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Originally Posted by neilmarr
I just had this note through from Waterstones two minutes ago. And note that the ban is backdated to six days before this letter was sent out. Unbloodybelievable!
I use a Sony in France. Outside the US, I can't access the Sony Store, so I've always been re-directed to B&N and Waterstones. Now Waterstones is slamming the door on ebook readers outside the UK and Eire. The reason, they claim, complex georestrictions. What utter bollox!
Is the industry determined to drive 'double-foreigners' (neither US nor UK residents ... or Irishmen, come to that) to 'alternative' means of acquisition?
Neil.
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Neil, haven't seen you this riled up before!
Geographic restrictions just seem so wrong in the internet age. And so contradictory - I can buy a paperback book from Book Depository UK and have it shipped FREE to New Zealand (goodness knows how much that costs them), but we can't buy ebooks....
Unfortunately, even very honest people (I put myself in that category) are now looking at ways of getting round this. Otherwise I might as well throw my e-reader in the bin.
On a positive note, I contacted Kobobooks regarding geographic restrictions in New Zealand and had a personal response from their head of purchasing really empathising with me and advising that they have just reached agreement to stock Hachette in Australia and will be looking to do the same for New Zealand. So there is hope for us in the longer term. They are a specialist ebook site therefore it is in their interests to get as many publishers up as possible. I think the others like WH Smiths, Waterstones etc see ebooks as an "add on" and at the moment it's too hard for them to make the tough calls on so they roll over.