Google checkout

[Guest nedian05]

whenever i buy any application an android market, it takes me to the google checkout. when I check my bank statements it always charge me extra £1.99 per transaction. Is there any other method of payement or method of purchasing. I have tried to search the forum and google it as well. I could not find any other way.

[Guest Ally Weir]

dont buy apps is the simple solution. Its a joke that they still havent integrated something like paypal to make it easier for international customers to buy apps.

Steam used to have this problem, their christmas sales suddenly became a lot less attractive with a £2 surcharge, paypal solved this for me.

Some android developers allow you to buy an activation code through their own site which helps.

[Guest lixcab]

OMG! :(

Cheat! I just checked my bank statement online I have overseas transactions everywhere!

[Guest fiendishlyclever]

whenever i buy any application an android market, it takes me to the google checkout. when I check my bank statements it always charge me extra £1.99 per transaction. Is there any other method of payement or method of purchasing. I have tried to search the forum and google it as well. I could not find any other way.

You could use a card that doesn't charge for foreign currency transactions in Google checkout. I use a Halifax Clarity card (bonus is if I spend £300 in a single month they give me £5 back).

Paypal suffers from the same problem if you get billed in dollars (although you can ask Paypal to do the conversion for you - which they do for a profitable exchange rate)

[Guest nedian05]

dont buy apps is the simple solution. Its a joke that they still havent integrated something like paypal to make it easier for international customers to buy apps.

Steam used to have this problem, their christmas sales suddenly became a lot less attractive with a £2 surcharge, paypal solved this for me.

Some android developers allow you to buy an activation code through their own site which helps.

Yes, that what I am doing. I have not bought any application for last 2 month. Just purchased widget locker from their website after your suggestion. Thanks.

[Guest Rotmann]

Or maybe use an alternative market? In Germany we have AndroidPIT (i think the biggest german android community) App Center, it has more or less the same apps (not so many at the moment are literally stored on the market, you find all of them but you get redirected to the Android market for the apps that are not stored in the AndroidPIT App Center) in it and they accept PayPal or Clickandbuy. Naturally all legal stuff. Don't know about any alternative Markets for other Countries though (androlib and appbrain work through the Android Market, it's the same). You can try to install it as it has the english language too. Just scan the QR-Code with any Barcode Scanner or Google Goggles.

http://www.androidpit.de/de/android/market/app-center

Edited December 29, 2010 by Rotmann

[Guest lpinho]

This has nothing to do with market or google checkout, it something to talk about with you bank.

I use VISA with paypal and Google checkout, if the payment is not in euros I pay an extra conversion fee, but I always pay some kind of fee for each foreign exchange, but nothing like you've paid, usually 10 cents or 30 cents...

[Guest Plxply]

It really depends on who you bank with, for example if I make a purchase with my HSBC Visa Debit card I don't get charged anything and get a fairly good exchange rate from HSBC that is competitive with current exchange rates however if I use my Lloyds TSB card I will be charged about £1.99 per purchase.

Remember the terms and conditions booklet your bank sent you when you first opened the account but you never looked at? Yeah, it's time to look through that.

[Guest Raspa]

This has nothing to do with market or google checkout.

It is everything to do with google, for not charging people in their native currency.

[Guest Plxply]

It is everything to do with google, for not charging people in their native currency.

It depends really, you could easily argue that Google clearly displays the amount along with currency they are going to charge your card and it's up to you to see if your bank charges.

Edited December 29, 2010 by Plxply

[Guest Raspa]

It depends really, you could easily argue that Google clearly displays the amount along with currency they are going to charge your card and it's up to you to see if your bank charges.

Of course it is upto you to see what your bank will charge - but imagine if Asda (part of walmart) started charging everyone in US$ because they are an American company? If they want to do business in the UK (or any other Euorpean nation) then they need to start charging in the currency of the country they are doing business in. Until then they are just hurting themselves and developers - people will just stay away from the market (and/or install pirate versions of apps).

[Guest ezablade]

Google have started partnering with phone companies, in the US anyway, allowing customers to pay through their billing system. So, when you buy, you have the option to pay through AT&T, rather than a credit card. How they handle foreign currency transactions is another matter, though.

See http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/24/google_att/

[Guest lixcab]

I think a simple notice on the Google checkout page just before you confirm your purchase would fit in the Google "Don't be Evil" mission statement. (Or did I miss the fine print again?)

Someone could have just made this clear. It was never about the extra charge.

[Guest targetbsp]

It's normal to be charged for buying something abroad - I import lots of dvd's :( )

Almost all shops will charge you in their local currency despite trying to help you by showing you UK prices. And then the banks needlessly charge you a few % despite having incurred 0% or only 1% cost (depending on EU or not). But £1.99 for an item as cheap as an app is insane! Get a new bank. I use a Post Office card as they don't charge anything.

[Guest Phoenix Silver]

It's normal to be charged for buying something abroad - I import lots of dvd's ;) )

Almost all shops will charge you in their local currency despite trying to help you by showing you UK prices. And then the banks needlessly charge you a few % despite having incurred 0% or only 1% cost (depending on EU or not). But £1.99 for an item as cheap as an app is insane! Get a new bank. I use a Post Office card as they don't charge anything.

i have a Canadian bank account and they don't charge anything

i don't want to try with my French bank account :(

Edited December 29, 2010 by Phoenix Silver

[Guest neologan]

Of course it is upto you to see what your bank will charge - but imagine if Asda (part of walmart) started charging everyone in US$ because they are an American company? If they want to do business in the UK (or any other Euorpean nation) then they need to start charging in the currency of the country they are doing business in. Until then they are just hurting themselves and developers - people will just stay away from the market (and/or install pirate versions of apps).

100% agree. Stopped buying appz after as i was shocked to see charges. Those of you tryingt o justify this have some weird logic imo...

[Guest nedian05]

I am really finding it difficult to find the logic to change my bank only for buying applicaton from android market.

[Guest fiendishlyclever]

I am really finding it difficult to find the logic to change my bank only for buying applicaton from android market.

That's why I'd suggest having a card for it. If you do lots of shopping online you'll use it again (things like Google storage, my US web hosting, domain registration, foreign software purchases have all been paid for on my fee-free plastic).

I would expect Google to offer currency conversion at some point in the future - it's a good money spinner for them since they can shaft you on the exchange rate (as PayPal do)

[Guest Plxply]

I am really finding it difficult to find the logic to change my bank only for buying applicaton from android market.

Since your bank charges you outrageous fees I would see that as a valid reason for moving.

[Guest oe79]

Does anyone know if Halifax add a surcharge?

Cheers

[Guest BArtNimal]

i got an extra card from lloyds that doesnt get any charges for transactions in foreign countries or foreign currencies. i got the silver account though (got it for the mobile phone insurance that covers everything, but its nice to have the extra card there as well)

[Guest neologan]

Does anyone know if Halifax add a surcharge?

Cheers

£1.50, for me at least - same as when abroad.

[Guest lixcab]

Right. Read the fineprint:

Transactions abroad

When making purchases (not cash withdrawals) abroad, online, or on the phone, in a currency other than sterling, the transaction is also subject to:

Charges

A £1 charge for each transaction except where a Platinum Debit card or a Premier Debit card has been used.

Called the bank and said I have a Platinum card but the lady said they charge everyone £1 for foreign purchases across the board. How very disappointing especially when the fineprint from the website is saying the opposite thing. :(

[Guest Ally Weir]

It's normal to be charged for buying something abroad - I import lots of dvd's :( )

Almost all shops will charge you in their local currency despite trying to help you by showing you UK prices. And then the banks needlessly charge you a few % despite having incurred 0% or only 1% cost (depending on EU or not). But £1.99 for an item as cheap as an app is insane! Get a new bank. I use a Post Office card as they don't charge anything.

which card is it you have, i would be interested in getting one

[Guest SamH]

I was charged an extra 1p for "Non-UK commission fee" by Nationwide Building Society.

Another good reason to bank with them!