Buy Kindle DXG from UK or USA?

[afa]

That's what I was wondering.

@mgmueller,

Even if I register for an Amazon account by providing a US billing address, will they still know (via my IP) that I'm not really a US resident? Would I have to use a VPN to get by, or is my claiming to be in US enough for them?

Another question (since you seem quite experienced with international purchases) - do you know if it's possible to buy Kindle content from, say, Amazon UK, if my account is with Amazon US? I know if an ebook is not available in UK, there will be geo-restrictions. But let's say the book is available in both US and UK, but for some reason is cheaper in the UK store (I don't know if that is ever the case; I guess US is generally always cheaper?) could I purchase from the UK store with a US account?

[m-reader]

Originally Posted by afa

That's what I was wondering.

@mgmueller,

Even if I register for an Amazon account by providing a US billing address, will they still know (via my IP) that I'm not really a US resident? Would I have to use a VPN to get by, or is my claiming to be in US enough for them?

Another question (since you seem quite experienced with international purchases) - do you know if it's possible to buy Kindle content from, say, Amazon UK, if my account is with Amazon US? I know if an ebook is not available in UK, there will be geo-restrictions. But let's say the book is available in both US and UK, but for some reason is cheaper in the UK store (I don't know if that is ever the case; I guess US is generally always cheaper?) could I purchase from the UK store with a US account?

Hi Afa, it's your neighbour from Riyadh again Let me chime in with personal experiences with Amazon.
I've bought a ton of stuff from them by using a mail forwarder in the US (Aramex). I pay with my local credit card, through normal internet connection (no VPN), and it's always worked fine.
I buy e-books from Amazon and download them using Kindle for PC software. Then they end up on my Sony reader, with a few simple tricks.
A mate of mine here just ordered the new Kindle DX. I can't wait to have a play with it .

[banjobama]

Originally Posted by afa

Even if I register for an Amazon account by providing a US billing address, will they still know (via my IP) that I'm not really a US resident? Would I have to use a VPN to get by, or is my claiming to be in US enough for them?

I live in Japan, and am not supposed to be able to download mp3s from Amazon, but I do using the IP blocker from anchorfree.com. It's free and not shady at all. You could probably use it for books/Kindle for PC too. However, my credit card has a US address so I'm not sure if they will check that also. But the Anchor Free blocker totally works.

[afa]

Thanks, banjobama. Yeah, I guess as long as I have a valid US address, it should be workable. I'll probably try it one of these days.

Originally Posted by m-reader

Hi Afa, it's your neighbour from Riyadh again
*snip*
I buy e-books from Amazon and download them using Kindle for PC software. Then they end up on my Sony reader, with a few simple tricks.

Hey, m-reader! I must say, it's handy to have a neighbour with experience who can answer my questions, since you would mostly suffer from the same situation I would. Thanks.

You remind me - I really need to learn the whole stripping thing if I'm going to be buying DRMed ebooks.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Mike L

My understandig is that the additional wireless fee no longer applies in the UK. I can't confirm that form personal experience, because I am outside wireless range.

However, there is still the added cost of VAT. That won't apply if Amazon sees you as an entirely US-based customer, but I don't know if that would work with wireless delivery. A US customer, either physically in the US or one purchasing books via download to the computer (as opposed to wireless), doesn't pay the VAT.

Quotes from "Important Reminder About International Delivery Fees" on my Kindle DX Graphite:
"Due to internationals costs, additional fees apply....
- For subscriptions...a weekly fee of $4.99. If you have subscriptions, you will receive more details...in a separate letter on your Kindle when you travel outside the U.S.
- For personal documents...while outside the U.S., the fee is $.99 per megabyte...
There is no charge for wirelessly receiving books, receiving single periodical issues, browsing the Kindle store, or using the experimental web browser while traveling internationally."

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by suecsi

mgmueller

I'm glad it does work - as your scenario is indeed, entirely realistic, having been PA to a number of expats over the years. It would seem Amazon is currently not as tightly controlled on the geo restrictions as some shops, who insist that the billing address of your credit card and 'registered country' must match - usually something that can be overcome with vouchers in some retailers, since they don't require an address match.

However, I have seen quite a bit of IP tracing going on where you sometimes get away with buying the book and get the 'you appear to be in another country' prompt which prevents you from downloading it unless you use HideMyAss or another VPN via the USA. Fictionwise were particular culprits for this.

I did once try changing my country to USA on the Manage My Kindle page but when I tried to buy a book - just going to the checkout - it gave me a similar 'you aren't in the right country' message - so I guess one would need to remove the registered one click credit card and use vouchers or something.

That's why I was surprised it worked.

You had to use vouchers (gift cards) with Amazon in the beginning (ca. 1 year ago), before the introduction of the international Kindles. Even then it wasn't rigid: I've sent gift cards from one account to another for a while. Then I found out, that I even could send myself gift cards from within the very same account (which perfectly demonstrates the nonsense of DRM and geo restrictions. I can purchase US gift cards with my German credit card and hand them to US customers. But I can't purchase directly with the very same credit card I've been using to buy the gift cards...).

With B&N I've had some problems. They insist on an U.S. IP. I've tried to purchase from B&N without one by accident, since then I've got an invalid purchase in my library...

BTW: I have "1 Click purchase" activated, no problems at all. And Amazon automatically did register my Kindle DX Graphite to my US account and then sent it over, directly to my German home address.

I've never tried to change my location within one account. I've just added another one and sometimes switch between accounts (but 95% I'm using the US one, sometimes the UK one, never the German one due to lack of German material).

[m-reader]

Originally Posted by afa

Thanks, banjobama. Yeah, I guess as long as I have a valid US address, it should be workable. I'll probably try it one of these days.



Hey, m-reader! I must say, it's handy to have a neighbour with experience who can answer my questions, since you would mostly suffer from the same situation I would. Thanks.

You remind me - I really need to learn the whole stripping thing if I'm going to be buying DRMed ebooks.

Mafi mushkilla at all Afa - let me know if you need any info.

Cheers,

m-reader

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by afa

That's what I was wondering.

@mgmueller,

Even if I register for an Amazon account by providing a US billing address, will they still know (via my IP) that I'm not really a US resident? Would I have to use a VPN to get by, or is my claiming to be in US enough for them?

Another question (since you seem quite experienced with international purchases) - do you know if it's possible to buy Kindle content from, say, Amazon UK, if my account is with Amazon US? I know if an ebook is not available in UK, there will be geo-restrictions. But let's say the book is available in both US and UK, but for some reason is cheaper in the UK store (I don't know if that is ever the case; I guess US is generally always cheaper?) could I purchase from the UK store with a US account?

No VPN needed. They've registered my DX Graphite to my US account before sending it to my German home address. So they know for sure about the gap between billing address and my momentary home address.

Re. UK/US: I've had the very same situation: A single book for once not available in the US, but in UK. I've added a UK account with the address of my employers headquarters in London. I've switched back to the US account after that.

[suecsi]

mgmuller

serious Karma coming your way - have managed this with one of my installs of Kindle4PC without a hitch. I've just won a DX on EBay so this will be really useful.

[Tuba]

Just wanted to let everyone know I took the plunge and order the DXG! By luck, a friend is coming to visit me here in the UK so I ordered the Kindle to be delivered to my US address and he's going to bring it over. This weekend it should be in my hot little hands.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Tuba

Just wanted to let everyone know I took the plunge and order the DXG! By luck, a friend is coming to visit me here in the UK so I ordered the Kindle to be delivered to my US address and he's going to bring it over. This weekend it should be in my hot little hands.

You probably know already, but maybe it adds to your joy:
You can purchase books from Amazon already via the PC or Mac application. Your Kindle already will be registered by Amazon to that account (assuming, you've ordered from that very account). When starting your Kindle for the first time, it will download your books without any further configuration, you can start reading within minutes.

BTW: Might be old news, but I only found out by accident:
You download the books by simply clicking on them. For the first downloads, I simply did remain within that book and waited for the download to finish. For my library of 350 books from Amazon, this would have taken a while. But then I found out: You simply can leave the book which is downloading (via "back" button) and start the next download. I actually filled my pipeline with the entire library.
Still, I wish there would be an option for bulk downloads, for example marking all books and then downloading them all. But at least with the method mentioned above, you don't have to sit next to your Kindle and download book by book.

[suecsi]

mgmueller

I think the gift card route may still be the better one to use - as though I successfully bought from the US store yesterday using your method, and downloaded the book absolutely fine, this morning I got the same email as outlined in this thread:-

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...urchase&page=2

Asking me to prove that I was a US citizen because I had purchased outside the USA. I don't know if it is my credit card biiling address (in UK), or whether they are IP tracking (on work pc, so no HideMyAss or anything), since I downloaded to K4PC.

I will try the method outlined elsewhere on this forum to use a UK account to buy a $ giftcard and send it to my US account and try again.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by suecsi

mgmueller

I think the gift card route may still be the better one to use - as though I successfully bought from the US store yesterday using your method, and downloaded the book absolutely fine, this morning I got the same email as outlined in this thread:-

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...urchase&page=2

Asking me to prove that I was a US citizen because I had purchased outside the USA. I don't know if it is my credit card biiling address (in UK), or whether they are IP tracking (on work pc, so no HideMyAss or anything), since I downloaded to K4PC.

I will try the method outlined elsewhere on this forum to use a UK account to buy a $ giftcard and send it to my US account and try again.

Hmmmm........sorry for that....
I only find 2 differences between what you've done and myself (I just bought another 5 books from Amazon only 3 days ago without any problems):
- I've never bought via Kindle4PC. I always buy via PC (their website). Even the last ones have been bought on PC, not on my international Kindle. I didn't use VPN, not even once, with Amazon.
- I've got Kindles registered to my account. In the beginning 2 Kindles, then in addition iPod touch and iPhone and in the meantime reduced to my 3 Kindles.

BTW: Do they really insist on being an US citizen? Or on a valid US address? I don't think it even would be legal to insist on citizenship. Don't they have to sell, for example, to tourists as well?
Proving a valid US address wouldn't be a problem. I've actually got a PO box in Texas.
If they'd make it really complicated, I wouldn't bother to try to find a backdoor. I've stopped purchasing from BooksOnBoard entirely. Before the geo restrictions, I bought for maybe $ 200 per month on average from them. If they don't want my money....someone else eagerly will take it...
Same applies for every single store. I like my Kindles. But they aren't outstanding, every single unit easily can be replaced by another one.

I really hate this. Permanently we're talking about global economy, global competition, global village. And then you have to jump through loops to get rid of your money....No wonder, so many users tend to the darknet...

Anyway: My recommendation would be, purchasing via PC, not directly via Kindle4PC. And adding a reader (no PC, preferably iPhone or ideally a Kindle) to your account.

[suecsi]

mgmueller

I tried it with K4PC as I didn't want to mess about with deregistering my actual physical Kindle 2 from one account (UK) to the other (US) in case something went wrong, as I have a fair number of books on there.

I will see what happens when I get my DX - I'll register that to the US account and try and buy something. If I get the same message I can just deregister and re-register on the UK account I guess.

Did you just buy and then 'Download to Computer' then? Rather than use 'Send to Kindle' - which can be your Kindle, K4PC, K4Mac, etc.

The buying process via K4PC just takes you to the normal Amazon.com page from where you 'send' to the appropriate application.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by suecsi

mgmueller

I tried it with K4PC as I didn't want to mess about with deregistering my actual physical Kindle 2 from one account (UK) to the other (US) in case something went wrong, as I have a fair number of books on there.

I will see what happens when I get my DX - I'll register that to the US account and try and buy something. If I get the same message I can just deregister and re-register on the UK account I guess.

Did you just buy and then 'Download to Computer' then? Rather than use 'Send to Kindle' - which can be your Kindle, K4PC, K4Mac, etc.

The buying process via K4PC just takes you to the normal Amazon.com page from where you 'send' to the appropriate application.

In the past, "1 Click" settings had been "send to Kindle 2". This actually has been the US only one, so I've never received any file. I then downloaded via PC.
The last ones I've sent to my new Kindle DX Graphite, my only international one.