Amazon+Kindle 3+Currency Conversion=Ripoff?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Amazon+Kindle 3+Currency Conversion=Ripoff?

1gkar

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#89156 26-Aug-2011 13:49

I was all set to purchase the Kindle 3 Wifi @ US$139 just now.

Went through the checkout process. At the last page, I found the NZD conversion equated to $174.??. With shipping on top of, the total came out at NZ$200.??. I thought the dollar must have dropped, so I did an exchange using www.xe.com only to find US$139 = NZ$167.352. What's going on?

Sorry Amazon, I don't appreciate being ripped off. I will wait until Monday, & purchase it for $209 from Dick Smith with local support.

Bugger, Mauricio, I was using your Kindle link page as well. Might want to enquire with Amazon why the $ discepancy.

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#512545 26-Aug-2011 15:05

Just pay in USD then? What's the big deal? It's pretty common that these sorts of transactions use less than favourable exchange rates.

P.S. You are using USD sell rates, right? Check, for example, asb.co.nz. It'd cost you NZD$175.05 to buy USD$139 including $5 fees. Amazon doesn't seem that unfair to me.

NZtechfreak

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#512557 26-Aug-2011 15:29

Yep, these transactions usually aren't done at the best exchange rate, and usually end up slightly more expensive.

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pebbles

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#516757 5-Sep-2011 11:20

I think you are also forgetting the $20 fee for delivery on top of that. With the current exchange rate it is still cheaper to buy from Amazon than DSE.

The amazon exchange rate they use seem to be a bit behind and, as everyone is said, just select the US$ amount and not the NZ$ as it is more favourable to let your bank do the exchange.

freitasm

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#516769 5-Sep-2011 11:51

Pay in US$, and remember delivery... We just bought another Kindle last weekend, can't complain.

trig42

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#516773 5-Sep-2011 12:10

My wife said she saw Kindles at Woolworths over the weekend. I asked if she was sure and she said that it had the same logo on it as mine. $289 or something. So $200 landed from Amazon is a pretty good deal.

freitasm

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#516776 5-Sep-2011 12:12

DSE and Woolworths are the same company at the end... And yes, apparently they are at supermarkets, and the Amazon site is still cheaper.

tonyhughes

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#516778 5-Sep-2011 12:19

Kindle = Win. What a great device.

Don't forget that if you buy off the link in mine or Mauricios sig, you support Geekzone.

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pebbles

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#516785 5-Sep-2011 12:42

trig42: My wife said she saw Kindles at Woolworths over the weekend. I asked if she was sure and she said that it had the same logo on it as mine. $289 or something. So $200 landed from Amazon is a pretty good deal.

This might be for the 3G + WIFI model? I think the basic WIFI is just $208

1gkar

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#517761 6-Sep-2011 21:12

Just to clarify my position: if I can't get a purchase with around 20-25%+ savings, I will buy locally -especially if it is an electronic-type product. I purchased the wifi Kindle for NZ$209 from Dick Smiths, & am very happy with the product. Well worth waiting for.

I have only ever purchsed internationally via Paypal (maybe I have been stung with similiar in the past, & not realised it: ignorance is bliss

). Please excuse my ignorance, what is the exact procedure for purchasing with US$? & can it be done using third party like Paypal? Cheers.

freitasm

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#517775 6-Sep-2011 21:28

Ok, so ay least now use out link when visiting Amazon to buy your books?

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#517798 6-Sep-2011 21:50

freitasm I take it you do not have the option of having a link though for the non 3g? Looking at getting a wifi only.

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#517812 6-Sep-2011 22:06

Nety: freitasm I take it you do not have the option of having a link though for the non 3g? Looking at getting a wifi only.

Amateur!

insane

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#517828 6-Sep-2011 22:30

DSL had ran out of the non 3G ones, so I got the 3g one for my old mans fathers day present, didn't realize the 3G is free and just works out the box without a simcard which is rather neat.

Later that day I went to Foodtown and noticed they still had stock of the non 3G ones :( , Bastards at DSE said they were the only stockists, as did pricespy.

I wonder if you could tether a device to the wireless and use the 3G :)

kyhwana2

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#517832 6-Sep-2011 22:34

insane:

I wonder if you could tether a device to the wireless and use the 3G :)

Nope. The 3G browsing only works in the US/UK, etc. (You can get to wikipedia/amazon/etc)

alexx

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#517842 6-Sep-2011 22:50

Noticed at Countdown supermarket in Mt Eden tonight, a sign advertising both the WiFi and 3G+WiFi model although I didn't actually check how many of each in stock. I'm pretty sure the 3G+WiFi model was about $289 as mentioned above.

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