Quote:
Originally Posted by kaas
The 1.99 USD surcharge seems to be taxes, which amount to 18% - 20% in all European countries. So I blame our stupid European laws that tax ebooks!
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Actually, the $1.99 charge is from AT&T, essentially, an international cellular data plan charge (about a minimum, for that type of thing). So long as you use the USB cable, you never pay that charge. Were I stuck in an airport or a train with an empty Kindle, it seems a small price to get a new book (not that my Kindle is ever empty). It will mean that international customers will have to be extra careful with keeping the wireless off (and with allowing strangers to play with the Kindle); no doubt we'll start hearing of campaigns to include a "keep wireless off" option in the Mange My Kindle page or on the Kindle itself (which will be ignored just as much as the continuous outcry for folders or tags or any method of organization of ones library).
The various prices seen, though, do reflect the higher taxes in other countries and include VAT where applicable (which some of you would pay on imported paper books, as well), ebook taxes, etc. The lesser quantity of books is due to lack of international rights held for many of the books. No doubt, the numbers there will increase over time, as well. And once books are available directly from the international Amazon sites, those in the US will start running into similar issues trying to buy from other countries.