, and she said no. (Well, that's what she said, doesn't mean that it's so.)

I think what bothers me about it is that it's covert. I wouldn't mind all that much if they declared it up-front, but it doesn't seem to be noted in any of their FAQs or rules. (And again, I'm not just speaking about their conversion rate, but the still-unexplained "error" in the calculation of the transaction total.)

It just leaves a bad taste, you know?

stevo4264 · 08-14-2011, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ103

Yep. I'm fairly certain if you use their currency conversion to get prices in AUD and pay your order as such, they actually charge you a "exchange rate conversion fee". Same as a bank does.

Damn I never knew that! never even thought to check.
I know what I will be doing from now on though.

gettodamoofies · 08-14-2011, 09:46 AM

I have always paid for orders in the currency of the country I'm buying in (pounds, euros or US dollars etc). Your VISA card conversion rate is always better than Amazon's, even if by a little bit.

I don't think it's shonky, it's just their rate. They declare it up front so it's not like they are scamming you and you have the option to pay in your currency or theirs. You don't have to use it and I never do.

On pre-orders you have to pay in the local currency anyway.

As for your extra charge, not sure what that is. Never had any sort of issue like that before in literally hundreds of orders I've placed.

08-14-2011, 02:52 AM	#1
MacEachaidh Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Aug 2011 Location:Edge of the Accretion Disc Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Trading Score:4	Watch that Amazon checkout total! Interesting experience I've just had with an order from Amazon.com - I'd be interested in hearing if anyone had encountered anything similar. I assembled an order, then proceeded to checkout, and hesitated ... the total was quite a bit higher than I had calculated it as. Even more so, since it was giving the total in AUS$, and the figure was higher than the amount I'd calculated in US$. There's an option there to see the exchange rate Amazon is using, and that was my first eyebrow-raising: Amazon's exchange rate is 5 cents in the US dollar less favourable for Australians than the official exchange rate. (Usury!!) I know, pretty much everyone tilts the exchange rate in their favour, but really, a 5% loading is a bit steep. But there was still an error of about US$8 not accounted for. I jumped onto the live Customer Service chat, and spoke to someone who was (trying to be kind) somewhat numerically challenged, and would only tell me that there'd been "an error" of US$8.23. She couldn't explain what, or how, or why. All she really did do was keep urging me to place the order "right now", and promise that she'd "adjust it afterwards". (The amount of $8.23 bears no clear relationship that I can find to the price of any of the items in my order, all of which were listed at the same price in the checkout as they had been on their item pages where I'd added them to my cart. How does Amazon's software miscalculate what should be a simple addition? And if I hadn't questioned the checkout total, would Amazon have simply pocketed the extra money and nothing more said?) Anyway. I don't mean to be alarmist, but am I alone in thinking this is all a bit shonky? Has anyone else had a strange pricing experience with Amazon?

08-14-2011, 09:46 AM	#9
gettodamoofies Moderator Top contributor Member since:Sep 2009 Location:NSW, Australia 4K collection:609 Blu-ray collection:3162 DVD collection:125 Blu-ray reviews: 26 Trading Score:91	I have always paid for orders in the currency of the country I'm buying in (pounds, euros or US dollars etc). Your VISA card conversion rate is always better than Amazon's, even if by a little bit. I don't think it's shonky, it's just their rate. They declare it up front so it's not like they are scamming you and you have the option to pay in your currency or theirs. You don't have to use it and I never do. On pre-orders you have to pay in the local currency anyway. As for your extra charge, not sure what that is. Never had any sort of issue like that before in literally hundreds of orders I've placed. Last edited by gettodamoofies; 08-14-2011 at 09:48 AM.

08-14-2011, 03:33 AM	#2
Black13teen Expert Member Member since:Jul 2010 Location:Melbourne Blu-ray collection:1120 Trading Score:2	Yeah, I noticed that a while back. Theyre rules unfortunatly. Its just a case of willing to pay the price or not. Still beats buying all titles locally.

08-14-2011, 03:33 AM	#3
Nommag Special Member Member since:Jul 2011 Location:Hamilton, New Zealand. Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:170 Trading Score:22	I have placed two orders with Amazon.uk and both times when I got through to the final price there was 5 pound off my first order of 25 pounds and maybe like 14 pound off my 50 pound order so I was quite happy. I'm unsure why there was a discount though but I'm not complaining.

08-14-2011, 04:34 AM	#5
LordCrumb Moderator Top contributor Member since:May 2009 Location:New Zealand Home Theater Gallery:4 4K collection:405 Blu-ray collection:2924 DVD collection:109 Blu-ray reviews: 12 Trading Score:67	I always do all my orders from Amazon US in their currency for that exact reason..

08-14-2011, 04:49 AM	#7
MacEachaidh Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Aug 2011 Location:Edge of the Accretion Disc Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Trading Score:4	I asked the customer service person about that, and she said no. (Well, that's what she said, doesn't mean that it's so.) I think what bothers me about it is that it's covert. I wouldn't mind all that much if they declared it up-front, but it doesn't seem to be noted in any of their FAQs or rules. (And again, I'm not just speaking about their conversion rate, but the still-unexplained "error" in the calculation of the transaction total.) It just leaves a bad taste, you know?

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