Geographic restrictions - getting someone else to buy?

Valhalla · 01-18-2011, 08:31 PM

I am getting even more peeved at Geo Restrictions. Amazon seems to have taken a dislike to me and I can't currently buy from the US store - I hope it might only be temporary but who knows?

Given it is pretty easy to remove DRM, it occurs to me it would be easy to buy for someone else, strip the DRM and send it to them. Has anyone set up any kind of system or group for this to occur?

Thanks

FF2 · 01-18-2011, 11:38 PM

I guess some would definitely think that is stepping a bit too far over the line of what is acceptable under, around or through the legal end of things.

Obviously, they would purchase a pbook and send it no matter what the geo-restrictions so it does not seem like a very out-of-bounds move but .... Obviously, if visiting, you could buy and take home but the same but ....

Turning it commercial would definitely be taking a risk.

captkjaneway · 01-19-2011, 12:17 AM

Where are you Valhalla?

I have no issues buying off my UK account and I'm now based in Hong Kong.

Valhalla · 01-19-2011, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captkjaneway

Where are you Valhalla?

I have no issues buying off my UK account and I'm now based in Hong Kong.

I am in Australia. I don't know why it stopped working. I bought a book and even though I had used a vpn, the next time I tried it wouldn't let me. I have heard of others having the same problem.

HansTWN · 01-19-2011, 01:48 AM

What are you paying with? A foreign credit card?

artig · 01-19-2011, 01:52 AM

Amazon still lets me buy when using a VPN. However, I found that if I start Kindle4PC when the VPN is not active, or forget to log out in the browser, next time I log onto Amazon it has reset my location. I then manually reset region to US, and it lets me continue.

Valhalla · 01-19-2011, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artig

Amazon still lets me buy when using a VPN. However, I found that if I start Kindle4PC when the VPN is not active, or forget to log out in the browser, next time I log onto Amazon it has reset my location. I then manually reset region to US, and it lets me continue.

It doesn't reset my location. It lets me select a book but when I go to check out I get a message telling me that I am in a different country and it won't let me buy it. This happens even if I use a vpn.

Yes I am using an Oz credit card but I always have.

bevdeforges · 01-19-2011, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valhalla

Yes I am using an Oz credit card but I always have.

As far as I can tell, Amazon seems to go by the billing address on your credit card when determining what they can or can't "ship" to you. Even over here in France I've pulled up a couple of e-books they say aren't available in my location - or are available at a higher price (thanks to our full rate VAT on e-books) - but not having a Kindle, I'm not registered with them as an e-book customer.

FF2 · 01-19-2011, 09:59 AM

What if Valhalla or someone in his/her behalf created a gift amount of money and was purchasing using that. I've read people can disassociate a credit card with accounts and pay with gift monies.

abookreader · 01-19-2011, 10:13 AM

Amazon uses the address on the Manage My Kindle webpage to determine geo availability, but then they also seem to sometimes run random checks on payment methods and IP numbers.

It is a mystery.

Many people go along fine for awhile, then they get blocked --- sometimes if they wait awhile it will start working again.

Maybe find a different VPN server and get a new US IP number?

Geo Restrictions are terrible and I have to think a #1 cause of people thinking "blank this" I can steal the book from the darknet in under 20 seconds.

artig · 01-19-2011, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valhalla

It doesn't reset my location. It lets me select a book but when I go to check out I get a message telling me that I am in a different country and it won't let me buy it. This happens even if I use a vpn.

Yes I am using an Oz credit card but I always have.

I've always used a NZ credit card. No problems. Do you have a US address registered with Amazon? And have that address set as your 1-click default?

One other thing, I never let the Kindle connect to the internet. Downloading is only to Kindle4PC, and from there through Calibre to the Kindle or the Kobo.

HansTWN · 01-20-2011, 03:01 AM

To be on the safe side, I always use US based VPN and the gift card method. I have also bought from the UK store for books that were not available in the US or cheaper in the UK. I know other people are buying with no problems without such precautions, but who knows when they will suddenly tighten their policies?

On the other hand, since the Big 5 started their price fixing scheme last year I have bought relatively few books from Amazon. There is plenty of other stuff to read.

kiwipippa · 01-20-2011, 09:48 AM

I am having a similar problem from New Zealand. I had been buying heaps of Alexander McCall Smith books through kindle. They are now geographically restricted (this happened about 2 weeks ago). But the weird thing is - they missed one, it is still available. Unfortunately I have it already. I think they may recently have either tightened up, or introduced more checks. McCall Smith is a Hachette author so one of the big publisher.

Sweetpea · 01-20-2011, 10:02 AM

I decided to no longer jump any hoops. And not buy the book at all anymore if I can't get it the normal way. Their loss, my gain.

pdurrant · 01-20-2011, 11:17 AM

I've also given up trying to work around Geographic restrictions. It's just too much hassle.

Alas, I currently have four ebooks in 'limbo' at fictionwise that I bought before giving up (they're one of the reasons I've stopped). They're paid for and in my bookshelf, but I can't download them.

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01-18-2011, 08:31 PM	#1
Valhalla Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 495253 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Adelaide, Australia Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Geographic restrictions - getting someone else to buy? I am getting even more peeved at Geo Restrictions. Amazon seems to have taken a dislike to me and I can't currently buy from the US store - I hope it might only be temporary but who knows? Given it is pretty easy to remove DRM, it occurs to me it would be easy to buy for someone else, strip the DRM and send it to them. Has anyone set up any kind of system or group for this to occur? Thanks

01-18-2011, 11:38 PM	#2
FF2 Wizard Posts: 1,105 Karma: 1025784 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: WiFi Kindle3	I guess some would definitely think that is stepping a bit too far over the line of what is acceptable under, around or through the legal end of things. Obviously, they would purchase a pbook and send it no matter what the geo-restrictions so it does not seem like a very out-of-bounds move but .... Obviously, if visiting, you could buy and take home but the same but .... Turning it commercial would definitely be taking a risk.

01-19-2011, 12:17 AM	#3
captkjaneway Cockney Sci-Fi Geek! Posts: 472 Karma: 1463094 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wan Chai, Hong Kong Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Samsung Tab S 8.4", Samsung S6 Edge	Where are you Valhalla? I have no issues buying off my UK account and I'm now based in Hong Kong.

01-19-2011, 01:48 AM	#5
HansTWN Wizard Posts: 4,538 Karma: 264065402 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Taiwan Device: HP Touchpad, Sony Duo 13, Lumia 920, Kobo Aura HD	What are you paying with? A foreign credit card?

01-19-2011, 01:52 AM	#6
artig Zealot Posts: 138 Karma: 681012 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New Zealand Device: kobo, kindle pw	Amazon still lets me buy when using a VPN. However, I found that if I start Kindle4PC when the VPN is not active, or forget to log out in the browser, next time I log onto Amazon it has reset my location. I then manually reset region to US, and it lets me continue.

01-19-2011, 09:59 AM	#9
FF2 Wizard Posts: 1,105 Karma: 1025784 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: WiFi Kindle3	What if Valhalla or someone in his/her behalf created a gift amount of money and was purchasing using that. I've read people can disassociate a credit card with accounts and pay with gift monies.

01-19-2011, 10:13 AM	#10
abookreader Wizard Posts: 1,516 Karma: 2567610 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindles - Keyboard, Fire, 2-US, iPhone, iPAD	Amazon uses the address on the Manage My Kindle webpage to determine geo availability, but then they also seem to sometimes run random checks on payment methods and IP numbers. It is a mystery. Many people go along fine for awhile, then they get blocked --- sometimes if they wait awhile it will start working again. Maybe find a different VPN server and get a new US IP number? Geo Restrictions are terrible and I have to think a #1 cause of people thinking "blank this" I can steal the book from the darknet in under 20 seconds.

01-20-2011, 03:01 AM	#12
HansTWN Wizard Posts: 4,538 Karma: 264065402 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Taiwan Device: HP Touchpad, Sony Duo 13, Lumia 920, Kobo Aura HD	To be on the safe side, I always use US based VPN and the gift card method. I have also bought from the UK store for books that were not available in the US or cheaper in the UK. I know other people are buying with no problems without such precautions, but who knows when they will suddenly tighten their policies? On the other hand, since the Big 5 started their price fixing scheme last year I have bought relatively few books from Amazon. There is plenty of other stuff to read.

01-20-2011, 09:48 AM	#13
kiwipippa Fanatic Posts: 578 Karma: 613022 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New Zealand Device: kobo glo, kobo touch (dead), kindle touch, android phone	I am having a similar problem from New Zealand. I had been buying heaps of Alexander McCall Smith books through kindle. They are now geographically restricted (this happened about 2 weeks ago). But the weird thing is - they missed one, it is still available. Unfortunately I have it already. I think they may recently have either tightened up, or introduced more checks. McCall Smith is a Hachette author so one of the big publisher.

01-20-2011, 10:02 AM	#14
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I decided to no longer jump any hoops. And not buy the book at all anymore if I can't get it the normal way. Their loss, my gain.

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01-20-2011, 11:17 AM	#15
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 73,939 Karma: 315160596 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	I've also given up trying to work around Geographic restrictions. It's just too much hassle. Alas, I currently have four ebooks in 'limbo' at fictionwise that I bought before giving up (they're one of the reasons I've stopped). They're paid for and in my bookshelf, but I can't download them.