How can an international user buy and use Amazon Kindle?

Over · 06-03-2009, 03:16 PM

There should be a stickied article about this, that would be great.

I'm very tempted to buy a Kindle DX. However, it's for USA only. Even if I manage to get it (ebay, for example), I wouldn't be able to use the online store!

I've noticed many people around here outside USA that have kindles, so I would like to know how did you get one and how do you manage to use the amazon store.

What are the possible solutions for international users?

rcuadro · 06-03-2009, 05:58 PM

Well, I have heard of people using gift cards....
If you have a friend that already has an account you could always have them add you to their account and then they can email you the books...

JSWolf · 06-03-2009, 06:08 PM

To be honest, the hassle to purchase content from Amazon for a DX is not worth the hassle. Why not wait for other companies to come out with a large screen reader that will be better for non-USA usage.

olis · 06-03-2009, 06:26 PM

I will repost what I said in another thread:

I live in Italy and less than a year ago I bought a kindle1 from a US ebayer, there are serious disadvantages in doing that:

1)I had to pay the import duty and VAT (about 20% of the final price)
2)Shipping costs were relatively high (about 50$)
3)Amazon doesn't offer digital contents from the kindle store to international customers.
4)whispernet doesn't work in Europe, there is no infrastructure for it.

I was aware of all the above points nonetheless I couldn't resist, but surely I would not recommend doing that.

daffy4u · 06-03-2009, 06:51 PM

Contact Mike L, he's written about his experience.

fugazied · 06-03-2009, 09:44 PM

The best way is to find someone in the USA willing to purchase it for you. You might be able to find someone will to do it on mobileread, but of course you have to trust them, because they would require the money up front before creating the account for you and purchasing the reader. Not easy.

SalvaG · 06-04-2009, 06:50 AM

myus.com (*) -> Premium Membership -> enable low declared value
gift cards -> kindle store
whispernet -> who wants that?

It's easy.

(*) Or another

Why not wait for other companies?
Why wait? What companies? As we say here in spain, better a bird in hand than 100 flying ones.

rfog · 06-04-2009, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SalvaG

Why wait? What companies? As we say here in spain, better a bird in hand than 100 flying ones.

Wise words, young Padawan.

I think the English equivalent is "Early bird catch the worm".

SteGar · 06-12-2009, 03:17 PM

I just want to complete Daffy4u's post. I have posted and exchanged with MikeL (he's from the UK I think...) on the subject. I also bought a few weeks ago my K2 and it is totally worth it. I'm just disappointed that I didn't wait a little bit more, I really like the DX...it is expensive though...

The method is quite simple, you just need a US address (friend or family member) and you use gift certificates. You manage the rest via your Amazon account and USB cable. I was also able to register my K2 wirelessly during a recent visit to the US. Life is good !

I strongly recommend the move !

Ciao

stegar

daffy4u · 06-12-2009, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteGar

I just want to complete Daffy4u's post. I have posted and exchanged with MikeL (he's from the UK I think...) on the subject. I also bought a few weeks ago my K2 and it is totally worth it. I'm just disappointed that I didn't wait a little bit more, I really like the DX...it is expensive though...

The method is quite simple, you just need a US address (friend or family member) and you use gift certificates. You manage the rest via your Amazon account and USB cable. I was also able to register my K2 wirelessly during a recent visit to the US. Life is good !

I strongly recommend the move !

Ciao

stegar

Congratulations! Since you're in Canada, would it be difficult for you to return the K2 for the DX (except for the expensive part)?

SteGar · 06-12-2009, 04:15 PM

Yeah, it would be a bit of a drag... But you raise an interesting point. Is there an exchange program similar to what was done when the K2 was introduced. I did not dream this... a K1 owner could switch for a K2, right??

In any event, for now, my plan is to keep on using my K2 and see what's coming in terms of technology in the next 12/15 months (there appears to be a few nice devices in the pipeline). I think that buying the DX now would be a compulsive buy more than anything else...

Have a great weekend !

Blog Kindle · 10-07-2009, 12:55 PM

With international Kindle 2 coming out recently I doubt it will take a long time for international version of Kindle DX to surface. But if you are impatient there is of course NerdGirl's method of buying US Kindle outside of the US, though it's a bit more hassle with recent geographical restrictions based on the IP address

rcuadro · 10-07-2009, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfog

Wise words, young Padawan.

I think the English equivalent is "Early bird catch the worm".

But it is the second mouse that gets the cheese

LucasCorso · 10-07-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfog

Wise words, young Padawan.

I think the English equivalent is "Early bird catch the worm".

On the other hand, the early worm gets eaten.

neilmarr · 10-07-2009, 06:18 PM

The best way to use Kindle outside the US (I don't know about within the United States) is not to.

There are perfectly good alternatives which are not US-centric, don't cost an arm and a leg to buy and import, don't load the price of titles, don't restrict you to a single bookstore and don't block you from buying books because of some odd copyright problem they have. (Sorry -- I do realise that a mere 70,000 titles are unavailble from Amazon/Kindle outside the US -- shouldn't even have mentioned it, eh?)

Buy a Sony 505 or something else that's decent.

Neil

06-03-2009, 03:16 PM	#1
Over Wizard Posts: 1,462 Karma: 6061516 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cascais, Portugal Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2", OnePlus 6	How can an international user buy and use Amazon Kindle? There should be a stickied article about this, that would be great. I'm very tempted to buy a Kindle DX. However, it's for USA only. Even if I manage to get it (ebay, for example), I wouldn't be able to use the online store! I've noticed many people around here outside USA that have kindles, so I would like to know how did you get one and how do you manage to use the amazon store. What are the possible solutions for international users?

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06-03-2009, 05:58 PM	#2
rcuadro Wizard Posts: 1,686 Karma: 874275 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Device: Kindle DX	Well, I have heard of people using gift cards.... If you have a friend that already has an account you could always have them add you to their account and then they can email you the books...

06-03-2009, 06:08 PM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,782 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	To be honest, the hassle to purchase content from Amazon for a DX is not worth the hassle. Why not wait for other companies to come out with a large screen reader that will be better for non-USA usage.

06-03-2009, 06:26 PM	#4
olis Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 369 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Italy Device: prs-500, Nokia N810, Irex dr1000s, Kindle3	I will repost what I said in another thread: I live in Italy and less than a year ago I bought a kindle1 from a US ebayer, there are serious disadvantages in doing that: 1)I had to pay the import duty and VAT (about 20% of the final price) 2)Shipping costs were relatively high (about 50$) 3)Amazon doesn't offer digital contents from the kindle store to international customers. 4)whispernet doesn't work in Europe, there is no infrastructure for it. I was aware of all the above points nonetheless I couldn't resist, but surely I would not recommend doing that.

06-03-2009, 06:51 PM	#5
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	Contact Mike L, he's written about his experience.

06-03-2009, 09:44 PM	#6
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	The best way is to find someone in the USA willing to purchase it for you. You might be able to find someone will to do it on mobileread, but of course you have to trust them, because they would require the money up front before creating the account for you and purchasing the reader. Not easy.

06-04-2009, 06:50 AM	#7
SalvaG Enthusiast Posts: 39 Karma: 54 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Spain Device: Kindle DX	myus.com () -> Premium Membership -> enable low declared value gift cards -> kindle store whispernet -> who wants that? It's easy. () Or another Why not wait for other companies? Why wait? What companies? As we say here in spain, better a bird in hand than 100 flying ones.

06-12-2009, 03:17 PM	#9
SteGar Enthusiast Posts: 47 Karma: 174 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Montreal, Canada Device: Kindle 2	I just want to complete Daffy4u's post. I have posted and exchanged with MikeL (he's from the UK I think...) on the subject. I also bought a few weeks ago my K2 and it is totally worth it. I'm just disappointed that I didn't wait a little bit more, I really like the DX...it is expensive though... The method is quite simple, you just need a US address (friend or family member) and you use gift certificates. You manage the rest via your Amazon account and USB cable. I was also able to register my K2 wirelessly during a recent visit to the US. Life is good ! I strongly recommend the move ! Ciao stegar

06-12-2009, 04:15 PM	#11
SteGar Enthusiast Posts: 47 Karma: 174 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Montreal, Canada Device: Kindle 2	Yeah, it would be a bit of a drag... But you raise an interesting point. Is there an exchange program similar to what was done when the K2 was introduced. I did not dream this... a K1 owner could switch for a K2, right?? In any event, for now, my plan is to keep on using my K2 and see what's coming in terms of technology in the next 12/15 months (there appears to be a few nice devices in the pipeline). I think that buying the DX now would be a compulsive buy more than anything else... Have a great weekend !

10-07-2009, 12:55 PM	#12
Blog Kindle Addict Posts: 224 Karma: 25122 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 1/2/3/4/Touch/DX/Fire\|PRS-600/350\|Nook(color)\|iPad\|iPad2\|EVO 4G	With international Kindle 2 coming out recently I doubt it will take a long time for international version of Kindle DX to surface. But if you are impatient there is of course NerdGirl's method of buying US Kindle outside of the US, though it's a bit more hassle with recent geographical restrictions based on the IP address

10-07-2009, 06:18 PM	#15
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	The best way to use Kindle outside the US (I don't know about within the United States) is not to. There are perfectly good alternatives which are not US-centric, don't cost an arm and a leg to buy and import, don't load the price of titles, don't restrict you to a single bookstore and don't block you from buying books because of some odd copyright problem they have. (Sorry -- I do realise that a mere 70,000 titles are unavailble from Amazon/Kindle outside the US -- shouldn't even have mentioned it, eh?) Buy a Sony 505 or something else that's decent. Neil