Buying train tickets through Captaine Trains

I bought tickets there. Prices were exactly the same as the TGV site, but there were no credit card hassles that the TGV site has. TGV credit card vetting system makes it virtually impossible to buy on line with North American credit cards, while Captaine Train is easy as long as you notify your credit card company in advance. You can check prices at TGV, then buy on Capitaine Train.

I also used Captaine Train for my last trip to France after my credit card was rejected by SNFC. The tickets worked fine and I was charged the correct price. I learned about how to do this on Seat61.
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The best fares sell out early though any vendor, so go ahead and book one. The cheaper fares that RE doesn't currently sell are iDTGV (separate cars) and Prems (sold up to 4 months ahead). For a Paris-Nice departure on July 30, for example, I see that CT has 74 euros and RE has $107; these are the same "fare," but the difference is the exchange rate that RE applied vs. what rate your credit card might apply.

A €33 up charge on a €74 ticket? That's outrageous!! To put it all down to a different exchange rate makes no sense at all. 45% for a higher exchange fee? NO WAY.

I dislike disagreeing with the company line but there's a problem there.

I think the RS post is comparing 74 euros to 107 US dollars - not euros. So not as bad a markup as it looks at first glance.

Yes, but at the real exchange rate that would cross on a credit card would result in $100 plus small change. Yes, it is only $6, but why pay $107 for something you can get for $101?
I read that Capitaine train receives a 3% commission from TGV/SNCF, so they sell at the same price and operate on that razor thin margin. Technology. Three French computer geeks are putting the kibosh on Rail Europe.