WHSmiths (UK) eBook half price sale - Page 4

spideog · 01-13-2010, 08:10 AM

Tried creating another account with them today on the off chance it would work, and still getting the same error on trying to actually pay them.

wallflower75 · 01-13-2010, 08:57 AM

Quote:

If it's any consolation, we have the same problem with American stores.

Yeah, I know. It's a lousy situation all around. Sometimes I think I need a UK friend I'd buy US ebooks for, who would buy UK ebooks for me. But at least Waterstone's is still willing to take my US dollars. For how long, I don't know. I'm not going to tell them they're not supposed to be selling me ebooks.

justlizz · 01-13-2010, 09:46 AM

Waterstones might take your money BUT they dont have many bargains
I bought and checked out with WHSmith fine last night it was a bit slow but when I checked this morning it was much quicker so bang went the cc again and got a few more for my hols
lizz

pdurrant · 01-13-2010, 10:10 AM

Well, I can see why UK publishers want geographic restrictions.

Last year's Dick Francis novel, Silks, is $8.49 with $2.97 rebate (net $5.52, or £3.40) at Fictionwise for club members, and it's £19.49, reduced to £9.70 at W.H. Smiths.

So, I can buy from W.H. Smiths, or persuade fictionwise to sell it to me for less than half of W.H. Smith's "half price".

Of course, I could always buy the paperback from W.H. Smiths for £5.17, or from Amazon.co.uk for £3.86...

In fact, I've just sent an email off to Penguin, the pricing is so silly. I doubt I'll hear back though.

simond · 01-13-2010, 10:17 AM

I spend a fair bit this morning, downloaded most of them, but had some pre-order books, then went to order another one and it lost my whole history there even the pre-orders, I'm not happy at the moment...

omk3 · 01-13-2010, 10:30 AM

For anyone who might still be having problems (the offer seems to be still on), I got a reply email to my complaint about not being able to purchase:

Quote:

We have found that your purchase did not complete because there was a conflict between your IP address and registered country. We have corrected this issue so you should now be able to complete your purchase.

It sounds unbelievably stupid, as the books I purchased where ok for both countries anyway, and they should have a specific error message for these kinds of situations if it is such a problem.
Still, anyone having problems checking out, check if there is such a "conflict" for you too....

[EDIT]: And for anyone worried about losing their purchased books, my previously purchased books magically reappeared, now that the "conflict" was fixed. Go figure.

ChristopherTD · 01-13-2010, 11:03 AM

Eeek - I ordered 6 books this morning at work, but have to wait till I get home to actually download them. I hope they don't mysteriously vanish before I get there!

[crosses fingers]

simond · 01-13-2010, 11:50 AM

Just got a reply back:

Quote:

We apologize for the inconvenience. You were being blocked by our
Fraud Prevention system due to excessive good transactions (2 good
transactions in past 24 hours). We have removed the block on your
account so you may continue to purchase items. If there is anything else
we can do, please let us know. Thank you.

I worry that 2 in 24 hours is considered excessive...

omk3 · 01-13-2010, 11:54 AM

They seriously need to redesign a few things in their web store....

simond · 01-13-2010, 11:54 AM

It says more about how successful it's been so far

Ea · 01-13-2010, 12:27 PM

I was once blocked at BooksOnBoard when I bought 8 books in a single purchase. I think it came to about $100. I had to check with customer service to get them unlocked.

omk3 · 01-13-2010, 12:32 PM

In the good old times of paper books and brick and mortar bookstores, I made purchases larger than that all the time! It was not often I could be in an english language bookstore, so I bought everything I could find when I got the chance. What is so weird about it that they block people? Especially if there is an offer going on?

simond · 01-13-2010, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

I was once blocked at BooksOnBoard when I bought 8 books in a single purchase. I think it came to about $100. I had to check with customer service to get them unlocked.

I'd never buy that many *cough*, in a way I don't blame them, but they should take that into account when running offers which tempt people to buy lots to make the most of the deal

Ea · 01-13-2010, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simond

I'd never buy that many *cough*, in a way I don't blame them, but they should take that into account when running offers which tempt people to buy lots to make the most of the deal

There's wasn't actually an offer going on - but I don't think spending $100 on books once in a rare while is that unusual.

simond · 01-13-2010, 01:14 PM

I usually buy a book at a time, but no, $100 isn't particularly much overall, I just forgot to do the mental conversion from $ to £

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01-13-2010, 08:10 AM	#46
spideog Connoisseur Posts: 68 Karma: 648 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: PRS-300	Tried creating another account with them today on the off chance it would work, and still getting the same error on trying to actually pay them.

01-13-2010, 09:46 AM	#48
justlizz Connoisseur Posts: 55 Karma: 12 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK Device: sony prs 505	Waterstones might take your money BUT they dont have many bargains I bought and checked out with WHSmith fine last night it was a bit slow but when I checked this morning it was much quicker so bang went the cc again and got a few more for my hols lizz

01-13-2010, 10:10 AM	#49
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 73,684 Karma: 315126578 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	Well, I can see why UK publishers want geographic restrictions. Last year's Dick Francis novel, Silks, is $8.49 with $2.97 rebate (net $5.52, or £3.40) at Fictionwise for club members, and it's £19.49, reduced to £9.70 at W.H. Smiths. So, I can buy from W.H. Smiths, or persuade fictionwise to sell it to me for less than half of W.H. Smith's "half price". Of course, I could always buy the paperback from W.H. Smiths for £5.17, or from Amazon.co.uk for £3.86... In fact, I've just sent an email off to Penguin, the pricing is so silly. I doubt I'll hear back though.

01-13-2010, 10:17 AM	#50
simond Fanatic Posts: 532 Karma: 1062755 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London, UK Device: Kobo Aura One, iPad, iPhone	I spend a fair bit this morning, downloaded most of them, but had some pre-order books, then went to order another one and it lost my whole history there even the pre-orders, I'm not happy at the moment...

01-13-2010, 11:03 AM	#52
ChristopherTD Addict Posts: 343 Karma: 1010002 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: London. UK Device: Marvin Reader on iPad Air (via Calibre)	Eeek - I ordered 6 books this morning at work, but have to wait till I get home to actually download them. I hope they don't mysteriously vanish before I get there! [crosses fingers]

01-13-2010, 11:54 AM	#54
omk3 Wizard Posts: 1,454 Karma: 37243 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Europe Device: pocketbook 360, kindle 4	They seriously need to redesign a few things in their web store....

01-13-2010, 12:27 PM	#56
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	I was once blocked at BooksOnBoard when I bought 8 books in a single purchase. I think it came to about $100. I had to check with customer service to get them unlocked.

01-13-2010, 12:32 PM	#57
omk3 Wizard Posts: 1,454 Karma: 37243 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Europe Device: pocketbook 360, kindle 4	In the good old times of paper books and brick and mortar bookstores, I made purchases larger than that all the time! It was not often I could be in an english language bookstore, so I bought everything I could find when I got the chance. What is so weird about it that they block people? Especially if there is an offer going on?

01-13-2010, 01:14 PM	#60
simond Fanatic Posts: 532 Karma: 1062755 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London, UK Device: Kobo Aura One, iPad, iPhone	I usually buy a book at a time, but no, $100 isn't particularly much overall, I just forgot to do the mental conversion from $ to £

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