Using a VPN to buy cheaper items may seem like a good idea, but many companies are getting smarter and realizing how many people are already doing it. That’s why you’ll have trouble buying certain products and services when using a VPN; you may even run the risk of having your account banned.
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If you live in a country with high sales taxes, many people want to see if it’s possible to book a flight while setting their VPN location to somewhere else. At first, everything is fine; they can access the checkout page without any issues.
However, problems soon arose. When entering their card details and attempting to pay, they kept getting a payment failure message. This happened when using the airline’s browser and app. Everything went back to normal immediately after turning off the VPN.
It is still possible to buy tickets with some airlines, but this will vary depending on which airline you choose, so be prepared to haggle as usual.
Streaming subscription prices vary significantly depending on where you live, and many users have tried to pretend they’re somewhere else. But while you’ll find some VPNs to access content on Netflix and other streaming services, getting a paid plan while connected to a VPN can sometimes be a challenge.
In the past, many people have had their payments declined because their card was not from a bank in the region where they purchased the subscription. You also need to consider whether it is worth the effort; even if you are successful, your account may still be disabled if the service provider later finds out.
If you enjoy playing video games, you may have to pay different prices depending on your location. However, while using a VPN to buy these games may seem like a good idea, you may still run into problems.
When ordering physical games, you may have to adjust the price when entering your shipping address. Online, you may run into even worse problems. For example, Steam explicitly states that “using a proxy or VPN is a serious violation of the Steam Terms of Service.”
If you violate these policies, your account may be restricted. Since VPNs can slow down Steam download speeds, you should also turn off your VPN while playing.
Like streaming services, software subscription prices sometimes vary by region. Currency conversions can help you get a cheaper price depending on where you live, as well as VAT exemptions for your region.
However, if you connect to a VPN, there is no guarantee that your payment will go through. For example, when trying to purchase a streaming service, the price may be automatically changed or the payment may be declined.
Again, this will depend on the service you are trying to purchase, but while it is sometimes possible, be prepared that you will likely have to pay the full cost.
One benefit of living in Europe is that you can easily buy clothes and books from other countries. For example, you may live in Denmark, but some of your favorite clothing brands are located in Belgium, Germany, and elsewhere on the continent. If you use the German Amazon website, shipping costs are often higher.
However, you will rarely have success buying clothes via VPN. The main reason is that unless you plan to travel to Germany and pick up the goods, you will have to enter your address, which can sometimes lead to price adjustments. In most cases, the hassle is not worth it.
While you can subscribe to eBooks and similar packages for magazines, many people prefer to buy the paper version. Prices vary by region, and you can usually see the price of each magazine based on where you buy it.
Logically, you might want to buy from the cheapest place possible. However, this often doesn't work. First, you may end up paying higher shipping fees even if you successfully purchase through a VPN. Second, like books and clothes, you may run into problems if you use a "foreign" bank card to make a purchase.
Like other physical products, it's usually not worth the extra effort.
Whether you're looking for a deal on Google Play or trying to get a new app or subscription from the App Store, you'll want to use a VPN. But this can be difficult for a number of reasons.
While the payment may be made, the apps may not be available in your country or region. Therefore, you may have difficulty using them after purchasing. Therefore, if you purchase an app using a VPN, you should make sure that you can access it where you live.
You can avoid this by changing the region on your device, but this becomes difficult if you can't access everyday products and services. For example, if you change your location to a different region, you won't be able to access your online banking.
While you may have trouble purchasing some products and services using a VPN, there are a few things you can try to increase your chances. One method that has worked for some people in the past is switching your browser to Incognito Mode. This often helps when browsing the web while connected to a VPN, as users still get local search results on some devices.
In addition to going incognito, consider paying with a virtual card. Many banks now offer one-time use cards. However, don't try this for recurring purchases. Your next payment may be declined, so only try this for physical products.
You may also want to use an alternative payment method, such as a digital wallet. However, you should make sure that this method does not violate the terms and conditions of the service, especially if you use it frequently.
You can still make purchases using a VPN, but sometimes you may be out of luck. You should avoid trying any method that is clearly against the terms of service; otherwise, consider switching your browser to Incognito Mode and trying other methods.
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