Geo Pulse #55 — Showing prices by GEO: auto-detect vs let-them-choose

Geo Pulse #55 — Showing prices by GEO: auto-detect vs let-them-choose
This week: the small UX call that moves checkout conversion in foreign markets.

— IP-based auto currency switch → smooth when right, infuriating when wrong (traveler, VPN, expat). Use it, but always pair with a manual switcher.
— Browser-locale-based → reads Accept-Language/Intl, often closer to the user's actual preference than their IP. Underused as a signal.
— Show local currency, charge in it → best conversion where you can settle locally; avoids the 'surprise FX fee' abandonment.
— Show local, charge in USD with a clear note → honest fallback when you can't settle locally; still beats USD-only display in price-sensitive GEOs.

The trap: auto-switching with no override. Always expose the manual selector, and remember the choice in a cookie.

Credit: the localized-checkout conversion studies from Baymard Institute.