Register Guidelines E-Books Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Go Back   MobileRead Forums > E-Book General > News

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 09-26-2009, 06:53 AM   #1
tech_au
Oz Bookworm
tech_au has a spectacular aura abouttech_au has a spectacular aura abouttech_au has a spectacular aura abouttech_au has a spectacular aura abouttech_au has a spectacular aura abouttech_au has a spectacular aura abouttech_au has a spectacular aura abouttech_au has a spectacular aura abouttech_au has a spectacular aura abouttech_au has a spectacular aura abouttech_au has a spectacular aura about
 
tech_au's Avatar
 
Posts: 516
Karma: 4056
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Australia
Device: Sony PRS 505,PRS 650
Regional restrictions now in the UK

The scourge of the US ebookstores, regional restrictions, has now reared its ugly head in the UK.
I just tried to buy some ebooks from WH Smiths ebook store and upon checkout I received an error message stating that one or more ebooks were not available for purchase in my region. I guess they have just lost a customer if they are going to do this.
I was able to go to Waterstones and buy the offending ebook without any issue, so I wonder how long it will be before Waterstone's employ the same onerous restriction
tech_au is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2009, 06:56 AM   #2
Moejoe
Banned
Moejoe did not drink the Kool Aid.Moejoe did not drink the Kool Aid.Moejoe did not drink the Kool Aid.Moejoe did not drink the Kool Aid.Moejoe did not drink the Kool Aid.Moejoe did not drink the Kool Aid.Moejoe did not drink the Kool Aid.Moejoe did not drink the Kool Aid.Moejoe did not drink the Kool Aid.Moejoe did not drink the Kool Aid.Moejoe did not drink the Kool Aid.
 
Posts: 5,100
Karma: 72193
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: South of the Border
Device: Coffin
Quote:
Originally Posted by tech_au View Post
The scourge of the US ebookstores, regional restrictions, has now reared its ugly head in the UK.
I just tried to buy some ebooks from WH Smiths ebook store and upon checkout I received an error message stating that one or more ebooks were not available for purchase in my region. I guess they have just lost a customer if they are going to do this.
I was able to go to Waterstones and buy the offending ebook without any issue, so I wonder how long it will be before Waterstone's employ the same onerous restriction
Download it for free from a file sharing network. If these companies think they can treat the internet and its users as anything but part of 'one country' then they're idiots and don't deserve your money.

Let them and their businesses rot.

Buy independent, share freely, embrace the future.
Moejoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Advert
Old 09-26-2009, 06:58 AM   #3
June
Addict
June ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.June ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.June ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.June ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.June ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.June ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.June ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.June ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.June ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.June ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.June ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
June's Avatar
 
Posts: 306
Karma: 4508151
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Scandinavia
Device: Kobo Libra, Oasis 1&2 and others
Yeah, the geographical restrictions are such a pain. I'm in Scandinavia and buy most of my books (around 40 a month) from Fictionwise, and it feels as if they've started adding more and more "US/CA only" restrictions on their books I wonder if I can buy at WH Smiths or what their region is, I should hope it at least is European Union or somehting, but who knows
June is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2009, 08:30 AM   #4
Juliette
I eat books
Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!
 
Juliette's Avatar
 
Posts: 601
Karma: 5124
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Milan, Italy
Device: Gen3 PRS-505 PRS-600 PB360 PB302 K2 Opus BebookMini OnyxBoox K3 KDXG
The same goes for Booksonboard. Really annoying.
Juliette is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2009, 10:38 AM   #5
wallflower75
Groupie
wallflower75 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.wallflower75 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.wallflower75 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.wallflower75 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.wallflower75 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.wallflower75 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.wallflower75 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.wallflower75 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.wallflower75 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.wallflower75 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.wallflower75 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
wallflower75's Avatar
 
Posts: 176
Karma: 223852
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Illinois
Device: Kindle Voyage/iPhone 6 Plus/iPad mini
Quote:
Originally Posted by tech_au View Post
The scourge of the US ebookstores, regional restrictions, has now reared its ugly head in the UK.
I just tried to buy some ebooks from WH Smiths ebook store and upon checkout I received an error message stating that one or more ebooks were not available for purchase in my region. I guess they have just lost a customer if they are going to do this.
I was able to go to Waterstones and buy the offending ebook without any issue, so I wonder how long it will be before Waterstone's employ the same onerous restriction
I discovered the same thing yesterday--including going to Waterstones and being able to buy the ebook there. It teed me off. If I wanted to buy a paperback copy of that book, no one would bat an eye--they'd just charge me out the wazoo for shipping. Why shouldn't it be the same for the ebook???

Looks like I might be using gift vouchers and getting a new account that doesn't identify me as being from the US from now on.

Last edited by wallflower75; 09-26-2009 at 10:40 AM.
wallflower75 is offline   Reply With Quote
Advert
Old 09-26-2009, 10:56 AM   #6
EowynCarter
Wizard
EowynCarter ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.EowynCarter ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.EowynCarter ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.EowynCarter ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.EowynCarter ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.EowynCarter ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.EowynCarter ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.EowynCarter ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.EowynCarter ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.EowynCarter ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.EowynCarter ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Posts: 4,332
Karma: 4000000
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Paris
Device: Cybooks; Sony PRS-T1
Quote:
Originally Posted by tech_au View Post
The scourge of the US ebookstores, regional restrictions, has now reared its ugly head in the UK.
I just tried to buy some ebooks from WH Smiths ebook store and upon checkout I received an error message stating that one or more ebooks were not available for purchase in my region. I guess they have just lost a customer if they are going to do this.
I was able to go to Waterstones and buy the offending ebook without any issue, so I wonder how long it will be before Waterstone's employ the same onerous restriction
Sends WH Smiths an e-mail to tell them they're losing a customers and why. Might do noting, buy who tries noting gets noting. (And if enough peaple in yours case act the same, might show some result.)

Quote:
Looks like I might be using gift vouchers and getting a new account that doesn't identify me as being from the US from now on.
I would get the book from somewhere else. Even if that means getting paper instead.

Last edited by EowynCarter; 09-26-2009 at 12:24 PM.
EowynCarter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2009, 11:22 AM   #7
Juliette
I eat books
Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!
 
Juliette's Avatar
 
Posts: 601
Karma: 5124
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Milan, Italy
Device: Gen3 PRS-505 PRS-600 PB360 PB302 K2 Opus BebookMini OnyxBoox K3 KDXG
Quote:
Originally Posted by EowynCarter View Post
Sends WH Smiths an e-mail to tell them they're losing a customers and why. Might do , noting, buy who tries noting gets noting. (And if enough peaple in yours case act the same, might show some result.)
Very good idea. Also, at least they'd give us some real reason, instead of just shutting people off like that. (At least we could find a workaround, knowing the rules!)
Juliette is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2009, 11:27 AM   #8
GeoffC
Chocolate Grasshopper ...
GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
GeoffC's Avatar
 
Posts: 27,600
Karma: 20821184
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Scotland
Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW
this is getting ridiculous ...
GeoffC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2009, 11:29 AM   #9
Crowl
Wizard
Crowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Crowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Crowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Crowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Crowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Crowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Crowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Crowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Crowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Crowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Crowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Crowl's Avatar
 
Posts: 1,340
Karma: 1160346
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Southport, GB
Device: Kindle Voyage, PW Signature edition
Quote:
Originally Posted by Juliette View Post
Very good idea. Also, at least they'd give us some real reason, instead of just shutting people off like that. (At least we could find a workaround, knowing the rules!)
The people that run the site for whsmith do seem to respond to feedback quite quickly too, so its definitely worth an email to let them know about this.
Crowl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2009, 11:38 AM   #10
Juliette
I eat books
Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!
 
Juliette's Avatar
 
Posts: 601
Karma: 5124
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Milan, Italy
Device: Gen3 PRS-505 PRS-600 PB360 PB302 K2 Opus BebookMini OnyxBoox K3 KDXG
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffC View Post
this is getting ridiculous ...
Indeed. Like having different prices for books published in the Euro zone within the Euro zone (i.e. France to Germany, Italy to Spain and so on). Mind you, for some publisher in the North of Italy it's probably cheaper to send them, say, in Austria than in Sicily; and you don't have VAT problems either.
Juliette is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2009, 11:39 AM   #11
Sweetpea
Grand Sorcerer
Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Sweetpea's Avatar
 
Posts: 9,707
Karma: 32763414
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Krewerd
Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Regional restrictions wouldn't be so bad if ebooks would be available everywhere. And publishers still find it strange that people will go to the darknet to find a book, because they can't buy it anywhere, even though it is available in ebook format...
Sweetpea is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2009, 11:44 AM   #12
Tuna
Zealot
Tuna has a complete set of Star Wars action figures.Tuna has a complete set of Star Wars action figures.Tuna has a complete set of Star Wars action figures.Tuna has a complete set of Star Wars action figures.
 
Posts: 114
Karma: 325
Join Date: May 2009
Device: Cool-ER
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moejoe View Post
Download it for free from a file sharing network. If these companies think they can treat the internet and its users as anything but part of 'one country' then they're idiots and don't deserve your money.

Let them and their businesses rot.

Buy independent, share freely, embrace the future.
Nonsense.

What one particular book store chooses to do does not give you the right to rip off the author of the book. Find a store that will sell to you, or don't buy the book, but there is absolutely no excuse for being a thief.
Tuna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2009, 11:46 AM   #13
GeoffC
Chocolate Grasshopper ...
GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.GeoffC ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
GeoffC's Avatar
 
Posts: 27,600
Karma: 20821184
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Scotland
Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuna View Post
Nonsense.

What one particular book store chooses to do does not give you the right to rip off the author of the book. Find a store that will sell to you, or don't buy the book, but there is absolutely no excuse for being a thief.

It's not the fault of the store - but that of the publishers who dictate these conditions.
GeoffC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2009, 11:50 AM   #14
Juliette
I eat books
Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!Juliette , Klaatu Barada Niktu!
 
Juliette's Avatar
 
Posts: 601
Karma: 5124
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Milan, Italy
Device: Gen3 PRS-505 PRS-600 PB360 PB302 K2 Opus BebookMini OnyxBoox K3 KDXG
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sweetpea View Post
Regional restrictions wouldn't be so bad if ebooks would be available everywhere. And publishers still find it strange that people will go to the darknet to find a book, because they can't buy it anywhere, even though it is available in ebook format...
Take book x.

1. pbook: I can find it in a bookshop, pay a lot more than I should but I get it, eventually.

2. ebook: I can find it in a shop, but I have to hope there's no busillis for me to pay for it/lie about my state and hope they don't check.

Frankly, this is all too irrational.
Juliette is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2009, 12:15 PM   #15
Terisa de morgan
Grand Sorcerer
Terisa de morgan ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Terisa de morgan ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Terisa de morgan ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Terisa de morgan ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Terisa de morgan ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Terisa de morgan ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Terisa de morgan ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Terisa de morgan ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Terisa de morgan ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Terisa de morgan ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Terisa de morgan ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Terisa de morgan's Avatar
 
Posts: 6,208
Karma: 11766195
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Madrid, Spain
Device: Kobo Clara/Aura One/Forma,XiaoMI 5, iPad, Huawei MediaPad, YotaPhone 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by Juliette View Post
Very good idea. Also, at least they'd give us some real reason, instead of just shutting people off like that. (At least we could find a workaround, knowing the rules!)
Do you think that British publisher complained about USA publishers selling e-books to non American people, now it's in the other way?
Terisa de morgan is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
More App Restrictions kennyc Apple Devices 12 06-02-2010 02:29 PM
Anyway to bypass regional restrictions? seagull General Discussions 49 05-16-2010 09:07 AM
An email from Amazon (regional restrictions) DawnFalcon News 32 12-25-2009 05:06 PM
No Geo-restrictions seagull Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) 3 12-14-2009 01:07 AM
Regional copyright quesiton on MR books boydcarts Feedback 8 02-22-2009 01:50 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:31 AM.


MobileRead.com is a privately owned, operated and funded community.