Sony Reader now ruined for Canadians

[FligMupple]

Now, all the big new releases (or 3 of the 3 I've been looking for) say "US Only".

This is new. I was buying many new releases a month ago, but now I can't buy any. The device I like so much is literally ruined.

Does anyone have any information on what's going on?

This very much sucks.

[Dave Berk]

I don't know what's going on. I agree it sucks, but I have two words for you: Gift Certificates.

[FligMupple]

Originally Posted by Dave Berk

I don't know what's going on. I agree it sucks, but I have two words for you: Gift Certificates.

I don't know if I can do that, now that I've registered a canadian credit card. Is that llama guy still buying and selling the gift codes on here?

[Valloric]

Originally Posted by FligMupple

Is that llama guy still buying and selling the gift codes on here?

Lol, you mean "Leaping Gnome", don't you? Anyway, Fictionwise and BooksOnBoard couldn't care less what country you're buying from. I suggest you make use of them, they're better than Sony's store anyway.

[thelandlord]

This is where being a canadian living in England like my wife has some advantages...

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by FligMupple

Now, all the big new releases (or 3 of the 3 I've been looking for) say "US Only".

This is new. I was buying many new releases a month ago, but now I can't buy any. The device I like so much is literally ruined.

Don't you think you're being slightly melodramatic? You can buy LIT books and convert them, like so many other people do. You'll generally get better prices and a wider range of titles by doing so, and it takes literally seconds.

[FligMupple]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Don't you think you're being slightly melodramatic? You can buy LIT books and convert them, like so many other people do. You'll generally get better prices and a wider range of titles by doing so, and it takes literally seconds.

So far, I've only bought books from Sony, and obviously haven't converted anything. I looked around at other sites on the weekend, and stuff seems to be more expensive, not cheaper.

For example, here are 3 new release US Only books that I want to get:

The Given Day by Dennis Lehane for $13.96
Tsar by Ted Bell for $12.59
Anathem by Neal Stephenson for $11.99

Where can I get those from Canada at the same price or cheaper?

[HarryT]

Fictionwise have:

The Given Day: $11.50
Anathem: $11.57

BooksOnBoard have "Tsar" for $11.93

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Fictionwise have:

The Given Day: $11.50
Anathem: $11.57

BooksOnBoard have "Tsar" for $11.93

Well, those are not the "out of pocket" prices at FW. They are the "effective" prices. However, assuming you will be buying more ebooks from them it's a minor issue.

BOb

[HarryT]

I'm sure they're available at BoB too (where the prices are "real"); I automatically check FW first.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm sure they're available at BoB too (where the prices are "real"); I automatically check FW first.

Right, but it does make a difference. I think The Given Day was a 50% micro pay rebate so that was about $24. I checked BoB and its 15.56 mobi and 18.86 LIT. (Why does BoB charge different amounts for different formats.)

BOb

[Valloric]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

(Why does BoB charge different amounts for different formats.)

Yes, I never quite understood this myself. I frequently find it frustrating to find that a PDF version is cheaper than the LIT one, and not by a little, by 5$ or more (on newer books)... like there's a snowball's chance in Hell I'm buying a PDF...

[HarryT]

I can only guess that they come from different sources, and that it's the supplier who sets the price.

[Strether]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Don't you think you're being slightly melodramatic? You can buy LIT books and convert them, like so many other people do. You'll generally get better prices and a wider range of titles by doing so, and it takes literally seconds.

Harry, are those Agatha Christie books you're getting from Fictionwise (presumably in LIT) able to be formatted by BD in mobi format? Or do you have to use something like ConvertLit first?

Jim

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Strether

Harry, are those Agatha Christie books you're getting from Fictionwise (presumably in LIT) able to be formatted by BD in mobi format? Or do you have to use something like ConvertLit first?

Jim

ConvertLIT to "explode" the LIT to OEB, then MobiCreator to convert the OEB to Mobi. The whole process takes perhaps 30 seconds. If you have a Sony it's equally quick to convert to LRF rather than Mobi using Calibre.