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katya42 · 03-23-2012, 06:43 AM

I wanted a Nook, but I live overseas. After extensive online research (including in these forums) I compiled the information I needed to buy one.

I was able to buy one (the SimpleTouch) and I have no problems working it and purchasing books here, but I did a lot of research and work first.

I wanted to share my discoveries with others so it may help them decide if Nook is the right reader for them. I hope it helps! Please ask me questions to clarify anything!

Background: I live and work in mainland China, but I am from the USA (and still have US bank accounts and an address). Those were crucial in getting my Nook to work fine here (I believe).

The Steps That Worked:

I set up my B&N account, and got everything current (including credit card information) before buying my Nook. - Note on the account info: I have a real US credit card attached to a US address that I use for the B&N purchases. I believe this is crucial in it working overseas at the moment.
I had someone I trust buy it for me in the USA (it also helped that they were coming to see me, so they set some things up for me - following my instructions - and then brought it over). It would have worked fine for me to buy it online and have it shipped to them (a colleague here just did that).
I gave the person who bought it for me my B&N account information, and they opened, charged, and registered my Nook for me WHILE THEY WERE IN THE USA. - I believe this was part of it working, that it was turned on and linked to my account while it was physically in the USA, although I'd love to hear if someone first turned on and registered their's while overseas and got it to work OK.
When it got here, I first tried making a purchase on my computer without using my VPN. I then transferred it to the Nook - no problems!
Next, after getting my Nook connected to my wifi, I tried making a purchase

directly on my Nook - again, no problems!

A colleague of mine recently purchased a Nook. She is also an American. She followed similar steps (namely, getting friends to turn it on in the USA), and hers is fine too.

Some other notes:
I bought the SimpleTouch. I am a reader and want a simple way to read books, and only do that, while travelling. I want no backlights and just want it to hold many books so I save luggage space (at least on the way to wherever I'm going, as I still end up buying physical books while there!). All the features have worked fine here. There were a few things to get used to when I first used it, but I'm now hooked and love the size, shape and everything. I also made sure to buy a case that allows me to prop it up on a table while eating and still read. I have found that nice when just lounging and reading too.

My colleague bought the Nook Tablet. Most features (like getting magazines) seem to be working for her and she is also able to buy and download books directly, despite being in China. Some other features (like Hulu Plus or watching other videos or accessing other websites) are, so far, not working because of her being located overseas, which sites like Hulu recognize, and because of the Great Firewall of China, which blocks many websites. She is now trying to figure out if there is any way to get a VPN of some sort on it so she can take advantage of those features here, but she may just have to wait for her summers in the USA.

For people without US residences or banks: I do not think you'd be able to use Nook overseas at this time. I hope someone can prove me wrong though! I read enough accounts of people getting them, and not being able to make purchases or register it, that I would go for something else if I didn't have those connections with the US still.

I hope my experience helps someone!

03-23-2012, 06:43 AM	#1
katya42 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Nook	Using Nook Internationally / Overseas I wanted a Nook, but I live overseas. After extensive online research (including in these forums) I compiled the information I needed to buy one. I was able to buy one (the SimpleTouch) and I have no problems working it and purchasing books here, but I did a lot of research and work first. I wanted to share my discoveries with others so it may help them decide if Nook is the right reader for them. I hope it helps! Please ask me questions to clarify anything! Background: I live and work in mainland China, but I am from the USA (and still have US bank accounts and an address). Those were crucial in getting my Nook to work fine here (I believe). The Steps That Worked: I set up my B&N account, and got everything current (including credit card information) before buying my Nook. - Note on the account info: I have a real US credit card attached to a US address that I use for the B&N purchases. I believe this is crucial in it working overseas at the moment. I had someone I trust buy it for me in the USA (it also helped that they were coming to see me, so they set some things up for me - following my instructions - and then brought it over). It would have worked fine for me to buy it online and have it shipped to them (a colleague here just did that). I gave the person who bought it for me my B&N account information, and they opened, charged, and registered my Nook for me WHILE THEY WERE IN THE USA. - I believe this was part of it working, that it was turned on and linked to my account while it was physically in the USA, although I'd love to hear if someone first turned on and registered their's while overseas and got it to work OK. When it got here, I first tried making a purchase on my computer without using my VPN. I then transferred it to the Nook - no problems! Next, after getting my Nook connected to my wifi, I tried making a purchase directly on my Nook - again, no problems! A colleague of mine recently purchased a Nook. She is also an American. She followed similar steps (namely, getting friends to turn it on in the USA), and hers is fine too. Some other notes: I bought the SimpleTouch. I am a reader and want a simple way to read books, and only do that, while travelling. I want no backlights and just want it to hold many books so I save luggage space (at least on the way to wherever I'm going, as I still end up buying physical books while there!). All the features have worked fine here. There were a few things to get used to when I first used it, but I'm now hooked and love the size, shape and everything. I also made sure to buy a case that allows me to prop it up on a table while eating and still read. I have found that nice when just lounging and reading too. My colleague bought the Nook Tablet. Most features (like getting magazines) seem to be working for her and she is also able to buy and download books directly, despite being in China. Some other features (like Hulu Plus or watching other videos or accessing other websites) are, so far, not working because of her being located overseas, which sites like Hulu recognize, and because of the Great Firewall of China, which blocks many websites. She is now trying to figure out if there is any way to get a VPN of some sort on it so she can take advantage of those features here, but she may just have to wait for her summers in the USA. For people without US residences or banks: I do not think you'd be able to use Nook overseas at this time. I hope someone can prove me wrong though! I read enough accounts of people getting them, and not being able to make purchases or register it, that I would go for something else if I didn't have those connections with the US still. I hope my experience helps someone!