Hey @Fiddleback, thanks for this feedback. I’d love to share some more context and details to shine a light on how we arrived at this solution. I really hope it helps alleviate some of your concerns with this current setup.
Creators have been asking us for years to offer additional currencies for their patrons, which matches our dreams of building a platform that’s inclusive to all creators and patrons across the globe. This means offering multiple currencies and a more localized experience, and we’re making steady progress towards that goal. You are correct in that this does mean we have costs to offer and manage multiple currencies. Platforms, banks, and payment providers that offer currency conversion typically charge a fee to do so.
Offering currency conversion for recurring monthly payments also presents some unique and extra challenges. Exchange rates fluctuate on a daily basis, but when someone signs up for a monthly membership, they expect that amount to stay the same month after month. In order to provide stable and consistent monthly pricing for patrons, and also protect creators from exchange rate fluctuations, our conversion formula includes a buffer.
There are many publicly available studies cited on the internet that show that people will abandon a purchase if their native currency is not shown on the page, even though it’s completely possible for them to make the purchase and have the currency conversion done by their card or bank (usually for a fee). But past studies are not proof and they can’t predict the future; they’re just one input to help us plan and build.
The Patreon team is working hard to create something that works well for a huge global community, but we know not everyone will be happy with every decision. We really appreciate hearing your feedback, always, and are listening and learning.