Getting the Sony Reader in Europe...

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Superkoko

I didn't have to pay any taxes (UPS)

Don't bet on it . What often happens with a courier like UPS is that they send you a bill a few weeks later for the taxes.

[MacBeezle]

Originally Posted by Superkoko

Mine has just arrived to Madrid (Spain) from bhphotovideo too. I ordered it last wednesday, but due to the 6 hour difference, it didn't shipped until thursday. It take only 2 work days, quite impressive. I didn't have to pay any taxes (UPS)

My Reader was transferred to the german "DHL" at Köln. They wanted the taxes cash when they delivered the parcel.


Just like my predecessor I think you will recieve your tax-bill soon

[tapf!]

Hmm, I dont have a good feeling when sending a Scan of my Credit-Card to bhphotovideo. They have then Number&Securitycode...

Best Regards

Fabian

[Hadrien]

Many ppl in Europe still expecting to buy a Sony Reader ? With the Cybook available really soon in Europe (same size, Vizplex and more formats supported), I guess that europeans will shift their focus on Bookeen.

[MacBeezle]

@tapf!

I don't think there will be any problems.
Whether you send your number or a photo of the card - the information the online shop gets is the same.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Hadrien

Many ppl in Europe still expecting to buy a Sony Reader ? With the Cybook available really soon in Europe (same size, Vizplex and more formats supported), I guess that europeans will shift their focus on Bookeen.

I'm not sure that I agree, Hadrien. Sony is a known name, and there are "Sony Centre" shops throughout Europe where people are likely to buy a Reader through seeing it on display. Bookeen have never sold "retail" and I don't think that's likely to change with the new CyBook. A product which is only available on the web and is made by a company that 99.99% of the public have never heard of is certainly not going to take away many sales from a big brand name like Sony (IMHO, of course).

[NatCh]

I'd been assuming that Bookeen was better known in France (and the rest of Europe) than it is over on this side of the pond ... is that not so, then?

[HarryT]

I'd never heard of them until I bought my original CyBook. Perhaps they are a "household name" in France, but they certainly aren't here in the UK. I've always had the impression that they are a very small company - a few guys designing stuff. I could be wrong.

[athlonkmf]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm not sure that I agree, Hadrien. Sony is a known name, and there are "Sony Centre" shops throughout Europe where people are likely to buy a Reader through seeing it on display. Bookeen have never sold "retail" and I don't think that's likely to change with the new CyBook. A product which is only available on the web and is made by a company that 99.99% of the public have never heard of is certainly not going to take away many sales from a big brand name like Sony (IMHO, of course).

as the targetcustomers of these readers are the geeks and such, brand name is not that important. Features and specs, that's what's count.
A lot of geeks, if they had the choice would not buy the sony reader BECAUSE it's from sony (drm-rootkitdisaster anyone?)

As for the cybook, if bookeen is smart (and I think they are) they'd let renowned reviewsites write reviews on their product and they're set.
Who's ever heard of meizu before? I didn't, but reading the reviews and seeing the features, I bought one anyway. And it's quality totally blows away any famous MP3-player at that moment.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by athlonkmf

as the targetcustomers of these readers are the geeks and such, brand name is not that important.

But they aren't - that's the point. Sony are trying to make the Reader into a mass-market product, not one for "geeks".

[Hadrien]

Originally Posted by HarryT

But they aren't - that's the point. Sony are trying to make the Reader into a mass-market product, not one for "geeks".

Well they're doing a very poor job in this case. I mean: selling your product mostly online, with a very limited number of ads ?
I don't think that Sony thought about their own product as something "mass market", or else they would be selling this product everywhere (like most Sony products) with the support of a an important ad campaign for it.
They're still testing the market, and most of the people here are "early adopters", not "mass market".

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Hadrien

They're still testing the market, and most of the people here are "early adopters", not "mass market".

I agree with you, but I believe their goal is to make the Reader "mass market". They certainly haven't got there yet, though.

[Leaping Gnome]

Originally Posted by Hadrien

Well they're doing a very poor job in this case. I mean: selling your product mostly online, with a very limited number of ads ?
I don't think that Sony thought about their own product as something "mass market", or else they would be selling this product everywhere (like most Sony products) with the support of a an important ad campaign for it.
They're still testing the market, and most of the people here are "early adopters", not "mass market".

I would bet the brick and mortar sales exceed online sales. They are selling it in many locations in the US; SonyStyle stores, CompUSA, Fry's, Borders, etc... they have had targeted ads in magazines that are likely to have avid readers that also are technology bent.

I would bet Sony's business plan is produce version one to establish a foothold and prove there is a market, and then version two for mass consumption.