Why did the currency seem to change at the checkout?

We serve customers from all over the world. Some understand UK pounds, but most only want to know roughly what a product will cost them in their own currency.

So at most places on our sites, we show prices automatically converted (at today’s rates) into the currency for the country that the customer is browsing from. (This is not 100% reliable, so you can also change this currency from every page.)

This also shows prices with or without Value Added Tax, depending on your location. So if you are in the USA you will see prices ex-VAT, as exports outside the EU are exempt. If you are in the UK prices are shown in Pounds, including VAT.

But at the Checkout, we finally have to show prices in UK Pounds Sterling. This is because our bank charges in UK Pounds, and the amount shown is the precise sum we will charge.

When you place your order, we check it, then charge it. It is at this point that our bank contacts your credit card company and the transaction is converted at the actual rate at that moment. Therefore it could be a little more, or a little less, than our estimate when it appears on your statement.