AuctionCut

Not sure if I am becoming old and grumpy , but I like to have some unbiassed opinions on my recent run-ins with Ebay customer service, which will not give me a straight answer to a pointy question. Please read on;
I was shopping for solar panels, and noticed a promising auction that was listed in US dollars. My native AUD "approximate" exchange value was listed directly underneath the US dollar amount. The value compared favourably with an auction by the same seller, but listed in AUD. I won the listed auction for US $661, which according to Ebay was "approximately" AUD 724.
The seller had advertised the only payment option was PayPal. During the PayPal payment arrangement, the exchange value showed to be AUD 742. Now I had a dilemma. Not paying the seller causes trouble with Ebay and the seller, and I like to keep my 100% feedback rating.
Here my argument... I accept that PayPal charges 2.5% on top of the retail exchange fee to cover cost and make a profit. I do NOT accept that, since the PayPal payment was not optional, this 2.5% unavoidable charge was not advertised on this auction. Had I purchased the similar item in my native currency, I would have spent less.
You may say "it was only 20-odd bucks", but to me it's the principle at stake. I found this misleading and questioned Ebay about hidden fees, but they keep harping on about PayPal... Like your valued opinion. Should I take this further, or just shrug my shoulders?

I think unfortunately this one will have to be taken as a learning experience. Currency rates fluctuate all the time and not much you can do about it. And I guess even though 2.5% charge by paypal not advertised this is part of terms you have to accept if paypal the only option.

spencer wrote:I think unfortunately this one will have to be taken as a learning experience. Currency rates fluctuate all the time and not much you can do about it. And I guess even though 2.5% charge by paypal not advertised this is part of terms you have to accept if paypal the only option.

I agree with you spencer... as if we always have no choice.

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