EPIC PROBLEM - Can't Change Currency to USD after Steam forced it to CDN.

[games]

For years now, I was happily making my steam purchases in USD, and suddenly, I am not forced to paying CDN. When trying to submit a ticket to valve regarding this Payment Issue, there is absolutely no option regarding this significant change to obtain assistance.

I want to continue to make my purchases in USD -- not CDN $ . If this can not be changed, then I regret I will no longer be making any steam purchases and instead purchasing from other systems such as Origin.

I discovered this issue today, and would appreciate a prompt solution. This is unfair practice.

[TirithRR]

Well, looks like you'll be purchasing from Origin now then.

These are permanet changes, Steam has added local currencies to many regions in the last month or two, and once Steam is in your local currency the only way to switch to another currency is to move to another region that uses that currency.

[games]

My card is in USD --- I think this is complete garbage and a horrible move forcing people to pay using their countries currency. This should be a choice -- especially when using PayPal. And to top it off, wow, what a RIP OFF move.... jacking around with the exchange rate at 5 points less.

Way to milk Canadians for even more money. Right now, 1 USD = 1.12 CDN ..... Steam exchange rate : 1 USD = 1.09 CDN... now add to that the currency exchange of the transaction provider.

On a small scale - Serious Sam collection - $9.99 USD. Charged paypal $10.99 CDN, which after paypal exchange worked out to $10.09 USD . That ADDS UP !!!.

[TirithRR]

Time to move, I guess?

[games]

Did you not read my last message. If you think that is less than americans, you are sadly mistaken.

That one game, steam has listed at $9.99 USD, and is selling to canadians at $10.99 CDN. Which draws on the USD from my PayPal account and ends up being $10.09 USD. This is 0.10 USD more than I would normally pay, An extra 1% (approx) which adds up. So if I were to buy the Valve bundle which is USD 99.99, then I would end up paying an extra $1 (approx) USD for that package.

The specific number increase is somewhat irrelevant -- the moral here is that we are having to pay even more for the same stuff we normally paid for. Users should have the choice in what currency they wish to draw upon. If paying an american company, then USD is the norm, while some people may complain they wish to pay in their currency of their native country, then so be it -- let them pay the variation. I do not feel this is right to just drop the hammer and force people who wish to buy games on steam to pay in the country to which their account is registered.

I have, and always will deal in USD only. While I love steam, I this move has made me consider and act upon making purchases elsewhere. I prefer to do business in USD. I have made several purchases on steam these last few weeks prior to the sudden currency change, and am disappointed as I was looking forward to building my collection on steam further as it is nice to have all my games in one client (mostly). I am aware of sites that offer steam integration and the purchase of games for USD is still offered there such as HumbleBundle, etc, however the selection is more limited usually to indie only.

Rather than defending this outright change as being amazing, I urge the community to consider a plea to have steam continue to support purchases in USD and the local currency, or since there is a multi-currency integration already, to open that up and allow people to have the choice of how they wish to pay. It should not draft Canadian dollars from my USD PayPal account.

I do not feel this is an unreasonable request, and especially where PayPal is concerned it is a simple matter to pass a different 3 digit code for the currency parameter. This could be an option set in preferences, and if you wish, the account default could remain in the local currency until switched in preferences.

[Matt]

Steam started changing to local currencies a couple years ago. They did Europe a year or two ago. No one here is necessarily defending it or arguing against it. This is simply something Valve decided to do.

[Satoru]

Note someone using a USD accoutn in Canda is more or less the exception and not the rule. Most candadians woudl not be buying from steam that way. For most canadians the currency conversion is beneficial for them for a good majority of Steam games right now as even from a pur currency conversion perspective many games are cheaper in CAD

[WindsorW]

Ursprungligen skrivet av TirithRR:

These are permanet changes, Steam has added local currencies to many regions in the last month or two, and once Steam is in your local currency the only way to switch to another currency is to move to another region that uses that currency.

How does one register a move to a different region/country? Or is that even possible?

[games]

I am merely advocating that they add support to allow the user to select which currency they wish to pay in -- especially when using PayPal.

@Matt - I didn't realize as the change literally just happened overnight. I purchased a game 2 days ago in USD, and then today when I bought the SS bundle, it charged me in CDN. So of course I checked to see if there was a setting (as there usually is when a large company decides to impose such a method), and to my dismay; none could be found.

@WindsorW - I was wondering that myself, as I would likely use my US PO box to handle the addressing. Seems rather silly though for a 3 digit code that can be switched on the fly.

[Matt]

What most people are saying is that's not going to happen. Advocating is fine and all, but the chances are slim to none.

The change from US to Canada did happen overnight. But Canada is one of many, many countries where Steam has converted to local currency. They convert one or two countries at a time.

[Bandit]

that´s hard

[Satoru]

Ursprungligen skrivet av WindsorW:

How does one register a move to a different region/country? Or is that even possible?

You'd have to contact support and then support will request soem information from you to verify your current residency.

[Satoru]

Ursprungligen skrivet av games:

I am merely advocating that they add support to allow the user to select which currency they wish to pay in -- especially when using PayPal.

Again that makes no sense since then everyoen woudl choose "Russian Rubles" or "Philipino Peso"

Also note taht Paypay REAMS you in fees for the 'convenience' in paying in a diffrent currency.

What you're asking for is to pay USD PRICES not pay for in USD curerncy. which is entirely different thing.

[games]

@Satoru - I am unsure in where your logic comes in to pay in "Russian Rubles" or "Philipino Peso" comes into play. Each currency has a denoted price based on the exchange rate and *should* be roughly equivalent.

So when selecting a different currency, you would get the steam set price in that currency.

Regarding paypal --- If their exchange rate wasn't so good, I would end up paying even more than I did. The problem, is that when I pay for a steam now, I am paying TWO conversion rates --- #1, the steam exchange rate from the USD price to CDN price, and then PayPal from USD to CDN to pay in the forced CDN currency --- it's not rocket science as to how retarded this is.

Now, if I wish to buy steam games, I either take it up the glory hole, or find somewhere other than steam to make my purchases.

Regarding "talk to steam support" -- under what criteria. ABSOLUTELY NONE of the form options have anything to do with this, and all Payment ones (at least) require you to pick a game you are having problems with. Horrible support system *tsk tsk tsk*. I have seen indie companies handle support more efficiently than the million tonne company "Steam". Surely they could afford a better support system, however they have deliberately curbed it by forcing ALL support into a box requiring game selection -- essentially the blame game, if user selects a game, then must be a problem with the game they selected so steam-roll the game author, defer support issues to that author.

I am very disappointed in this change, with further dismay on the level of support steam offers. Does steam have a phone number ?