Non-US Kindle wireless delivery charge dropped

[pdurrant]

Very good news for all Kindle owners outside the US: Amazon is no longer adding a $2 wireless download charge to every Kindle ebook!

http://ireaderreview.com/2010/05/28/...utside-the-us/

"For non-U.S. customers, there are also no additional charges for wireless delivery in or outside your home country."

They are, of course, still adding VAT (in the EU), but this is usually small for most books compared to the $2+VAT fee previously added to the cost of every book.

I can only think that they've got some direct data deal worked out with a international carriers, rather than relying on an international roaming agreement.

And, wow - some UK prices are better than the US prices! E.g. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest is only $5.72 at the UK Kindle store, compared to $9.99 at the US Kindle store! (Because it's already out in paperback in the UK.)

[rogue_librarian]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Very good news for all Kindle owners outside the US: Amazon is no longer adding a $2 wireless download charge to every Kindle ebook!

Of course they still charge about half an arm more than they do in the US, for the exact same book. Why? Because they can.

They are, of course, still adding VAT (in the EU)...

Books are privileged in most countries, so we're talking about 0-10% here.

[SensualPoet]

Yes, well, not exactly. The page for Canada states:

Low Book Prices: New York Times® Best Sellers and New Releases are $11.99, unless marked otherwise. You'll also find many books for less - over 135,000 titles are priced under $5.99.

And when I spot check books like the 30, 40, 50, 60 year old Rex Stout novels, I am seeing the same $2.00 tacked onto the US prices. There are no import duties etc for Amazon to cover. Even if Amazon is collecting and remitting GST on electronic sales to the Canadian government (which I doubt), that would add 50¢ on a $9.99 book, not $2.00.

There has actually been no official word, right?

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

And when I spot check books like the 30, 40, 50, 60 year old Rex Stout novels, I am seeing the same $2.00 tacked onto the US prices. There are no import duties etc for Amazon to cover. Even if Amazon is collecting and remitting GST on electronic sales to the Canadian government (which I doubt), that would add 50¢ on a $9.99 book, not $2.00.

There has actually been no official word, right?

Yes, there has. Go to the Kindle Page, click on the link in the box marked "Live Outside the U.S.?", and select your country in the pop-up dialog. Under Canada is says:

Free Wireless: Free 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle. No monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots. For non-U.S. customers, there are also no additional charges for wireless delivery in or outside your home country.

Which is what is says for all countries outside the U.S. now, as far as I can tell.

Give examples when mentioning pricing differences so that people can double-check.

For example, my book, Kai Lung Raises His Voice, is $7.99 in the US store, and $9.99 in the Canadian store...

which does look like it still has the $2 charge applied. In the UK I am seeing the charge gone.

Perhaps Amazon are still in the process of getting the change put in place, which would explain why there hasn't yet been a big announcement.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by rogue_librarian

Of course they still charge about half an arm more than they do in the US, for the exact same book. Why? Because they can.

Books are privileged in most countries, so we're talking about 0-10% here.

Some Kindle ebooks are cheaper in the UK than in the US.

But in the UK VAT on books is 17.5% - standard rate

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

But in the UK VAT on books is 17.5% - standard rate

To clarify Paul's statement:

In the UK, as in the rest of the EU, eBooks are charged the "standard" rate of VAT, in accordance with the EU's eCommerce VAT directive. This is the law throughout the EU.

Paper books, on the other hand, are "zero rated" for VAT (not exempt from it, but charged at 0%. There is a difference, apparently).

[SensualPoet]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Give examples when mentioning pricing differences so that people can double-check.

In Canada with "no Whispernet surcharge of $2.00":

Rex Stout -
Triple Jeopardy
League of Frightened Men
Final Deduction
Might as well be Dead
Death Times Three
Murder By The Book

I could go on -- all $11.99.

Note that in the page you quote for Canada it references NY Times Best sellers at $11.99, not $9.99.

But perhaps as you suggest ... it will take some days for Amazon to "right-size" the pricing.

[DawnFalcon]

Originally Posted by HarryT

(not exempt from it, but charged at 0%. There is a difference, apparently).

Yes, I believe if you're a VAT registered business you have to report your total sales of 0% VAT products, even though there's nothing to pay on them.

The UK government is as usual Luddite on eBook VAT...

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

The UK government is as usual Luddite on eBook VAT...

In this case, that's a little unfair. All EU countries have to charge the full VAT rate in that country for eBooks; they have no say in the matter; it's required by the EU's "eCommerce VAT directive", which all EU member states have to obey.

[DawnFalcon]

No, the EU mandate that VAT is charged. The rate can be adjusted downwards from the "standard", as some other EU countries do. The UK could, very easily, place eBooks in the 5% category.

Example: Spain did it.

(And yes, there was a rule change early last year which allowed this, as I recall)

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

No, the EU mandate that VAT is charged. The rate can be adjusted downwards from the "standard", as some other EU countries do. The UK could, very easily, place eBooks in the 5% category.

Example: Spain did it.

(And yes, there was a rule change early last year which allowed this, as I recall)

I believe that Spain tried to do it, but were not allowed to. There was a follow-up thread reporting this after the one you've linked to.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I believe that Spain tried to do it, but were not allowed to. There was a follow-up thread reporting this after the one you've linked to.

Yes, VAT for ebooks in Spain is 18% the same as software. They tried to lower it to the 4% cultural tax that pbooks are subject to, but the EU cried foul.

[DawnFalcon]

I won't mention that to a Spanish seller I know who is paying 4% then. Or, er, the five other countries with lower rates.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

I won't mention that to a Spanish seller I know who is paying 4% then. Or, er, the five other countries with lower rates.

What five countries are those, DF? Are you sure you're talking about eBooks? Many countries (the UK included, of course) have lower VAT rates for pBooks.

Do you have a link to the Spanish eBook retailer who is only charging 4% VAT?

[EowynCarter]

In france, VAT for pbook is 5% (And shops can't rebate more than these 5%).
VAT for e-books is 19.6%.

Main probelm with price here is the fact that hardback and paperback aren't always the same publisher, so obviously that poses problem.