Ordering from Oliunid in the US -- constant credit card declines due to international retailer?

I'm trying to order a bunch of trad gear from https://www.oliunid.com/ as a lot of folks here have done but I'm having a hell of a time because my credit card keeps getting declined at the order stage. I have no issues with credit card declines elsewhere but I think because 1) it's an Italian merchant 2) I'm in the US and 3) I'm placing a larger (>$500) order my credit card company constantly thinks this is fraud. I've called my credit card company (USAA) twice and they haven't been able to fix it despite verifying this is legitimate activity multiple times. I can't place my order! Anyone run into this problem? Does USAA just suck? Any tips appreciated. I could also use the PayPal or bank account transfer options but I'd much prefer to use a credit card if possible. Thank you!

What’s wrong with using PayPal? You can link a card to it, and you get their buyer protection

Chase Gwrote:

What’s wrong with using PayPal? You can link a card to it, and you get their buyer protection

For some reason PayPal quotes a worse currency conversation rate than the site directly so I have to pay ~5% more on the order which isn't nothing at a large order size. I may just deal with it if I can't figure out my card, but it's not a 1:1 equivalent and has some downsides. As I understand it I also miss out on credit card points (?) in which case I'm paying ~7.5% more to use my card vs. PayPal? PayPal would be my second choice.

I ended up using PayPal instead of my credit card directly because my credit card issuer was so unhelpful in this. No decline issue. I also found a way to save a modest amount given my card has a 0% foreign transaction fee: https://thepointsguy.com/2017/05/save-money-by-changing-paypal-currency-setting-for-invoices/ -- switch the PayPal payment method to Euros instead of US Dollars and you get a better conversion rate assuming your card just uses the Visa rates published here usa.visa.com/support/consum…. Hope this helps someone else!

Chase sends me an email and text about this for various European vendors, they say "was this you", you say yes. Original transaction is blocked.

Then I retry the order and it goes through, as you confirmed it's OK. Adds 30 seconds maybe and works.

Can't speak for other banks.

You can also call your credit card company first and warn them.  Especially a good idea when doing international travel.

Sylvester Jakubowskiwrote:

Chase sends me an email and text about this for various European vendors, they say "was this you", you say yes. Original transaction is blocked.

Then I retry the order and it goes through, as you confirmed it's OK. Adds 30 seconds maybe and works.

Can't speak for other banks.

This didn’t work for me, maybe USAA is just a cluster-f$&@. I’ve been pretty disappointed with their banking recently. It’s a military bank you’d think it’d be more seamless for international transactions! I even tried a travel notice and the customer support people couldn’t stop it from being declined while we talked live on the phone. Go figure. 

When you pay with a credit card, the credit card company takes on the risk of a fraudulent transaction.  This is not perfect protection because in edge cases the credit card company will try to reject fraud claims.  However it is better protection than debit cards or e-wallets offer, which are essentially no protection.  Banks which issue credit cards pay huge amounts to cover fraud claims, so they prefer users use other payment mechanisms, except when the bank can charge 15-25% interest on a revolving balance.  

The fraud protection of a credit card is a very valuable benefit even though it is not reflected in the price of goods. 

Hi @Will N, did you have to pay any tax or customs fee for you order? I am planning to make and order for about 600 USD and I am wondering if I will need to pay tax fee

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/kbyg/customs-duty-info

Shouldn't be a problem 

Seems that there is no tax fee for any order below $800 (including shipping), but I know that some products do not apply, for example textiles (clothes) and maybe ropes (it falls under the definition as textiles?), for this articles I think is no more than $250 to avoid taxes.

Has anyone bought a rope for over $250 and not had to pay any taxes? I want to buy a rope that costs around 400 dollars. This same rope is worth almost double locally, I'm not in trouble with my money, just saying.

Thanks.