eBay - Purchasing Overseas Item Listed in Foreign Currency

ForkSnorter on 27/07/2023 - 09:16
Last edited 27/07/2023 - 09:56 by 1 other user

Hi, what is the cheapest way to purchase an eBay item from the US, UK or Europe that is listed in foreign currency, if using a credit card to pay? Should you pay in the listed foreign currency (bank may charge foreign transaction fees) or in $AUD (I assume eBay does the conversion? Does it charge a fee? Or is it better to use PayPal?

Thanks

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  Jimothy Wongingtons on 27/07/2023 - 09:18

  +2

  I’d personally just use PayPal for the protection and cop the over the top exchange fee tbh

  • 

    ForkSnorter on 27/07/2023 - 09:20

    Do you mean protection in terms of personal information, or in terms of covering your item for loss/damages?

    • 

      MrThing on 27/07/2023 - 09:36

      +1

      fraud, loss, information and refunds

      • 

        ForkSnorter on 27/07/2023 - 09:37

        Paypal also gives you the option to pay in the listed foreign currency or $AUD. Which should I choose?

        • 

          Jimothy Wongingtons on 27/07/2023 - 09:42

          +1

          @ForkSnorter: Assuming your acc has no foreign currency it prob doesn’t matter, they’ll charge you a fee anyway and a slightly worse exchange rate

        • 

          Bigboomboom on 27/07/2023 - 10:57

          +3

          @ForkSnorter: Get a card with no international transaction fee and use that card to pay via Paypal under foreign currency. Works out a little better in term of exchange rate and also no fee.

          If I remember correctly, even if you pay in AUD because it's oversea transaction bank will still charge you a fee. So get a card with no fee.

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  Muzeeb on 27/07/2023 - 10:26

  Would it not be better to buy through eBay Australia site? If the seller ships to Australia it should appear on the Aussie site using worldwide filter. eBay will show the AUD price and then just pay as you normally would any other item. Any hassles with the transaction and you deal with eBay Australia.Then there should be no surprises. I may be wrong though.

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  eug on 27/07/2023 - 10:55

  +3

  The cheapest way is to use a credit or debit card that does not have foreign transaction fees and paying in the listed foreign currency.

  If anyone (eBay, Paypal) does the conversion for you, they're making money on it and you're paying for that. It's called Dynamic Currency Conversion.

  • 

    Bargainitis on 27/07/2023 - 20:48

    this is it. I attach two cards to my paypal. One that I use domestic (better points) and one with no FTFs.

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  CodeXD on 27/07/2023 - 10:57

  +1

  Get a card with no foreign transaction fees.

  Add it to your paypal wallet.

  Make the purchase on ebay with paypal and use the card - make sure you do not let PayPal do the conversion, they add additional fee on top.

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  capslock janitor on 28/07/2023 - 15:34

  try change the domain to .au ? might list in aud