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 the same. That's why you will have difficulty purchasing certain products and services when using a VPN; Your account is even at risk of being banned.
1. Airline tickets
If you live in a country with high sales tax, many people want to see if they can book a flight while locating their VPN somewhere else. Initially, everything was fine; they can access the payment page without problems.
However, problems soon arose. When they entered their card information and tried to pay, they kept receiving a payment failure message. This happens when using the airline's browser and apps. Everything went right immediately when the VPN was turned off.
It is still possible to buy airline tickets with some airlines, but this will vary depending on the airline you choose. So be prepared to potentially pay the usual price.
2. Register for streaming service
The price of subscribing to a streaming service varies significantly depending on where you live, and as a result, many users have tried to pretend that they are somewhere else. But while you will find a number of VPNs to use content on Netflix and other streaming services, purchasing a paid plan when connecting to a VPN can sometimes be a challenge.
In the past, many people were denied payments because the card was not from a bank in the area where the subscription was purchased. You also have to consider whether it's worth trying; Even if you are successful, your account may still be disabled if the service provider finds out later.
3. Games
If you like 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 difficulties.
When ordering physical games, you may have to adjust the price when you enter your shipping address. Online, you can encounter even worse problems. For example, Steam clearly states that “using a proxy or VPN is a material violation of the Steam Terms of Service”.
If you violate these policies, your account may be restricted. Because VPNs can slow down Steam download speeds, you should also turn it off while playing.
4. Software services
Like streaming services, software subscription prices sometimes vary by region. Currency conversion can get you cheaper rates depending on where you live, as well as VAT exemption for your area.
However, if you connect to a VPN, there is no guarantee that your payment will go through. For example, when attempting to purchase a streaming service, the price may be automatically converted or the payment may be declined.
Again, this will depend on the service you are trying to purchase. However, although it is sometimes possible, be prepared that you will likely have to pay the full cost.
5. Clothes and books
One benefit of living in Europe is that you can easily buy clothes and books from other countries. For example, you live in Denmark, but some of your favorite clothing brands are located in Belgium, Germany and elsewhere on the continent. If using the German Amazon website, shipping costs are usually higher.
However, you will rarely be successful when buying clothes over a VPN. The main reason is that unless you plan to go to Germany and pick up the goods, since you have to enter your address, this can sometimes lead to cost adjustments. In most cases, the hassle is not worth it.
6. Subscribe to newspapers and magazines
While you can subscribe to eBooks and similar packages for magazines, many people prefer to buy the paper version. Costs will 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 is often ineffective. First, you may have to pay higher shipping fees even if you successfully purchased via VPN. Second, like books and clothes, you may run into problems using a “foreign” bank card to make purchases.
Like other physical products, it's usually not worth the extra effort.
7. Purchase on App Store and Google Play
Whether you're looking for deals on Google Play or want new apps or subscriptions from the App Store, you'll want to use a VPN. However, this can be difficult for a number of reasons.
Although payment can be made, the applications may not be available in your country or region. Therefore, you may have difficulty using them after purchase. Therefore, if you buy an app using a VPN, you should make sure 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 another region, you won't be able to access your online banking.
