how can i purchase a kindle 3 in germany

xlinc · 02-10-2011, 07:13 AM

This is my first post.

I am looking into buying my first ebook reader. I am an english speaker living in germany and many of my friends have said "buy Kindle". I want it primarily for reading books in english.

The difficulty is that the only way to buy a kindle 3 here on the Amazon site increases the price so much that it almost doubles. It has to be bought from the US store where there is postage and duty payable.

Does anybody have any ideas?

Mike L · 02-10-2011, 07:31 AM

It's difficult to avoid those extra costs. If you have a friend or business associate in the US, you could ask them to buy it for you, and then send it on to you. But you'll still have to pay the additional postage, import duty and VAT. (Actually, VAT isn't an issue, becase you'd have to pay that even if you could buy the Kindle in Germany.)

Or, you could get someone in the UK to buy it for you. That way, there'd be no duty, and the postage should be less.

In both cases, you'd also have to factor in the foreign exchange costs.

My advice would be to go ahead and order one from Amazon in the US. Even with the postage and duty, the Kindle is good value. In a few months time, you'll have forgotten the cost and will be wondering why you didn't get one earlier.

gASK · 02-10-2011, 08:07 AM

If you have chance, have it shipped through or to another Schengen country with less strict duty and tax laws. (For example in Czech Republic the cost is greatly diminished - I had mine for around 115 euros).

You may also try ebay or local equivalent.

ebioman · 02-10-2011, 08:12 AM

Hi
You might be lucky as well if you got some friends in Switzerland.
Bought just one for my girldfriend last week for 170CHF (including all taxes, shipping,...). But then I just realized checking with the current exchange rate, that this is equal 130 Euros

. I guess that is the main problem at the moment which will be hard to overcome- the Euro is really weak

jbcohen · 02-10-2011, 08:19 AM

What Mike said mostly, but can add a few things. To help you figure out the cost of curency conversion try xe.com. I would also advise Amazon UK since they are physically closer to your location.

Also understand if you do this that Kindle is 100% proprietary you are required to buy your books from Amazon. Kindle is an excellent reader and great functionality I just don't like proprietary things.

TallMomof2 · 02-10-2011, 08:35 AM

FUD, you can buy ebooks from many sources other than Amazon. It's only books with DRM that must be purchased from Amazon if you are unable/unwilling to remove the DRM. Depending on local laws and regulations removing DRM may be legal, in a gray area, or illegal. YMMV

BTW, most of my purchases are from Baen and Fictionwise (multiformat only). No DRM and at least with Baen no problems with geographic restrictions.

Tiersten · 02-10-2011, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

I would also advise Amazon UK since they are physically closer to your location.

I don't think you can actually order a Kindle from amazon.co.uk if you're not in the UK. There is a note on the site saying "Kindle is available on Amazon.com for shipment outside the UK. Visit the Kindle international page on Amazon.com." Bit silly that people in Europe can't get their Kindle from the UK.

Kenneth_irl · 02-10-2011, 09:09 AM

I had a associate in the UK buy one for me through Ebay.co.uk and have it send to Denmark. It seems that most retail Kindles is sold around 111-130 quid on Ebay. I brought mine for aproximately 125 quids, but that was during xmas time, though.

Good luck getting your hands on one, mate.

Mike L · 02-10-2011, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

To help you figure out the cost of curency conversion try xe.com. I would also advise Amazon UK since they are physically closer to your location.

Amazon UK do not sell Kindles outside the UK - not even to other EU countries (I've no idea why).

Also, while xe.com is a good source for market rates in foreign exchange, it's got nothing to do with the actual rates a credit card provider or bank will charge. Whenever you buy anything that involves currency conversion, the banks will add a hefty slice of the cost.

Xlinc, the more I think about it, the more I think your best bet will be to buy from Amazon.com. Even if you know someone in the US who can buy it for you, it's unlikely they will be able to send it to for less than Amazon charge for delivery. And as I said before, you're going to have to pay the duty in any case.

I double if the duty and postage will really double the cost, as you suggested.

JMikeD · 02-10-2011, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

Also understand if you do this that Kindle is 100% proprietary you are required to buy your books from Amazon.

As TallMomof2 said, this is just not true. Most of the paid books on my Kindle have been purchased from places other than Amazon (mostly Baen), and many, many more are free and public domain from various (legal) sources.

You can buy a Kindle and never have to deal with Amazon again, if you wish.

kindlekitten · 02-10-2011, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

What Mike said mostly, but can add a few things. To help you figure out the cost of curency conversion try xe.com. I would also advise Amazon UK since they are physically closer to your location.

Also understand if you do this that Kindle is 100% proprietary you are required to buy your books from Amazon. Kindle is an excellent reader and great functionality I just don't like proprietary things.

I see that this has been addressed. 100% incorrect. are you an ex-pat, or an english speaking German?

jeromedevine · 02-10-2011, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

Also understand if you do this that Kindle is 100% proprietary you are required to buy your books from Amazon. Kindle is an excellent reader and great functionality I just don't like proprietary things.

The Kindle is NOT 100% proprietary LOL! You can load all the MOBI files that you can find. Also with Calibre (Google it), you can convert all the EPub and all the files you can think of to MOBI in under 30 seconds and load them on your Kindle. Then the Kindle allows you to buy books as well from Amazon's Kindlestore. But if you don't want to, there are millions of books waiting for you to load on the Kindle at 0.00c

Then if you want other stores' books. Just remove DRM from them and put them on the Kindle. Never been easier.

On a side note. Dude from Germany... Buy your Kindle 3 on ebay and search for sellers from the EU. You will not be charged import duties. Happy reading on it. I'm loving it!

rcuadro · 02-10-2011, 10:37 AM

If you want to check shipping prices I can get one here locally and as long as you cover the shipping I can send it to you. I have sent about 40 or so readers overseas so you can ask around for those who have dealt with me

jbcohen · 02-10-2011, 10:44 AM

Ah, glad to see I am wrong about that. I'll add that to the growing list of things I have been wrong about, seems endless.

B34M3R · 02-10-2011, 12:04 PM

Haaa, this is also my first post as an english speaker in Germany....

In my case however, I'm from the US, and live on an army base here, which brings me to my point.

These are sold on-base at standard prices, so my suggestion would be to make friends with a soldier somewhere nearby, give them the money, and have them buy one for you. I'd actually help you out myself, but I'm not going to be here much longer... good luck, and at the very least it something to look into

02-10-2011, 07:13 AM	#1
xlinc Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: none	how can i purchase a kindle 3 in germany This is my first post. I am looking into buying my first ebook reader. I am an english speaker living in germany and many of my friends have said "buy Kindle". I want it primarily for reading books in english. The difficulty is that the only way to buy a kindle 3 here on the Amazon site increases the price so much that it almost doubles. It has to be bought from the US store where there is postage and duty payable. Does anybody have any ideas?

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02-10-2011, 07:31 AM	#2
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	It's difficult to avoid those extra costs. If you have a friend or business associate in the US, you could ask them to buy it for you, and then send it on to you. But you'll still have to pay the additional postage, import duty and VAT. (Actually, VAT isn't an issue, becase you'd have to pay that even if you could buy the Kindle in Germany.) Or, you could get someone in the UK to buy it for you. That way, there'd be no duty, and the postage should be less. In both cases, you'd also have to factor in the foreign exchange costs. My advice would be to go ahead and order one from Amazon in the US. Even with the postage and duty, the Kindle is good value. In a few months time, you'll have forgotten the cost and will be wondering why you didn't get one earlier.

02-10-2011, 08:07 AM	#3
gASK Member Posts: 10 Karma: 3684 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Prague, ČR Device: Kindle 3	If you have chance, have it shipped through or to another Schengen country with less strict duty and tax laws. (For example in Czech Republic the cost is greatly diminished - I had mine for around 115 euros). You may also try ebay or local equivalent.

02-10-2011, 08:12 AM	#4
ebioman Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Switzerland Device: Kindle 3	Hi You might be lucky as well if you got some friends in Switzerland. Bought just one for my girldfriend last week for 170CHF (including all taxes, shipping,...). But then I just realized checking with the current exchange rate, that this is equal 130 Euros . I guess that is the main problem at the moment which will be hard to overcome- the Euro is really weak

02-10-2011, 08:19 AM	#5
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,032 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	What Mike said mostly, but can add a few things. To help you figure out the cost of curency conversion try xe.com. I would also advise Amazon UK since they are physically closer to your location. Also understand if you do this that Kindle is 100% proprietary you are required to buy your books from Amazon. Kindle is an excellent reader and great functionality I just don't like proprietary things.

02-10-2011, 08:35 AM	#6
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	FUD, you can buy ebooks from many sources other than Amazon. It's only books with DRM that must be purchased from Amazon if you are unable/unwilling to remove the DRM. Depending on local laws and regulations removing DRM may be legal, in a gray area, or illegal. YMMV BTW, most of my purchases are from Baen and Fictionwise (multiformat only). No DRM and at least with Baen no problems with geographic restrictions.

02-10-2011, 09:09 AM	#8
Kenneth_irl Addict Posts: 212 Karma: 55934 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3 + Paperwhite 7th gen	I had a associate in the UK buy one for me through Ebay.co.uk and have it send to Denmark. It seems that most retail Kindles is sold around 111-130 quid on Ebay. I brought mine for aproximately 125 quids, but that was during xmas time, though. Good luck getting your hands on one, mate.

02-10-2011, 10:37 AM	#13
rcuadro Wizard Posts: 1,686 Karma: 874275 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Device: Kindle DX	If you want to check shipping prices I can get one here locally and as long as you cover the shipping I can send it to you. I have sent about 40 or so readers overseas so you can ask around for those who have dealt with me

02-10-2011, 10:44 AM	#14
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,032 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	Ah, glad to see I am wrong about that. I'll add that to the growing list of things I have been wrong about, seems endless.

02-10-2011, 12:04 PM	#15
B34M3R Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle 3	Haaa, this is also my first post as an english speaker in Germany.... In my case however, I'm from the US, and live on an army base here, which brings me to my point. These are sold on-base at standard prices, so my suggestion would be to make friends with a soldier somewhere nearby, give them the money, and have them buy one for you. I'd actually help you out myself, but I'm not going to be here much longer... good luck, and at the very least it something to look into

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