Purchase of local bargain without discrimination

[Tayrona]

I live in Germany and currently visit my family in Slovakia. I see a Spotify family offer for 8.99 EUR and want to buy it, since it is cheaper than purchase of the same in Germany. I opened an account, which was automatically categorized as Country = Slovakia. My attempt to buy the Family option with my (German) credit card results in "account must match the coutry of your payment method". If I accept the switch to Germany, my account still shows "Country = Slovakia" and I am offered Premium (instead of Family) for 10 EUR - that is the German price for a different offering and not the local price valid in location of my current stay.

How can I subscribe to the Family offering for 8.99 EUR here and now regardless of the country of the single European market where my card was issued? Why am I being forced to pay higher prices from another country of the common European market and discriminated by a claim that with German credit card I may buy services only in Germany for German prices, even if I am in Slovakia?

It is the same single European market and credit cards may be used anywhere in the world, regardless of the subject of purchase - what's wrong with you guys? I will never pay the excessive German prices and you claim that with a German credit card I have to pay them on every point of sale worldwide, as if the customers had no right to purchase a cheaper offering.

[Maxim]

Hey @Tayrona,

Thanks for reaching out.

Spotify sets their pricing in each market at the level that they believe is fair for consumers, rights holders, and Spotify, while remaining a low-margin business. If you open the Premium for Family page in a different country, it’s possible that you'll see a higher or lower price. Once you choose the correct payment method, the price will be automatically updated to reflect the correct price for the market.

Right now, it's not possible to use the payment method of another country in another country country to upgrade to Premium or Premium for Family, due to licensing reasons.

[Tayrona]

Hey Maxim,

thanks for your attempt to help, unfortunatelly it is not adressing my question while it contains a few invalid assumptions to insist that violation of consumer rights within the single European market is absolutely OK when digital rights lobby with its artificially created and protected monopolies is concerned. I know that Spotify is only an intermediary in this game, but it could make a difference by treating all consumers within the single European market alike. Consider the following key points correcting your assumptions:

1. Seller vs. consumer rights
I agree that sellers have the right to set different prices in different points of sale (POS). But buyers have the right to select at which POS they purchase a good or service and typically they do so where they get the best price or the best value for price (if the offering differs between POS - see point 3 on digital rights). Claiming that there is no such consumer right of choice and everyone has to buy the same good or service for a predefined price due to their personalized property (origin, nationality, color or skin, genetics, etc.) is consumer discrimination violating principles of market interaction between supply and demand. One EU citizen can't be forced to pay higher prices than another EU citizen, in the same time and POS for the same service.

2. Method of payment
Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX) is a valid method of payment, so I am already using a valid method of payment. Origin of the credit card is not a method of payment, but a property artificially used for the criticized violation of my consumer rights (choice of POS) and of elementary principles of credit card usage. I can't imagine that a local cinema or music store in Slovakia could reject payment with my credit card claiming that only Slovaks with Slovak credit cards have the right to buy their tickets or CDs "due to licensing reasons" - that's the discriminating bull**bleep** I am adressing here with Spotify. If credit card is a supported method of payment, then its origin or origin of its holder is unrelated to the goods or services being paid for. That is a basic principle for conducting payments worldwide, unless you are from a banned country (North Korea etc.). That this actually how Spotify handles all consumers not originating from the country of the POS, even if they are physically there.

3. Digital rights
I acknowledge that the single European market still struggles with implementation of digital services and that's why I believe that this discussion on consumer discrimination is very important. Namely, I didn't ask for German package of digital rights for the price of the package offered in Slovakia. I am in Slovakia and want to buy the Slovak package of digital rights offered to Slovaks - and I am rejected with the claim of my origin. Even after return to Germany I don't expect that my package should change to include German digital rights - similarly as any CD or DVD, it is and will be only the package I purchased at the point of sale for the price offered there. Point of consumption or origin of the buyer is not relevant in this discussion.

I will better address this exemplary case of consumer discrimination with consumer organizations working disruption of the digital rights lobby with its artificial local monopolies within of the EU, so that it becomes a true single digital market allowing any citizen to buy a service package from any EU country, may it be only for the purpose of language training. Did you know that Netflix in Germany doesn't allow me to see some Spanish movies in their original language and offers only terrible choices like German or Turkish instead?

Similarly, what shall I do if I want to listen to Slovak music on Spotify in Germany - how can I subscribe the Slovak package of digital music rights instead of the German one if I live ouside of Slovakia? This is just reiterating my original problem - I want a specific product for a specific price offered at specific POS, regardless of my origin.

Best,
Tayrona

[Tom]

Hey @Tayrona,

I have passed this topic off for a closer look, however, I can't promise this will change anytime soon.

In the situation you are in, you will need a Slovakian card or payment method to get the subscription you want. If you'd like a hand subscribing to Premium for Family, just let me know.

I hope this helps,

Tom