Half price ebooks

wchris · 12-23-2008, 06:42 PM

WH Smiths (UK) are offering all their ebooks at half price. However, the are charging 15% VAT on the price, saying this applies to all digital media. Is this correct as paper books are zero rated?

zelda_pinwheel · 12-23-2008, 07:12 PM

sounds like a case of good news / bad news. but sadly i fear the VAT rate is probably correct ; in france also it's the same way, because apparently some idiot had the bright idea to classify ebooks as "computer software" or something similar, instead of books. so the special book rate does not apply to them. hopefully, this will be fixed soon... in the meantime, half price ebooks is still a good deal !

tech_au · 12-23-2008, 08:09 PM

Thanks for that. Another excuse to buy more ebooks

I just bought 3 titles and didn't get charged any vat on top of total cost.
Maybe only UK people get charged 15% VAT.

zelda_pinwheel · 12-23-2008, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tech_au

Thanks for that. Another excuse to buy more ebooks

I just bought 3 titles and didn't get charged any vat on top of total cost.
Maybe only UK people get charged 15% VAT.

yes, i believe VAT is only applied to residents of the seller's country. i could be wrong.

Vaseline · 12-23-2008, 08:24 PM

I wonder how long this offer is going to last for. Anyone got any idea?

tech_au · 12-28-2008, 01:13 AM

The half price deal is still on.
I couldn't help myself and bought 6 more while they are still cheap.
For me in Australia its approx 30% cheaper to buy from the UK than the US with this sale on.
If you have a Sony or Cybook (or willing to format convert .lit) get em while it still on.
I have to repeat to myself. MUST STOP BUYING EBOOKS

JSWolf · 12-28-2008, 05:26 AM

I believe that VAT is already applied to the price shown.

wallflower75 · 12-28-2008, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tech_au

The half price deal is still on.
I couldn't help myself and bought 6 more while they are still cheap.
For me in Australia its approx 30% cheaper to buy from the UK than the US with this sale on.
If you have a Sony or Cybook (or willing to format convert .lit) get em while it still on.
I have to repeat to myself. MUST STOP BUYING EBOOKS

If you figure out how to stop doing that, could you pass your secret on to me? Because the minute I saw that they had books by an author I'll never be able to find here in the US in a million years, I was whipping my poor credit card out and buying more even though I'd gone a little wild at the Fictionwise sales!!

tech_au · 12-28-2008, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I believe that VAT is already applied to the price shown.

As I haven't paid VAT I don't really know. In Oz we have GST added into the price.
But in the checkout screen there is a separate line below the total that says VAT 0.00 GBP so I guess I am not paying VAT. As zelda pinwheel has suggested only UK residents would get 15% VAT added to the total.

Gibbo · 12-28-2008, 07:30 PM

I've saved £13.39 ($19.62) purchasing the complete Starfist series by David Sherman & Dan Cragg compared to Fictionwise, thats without the latest book which is released tomorrow 30th Dec

12-23-2008, 06:42 PM	#1
wchris Book lover Posts: 8 Karma: 16 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Sony	Half price ebooks WH Smiths (UK) are offering all their ebooks at half price. However, the are charging 15% VAT on the price, saying this applies to all digital media. Is this correct as paper books are zero rated?

12-23-2008, 07:12 PM	#2
zelda_pinwheel WWHALD Posts: 24,577 Karma: 102009 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: ebookwise 1150	sounds like a case of good news / bad news. but sadly i fear the VAT rate is probably correct ; in france also it's the same way, because apparently some idiot had the bright idea to classify ebooks as "computer software" or something similar, instead of books. so the special book rate does not apply to them. hopefully, this will be fixed soon... in the meantime, half price ebooks is still a good deal ! __________________ blog.ex-elibris.fr : les liseuses, les ebooks, nos lectures, la technologie… I don't want none of that mischief on my eels! - pdurrant by popular demand (well, vr is sure demanding, at least), we bring you the next exciting avatar in zelda's wardrobe, by the inimitable Madam Broshkina.

12-28-2008, 05:26 AM	#7
JSWolf Mobile Reader Geek Posts: 17,388 Karma: 21146 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Sony Reader PRS-505	I believe that VAT is already applied to the price shown. __________________ Jon If you want to listen to really good music while you surf Mobileread, here.

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12-23-2008, 08:09 PM	#3
tech_au Oz Bookworm Posts: 385 Karma: 2238 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Device: Sony PRS 505	Thanks for that. Another excuse to buy more ebooks I just bought 3 titles and didn't get charged any vat on top of total cost. Maybe only UK people get charged 15% VAT.

12-23-2008, 08:24 PM	#5
Vaseline Member Posts: 21 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS 505	I wonder how long this offer is going to last for. Anyone got any idea?

12-28-2008, 01:13 AM	#6
tech_au Oz Bookworm Posts: 385 Karma: 2238 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Device: Sony PRS 505	The half price deal is still on. I couldn't help myself and bought 6 more while they are still cheap. For me in Australia its approx 30% cheaper to buy from the UK than the US with this sale on. If you have a Sony or Cybook (or willing to format convert .lit) get em while it still on. I have to repeat to myself. MUST STOP BUYING EBOOKS

12-28-2008, 07:30 PM	#10
Gibbo Evangelist Posts: 469 Karma: 1667 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Rock of Gibraltar Device: Palm TX/Sony PRS-500/Cybook Gen3/Smart Q7/Asus Eee PC T91	I've saved £13.39 ($19.62) purchasing the complete Starfist series by David Sherman & Dan Cragg compared to Fictionwise, thats without the latest book which is released tomorrow 30th Dec