Can't Pay USD on Paradox Store?

[Black_Shade]

Sooo, I'm a US person currently in Europe. I tried to make a purchase using the paradox store, but I had no option to use USD, everything is in Euro. How do I select which currency I want to pay in? Paying in Euro with a US bank account is a no no, you get ridiculous foreign transaction charges. Pretty much every other online store in existence has a little toggle in the options or near the top or bottom of the screen to change from USD to Euro, but I can't seem to find that anywhere on the Paradox store.

 

[Sanny]

You could also try payment through Paypal. The currency transaction charges are there for a good reason by the way. But I believe Paypal still charges a currency transaction fee (I think it's around 3.5%).

The Paradox Store automatically changes the prices to £ Sterling for me, as my IP is located within the UK. It's an automated currency system.

 

[Wagonlitz]

But I believe Paypal still charges a currency transaction fee (I think it's around 3.5%).

Seems about right. What happens is that you aren't paying a fee as such, but rather pay a conversion rate which is worse than market rate. And around 4% fits with my experience.

 

[Lynx190]

Seems about right. What happens is that you aren't paying a fee as such, but rather pay a conversion rate which is worse than market rate. And around 4% fits with my experience.

Just one of the many things I hate about PayPal's business practices; fortunately I got warned about it before I got suckered by their claims of no fees. At least they seem to have quit giving that popup asking "Are you REALLY sure?!" and warning you about transaction fees when you try to pay by CC in the original currency instead of using their bad exchange rates, this after having to delve into submenus to get it to default to that in the first place. I have a credit card with no foreign transaction fee so it's a no-brainer for me to just use it for everything overseas, but PayPal sure hates when I do that.

 

[Black_Shade]

You could also try payment through Paypal. The currency transaction charges are there for a good reason by the way. But I believe Paypal still charges a currency transaction fee (I think it's around 3.5%).

The Paradox Store automatically changes the prices to £ Sterling for me, as my IP is located within the UK. It's an automated currency system.

I'll just buy from somewhere else, no point in paying transaction fees when there are a dozen other shops that let you choose the currency you want to pay in. What I wanted happened to be on sale on the Paradox store at the time, but I found it else where for cheaper and in USD. Paradox should probably update their store.... I mean they obviously take payment in USD, why not let me choose to pay with that even if I happen to be using a Euro IP at the moment? Doesn't make sense, and cost them $$ in this instance.

 

[Wagonlitz]

Just one of the many things I hate about PayPal's business practices; fortunately I got warned about it before I got suckered by their claims of no fees. At least they seem to have quit giving that popup asking "Are you REALLY sure?!" and warning you about transaction fees when you try to pay by CC in the original currency instead of using their bad exchange rates, this after having to delve into submenus to get it to default to that in the first place. I have a credit card with no foreign transaction fee so it's a no-brainer for me to just use it for everything overseas, but PayPal sure hates when I do that.

Why couldn't you have told me a decade ago? Seriously though this is good advice; will have to look at whether I too freely can purchase in other currencies, but I'd be surprised if I can't given that I can withdraw cash in foreign currencies without any fees. And the bank's exchange rate can't be worse than paypals. (Do you get market rate or do you still get a poorer one when paying in original currency?)
Now I only wish I'd known this when I created my paypal account; it would have saved me something like 1000 €. (Yes Paypal's exchange rates are that crappy.)

Paradox should probably update their store

They're working on entirely replace the store with a new one afaik.

 

[Lynx190]

. (Do you get market rate or do you still get a poorer one when paying in original currency?)

When you pay by CC in original currency it means PayPal doesn't do anything with the exchange, they just bill your card in the foreign currency and you get whatever exchange rate (and fees) your CC issuer uses. In my case (Visa BoA Travel card) this means standard exchange rate and no fees. I don't believe it's possible to do it with bank transfers though, and you can't with some credit cards either (looking around on google, apparently Discover forces you to use PayPal's conversion due to some agreement with them, by contrast AMEX won't allow 3rd parties like PayPal to do their own conversion in the first place).

 

[TinyWiking]

The store is based on your geological position so if you are in the EU the prices will be displayed in Euro. Can't really get around that I'm afraid.

 

[Black_Shade]

The store is based on your geological position so if you are in the EU the prices will be displayed in Euro. Can't really get around that I'm afraid.

But why not have that be the default, but allow people to switch to whichever currency best applies to them?