Percieved exchange rate abuse
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Hi,
You can imagine how frustrating it is to see the Black Square King Air gauges mod advertised for 28 GBP on Fselite, and then to find your website pegged at 39 USD, because I live in 'the rest of the world'. I live in NZ, which when I was young used the GBP as it's currency, so I feel little satisfaction in using the yankee dollar to pay 20 NZD more. I imagine it's nice for you being on the receiving end, but it's not fair to ask your customers to pay 25% more in a global market 'just because'. I'd like the option of paying the same rate as other customers, regardless of location, local taxes etc notwithstanding.
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@stiltdog said in Percieved exchange rate abuse:
Hi,
You can imagine how frustrating it is to see the Black Square King Air gauges mod advertised for 28 GBP on Fselite, and then to find your website pegged at 39 USD, because I live in 'the rest of the world'. I live in NZ, which when I was young used the GBP as it's currency, so I feel little satisfaction in using the yankee dollar to pay 20 NZD more. I imagine it's nice for you being on the receiving end, but it's not fair to ask your customers to pay 25% more in a global market 'just because'. I'd like the option of paying the same rate as other customers, regardless of location, local taxes etc notwithstanding.
Hi
Just to be clear, we don't use exchange rates. We are a multi-currency site and price regionally. GBP for UK, € in the EU and $US for ROW. Currently, the £ is very low against the US$ - but we don't alter prices when currencies fluctuate. $39.99 seems a fair SRP to us and at this moment, £28 is worth about $33 on the money markets. Add in overseas card processing and banking (we are a UK company) and you are probably looking at more like $35. A few weeks ago it would have been even closer. With the current political turmoil that could change again - which is why we have regional prices (like Steam, Apple and Amazon) and don't sell in a single currency.
NB - you wrote "I imagine it's nice for you being on the receiving end" In fact, the current state of the £ is crucifying us because we pay many of our overseas developers and publishing partners in US$ and the increase in costs we have experienced over recent months (and days!) far outweighs any 'advantage' we get.
The bottom line is that the difference between the $US ->$NZ rate and £->$NZ is not something we have any control over and, in order to trade on a global scale, we have to make a compromise on how many currencies we can offer. -
@derek Thanks for taking the time to explain. Abuse was a poor choice of words, but reflected the pain being felt in my wallet in relation to any purchase - or as is more common these days, it's the disappointment at not being able to purchase. That's something you might keep in mind as the USD continues to spiral upwards as the ROW currencies head in the opposite direction.
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@stiltdog said in Percieved exchange rate abuse:
That's something you might keep in mind as the USD continues to spiral upwards as the ROW currencies head in the opposite direction.
As I explained above - the UK is also an ROW currency when compared to the $US and is also heading in the opposite direction. At the present moment the $US is the World's dominant reserve currency and has been for over 60 years. I doubt that will change any time soon.
