Quote:
Originally Posted by Hellmark
I really am surprised that they don't let you bundle sales like that, or create a wallet like some sites allow now. Give them money once, spend how you want it.
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actually that is an interesting solution. But it all depends on how the company is structured. For instance if the various international sites are, within the scope of this conversation, treated within the company as independent vendors. This would keep all accounting separate. For an example use Amazon, if Amazon runs this way even a gift card purchased in the US is going to have to be treated as an international credit transaction because the funds will need to be moved into the individual international company's, say Amazon France, bank account. This means there is still the fee from the banks on either or both sides of the transaction.
And since there is a percentage fee charged, even if the company were to process them as a lump-sum transaction the amount is still going to be the same. In fact international transactions carry a variable that is pretty much unknown until the moment the transaction is processed. That is the actual exchange rate. So it's an issue.
I suspect if one is to be traveling in a given country for extended periods then find a way to setup a credit card in that country. Even still it is a lot of headache for what is not going to be a lot of money unless we are talking a year at a time. Then the best bet is get squared away at a bank in the country somehow. Countries can still limit that option as well to the point it might not be worth the paperwork.
Those who are complaining about this simply do not understand these are the facts of business and if it were not added at the end then it would be factored into book prices either when you log into the site prices shown represent adjusted numbers or to all users across the board. The first could not be legal in the country involved and the latter is simply not fair to other non-international customers who are otherwise not subject to these fees.
It stinks but again, it is how it is. International banking is a royal pain.