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Originally Posted by GeoffR
If Kobo and Google have New Zealand localised websites with prices in New Zealand dollars, why can't Amazon figure it out?
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I don't think it isn't a matter of "can't figure it out" since Amazon was able to handle the EU VATmess just fine.
Wouldn't the more precise question be "why aren't they doing a local webstore?".
That might lead to an answer, albeit not necessarily a polite one. It could be regulatory issues, it could be contract negotiations with local publishers, it could be a desire to protect the BOOK DEPOSITORY business.
The most likely, to me, is that they don't see a local store resulting in (enough) added sales. That the volume of sales into the region doesn't show enough growth potential to justify the effort. That *is* the reason why out of 200+ plus nations on the planet, only a handful have so far gotten local ebook stores.
Like it or not, Amazon has been going after the most profitable markets first so their criteria seems to involve population size, ebook penetration, and ability to secure deals with local publishers for local content. The latter seems to be the holdup in Sweden if the rumors can be trusted; Amazon doesn't open local ebookstores just to sell the same stuff they sell on the US site. They seem to want the local stores to be local. Probably means there never will be a local Kindle store for Puerto Rico.
BTW, speaking of the EU VATmess, it looks like another dozen or so countries will be adding to the "fun" of international ebook sales:
http://the-digital-reader.com/2015/1...even-possible/
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Country Tax introduced Approx threshold (USD) Local accountant required?
Switzerland a while back $100k Yes
Singapore a while back $750k Yes
Ghana a while back $35k Yes
Madagascar a while back ? Yes
Norway July 2011 $6k No
Iceland Nov 2011 $7k Yes
Kenya Sept 2013 $50k Yes
South Africa June 2014 $4k Yes
Angola Nov 2014 ? Yes
Albania Jan 2015 nil Yes
South Korea July 2015 nil Yes
Japan October 2015 $80k Yes
Australia July 2017 $50k ?
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