I'd gotten the 'current day trading rate' from Bank of Canada, and like you mentioned, I'm familiar with the idea of how it's always a difference of a percentage here or there. And it wasn't a total rip off, it just was some sloppy explanations of what they meant/defined as real time rates.
And generally, when you purchase with credit cards, it's your credit card provider that sets the exchange rate terms. What I found confusing was that the actual bill that was sent to me was in the higher Canadian rates...so...have they processed the order in American funds or the Canadian amounts? Being an American store, I would think (not being a retailer myself I don't know) that the charge can only go through as American dollars, and then my credit card company gives me whatever rate they give me. Does that make sense? So if they send along these higher numbers to my credit card company instead of the unconverted numbers...and I just think it's sloppy bookkeeping. How can I prove what the item cost at the time if I don't have a bill in American dollars (in case I need to return something)?
I emailed just to ask how it all works so I understand, but as of yet, not a peep.
If you have a system on your website that converts the dollar amount for you (or rather, for your customers to see), then why can't the system actually tell the customer WHAT the rate is (limitations of applications perhaps but come on)?
Besides, though they do make the duty process 'easier', you pay for it. I tested what their international shipment costs would be for a set of gelatin molds, and it started at $17. Gimmee a break. It only went up $2 bucks when I added an item that expands to 6 feet in length (not sure of the weight). AND it can take something like 10 to 20 business days to get here. There are far better cross border shipping deals to be had.
And perhaps if you add all that up, it's why my nose is out of joint.
We'll see if they reply, and we'll see what happens when the package arrives.
Usually I'm a fairly laid back person
