Kindle UK Information and Help

The-eBook-Reader · 10-10-2009, 07:53 PM

Hi folks,

I thought it would be nice to start a new thread dedicated to Kindle UK users that can serve as an information point to help answer some of the specific questions involved with Kindle International in the United Kingdom.

Here's a page I put together listing information about pricing converted to pounds, ebook selection, wireless coverage, and miscellaneous things to be aware of before buying.

http://www.the-ebook-reader.com/kindle-uk.html

Feel free to post anything related to Kindle UK here on this thread, from news articles to questions and comments.

Thanks

The-eBook-Reader · 10-12-2009, 10:37 AM

Here's an article from the Guardian about higher ebook prices in the UK, due to increased operating costs outside the US and VAT rates being higher on ebooks than on print books.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology...kindle-charges

Sweepy · 10-13-2009, 12:22 PM

Hi,

Being a sucker for a new gadget, I've pre-ordered the Kindle 2 International (I'm in the UK BTW). It should arrive next week.

Browsing the UK Kindle Store there are some notable omissions, for example no God Delusion, not much by Bill Bryson. These seem to be present in the US Kindle Store. There seems to be a workaround which permits purchasing of books from the US Kindle Store using Gift Certificates, which I am happy to do to get the books I want.

It may be too early to answer, but if I 'jump through the hoops' and use the Gift Certificate route to purchase from the US Kindle Store, will I be able to download the purchased books wirelessly from the UK?

Thanks in advance.

Mike L · 10-13-2009, 02:57 PM

A very informative article, The-eBook-Reader. But I'm not sure why you constantly refer to the "Kindle UK" (as in "The Kindle UK will support AZW ..."). Not to mention your photo of the device sporting a union flag.

Surely you know there's no such animal. What we get in the UK is exactly the same model as in the other 99 countries where the Kindle is available (except the US, of course). There's no UK-specific version.

You question the reason that "Amazon is requiring all Kindle International orders and ebook purchase to be in US currency." That's hardly a surprise. When ordering products from the US, it's perfectly normally for us to use US dollars. It's not a problem, assuming you are using a credit or debit card. Most Europeans are accustomed to cross-border purchases.

I was also interested in your remark that "Amazon are intending to set up the Amazon.co.uk website for a UK-centric Kindle store". I don't recall reading that anywhere. It would be good news if it's true, provided we get a reasonable range of titles to choose from, of course.

I didn't mean this post to sound so critical of your article. I hope you'll keep us informed of further developments.

The-eBook-Reader · 10-13-2009, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike L

. . . I'm not sure why you constantly refer to the "Kindle UK" (as in "The Kindle UK will support AZW ..."). Not to mention your photo of the device sporting a union flag.

It's a long complicated story, but I have to do something like that to differentiate between countries so that people in the UK can find that page in search engines. If I only refer to it as the Kindle International no one will ever be able to find it in the UK. And the phrase has to repeat a few times so that search engines know what the topic of the page is. If I kept saying "Kindle in the UK" or "UK Kindle" things would get even more confusing.

Quote:

I was also interested in your remark that "Amazon are intending to set up the Amazon.co.uk website for a UK-centric Kindle store". I don't recall reading that anywhere. It would be good news if it's true, provided we get a reasonable range of titles to choose from, of course.

Amazon had a page over on Amazon.co.uk about it the day the international was released. Elli posted the link on the main thread that discussed the release but now the page at Amazon UK is gone and I can't find it. Not sure what that's supposed to mean.

AnemicOak · 10-13-2009, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The-eBook-Reader

Amazon had a page over on Amazon.co.uk about it the day the international was released.

Yep they did, I read it as well. It was one of those Dear Customer letters they put up evey once and awhile.

Mike L · 10-14-2009, 07:07 AM

Thanks for the clarification, The-eBook-Reader.

I'd really like it to be true about the UK-centric Kindle store at Amazon UK, but I won't hold my breath.

The-eBook-Reader · 10-17-2009, 10:23 PM

Here's another article from the Guardian about how Kindle sales this Christmas could benefit book sales in the UK.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...nch-bloomsbury

pilotbob · 10-17-2009, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweepy

It may be too early to answer, but if I 'jump through the hoops' and use the Gift Certificate route to purchase from the US Kindle Store, will I be able to download the purchased books wirelessly from the UK?

Thanks in advance.

I think the answer is yes. You would be able to register your kindle with your US account or your UK account. However, not both at the same time.

Also, if you are a on a US account you have to pay an extra fee of $2 to get the book wirelessly delivered where-as that is not so for your UK account. At least that seems to be the news that we are seeing.

It is really hard to tell exactly how it will work until people have them and can give us the real story.

BOb

Sweepy · 10-18-2009, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I think the answer is yes. You would be able to register your kindle with your US account or your UK account. However, not both at the same time.

Also, if you are a on a US account you have to pay an extra fee of $2 to get the book wirelessly delivered where-as that is not so for your UK account. At least that seems to be the news that we are seeing.

It is really hard to tell exactly how it will work until people have them and can give us the real story.

BOb

Hi Bob,

Many thanks for your thoughts on this. Really looking forward to my Kindle arriving; hopefully Wednesday-ish...

Sweepy

The-eBook-Reader · 10-19-2009, 09:57 AM

Here's an article from the BBC regarding the new Kindle and ebook piracy that you folks in the UK might find interesting.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8314092.stm

waingateman · 10-21-2009, 05:52 PM

Hi All

Having now purchased 10 books for my 2 x Kindle 2 International whilst in UK and France, this appears to be the way it works.

EU countries get charged US price plus $1.99 wireless charge plus 15% VAT (amazon US do not have to charge different VAT rates for each EU country they can register in one EU country typically one with lowest VAT rate and just charge that).

It would appear that you can then wirelessly download each book multiple time (don't know whether there is a limit but I have download 1 book 5 times to try this out) for the $1.99 plus VAT charge.

So delivery is not free, including if you download to your computer as amazon US use your browsers country detection to check if you are in the country you say you are.

I've also been to Germany (I Live on the French, German, Switzerland border) and get the same pricing as France/UK

I have tried using a US address in My Kindle, which allows me to see the US pricing but when you come to buy it does not allow you to complete the transaction as the browser shows a different country - unless someone knows how to fool this we will all be charged the $1.99 charge whether we use wireless delivery or computer download.

The-eBook-Reader · 10-21-2009, 06:57 PM

Thanks for the info, waingateman.

I wonder what would happen if you downloaded from Switzerland, seeing as how they aren't in the EU and don't have to pay VAT. Amazon probably goes by the address on your credit card though.

And have you tried accessing Wikipedia yet? There's a rumor circulating that user abroad can use Wiki, just no images get displayed.

Jonas777 · 10-22-2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The-eBook-Reader

And have you tried accessing Wikipedia yet? There's a rumor circulating that user abroad can use Wiki, just no images get displayed.

Here in Sweden you get http://en.m.wikipedia.org/ and images are only turned off by default. You can enable advanced browser and images, but it is so slow I keep images turned off mostly.

waingateman · 10-22-2009, 10:11 AM

wikipedia worked fine - not very fast but user able, no general internet yet but they told us that.

Just out of interest I got a $20 credit from Amazon for both of our Kindles as the price has gone down.

Not many retailers would do that

10-10-2009, 07:53 PM	#1
The-eBook-Reader Groupie Posts: 194 Karma: 4637 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: United States Device: All	Kindle UK Information and Help Hi folks, I thought it would be nice to start a new thread dedicated to Kindle UK users that can serve as an information point to help answer some of the specific questions involved with Kindle International in the United Kingdom. Here's a page I put together listing information about pricing converted to pounds, ebook selection, wireless coverage, and miscellaneous things to be aware of before buying. http://www.the-ebook-reader.com/kindle-uk.html Feel free to post anything related to Kindle UK here on this thread, from news articles to questions and comments. Thanks

10-21-2009, 06:57 PM	#13
The-eBook-Reader Groupie Posts: 194 Karma: 4637 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: United States Device: All	Thanks for the info, waingateman. I wonder what would happen if you downloaded from Switzerland, seeing as how they aren't in the EU and don't have to pay VAT. Amazon probably goes by the address on your credit card though. And have you tried accessing Wikipedia yet? There's a rumor circulating that user abroad can use Wiki, just no images get displayed. Last edited by The-eBook-Reader; 10-21-2009 at 06:59 PM.

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10-12-2009, 10:37 AM	#2
The-eBook-Reader Groupie Posts: 194 Karma: 4637 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: United States Device: All	Here's an article from the Guardian about higher ebook prices in the UK, due to increased operating costs outside the US and VAT rates being higher on ebooks than on print books. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology...kindle-charges

10-13-2009, 12:22 PM	#3
Sweepy Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindle 2 International	Hi, Being a sucker for a new gadget, I've pre-ordered the Kindle 2 International (I'm in the UK BTW). It should arrive next week. Browsing the UK Kindle Store there are some notable omissions, for example no God Delusion, not much by Bill Bryson. These seem to be present in the US Kindle Store. There seems to be a workaround which permits purchasing of books from the US Kindle Store using Gift Certificates, which I am happy to do to get the books I want. It may be too early to answer, but if I 'jump through the hoops' and use the Gift Certificate route to purchase from the US Kindle Store, will I be able to download the purchased books wirelessly from the UK? Thanks in advance.

10-13-2009, 02:57 PM	#4
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	A very informative article, The-eBook-Reader. But I'm not sure why you constantly refer to the "Kindle UK" (as in "The Kindle UK will support AZW ..."). Not to mention your photo of the device sporting a union flag. Surely you know there's no such animal. What we get in the UK is exactly the same model as in the other 99 countries where the Kindle is available (except the US, of course). There's no UK-specific version. You question the reason that "Amazon is requiring all Kindle International orders and ebook purchase to be in US currency." That's hardly a surprise. When ordering products from the US, it's perfectly normally for us to use US dollars. It's not a problem, assuming you are using a credit or debit card. Most Europeans are accustomed to cross-border purchases. I was also interested in your remark that "Amazon are intending to set up the Amazon.co.uk website for a UK-centric Kindle store". I don't recall reading that anywhere. It would be good news if it's true, provided we get a reasonable range of titles to choose from, of course. I didn't mean this post to sound so critical of your article. I hope you'll keep us informed of further developments.

10-14-2009, 07:07 AM	#7
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	Thanks for the clarification, The-eBook-Reader. I'd really like it to be true about the UK-centric Kindle store at Amazon UK, but I won't hold my breath.

10-17-2009, 10:23 PM	#8
The-eBook-Reader Groupie Posts: 194 Karma: 4637 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: United States Device: All	Here's another article from the Guardian about how Kindle sales this Christmas could benefit book sales in the UK. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...nch-bloomsbury

10-19-2009, 09:57 AM	#11
The-eBook-Reader Groupie Posts: 194 Karma: 4637 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: United States Device: All	Here's an article from the BBC regarding the new Kindle and ebook piracy that you folks in the UK might find interesting. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8314092.stm

10-21-2009, 05:52 PM	#12
waingateman Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindle 2 International	Hi All Having now purchased 10 books for my 2 x Kindle 2 International whilst in UK and France, this appears to be the way it works. EU countries get charged US price plus $1.99 wireless charge plus 15% VAT (amazon US do not have to charge different VAT rates for each EU country they can register in one EU country typically one with lowest VAT rate and just charge that). It would appear that you can then wirelessly download each book multiple time (don't know whether there is a limit but I have download 1 book 5 times to try this out) for the $1.99 plus VAT charge. So delivery is not free, including if you download to your computer as amazon US use your browsers country detection to check if you are in the country you say you are. I've also been to Germany (I Live on the French, German, Switzerland border) and get the same pricing as France/UK I have tried using a US address in My Kindle, which allows me to see the US pricing but when you come to buy it does not allow you to complete the transaction as the browser shows a different country - unless someone knows how to fool this we will all be charged the $1.99 charge whether we use wireless delivery or computer download.

10-22-2009, 10:11 AM	#15
waingateman Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindle 2 International	wikipedia worked fine - not very fast but user able, no general internet yet but they told us that. Just out of interest I got a $20 credit from Amazon for both of our Kindles as the price has gone down. Not many retailers would do that

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