Calling all book readers - cheaper E-Book Kindle on sale soon.

ikeano29 · 12-09-2010 08:18PM

Thanks for the information. i have been waiting ages for the price of these ebook readers to go down and also a reader than read most formats. this is the one.:)

patrickpc · 13-09-2010 12:51PM

Packet wrote: »

Yeah JohnK, it has future hassle written all over it.

I'll pay attention to that and ask Kindle CS before attempting to buy a subscription to anything.

I've been following this thread for the last couple of weeks.

I was going to get my brother in the states to purchase a Kindle (WIFI + 3G) for me and bring it over on his next trip home. This would save me VAT and shipping (about $60). Has anyone else taken this approach ? If Kindle are sending out replacement units destined for the US market then there shouldn't be any additional costs for using the US Kindle in Ireland, right?

Any advice?

JohnK · 13-09-2010 01:22PM

I'd personally stay away from the US market kindles if possible simply due to the potential for extra charges. They'll probably make an allowance for ones they send as a replacement but outside of that I dont think they'd be waiving any extra charges from using it over here.

patrickpc · 13-09-2010 02:23PM

JohnK wrote: »

I'd personally stay away from the US market kindles if possible simply due to the potential for extra charges. They'll probably make an allowance for ones they send as a replacement but outside of that I dont think they'd be waiving any extra charges from using it over here.

Ok. What kind of charges are you talking about though?

The only charges I am aware of are

1. The cost of ebooks
2. The cost of emailing files over 3G for conversion.

Is there something else because neither of them would be an issue for me?

3G usage is also free for over 100 countries as far as I remember from the Amazon blurb.

Am I missing something here ?

JohnK · 13-09-2010 02:57PM

Well they'd basically be seeing you as a US customer travelling abroad so you'd be subject to extra charges than would otherwise be the case

For U.S. customers traveling abroad, additional charges apply for wireless delivery of periodical subscriptions.

and

International Subscription Service: Receive all of your newspaper, magazine, and blog subscription content wirelessly for a weekly fee of $4.99.
International Personal Document Service: Transfer personal documents to your Kindle wirelessly for $.99 per megabyte (rounded up to the next whole megabyte).

Source: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=amb_link_353223102_5?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200505490&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-28&pf_rd_r=08WT97CC583RAWV944RC&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=1275111882&pf_rd_i=B002FQJT3Q#intservice

Might not be a big issue for you but you could end up spending more on those charges than you'd save by having your brother bringing it over. I suppose just be aware of the fact you could be hit for some on-going extra costs.

patrickpc · 13-09-2010 03:23PM

JohnK wrote: »

Well they'd basically be seeing you as a US customer travelling abroad so you'd be subject to extra charges than would otherwise be the case

and

Source: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=amb_link_353223102_5?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200505490&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-28&pf_rd_r=08WT97CC583RAWV944RC&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=1275111882&pf_rd_i=B002FQJT3Q#intservice

Might not be a big issue for you but you could end up spending more on those charges than you'd save by having your brother bringing it over. I suppose just be aware of the fact you could be hit for some on-going extra costs.

Hey JohnK

Thanks for the info.

I don't see myself as using my Kindle to sign up for subscriptions as I think they are a little overpriced and I can get Calibre to provide me with anything I need for free.

As regards the International Personal Document service fee of $.99 per Mb - this won't be an issue either but correct me if I'm wrong but isn't it free to email your kindle a document (to convert) over wifi? I take the $.99 charge to mean documents delivered over 3G? What's your interpretation?

Thanks.

JohnK · 13-09-2010 03:29PM

Yeah my understanding is the charge only applies to 3G so wifi should be free.

patrickpc · 13-09-2010 03:47PM

JohnK wrote: »

Yeah my understanding is the charge only applies to 3G so wifi should be free.

Ok. So the extra charges only apply to 3G delivery of periodicals / converted docs to your Kindle.

So to summarise - the only problem with getting someone to bring a Kindle over from the states is the $4.99 /week subscription charge for newspapers, magazines and blogs delivered over 3G.

The $.99 document conversion charge over 3G is a standard charge for both US and non-US customers.

If you don't plan to purchase periodicals to be delivered over 3G then there are no extra charges.

If you purchase a WIFI only Kindle then there are no extra charges either.

Does this sound right?

JohnK · 13-09-2010 04:20PM

that sounds right altough I must add that I havent been able to test any of that due to the ongoing issues with my Kindle

Packet · 13-09-2010 10:31PM

JohnK wrote: »

Well they'd basically be seeing you as a US customer travelling abroad so you'd be subject to extra charges than would otherwise be the case

and

Source: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=amb_link_353223102_5?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200505490&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-28&pf_rd_r=08WT97CC583RAWV944RC&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=1275111882&pf_rd_i=B002FQJT3Q#intservice

The website seems to be clever enough to recognise that I'm not a US user abroad and tells me that the wireless delivery is free.

So it looks like a Kindle bought in the States might be ok for use here without the extra charges US users have to pay as long as its home country is set to Ireland in the manageyourkindle page.

I've sent Kindle CS a question on this too and will paste the response up here if they give a clear answer.

The screenshot was taken using Alt-Shift-G on the Kindle. It comes out looking lower res than it appears on the Kindle screen.

Blacktie. · 14-09-2010 01:09AM

Just wondering if I bought a Kindle in the US and brought it back to Ireland would there be any problems? Sort of like regions on DVD players. Am getting offered a very decent price for one over here.

patrickpc · 14-09-2010 09:23AM

Packet wrote: »

The website seems to be clever enough to recognise that I'm not a US user abroad and tells me that the wireless delivery is free.

So it looks like a Kindle bought in the States might be ok for use here without the extra charges US users have to pay as long as its home country is set to Ireland in the manageyourkindle page.

I've sent Kindle CS a question on this too and will paste the response up here if they give a clear answer.

The screenshot was taken using Alt-Shift-G on the Kindle. It comes out looking lower res than it appears on the Kindle screen.

Very interesting. Please do feedback what Kindle CS say to you about resetting the home country to Ireland.

I guess it makes sense to allow a US purchased Kindle owner to re-register in a different country without penalty as US Citizens are prone to travel or move abroad to work and live and shouldn't have to pay extra for the same service.

Does the screenshot showing no additional international subscription fee only apply to that publication or do you think it is commonplace ?

Thanks.

Packet · 14-09-2010 11:05AM

I got this reply from Amazon, unfortunately it is a form response.
If one judges it strictly on what it says it appears there aren't extra charges so long as you are not a US customer irrespective of where you buy your Kindle or what SIM it contains.

Wireless connectivity comes with your Kindle, and there's no set up, service plans, contracts or commitments, or monthly wireless bills. Shopping and downloading from the Kindle Store is always free. Individual charges may apply for receiving personal documents you send as e-mail attachments directly to your Kindle.

Fees apply if you receive regularly scheduled issues of your newspaper, magazine, and blog subscriptions wirelessly if you're a U.S. customer traveling outside the United States.

There is no fee for receiving books or single issues of periodicals wirelessly. Browsing the Kindle Store and using Kindle's web browser are also free.

You can find more information about using your Kindle internationally on the following Help pages:

http://www.amazon.com/travelingwithkindle
http://www.amazon.com/whispernet

I might just try getting a subscription and see what happens rather than playing email/telehphone tag with support.

JohnK · 14-09-2010 12:35PM

Odd, I've just had a call from UPS saying they have a package for me and customs want to know why its coming into the country. Yet I've had no contact from Amazon to say a replacement was issued?

patrickpc · 14-09-2010 03:48PM

Packet wrote: »

I got this reply from Amazon, unfortunately it is a form response.
If one judges it strictly on what it says it appears there aren't extra charges so long as you are not a US customer irrespective of where you buy your Kindle or what SIM it contains.

I might just try getting a subscription and see what happens rather than playing email/telehphone tag with support.

Sounds like a good idea - please feedback what happens when you try getting a subscription.

Just a slight worrying note. I spotted a thread on the Amazon website which says that the free web-browsing over 3G has stopped working in Germany.

http://www.amazon.com/tag/kindle/forum/ref=cm_cd_tfp_ef_tft_tp?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx1D7SY3BVSESG&cdThread=Tx36VAE9A8JYSRX&displayType=tagsDetail

Is it still working in Ireland?

boc121 · 14-09-2010 09:24PM

Anybody know the story with books like this?
If you change your change your region would you be able to download?

http://www.amazon.com/Runes-Earth-Chronicles-Convenant-ebook/dp/B000OIZUFS/ref=pd_rhf_shvl_1

boc121 · 17-09-2010 09:18AM

Anyone know a way around this

Cheers.

JohnK · 17-09-2010 09:22AM

JohnK wrote: »

Odd, I've just had a call from UPS saying they have a package for me and customs want to know why its coming into the country. Yet I've had no contact from Amazon to say a replacement was issued?

Even odder, its 3 days later and no package has arrived but less odd I've still heard nothing from Amazon :mad:

Packet · 17-09-2010 07:24PM

boc121 wrote: »

Anyone know a way around this
Cheers.

There's a thread on the www.amazon.co.uk Kindle forum called "For sale in UK, but not Ireland" where this is discussed. The bottom line appears to be that you need a credit card with a UK billing address and even if you succeed Amazon are likely to spot you doing it and slap you down for a violation of the T&Cs.

JohnK wrote: »

Even odder, its 3 days later and no package has arrived but less odd I've still heard nothing from Amazon :mad:

Poor JohnK. I can see you going mad. Replying to your own posts now.

They've probably forgotten about you.

boc121 · 18-09-2010 12:41PM

Cheers Packet.

The Sparrow · 18-09-2010 01:19PM

Packet wrote: »

Poor JohnK. I can see you going mad. Replying to your own posts now. They've probably forgotten about you.

In fairness it must suck massively! I always heard that Amazon had good customer service but that is ridiculous. Hope it works out soon, JohnK!:)

JohnK · 18-09-2010 04:46PM

I've just rang them again and surprise surprise all the agents who promised to keep on top of it and get back to me had all pushed their followup calls back to next week and yet again with no notification to me of any delay :mad:

And now it turns out they had the wrong ****ing serial number for my kindle in their system the whole time. So now they're going to try and register that number and see what happens.

This is all driving me to bloody drink!

phantom_lord · 18-09-2010 06:17PM

Has anyone bought a cover for theirs? Any recommendations?

Packet · 18-09-2010 06:55PM

phantom_lord wrote: »

Has anyone bought a cover for theirs? Any recommendations?

The price of the Amazon cover is so outrageously expensive I decided to make my own.

The Amazon cover is also twice the weight of the kindle. If I'm not mistaken that plus the Kindle is the same weight as the iPad, which defeats one of the reasons for getting the Kindle. I also wanted something that the Kindle could
taken out of easily to read unencumbered by the cover. The hinge mechanism on the official cover looks fiddly too.

So I got a large Moleskine notebook which is almost exactly the right size and hacked out most of the pages to make a space for the Kindle. The notebook comes with an elastic band that keeps the Kindle in when the cover is closed. This cover is 1/2 the weight of the Kindle.

JohnK wrote: »

And now it turns out they had the wrong ****ing serial number for my kindle in their system the whole time. So now they're going to try and register that number and see what happens.

This is all driving me to bloody drink!

That really is a spectacular ****-up on Amazon's part, worse than anything I've heard of on the Amazon boards.

It might be worth angling for a goodwill refund for the whole price.

Biggins · 18-09-2010 08:16PM

phantom_lord wrote: »

Has anyone bought a cover for theirs? Any recommendations?

Really expensive but class ones here: http://www.oberondesign.com/Kindle3.php

I personally bought this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003DZ163E/ref=oss_product

A strange one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/DURAGADGET-Genuine-Adjustable-Graphite-Generation/dp/B003Z80IF6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1284318714&sr=8-1

A good site that lists them is here: http://mykindle.myfastforum.org/index.php

The Black Oil · 18-09-2010 10:59PM

I'm quite tempted to buy one of these. It's a real shame about the whole US/UK thing, meh. Apart from that, I don't know if I can justify it, though, what with a computer, laptop and an iPod already being in my possession. I used to read a fair bit when I was young, but I think secondary school more or less killed that. I've a stack of books to read at the moment. I'm a fan of podcasts and they mostly keep me company for commuting. I'm back to being a student and am expecting to have a lot of articles to read. It's doable on computer, but can be a strain and I don't want to print too many unless I have to. I've been holding off on e-readers for a while due to their capabilities and price, starting to look more appealing now.

phantom_lord · 19-09-2010 09:50PM

Packet wrote: »

The price of the Amazon cover is so outrageously expensive I decided to make my own.

yeah $65 seems a bit much, I only really want one for when I'm travelling or have it in a bag to protect it.

CompFix · 19-09-2010 10:15PM

2-3 week delay on my order placed about 10 days ago, cancelled it in the end. I may purchase one of the sony readers.

19-09-2010 10:17PM

CompFix wrote: »

2-3 week delay on my order placed about 10 days ago, cancelled it in the end. I may purchase one of the sony readers.

Really? I ordered on the 12th and took delivery on the 17th.

CompFix · 19-09-2010 10:20PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Really? I ordered on the 12th and took delivery on the 17th.

Yeah I dunno what's going on. When I ordered it said 2-4 days but still nothing arrived on friday so I emailed them and that's the explanation the CS rep gave to me.

Calling all book readers - cheaper E-Book Kindle on sale soon.

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