Amazon: Pay in Shekels or Dollars?

Unlike most international shopping sites, on Amazon it's worth considering paying in Shekels.

When paying in Shekels, Amazon shows the exact conversion rate and the final price in ₪ — including a small fee that locks the exchange rate. Read more about Amazon Currency Converter

To decide what's more economical:

1. Take the price in dollars
2. Multiply by the current USD exchange rate
3. Add your credit card's foreign currency fee
4. Compare with the Shekel price Amazon shows

• If you have a credit card with a low foreign currency fee (some charge less than 1%)
• If Amazon's exchange rate is significantly higher than the official rate
• If you're sure you won't return the item

• If there's a chance you'll want to return the item (e.g., clothes or shoes) — paying in Shekels locks the exchange rate for the refund too
• If you don't have a card with an attractive foreign currency fee
• If you prefer to know the exact amount upfront with no surprises

Exchange rate locking is available only on Amazon.com. When shopping on other sites (like Amazon.de), check:

• Whether the site offers its own currency conversion
• Whether their rate is better than paying in the local currency (EUR, GBP, etc.)
• What your credit card charges for that specific currency