Practicalities of Buying in US with UK Credit Card

[2ndTimeAround]

I have been looking at many "broker" sites and have seen several stones close to ideal. My main concern is that I am looking to buy in the US (whilst I am there anyway) since effective prices seem to be approximately 50% or more below UK retail. This may be an "apples to orange" comparison since nothing like the scale of the US online "brokerage" houses seems to exist in the UK or EU. Also because I want a nice heart shaped stone, choice also seems to be limited at this side of the pond too.

My big problem though is that it appears that no-one wants to accept a credit card from outside the US. It seems to me that by contacting my card issuer pre-advising them of the amount, faxing copies to the dealer of the front and back of my card, my last card statement etc. that this problem can potentially be overcome, yet it seems the attitude is if you are not an american then you pay cash. I am extremely nervous about wiring cash for items to an organisation I have never dealt with, well before delivery of something I have not seen, do people actually do this? I am also keen to avail myself of the protection that using my credit card brings.

I want to pick up the stone personally (ideally set in a ring) whilst I am in the US to avoid import complications when returning it to the UK.

I have even talked to Amex and my Bank HSBC about the possibility of getting a card issued in the US with no joy whatsoever. I am getting really frustrated by this, since I am a keen buyer with up around $10k to spend yet noone seems to want or be able to deal.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

 

[valeria101]

Could be just the type of card? My Uk Visa card worked just fine up to 5k (never tried bigger payments in the US though)... Is this the condition of a particular seller ar some wide-spread epidemic?

 

[2ndTimeAround]

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On 1/23/2004 6:45:02 PM valeria101 wrote:

Could be just the type of card? My Uk Visa card worked just fine up to 5k (never tried bigger payments in the US though)... Is this the condition of a particular seller ar some wide-spread epidemic?----------------

Well I have emailed a variety of sellers, had about 35% reply so far all with the same issue (have yet to receive replies from the rest). Clearly saying that they wouldnt take a non US issued card. May I ask which vendors you have used without problem? I think the issue is the combination of verifying identity and being "cardholder not present". So any guidance on a way forward here is appreciated. I am willing to pay for the stone and setting well up front, but just want the protection of using my card.

 

[valeria101]

"Cardholder not present"... I was present. And the amount you want to pay should make them go for extra verification (not needed in my case I guess). That sucks.

Would an escrow service work?

 

[2ndTimeAround]

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On 1/23/2004 7:11:46 PM valeria101 wrote:

'Cardholder not present'... I was present. And the amount you want to pay should make them go for extra verification (not needed in my case I guess). That sucks.

Would an escrow service work? ----------------

Not sure of an escrow service, not heard of them used in conjunction with these purchases, I guess then the issue is one of trust with the escrow agency. I am happy to be present but the places I have been looking at seem to be online only and shipping to an address (I guess this normally would be the cardholder address under normal circumstances, but I could pre-advise my card company of another delivery address, assuming they are competent enough to not "forget" my instructions, a big if in their case). I would be happy to be physically present (within California/Nevada) if this would expedite things, but I assume that this would mean paying a "normal" retail price, in which case I have lost the big advantage of not buying in the UK.

You would think that in the age of globalisation and free trade, it wouldn't be so bloody difficult to use a credit card abroad, especially in the US.

 

[knowverylittle]

I am UK national working here in the US on and off since 1995:

A friend from Uni who also moved to the US paid and for his (used) Minivan by credit card. I think it was about $15K. So paying with a UK credit card is possible.

Do you have any friends working in the US? That would make things easier.

An alternative idea: You can set up a dollar account with an offshore bank (Isle of Man etc). Then visit the USA, meet the dealer + agree on the product + price. When it is mounted and all ready for you wire the cash (this can take a few days and costs ~$30 each end). In the unlikely event that you get ripped off, burn the dealer's office to the ground then fly home very quickly - otherwise leave happily with your bargain priced ring. Seriously I really think GOG, NiceIce, Superbcert etc will be fine - it is just too easy to bad mouth them over the internet.

Dodging tax is your own business, but I know how expensive the UK is. Be careful though. The US customs got pokey once about my Swiss watch in its original box, but luckily I had the receipt showing I paid VAT too. Moral - mail the box and receipts home to yourself or better still bin them.

I envy your exchange rate. I transferred some of my savings last year to buy a house in the US. That cash would now be worth about $40K more. Oops. Amazingly I was already >$35K up on the year before! The dollar has sunk about 40% in two years!!!! C'est la vie.

 

[aljdewey]

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On 1/23/2004 9:01:05 PM 2ndTimeAround wrote:

What annoys me is that none of them have been at all creative in arriving at a resolution to the problem, neither have they suggested any of the potential solutions above.

I am hoping Whiteflash are more constructive since they seem to be a professional outfit and they have exactly what I am looking for. Fundamentally here am I a customer wanting to spend a not insignificant amount of cash yet constructive solutions to what should be a fairly minor problem have been slow to surface.
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Are you yourself willing to be part of the constructive solution? What about the suggestions I made above?

 

[mdx]

Gday
I am rather surprised that you are having difficulty with you’re your credit card in the USA.
We ship to the USA at least twice a week with most payments made by credit card. OK we are in Australia but I cant why that should be different in USA.

Master Card, Visa and Amex have security methods and arrangements with reputable internet vendors that protect them from most international problems

Johan
Melbourne Diamond Exchange Ltd

 

[strmrdr]

It depends on who they have their merchant account with.
Some dont allow them at all, others charge extra on all sales if you accept them.
1%-2% on even 1 $10000 sale can make it not worth while accepting them.

We looked into it at work recently internet sales allready adds .5% to 2% over the normal store front rate and international added another 1% to 2% depending on which one it was with.
The problem is that it isnt just added to those sales but to all sales and unless you do high volume internationaly and have a fairly hefty markup it just isnt worth it.