I was super busy before a long weekend trip to L.A., so no time for the mall, decided to head to my trusty macbook and do some shopping online. While doing a ShopStyle search for some cute white lace dresses, I came across one on ASOS. I've heard of ASOS due to street style of bloggers and celebrities, but I've never actually purchased anything or even really browsed their site. I actually confused them with Top Shop thinking they had a store in New York.
According to Wikipedia, ASOS is U.K's largest online only fashion and beauty retailer. They have their own label and also a wide variety of other labels including Aqua, French Connection. The site has lots of great fashion and best of all amazing sales. Love the fact they show you a runway video of the outfits as well. It definitely gives you a better idea of how a dress moves in a video versus a photo and can definitely tip my decision on whether to buy an item or not.
While checking out, for some reason my credit card got rejected possibly due to a typing error? Anyhow, it wouldn't allow me to use an online code I found again! I was pretty bummed about that, but by then I really wanted to make the purchase and didn't feel like calling their customer service (bad bargain shopper). I ended up not really liking anything from my purchase except the jewelry. Although extremely cute, the fit wasn't there, slightly too large or boxy, or just didn't work out for me unfortunately.
I ended up using my Bank of America credit card to make the purchase. Everything went through just fine, although my CC company did kindly check to make sure it was not a fraudulent charge the next day. Now the problem lies in the fact that I had NO idea whatsoever I would be charged a FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE! This is my first time buying something from ASOS - all prices are in American dollars, the website does not end in .UK so I didn't even think twice about a foreign transaction. Granted, I am sitting in my home in the U.S.A. making this purchase online. No where when making the purchase did it say, your CC may charge you an additional foreign transaction fee.
Anyway, I ended up making a good sized purchase from ASOS and I got a $10 foreign transaction fee added onto my bill. I tried calling BOA to let them know of the situation and why I was obviously unhappy about the situation. You know trying to give them the I am a valued customer for years, always pay my bill on time, and so forth.... but no avail, no one would budge about the foreign transaction fee. I told that I made the purchase in the U.S., the website showed all products in American dollars, so why would I even think I would be additionally charged for this purchase? It was more about the principle of the mater. Obviously the charge wasn't anything totally ridiculous that I could not pay, but I would have used my CAPITAL ONE credit card if I had known (no foreign fees, thank you very much!)
Anyway, was super unhappy about the customer service and this is lesson to me and to anyone else thinking about purchasing from ASOS or any other foreign retailer and using their Bank of America card. I advise against it! Definitely use a credit card that doesn't have any of these hidden fees. I understand that maybe ASOS should have given a disclaimer that possibly you would have been charged a foreign transaction fee, but the un-helpfulness of Bank of America to the situation really did not make me happy with their service.
Have you ever an encountered a problem shopping online with an overseas retailer? Please share if so!
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