Euro vs GBP pricing discrepancy

sirweste

Hello,

I'm after some advice about purchasing a bike from a German company. Thereis a large price discrepancy between their EUR pricing converted to GBP usingxe.com and their GBP pricing on their site.

Effectively the bike I am looking at is 23% more expensive to buy in GBPthan in EUR. I have asked to company if I can pay in EUR and have it deliveredto the UK but they said I cannot, I must pay in GBP.

Is this correct to EU rules? Seems wrong to me.

Cheers

Ryan

p.s. I realise there is a potential way around this by renting a forwardingmail box in Germany (or any other European currency country)

wealdroam

You've made an offer to buy the bike for £xxx and they have refused your offer.

I can see nothing wrong with that.

It is up to the buyer and seller to agree the price, and remember, the seller can refuse to sell to anyone he likes*.





*subject to the usual disclaimers like race, age, etc.

peachyprice

sirweste wrote: »

Is this correct to EU rules? Seems wrong to me.

Yes, it is correct, they can sell at whatever price they want, in any currency they want, in any market they want.

Why would you think otherwise?

SkyeKnight

peachyprice wrote: »

Yes, it is correct, they can sell at whatever price they want, in any currency they want, in any market they want.

Why would you think otherwise?

Because it's against EU law to charge more to people living in other EU countries (apart from for things that are genuinely different like shipping fees). It is also illegal for the seller to refuse to sell to you because you live in a different EU country.

http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/shopping/shopping-abroad/price-discrimination/index_en.htm

glentoran99

SkyeKnight wrote: »

Because it's against EU law to charge more to people living in other EU countries (apart from for things that are genuinely different like shipping fees). It is also illegal for the seller to refuse to sell to you because you live in a different EU country.

http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/shopping/shopping-abroad/price-discrimination/index_en.htm

Its not against the law though to apply your own currency conversion rate, Airlines, banks, shops do it all the time


the link you give is not relevant as its talking about tourists in that country

marliepanda

SkyeKnight wrote: »

Because it's against EU law to charge more to people living in other EU countries (apart from for things that are genuinely different like shipping fees). It is also illegal for the seller to refuse to sell to you because you live in a different EU country.

http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/shopping/shopping-abroad/price-discrimination/index_en.htm

Considering every example given is for transactions physically taking place in the country aka tourists not being charged more than local residents I do not believe this applies to your case.

SkyeKnight

marliepanda wrote: »

Considering every example given is for transactions physically taking place in the country aka tourists not being charged more than local residents I do not believe this applies to your case.

It does apply to goods ordered online or by post - though I appreciate that page doesn't give an example of that. Even on that page it mentions shipping costs which wouldn't be relevant for goods and services purchased in person.

The currency conversion rate is also irrelevant as you can purchase in Euros on a credit card - as the OP wishes to do, so there are no currency conversions involved.

I don't know why everyone here seems so determined to make the OP pay more than he should!

SkyeKnight

http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/shopping/shopping-abroad/buying-services/index_en.htm

This page specifically mentions online purchases.

lucy03

Although it's technically true that the supplier should supply under equal terms across the EU the relevant Directive (Directive 2006/123/EC) allows the retailer to give an appropriate reason why it shouldn't.

The retailer could just argue that it costs more to send to the UK which explains the difference or that it faces unusual extra costs. They should in theory justify their reasoning though.

So in reality it'd be very difficult to force the retailer to do anything (or for anyone to enforce it).

SkyeKnight

lucy03 wrote: »

Although it's technically true that the supplier should supply under equal terms across the EU the relevant Directive (Directive 2006/123/EC) allows the retailer to give an appropriate reason why it shouldn't.

The retailer could just argue that it costs more to send to the UK which explains the difference or that it faces unusual extra costs. They should in theory justify their reasoning though.

So in reality it'd be very difficult to force the retailer to do anything (or for anyone to enforce it).

You are right of course, but it's worth a try I think.

peachyprice

SkyeKnight wrote: »

Because it's against EU law to charge more to people living in other EU countries (apart from for things that are genuinely different like shipping fees). It is also illegal for the seller to refuse to sell to you because you live in a different EU country.

http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/shopping/shopping-abroad/price-discrimination/index_en.htm

it is against EU law to charge you €200 and someone living in Germany €120 for the same product.

it is not illegal for them to charge you a £200 for the same item once they have taken into account their own €/£ coversion rate and the extra costs involved in shipping to the UK.