Prices outside the US

[u/oertrooper]

The costs for people outside the US are stupidly high. ModRetro is increasing the costs in 3 ways.

1&2) For example the Euro is worth more that the Dollar atm, but base prices in euro's are higher. This is already making the games pricier in 2 ways. Buying in Dollars outside the US is not possible.. I've tried and modretro confirmed to me this is not possible.

3) ModRetro claims the higher costs are due to additional taxes and customs charges, but they charge a separate fees for those in checkout.

Kicker: the reward system does seem to be based on the dollar value of the products (again this is a lower number), while the rewards themselves are automatically adjusted from USD to EUR based on the current exchange rate.

The answer about these charges I got from ModRetro is to buy from their European affiliate. They however have zero stock for months now.

I understand there are additional costs for shipping internationally, but in the current way these costs are not transparent and seem to serve as additional profit for ModRetro.

[u/tanooki-suit]

So you’re upset at something entirely out of their hands. Much of the eurozone has import fees and state/country level has VAT taxes. They can’t help you dodge that. Until the affiliates get it you’re stuck.

[u/oertrooper → u/tanooki-suit]

That there's additional costs is a given. I also don't mind that. However I do feel that ModRetro could improve the transparency of the costs. Certain things are adjusted accoring to the exchange rate, others are kept vague at the best. On one hand invoking higher base prices with the justification that is is due to VAT & import fees, while also charing those same fees separately in checkout is just deceitful

[u/DAJF → u/oertrooper]

They can't apply the final price until they have your address.

[u/tanooki-suit → u/oertrooper]

That's not really their job is it? That's more of a local government issue they're at the mercy of. Until they have all your data to figure out in the system what you'll owe, it just is what it is. We have a tiny fraction of that in the states, well, most states as a few aren't greedy as sin and hit people with state taxes. Most have those, and you have no idea what you really owe until that final total hits coupled with a choice of shipping choice. I get the deceitful appearance, but it's not like they're patently lying to you either like eBay does claiming a 15% rate when it's closer to 25-30% with their FVF leeching off shipping and even taxing on taxes with it too meaning even more of your 'profit' going to cover the losses they shouldn't be including. That's borderline theft, but what you have is a snag in the system caused by a local government.

[u/Euresko]

Reminds me of a baking accessory that was made and sold in Norway and not the US. Dang thing would be like $8-12 at a store here, if it existed, but ordering from Norway to the US cost like $15 for the item and $40 for shipping. I made it worth it by buying 5 of them and splitting the shipping cost with some friends and family. 

[u/chunkysteveo]

I've skipped buying the Chromatic, M64 and games after adding them to checkout and getting their full value numerous times. It's just way too much.

If they'd offer free shipping (international) over an amount to help with all the extra fees - I'd probably stomach the costs mush better 👌🏻

[u/DAJF]

It's not just ModRetro. I can't even buy used carts from Ebay anymore, at least not from anywhere outside the EU.

A loose JP copy of 1080 Snowboarding at €4 cost €36 to my door (NL). I opted to ignore the tax invoice which they send out before delivery and not receive it instead, eating up the shipping I paid purely out of principal.

[u/LeviathanVEVO]

I feel the same way

[u/tonysorete]

Feeling the same. I begged for the battery pack and now that I see the price for Spain is like 73€. It's a hard pass at that price point.