Used a different credit card. And it turns out that the exchange rate applied is by 5% worse than that of the other cards. This is one of these things where maybe after 30 minutes I could find the rate applied on the banks website. Or maybe not. My strategy for this kind of gotcha-capitalism is different: I have a list of companies that pulled a fast one on me. I try to avoid doing business with them as much as possible.
Gotcha Capitalism dilutes the whole system that got us here in the first place. Buyers selecting the best offer were the driving force for all progress. If buyers become mere ‘confused consumers’ they will buy all sorts of crap. And things offered will quickly deteriorate in quality, since the pressure to do a good job is gone.
Over time clear decisions haves seemingly become the sole territory of spin, bias and hype. The normal and actually working concept of looking at the situation and then coming up with a clear decision and sticking to it has apparently gone out of fashion. Since people could afford not pay attention allot of things grew into big business that make no sense whatsforever in clear day light. They simply thrive on peoples ignorance. And on the fact that they could afford not to pay attention.