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Overstock.com Overcharging International Customers
Just a heads for those that are not aware.
Overstock.com is overcharging consumers that are purchasing internationally. I first noticed this when I decided to change my local to the USA from Canada.
My cart dropped from $375 Cad to $300 USD, this appeared to be too large a change for current exchange rates,1 USD = 1.03660 CAD.
I was able to locate an option on the Canadian side to be able to purchase my order in USD. When I compared my US cart to my Canadian International Cart there was a $50 US price difference in the two carts. This is just the carts before any Taxes, Duties, or Shipping charges are added on to each order.
Doing some basic math I was able to determine that Canadian customers are being charged a 24.7% premium over what US customers are charged. To make sure it was not only Canadians I also checked ordering from the UK in USD and they were being charged a 26% premium.
I contacted Overstock.com's customer service chat and here is there response:
Noah: Thanks for visiting Overstock.com, this is Noah, how can I help you?
you: Hi, I was wondering why there is a premium price when ordering internationally. There is a $50 US difference when I am looking at the prices for my cart when I choose between Canada and the USA, before the shipping and duty charges are added on.
Noah: Hi there.
Noah: I'll help you with this information, allow me a minute please.
Noah: We recognize that pricing “convention” in the CAD is to see prices displayed inclusive of VAT, and that consumers would rather see prices inclusive of VAT because that is what they are accustomed to.
Noah: The prices being shown on the U.S. website do not include any taxes; therefore, when converting USD to CAD currencies, the conversion will not be exact.
Noah: The prices being shown on our website are sale prices set by Overstock.com in the U.S. that also include the Cost of Doing Business internationally.
you: When I'm comparing the prices between US and International they are both in US currency. And in Canada we do not have VAT(as they do in the UK)
Noah: These are converted from USD to CAD, so that shoppers in Canada or any other International Destination can transact in a currency familiar to them and so they do not incur surcharges typically applied by credit card associations and issuing banks in converting transactions between two different currencies.
Noah: I understand there's no VAT charges showing up at the checkout page, but the price that shows are inclusive of some import and export charges which is set.
you: ok
Noah: I appreciate your understanding.
Noah: Do you have any further questions for me?
you: nope
Noah: Thank you for visiting Overstock.com. Have a great Evening.
Chat session has been terminated by the Overstock.com Service representative.
Take what you will from that, but I was prepared to purchase from them before I found out about the premium they charge for international customers. Other online retailers allow international customers to order without being overcharged just because they outside of the country (Amazon, Martin and Osa are two I can confirm) ship to Canada and Internationally without charging premiums.
I post this as a heads up for anyone considering purchasing from Overstock.com internationally so they know that they are being overcharged.
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