What is the best ebook resource for those of us in Oz/NZ? - Page 2

BearMountainBooks · 11-14-2009, 10:17 AM

Someone else posted about Smashwords--I put my books up there so they would be internationally available and that seems to be working out fine.

I also heard from a reader that since I'm an "indie" published writer, my Kindle books on Amazon are available internationally. I know I signed that they could make them available internationally, but at first they didn't seem to be. Right after the K2 international became available a reader confirmed that they had no trouble buying indie books from Amazon. I *think* the person that wrote in was from Australia.

Of course some commercial books are available internationally because the publishing rights have been worked out in multiple countries...so it's hit/miss on the titles and the when...

Blue Tyson · 11-15-2009, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherscott

In australia we have a new product called travel cards. These are Visa or MC debit cards rather than credit cards which you load up with either Euros $US $CAD $NZ OR $A
The amazing thing is they do not have a billing address

I loaded a card with $US put in a United states address of my choice, and have now purchased geographically restricted books without hassles 5 seperate times from fi
Fctionwise and Books on Board

I've now purchased in total 153 books from these companies over 2 and a half years at an average cost of US$9.63 once I take all the discounts and special offers into account.

A cunning plan!

Katti's Cat · 11-16-2009, 08:20 AM

Sorry to disappoint - I bought my reader in the US as you cannot buy it in Oz. I even contacted Sony Australia to ask if they have a date. But all i got was "we are looking into it, keep watching our news".

I used a mail forwarder from the US to get it. I believe I still got it at good price including shipping (probably cheaper than it would have cost me buying it here).

As I progress in the discovery of the reader and the world of eBooks I am finding more and more solutions to get books. The forum is a great help.

I have now tried the 'solution' with the Travelcard loaded with US$ and it works. Might have problems with any support needed but i can live with that.

There are also good bookstores that sell to us but at a higher price. Shame really that they make us go the roundabout way.

ozron · 11-17-2009, 06:28 AM

Thanks for the great idea about using a Travelcard. Hadn't heard about them, and it sounds like a good way to pick up stuff from FW that I normally can't get due to the silly region restrictions. Will pick one up tomorrow from ANZ and try it out!

neilmarr · 11-17-2009, 06:47 AM

Give the bookstore of my own wee indie publishing house a visit (www.bewrite.net). We took over Jacobyte Books in Melbourne some years ago, so we have a whole bunch of Oz authors among others from all airts and pairts of the world. I'm afraid the ebook versions of our titles are ony in PDF until we convert to other formats next year (but they read fine on pretty well anything [other than Kindle]). That format restriction is why they're all on special bargain basement offer until we introduce a range of format choices. MR members, of course, can email me for freebies of anything that catches their eye until the end of the year. And we are a DRM-free zone. ntmarrATbewrite.net (use the @ sign). Cheers. Neil

BearMountainBooks · 11-17-2009, 09:12 AM

I don't know if Canada's distribution/sales model is any easier for anyone --but here's a Canadian e-book distributor that seems to have many of the big-name books:

http://www.shortcovers.com/

(Full disclosure: they are also set to carry smashwords.com titles in the near future.)

S/V Willow · 11-20-2009, 09:44 PM

Hi all again. Well I am so stoked about all the information here from all of you. The most exciting news of all is that I now have ordered an ereader - a Hanlin V5 from DA book services in Melbourne. I now have to hold my breath for 3 weeks to be shipped into Oz and then across the ditch to NZ but that makes it Christmas so I am super excited. I have so many sites to go and look at and I am happy to say it appears I will be reading forever! So many books and only one set of eyes.

ideabaker · 12-29-2009, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eco

I'm in New Zealand and use a Kindle DX. I have my credit card registered to a US address and use a VPN to make it clear I am in a US buyer. I transfer books to the kindle from my PC. A bit of a hassle to set up but the only realistic way to get a range of books and a decent price.

I am an American living in New Zealand for the next year. Got a Kindle for Christmas, and already have an established Amazon account with Gift Card Credits on my account.

What can I expect to be able to do, or not do using the Kindle while in New Zealand? Will I need any special cables, software, etc. to transfer a Kindle e-book from my laptop to the Kindle?

Crusader · 12-30-2009, 11:17 AM

Being from South Africa we are in more or less the same position as those in Australia. If you are willing to use workarounds Fictionwise is an excellent store to buy from - including the restricted books.

I can confirm that using a valid US address and your locally issued CC works for purchasing US only books. Doing the same using acrued Micropay also works. Some books do however require a "geo-restriction" authorization step before you can download them.

Two of the books I bought had this enable and asked for you to verify the info with your CC. All you need to do to skip that, is to use a proxy (www.hidemyass.com etc.) to log in to your account. The verification notice will be gone and you can download the book like normal. Once you have downloaded it the first time it remains available for download even if you access via a non-US IP.

No CC details are given while using the proxy. It might be a good idea to change your password to a temporary one before you log in through the proxy. Once you have completed the download log out. Visit Fictionwise normally and then change your password back.

11-17-2009, 06:47 AM	#20
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Give the bookstore of my own wee indie publishing house a visit (www.bewrite.net). We took over Jacobyte Books in Melbourne some years ago, so we have a whole bunch of Oz authors among others from all airts and pairts of the world. I'm afraid the ebook versions of our titles are ony in PDF until we convert to other formats next year (but they read fine on pretty well anything [other than Kindle]). That format restriction is why they're all on special bargain basement offer until we introduce a range of format choices. MR members, of course, can email me for freebies of anything that catches their eye until the end of the year. And we are a DRM-free zone. ntmarrATbewrite.net (use the @ sign). Cheers. Neil Last edited by neilmarr; 11-17-2009 at 06:50 AM.

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11-14-2009, 10:17 AM	#16
BearMountainBooks Maria Schneider Posts: 3,746 Karma: 26439330 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Near Austin, Texas Device: 3g Kindle Keyboard	Someone else posted about Smashwords--I put my books up there so they would be internationally available and that seems to be working out fine. I also heard from a reader that since I'm an "indie" published writer, my Kindle books on Amazon are available internationally. I know I signed that they could make them available internationally, but at first they didn't seem to be. Right after the K2 international became available a reader confirmed that they had no trouble buying indie books from Amazon. I think the person that wrote in was from Australia. Of course some commercial books are available internationally because the publishing rights have been worked out in multiple countries...so it's hit/miss on the titles and the when...

11-16-2009, 08:20 AM	#18
Katti's Cat Wizard Posts: 2,259 Karma: 175640 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia Device: Sony PRS-600	Sorry to disappoint - I bought my reader in the US as you cannot buy it in Oz. I even contacted Sony Australia to ask if they have a date. But all i got was "we are looking into it, keep watching our news". I used a mail forwarder from the US to get it. I believe I still got it at good price including shipping (probably cheaper than it would have cost me buying it here). As I progress in the discovery of the reader and the world of eBooks I am finding more and more solutions to get books. The forum is a great help. I have now tried the 'solution' with the Travelcard loaded with US$ and it works. Might have problems with any support needed but i can live with that. There are also good bookstores that sell to us but at a higher price. Shame really that they make us go the roundabout way.

11-17-2009, 06:28 AM	#19
ozron Groupie Posts: 158 Karma: 344054 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Melbourne, Oz Device: Kindle Touch, iPad, iPhone	Thanks for the great idea about using a Travelcard. Hadn't heard about them, and it sounds like a good way to pick up stuff from FW that I normally can't get due to the silly region restrictions. Will pick one up tomorrow from ANZ and try it out!

11-17-2009, 09:12 AM	#21
BearMountainBooks Maria Schneider Posts: 3,746 Karma: 26439330 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Near Austin, Texas Device: 3g Kindle Keyboard	I don't know if Canada's distribution/sales model is any easier for anyone --but here's a Canadian e-book distributor that seems to have many of the big-name books: http://www.shortcovers.com/ (Full disclosure: they are also set to carry smashwords.com titles in the near future.)

11-20-2009, 09:44 PM	#22
S/V Willow Member Posts: 16 Karma: 114 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: On a yacht Device: Hanlin V5 on order!	Hi all again. Well I am so stoked about all the information here from all of you. The most exciting news of all is that I now have ordered an ereader - a Hanlin V5 from DA book services in Melbourne. I now have to hold my breath for 3 weeks to be shipped into Oz and then across the ditch to NZ but that makes it Christmas so I am super excited. I have so many sites to go and look at and I am happy to say it appears I will be reading forever! So many books and only one set of eyes.

12-30-2009, 11:17 AM	#24
Crusader Space Cadet Posts: 1,180 Karma: 4030536 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: South Africa Device: Sony PRS-T1, Cybook Opus, Kobo Glo	Being from South Africa we are in more or less the same position as those in Australia. If you are willing to use workarounds Fictionwise is an excellent store to buy from - including the restricted books. I can confirm that using a valid US address and your locally issued CC works for purchasing US only books. Doing the same using acrued Micropay also works. Some books do however require a "geo-restriction" authorization step before you can download them. Two of the books I bought had this enable and asked for you to verify the info with your CC. All you need to do to skip that, is to use a proxy (www.hidemyass.com etc.) to log in to your account. The verification notice will be gone and you can download the book like normal. Once you have downloaded it the first time it remains available for download even if you access via a non-US IP. No CC details are given while using the proxy. It might be a good idea to change your password to a temporary one before you log in through the proxy. Once you have completed the download log out. Visit Fictionwise normally and then change your password back.

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