Canada is in limbo : it’s not a 51th of the US nor a member of the EU (though it would be nice).
So I’m billed in euros. For Memorymoog 49 euros = 78,87 cad.
But in the basket, it’s 49 euros = 81,81 with a 4% conversion fees. These fees garantee the conversion rate during payment. It seems to be to the benefit of the seller.
I would like to see what it would be if I were billed in US dollars, like before.
Is Canada part of the EU? Are Aussies billed in euros with conversion fees?
I’ll be away in the country (Mont Ste-Anne) for a few days. I’ll look at the answers, if any, when I get back. Of course, I can afford the 4% conversion fees, I’ll simply skip a lunch .
Hmm, I was just charged in dollars so I didn’t need conversion, but the amount was 49 dollars so I already got a good price. I did buy something for euro just a couple days ago and the conversion rate then was 1 euro = 1.21 dollar. I have seen conversion fees before on credit card bills, paypal or what have you. That is someone charging you for converting your money.
When I pay in $ or £, I’m charged a 2€ fee. Well, it’s often in the form of a big discount off the base price, so it evens out. For us, too, the conversion fee applies if the payment isn’t in €.
By the way, I wasn’t able to pay for Memory V (they’re undergoing maintenance; I hope I won’t be charged twice). I’m waiting until tomorrow or Monday; for now, I’m running the demo.
Usually Arturia billed me in US dollars.
I changed My Preferences to USA.
Trying to buy Memory V, I’m shown the price as 49 USD (= 69 CAD), which is what I usually paid if memory serves me well, no pun intended.
But in the basket, it’s billed as 49 euros (= 82 CAD) with a new conversion fee.
Thank you, Tomg.
That’s what I was usually charged up to now. It’s 69 CAD.
But in the basket, it’s stubbornly billed as 49 euros, which is 82 CAD with a 4% conversion fee.
I contacted support.
I just noticed this as well when I stuck Memory V in my shopping cart. There’s absolutely no way I’m going to pay that kind of ridiculous amount. I sent an email to support as well. Arturia needs to fix this mess. It was never like this for any of my other purchases. Someone screwed up the website.
Due to a recent change, Arturia’s base prices are now set in EUR, as our company is based in France. While some previous purchases may have been displayed in USD, the final checkout price is now generally calculated in EUR and then converted by your payment provider to your local currency.
If you prefer to purchase in USD, you may try updating your country setting to the United States in your account, as this may allow prices to be displayed and processed in USD.
I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.
My response back is as follows:
Thanks for your email. This is totally unacceptable and nothing more than an excuse. I deal with plenty of countries in Europe and we are charged appropriately. This is nothing short of highway robbery. I would highly advise that you reconsider this practice and change it back to the way it was before if you want to retain customers.
As it is, I will not be making any further purchases from this company if this practice persists.
———————
I will make it very clear that while I love using many of Arturia’s products, they are not a necessity. I can use plenty of other synthesizer and stick with the ones that I do have. However, future purchases will be with more reputable companies that handle their e-commerce appropriately in a global market, should Arturia wish to continue with such highway robbery tactics. I have plenty of options as to where I will spend my money.
I did change my country settings to US.
I’m shown the price in USD (49$) which amounts to 69 CAD.
But I’m billed in euros (49 euros) which amounts to 82 CAD with a conversion fee.
I fully understand you are not personally responsible for this new policy (I insist on the new) but it’s a totally unfair price hike.
The US buyers are charged 13 dollars less.
How can such a discriminatory treatment be justified?
Arturia has been part of EU for decades; it’s no justification.
I got another support email regarding changing the country. Here’s my response:
—————-
Gaby,
It does show in my cart in US dollars. However, as per the screenshot, you will see that I am unable to pay for it because the countries do not match.
This should not be a surprise to anybody who deals with e-commerce because that is usually the making of credit card fraud. Nobody should be able to have to go through such exorbitant and ridiculous measures to use your products. Let’s not pretend that I am just an ordinary Joe consumer. I have been developing e-commerce sites long before Arturia was even an idea. The practice you advised is nothing short of a cyber security type of issue and a red flag to any credit card provider. Be grateful that I do not report this practice.
Simply put I will not let a €49 package turned into a needless $82 expense. Like I said, I don’t have any problems with other European companies and they range from Sweden to Britain and they all follow standard e-commerce procedures and charging practices. You are the only company that chooses to make this the most aggravating experience with this egregious practice. It is not I that needs to understand your change in policy. It is YOU that needs to understand that this is nothing short of unacceptable and I will not purchase anything further from you guys until this is corrected. Let’s be clear that I love your instruments and effects, but I don’t rely on them. Worst comes to worse, I can build my own software instruments which are good enough.
I was able to purchase Memory V and pay in US Dollars.
After placing the order and it went through, my bank account indeed shows US dollars (as does the email confirmation).
In my case I had to set a different billing address to the shipping address.
Shipping address - US (I believe this is what triggers the currency change)
Billing Address- Australia (I believe this has to be done so the card can verify)
When I buy a product priced in dollars, I pay for it in euros, and my bank charges me an extra 2 euros.
Since the total amount qualifies for a significant discount, I still come out ahead.
The worst part for us French people, who are already heavily taxed, is that having to pay in dollars within the European Union would be a triple penalty.
I think there must be a solution that allows us to pay the normal price; otherwise, if we get too involved in a conflict, we risk losing the discount—just look at what’s happening with Native Instruments.
Because you certainly have the financial means, but people like me don’t really.
With diplomacy and goodwill, there’s always common ground rather than getting into a conflict—we can see how that’s turning out right now.
The ‘conversion fee’ was applied on Arturia’s web site. This did not come from Paypal.
I am not sure when this started, but I am sure I did not see it previously. I am not sure why Arturia is applying a conversion fee - it doesn’t even know how I am going to pay yet.
If I buy a sandwich in France, do they apply a conversion fee before I have paid for it?
For a sandwich @ASC_does_not_work , I don’t think it’ll be possible to pay in dollars, and I doubt it’ll work with American Express either.
Not that it’s technically impossible, but I know shopkeepers too well—especially in Paris, where they aren’t always friendly.
And once you’ve paid, it’s your bank that handles the rest, so it’s odd that it’s recorded beforehand; for me, it’s always afterward when I get my bank statement.
Is this their own decision, or is it something imposed on them? That is the question.
I just changed my country to US in the Settings in trying to adapt to this new policy change.
For the past 10 years, it has been Canada and I’ve always been billed in USD.
I just checked with French Moddart (Pianoteq) and it’s billed in USD: 49 USD for Shigeru Kawai SK-EX. If I remember well, they do the conversion in CAD (69) before paying.
.