nasty surprise

vice-versa · 12-27-2011, 04:24 PM

I bought my Kobo Touch from FNAC at the end of novembre and bought some books in english at Kobo in the same time, not being able to find what I was looking for at the FNAC website. I was relatively happy with that way of doing till today when I check my bank account : I found my purchases at Kobo, but each was accompanied by a smal amount taken by my banker because of a purchase "out of the euro zone". As I wanted to buy the Anthony Horoviz "The House of Silk" (that I knew was available for France at the Kobo website), I search the FNAC website to buy it there, it means in FRANCE, therefore in the "euro zone", but all that I could find was a paper book instead. When I bought my Kobo Touch at FNAC, I was said FNAC bookshop was the same as KOBO bookshop. So what ? Can anybody tell me where I could buy english ebooks inside the "euro zone" that, of course, could be read on my Kobo Touch ?

Thank you very much

frankieGom · 12-27-2011, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vice-versa

I bought my Kobo Touch from FNAC at the end of novembre and bought some books in english at Kobo in the same time, not being able to find what I was looking for at the FNAC website. I was relatively happy with that way of doing till today when I check my bank account : I found my purchases at Kobo, but each was accompanied by a smal amount taken by my banker because of a purchase "out of the euro zone". As I wanted to buy the Anthony Horoviz "The House of Silk" (that I knew was available for France at the Kobo website), I search the FNAC website to buy it there, it means in FRANCE, therefore in the "euro zone", but all that I could find was a paper book instead. When I bought my Kobo Touch at FNAC, I was said FNAC bookshop was the same as KOBO bookshop. So what ? Can anybody tell me where I could buy english ebooks inside the "euro zone" that, of course, could be read on my Kobo Touch ?

Thank you very much

What bank?
I just checked the last ebookI bought from kobobooks (not from FNAC even though it was a french ebook), last week, and I was charged the exact price. Purchased made before kobobooks started charging directly in Euros were made through paypal (this option is no longer available from France) and carried no other charges as well (the last of those was in october).

HarryT · 12-27-2011, 05:33 PM

This is nothing to do with the bookstore; if you make a purchase in a foreign currency your bank will impose a currency conversion charge, either explicitly (as you are seeing) or in the form of a poorer exchange rate. Currency conversion is a commercial transaction for which there will always be a fee charged.

HarleyB · 12-27-2011, 06:20 PM

If I were you I would look around for another bank that allows you to make purchases in other currencies without hitting you with either a bad exchange rate or fees or even both.
I use a special credit card that I keep for internet purchases and overseas travel. It has no fees at all and consistently gives me an exchange rate within 1% of the interbank rate. For any Aussies reading it is the 28 Degrees Mastercard previously known as the Wizard Clear Advantage. It doesn't have any of the "benefits" of other more expensive credit cards like FF points or free insurance etc which is why I only use it for foreign transactions where the lack of fees and charges makes it worthwhile.
If you're not sure how to find the best credit card for foreign transactions I suggest you look on travel or frequent flyer forums. People who travel a lot have learnt how to avoid all those nasty surcharges that some banks like to impose.

vice-versa · 12-28-2011, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankieGom

What bank?

The Société Générale. And I paid in euros, not in dollars... I'll have a word with my banker, next time I'll go there, and despite this nasty surprise, I'm not yet prepared to change for an other bank... (not yet, but...

) Kobo didn't charge more for the books, but I had a fee from my bank for each purchase. By the way do you know how to buy more than one book at one time on Kobo website ? There's no cart to add books in and paying afterward, when all's choosen ?

lioslaith · 12-28-2011, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vice-versa

By the way do you know how to buy more than one book at one time on Kobo website ? There's no cart to add books in and paying afterward, when all's choosen ?

There's not one as far as I know. It's an irritant to most, Amazon are the same with their Kindle store, I tend to buy a gift voucher when buying from them that way I don't get an individual charge for every book I buy to my card/bank account.

frankieGom · 12-28-2011, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vice-versa

The Société Générale. And I paid in euros, not in dollars... I'll have a word with my banker, next time I'll go there, and despite this nasty surprise, I'm not yet prepared to change for an other bank... (not yet, but...

) Kobo didn't charge more for the books, but I had a fee from my bank for each purchase. By the way do you know how to buy more than one book at one time on Kobo website ? There's no cart to add books in and paying afterward, when all's choosen ?

Yes, you need to clarify with Société Générale how they (sur)charge purchases from abroad and see if you can get a better deal from them.
I don't know how to buy books in bundles, sorry.

12-27-2011, 04:24 PM	#1
vice-versa whippet addict Posts: 382 Karma: 689884 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: France, Normandy, Gisors Device: Kobo Glo, Kobo Aura 6", Kobo Glo HD, Kobo Aura One, Kobo Sage	nasty surprise I bought my Kobo Touch from FNAC at the end of novembre and bought some books in english at Kobo in the same time, not being able to find what I was looking for at the FNAC website. I was relatively happy with that way of doing till today when I check my bank account : I found my purchases at Kobo, but each was accompanied by a smal amount taken by my banker because of a purchase "out of the euro zone". As I wanted to buy the Anthony Horoviz "The House of Silk" (that I knew was available for France at the Kobo website), I search the FNAC website to buy it there, it means in FRANCE, therefore in the "euro zone", but all that I could find was a paper book instead. When I bought my Kobo Touch at FNAC, I was said FNAC bookshop was the same as KOBO bookshop. So what ? Can anybody tell me where I could buy english ebooks inside the "euro zone" that, of course, could be read on my Kobo Touch ? Thank you very much Last edited by vice-versa; 12-27-2011 at 04:27 PM.

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12-27-2011, 05:33 PM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	This is nothing to do with the bookstore; if you make a purchase in a foreign currency your bank will impose a currency conversion charge, either explicitly (as you are seeing) or in the form of a poorer exchange rate. Currency conversion is a commercial transaction for which there will always be a fee charged.

12-27-2011, 06:20 PM	#4
HarleyB Fanatic Posts: 565 Karma: 1113286 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast Australia Device: Kobo (RIP), iPad, iPhone 4, Kobo Touch x2, Kobo Glo	If I were you I would look around for another bank that allows you to make purchases in other currencies without hitting you with either a bad exchange rate or fees or even both. I use a special credit card that I keep for internet purchases and overseas travel. It has no fees at all and consistently gives me an exchange rate within 1% of the interbank rate. For any Aussies reading it is the 28 Degrees Mastercard previously known as the Wizard Clear Advantage. It doesn't have any of the "benefits" of other more expensive credit cards like FF points or free insurance etc which is why I only use it for foreign transactions where the lack of fees and charges makes it worthwhile. If you're not sure how to find the best credit card for foreign transactions I suggest you look on travel or frequent flyer forums. People who travel a lot have learnt how to avoid all those nasty surcharges that some banks like to impose.