Buying ebooks out of region?

Vanguard3000 · 02-20-2013, 01:15 AM

Hi, all.

First off, I'm not trying to find a way to steal/pirate ebooks outright.

In January, Barnard Werber's english translation of <i>Empire of the Ants</i> was released on amazon.co.uk in ebook format (http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/edition...48167319#popup). However, it is only available to UK customers, and is unavailable from Canada.

This novel was one of my favourites growing up, and I was really excited to get an ebook copy for myself, but it looks like that isn't possible unless I'm willing to uproot myself and move to the UK to purchase it (I'm not).

Is there any way to get around this restriction, or "trick" amazon into thinking I live in the UK so that I can buy this book? I know this request seems pretty shady, but I'm not looking to pirate the book - I'm willing to pay for it, and while I get that having an ebook published worldwide presents legal problems and whatnot for publishers, its frustrating to get so close to being able to get a childhood favourite, only to get screwed by a regional restriction.

Funny/Ironic aside: The last time it happened was when I wanted to buy "Larry's Party" by Canadian Author Carol Shields, but couldn't because I live in Canada!

Anyway, thanks in advance for any advice.

HarryT · 02-20-2013, 01:18 AM

Use a VPN which makes you appear to be in the UK.

Joy736 · 02-20-2013, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Use a VPN which makes you appear to be in the UK.

Yes, just google VPN and you'll find everything you'll need, but be careful, because Amazon might close your account when they'll find out.

Fbone · 02-20-2013, 03:08 AM

A VPN alone didn't work for me. I couldn't find a way to do it. However, I am located in the US. Perhaps, it's easier for Canadians.

HansTWN · 02-20-2013, 03:14 AM

For Amazon just using a VPN or changing the country setting doesn't work anymore. I wanted to buy some books from the UK site and they asked me to "transfer all my purchases to a UK account". So I didn't buy anything that time and I will keep using my US account.

Fbone · 02-20-2013, 03:18 AM

Looking around I see the title available at Kobo and Books On Board (where it is priced lower than Amazon).

http://www.booksonboard.com/index.ph...Bernard+Werber

http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Empir...DcG7HoYwgw&r=2

For BoB just create a separate UK account with UK address and pay with Paypal no VPN needed.

HarryT · 02-20-2013, 03:32 AM

It would be a lot easier to buy from a site like BooksOnBoard, where a VPN works just fine. Assuming it's a mainstream publisher, they sell the same books, and it's trivial to convert from ePub to KF8 with Calibre. I buy quite a few books from BoB - their sales often make their (non-Agency) books cheaper than Amazon.

Apache · 02-20-2013, 06:54 AM

I have an Amazon UK account. I use a VPN, a different account with different email, my credit card and a UK Address.
If looking for a VPN check out Tunnelbear, it has a free version.
http://www.tunnelbear.com/pricing/
Apache

owly · 02-20-2013, 08:48 AM

I found that Diesel ebook store http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/ sometimes lets me buy books that are region restricted on Booksonboard and Kobo.

Vanguard3000 · 02-21-2013, 03:05 AM

Wow, the VPN trick with TunnelBear did the trick. Thanks a lot, everyone, for the prompt and helpful answers!

HansTWN · 02-21-2013, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

I have an Amazon UK account. I use a VPN, a different account with different email, my credit card and a UK Address.
If looking for a VPN check out Tunnelbear, it has a free version.
http://www.tunnelbear.com/pricing/
Apache

Hotspotshield has a free VPN, too. Yes, that is a possibility, of course. But managing 2 accounts is too much of a hassle for me -- just to save a few bucks occasionally, I thought only the monkey would go this far...

forgottenbooks · 02-21-2013, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanguard3000

Wow, the VPN trick with TunnelBear did the trick. Thanks a lot, everyone, for the prompt and helpful answers!

Nice to hear that. hows the book?

piperclassique · 02-21-2013, 06:06 AM

I live in France and use Amazon UK for ebooks, and the odd item not available from Amazon France. Amazon UK have my french address because that's where my cc is billed to, and a UK address which belongs to a friend. They seem to be quite happy with shipping to either, except for my kindle which I could have bought from them but not have shipped to France. It is however registered to Amazon UK. My husband's Kindle is registered to Amazon France and uses the same cc and shipping/billing address but a different email address. The Amazon mail account uses a USunlocked cc and a third email but I really only get freebies from that one. It seems complicated but it works. Amazon France doesn't have a good english language book selection but it saves paying the shipping cost from UK on physical items if they are available in both countries. I only use a VPN with main.

Apache · 02-21-2013, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanguard3000

Wow, the VPN trick with TunnelBear did the trick. Thanks a lot, everyone, for the prompt and helpful answers!

Glad to help.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Hotspotshield has a free VPN, too. Yes, that is a possibility, of course. But managing 2 accounts is too much of a hassle for me -- just to save a few bucks occasionally, I thought only the monkey would go this far...

I do not use it to save money. I use it to buy books that are not available in the US. For example, I bought The Devil's Cave by Martin Walker, when it was released in August of 2012. It is not due for release in the US until July 2013.
Apache

HarryT · 02-21-2013, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

I do not use it to save money. I use it to buy books that are not available in the US. For example, I bought The Devil's Cave by Martin Walker, when it was released in August of 2012. It is not due for release in the US until July 2013.
Apache

Yes, that's exactly the reason I buy books from the US - in cases where the eBook is not available in the UK, generally due to there being a different US and UK publisher. I'm not particularly price sensitive when it comes to eBooks.

02-20-2013, 01:15 AM	#1
Vanguard3000 Groupie Posts: 169 Karma: 474196 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2	Buying ebooks out of region? Hi, all. First off, I'm not trying to find a way to steal/pirate ebooks outright. In January, Barnard Werber's english translation of <i>Empire of the Ants</i> was released on amazon.co.uk in ebook format (http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/edition...48167319#popup). However, it is only available to UK customers, and is unavailable from Canada. This novel was one of my favourites growing up, and I was really excited to get an ebook copy for myself, but it looks like that isn't possible unless I'm willing to uproot myself and move to the UK to purchase it (I'm not). Is there any way to get around this restriction, or "trick" amazon into thinking I live in the UK so that I can buy this book? I know this request seems pretty shady, but I'm not looking to pirate the book - I'm willing to pay for it, and while I get that having an ebook published worldwide presents legal problems and whatnot for publishers, its frustrating to get so close to being able to get a childhood favourite, only to get screwed by a regional restriction. Funny/Ironic aside: The last time it happened was when I wanted to buy "Larry's Party" by Canadian Author Carol Shields, but couldn't because I live in Canada! Anyway, thanks in advance for any advice.

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02-20-2013, 01:18 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Use a VPN which makes you appear to be in the UK.

02-20-2013, 03:08 AM	#4
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,313 Karma: 103930826 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	A VPN alone didn't work for me. I couldn't find a way to do it. However, I am located in the US. Perhaps, it's easier for Canadians.

02-20-2013, 03:14 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	For Amazon just using a VPN or changing the country setting doesn't work anymore. I wanted to buy some books from the UK site and they asked me to "transfer all my purchases to a UK account". So I didn't buy anything that time and I will keep using my US account.

02-20-2013, 03:18 AM	#6
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,313 Karma: 103930826 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	Looking around I see the title available at Kobo and Books On Board (where it is priced lower than Amazon). http://www.booksonboard.com/index.ph...Bernard+Werber http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Empir...DcG7HoYwgw&r=2 For BoB just create a separate UK account with UK address and pay with Paypal no VPN needed.

02-20-2013, 03:32 AM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It would be a lot easier to buy from a site like BooksOnBoard, where a VPN works just fine. Assuming it's a mainstream publisher, they sell the same books, and it's trivial to convert from ePub to KF8 with Calibre. I buy quite a few books from BoB - their sales often make their (non-Agency) books cheaper than Amazon.

02-20-2013, 06:54 AM	#8
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,306 Karma: 90981752 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I have an Amazon UK account. I use a VPN, a different account with different email, my credit card and a UK Address. If looking for a VPN check out Tunnelbear, it has a free version. http://www.tunnelbear.com/pricing/ Apache

02-20-2013, 08:48 AM	#9
owly Guru Posts: 729 Karma: 3822612 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sweden Device: Paperwhite 2, Kobo Aura H2O	I found that Diesel ebook store http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/ sometimes lets me buy books that are region restricted on Booksonboard and Kobo.

02-21-2013, 03:05 AM	#10
Vanguard3000 Groupie Posts: 169 Karma: 474196 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2	Wow, the VPN trick with TunnelBear did the trick. Thanks a lot, everyone, for the prompt and helpful answers!

02-21-2013, 06:06 AM	#13
piperclassique A garbling groftpot Posts: 996 Karma: 9234667 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: France Device: Oasis, Voyage, Kobo mini, Samsung tablet, phones, whatever.	I live in France and use Amazon UK for ebooks, and the odd item not available from Amazon France. Amazon UK have my french address because that's where my cc is billed to, and a UK address which belongs to a friend. They seem to be quite happy with shipping to either, except for my kindle which I could have bought from them but not have shipped to France. It is however registered to Amazon UK. My husband's Kindle is registered to Amazon France and uses the same cc and shipping/billing address but a different email address. The Amazon mail account uses a USunlocked cc and a third email but I really only get freebies from that one. It seems complicated but it works. Amazon France doesn't have a good english language book selection but it saves paying the shipping cost from UK on physical items if they are available in both countries. I only use a VPN with main.