Has Barnes & Noble changed its geographic restrictions?

Susan Crealock · 06-02-2011, 05:01 AM

Yesterday, while perusing the B&N freebies, along with a new page format, I noticed that the usual "U.S, APO/FPO and U.S. Protectorate addresses" restriction was missing.

I live in Europe and have never been able to take advantage of B&N's free books. Emboldened by the thought that I might actually be able to download one of these offers, I clicked on a title at random - sure enough, B&N didn't complain. I tried another with the same result and have now successfully downloaded two free books.

Does anyone know what B&N's new policy is? Worldwide, book by book to selected countries, or what?

Thank you.

caleb72 · 06-02-2011, 06:50 AM

Wow - I hope there's something to this. Another big online e-tailer would be most welcome as soon as I can determine that I can break the DRM and load it on my Kindle.

caleb72 · 06-02-2011, 07:50 AM

Hurrah!

Downloaded a free book OK - stripped the DRM. Barnes & Noble is now another place that can successfully get my money. Congrats to them!

CWatkinsNash · 06-02-2011, 10:36 AM

Wow - if this isn't just a fluke, it's excellent news. I wonder if they are starting to sell books available in other territories to those territories as part of a plan to expand the Nookiverse. (Wait - Nookiverse sounds like a bad porn title. Oh well.)

koland · 06-02-2011, 10:54 AM

I do know that their search is broken in FF unless you clear out old cookies (all you get is a blank page). They now have a confirmation page on freebies (so you'll see what the charge is, for those that were displaying one price and charging another).

CWatkinsNash · 06-02-2011, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koland

I do know that their search is broken in FF unless you clear out old cookies (all you get is a blank page). They now have a confirmation page on freebies (so you'll see what the charge is, for those that were displaying one price and charging another).

Yes, I noticed the confirmation a couple of days ago, when I had to confirm that I was purchasing a book for "$null". Clumsy implementation but I'm glad they did it since they've had issues with people being charged for books they thought were free.

Fbone · 06-02-2011, 12:23 PM

Are these free ebooks from a publisher or self-published? Has anyone (non-US) attempted an Agency ebook yet?

jgaiser · 06-02-2011, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koland

I do know that their search is broken in FF unless you clear out old cookies (all you get is a blank page). They now have a confirmation page on freebies (so you'll see what the charge is, for those that were displaying one price and charging another).

Interesting... It's been working just fine in the past couple days. Just tried it again and search works just fine. Firefox 3.6.17.

paola · 06-02-2011, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susan Crealock

Yesterday, while perusing the B&N freebies, along with a new page format, I noticed that the usual "U.S, APO/FPO and U.S. Protectorate addresses" restriction was missing.

I live in Europe and have never been able to take advantage of B&N's free books. Emboldened by the thought that I might actually be able to download one of these offers, I clicked on a title at random - sure enough, B&N didn't complain. I tried another with the same result and have now successfully downloaded two free books.

Does anyone know what B&N's new policy is? Worldwide, book by book to selected countries, or what?

Thank you.

I did try, but when inserting my credit card details (edven if the book was free), I was asked for a US address, which I do not have - how did you manage to get around it?

Susan Crealock · 06-02-2011, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paola

I did try, but when inserting my credit card details (edven if the book was free), I was asked for a US address, which I do not have - how did you manage to get around it?

I have a U.S. credit card with my son's home in California as the billing address; I've never purchased anything from B&N and had completely forgotten my card was on file until I checked a moment ago. In the past, B&N must have been using IP addresses to exclude non-U.S. readers, since even with the credit card and U.S. billing address I couldn't acquire the free books.

caleb72 · 06-02-2011, 07:24 PM

Mine was a freebie so maybe that was why I was able to purchase. I do have an Australian credit card on file with them though.

Loosheesh · 06-02-2011, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susan Crealock

In the past, B&N must have been using IP addresses to exclude non-U.S. readers, since even with the credit card and U.S. billing address I couldn't acquire the free books.

I would say the same (similar situation with US card/billing address but not in the US) because sometime last year I tried to get a free book that was available for US customers only and though it showed up in my account, I was never able to download it. Nowadays, I get (and download) all free books.

Now I wish Kobo would do the same. I was in the US last month and I was able to check out all the books I'm not even allowed to watch on the Kobo site when I'm out of the US

Britomart · 06-03-2011, 12:31 AM

I entered the details of my German credit card, and when they asked for my address, I ignored the line about it having to be from the USA and entered my German address - after all, they do offer you a list of different countries to choose from below. I was able to register without a problem.

I then "bought" several freebies, some of which I downloaded to my PC and can now read with Nook for PC.

I also bought one book from Hachette (Agency; worst publishing house ever re geographic restrictions), but received an email that I couldn't get it due to the area I live, and that my credit card hadn't been charged. I have not yet tried to buy a book that would be available in Germany legally.

paola · 06-03-2011, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Britomart

I entered the details of my German credits card, and when they asked for my address, I ignored the line about it having to be from the USA and entered my German address - after all, they do offer you a list of different countries to choose from below. I was able to register without a problem.

ok, I'll try that then, many thanks!

Panda Rose · 06-03-2011, 06:28 AM

I have just done this from the UK. Downloaded it. converted it with Calibre ( God bless Calibre) and uploaded it to my Kindle. All from a non techie!

06-02-2011, 05:01 AM	#1
Susan Crealock Online Novels Posts: 484 Karma: 1229104 Join Date: May 2009 Device: Apple iTouch	Has Barnes & Noble changed its geographic restrictions? Yesterday, while perusing the B&N freebies, along with a new page format, I noticed that the usual "U.S, APO/FPO and U.S. Protectorate addresses" restriction was missing. I live in Europe and have never been able to take advantage of B&N's free books. Emboldened by the thought that I might actually be able to download one of these offers, I clicked on a title at random - sure enough, B&N didn't complain. I tried another with the same result and have now successfully downloaded two free books. Does anyone know what B&N's new policy is? Worldwide, book by book to selected countries, or what? Thank you.

06-03-2011, 12:31 AM	#13
Britomart Guru Posts: 703 Karma: 1510625 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Opus, PC	I entered the details of my German credit card, and when they asked for my address, I ignored the line about it having to be from the USA and entered my German address - after all, they do offer you a list of different countries to choose from below. I was able to register without a problem. I then "bought" several freebies, some of which I downloaded to my PC and can now read with Nook for PC. I also bought one book from Hachette (Agency; worst publishing house ever re geographic restrictions), but received an email that I couldn't get it due to the area I live, and that my credit card hadn't been charged. I have not yet tried to buy a book that would be available in Germany legally. Last edited by Britomart; 06-03-2011 at 05:25 AM.

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06-02-2011, 06:50 AM	#2
caleb72 Indie Advocate Posts: 2,863 Karma: 18794463 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kindle	Wow - I hope there's something to this. Another big online e-tailer would be most welcome as soon as I can determine that I can break the DRM and load it on my Kindle.

06-02-2011, 07:50 AM	#3
caleb72 Indie Advocate Posts: 2,863 Karma: 18794463 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kindle	Hurrah! Downloaded a free book OK - stripped the DRM. Barnes & Noble is now another place that can successfully get my money. Congrats to them!

06-02-2011, 10:36 AM	#4
CWatkinsNash IOC Chief Archivist Posts: 3,950 Karma: 53868218 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Fruitland Park, FL, USA Device: Meebook M7, Paperwhite 2021, Fire HD 8+, Fire HD 10+, Lenovo Tab P12	Wow - if this isn't just a fluke, it's excellent news. I wonder if they are starting to sell books available in other territories to those territories as part of a plan to expand the Nookiverse. (Wait - Nookiverse sounds like a bad porn title. Oh well.)

06-02-2011, 10:54 AM	#5
koland Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,560 Karma: 8033155 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: TN, USA Device: kindle(all), nook, nookcolor, Sony, Kobo, epic, iphone, iPad, pc	I do know that their search is broken in FF unless you clear out old cookies (all you get is a blank page). They now have a confirmation page on freebies (so you'll see what the charge is, for those that were displaying one price and charging another).

06-02-2011, 12:23 PM	#7
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,287 Karma: 101696762 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	Are these free ebooks from a publisher or self-published? Has anyone (non-US) attempted an Agency ebook yet?

06-02-2011, 07:24 PM	#11
caleb72 Indie Advocate Posts: 2,863 Karma: 18794463 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kindle	Mine was a freebie so maybe that was why I was able to purchase. I do have an Australian credit card on file with them though.

06-03-2011, 06:28 AM	#15
Panda Rose Zealot Posts: 120 Karma: 204936 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Device: Sony Prs505, Kindle 3, iPhone4	I have just done this from the UK. Downloaded it. converted it with Calibre ( God bless Calibre) and uploaded it to my Kindle. All from a non techie!

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