How to get Amazon to think I'm in France?
August 20, 2012 3:13 PM Subscribe
How do I get Amazon to think I'm in France?
Amazon-filter: I live in the U.S. and would like buy Kindle-books from the Amazon.fr (France) store. How do I get Amazon to think I'm in France?
Amazon restricts customers from buying Kindle books from its Amazon.fr (France) store via a US-based IP address. What's a secure method for making Amazon think that I'm in France so that I can buy books? I'm willing to pay for a trustworthy site given that I would be sending credit card information during the transaction.
(A) What technology setup do I need? "VPN" only?
(B) Who are the most reputable vendors? Is HideMyAss.com a trustworthy company?
Amazon restricts customers from buying Kindle books from its Amazon.fr (France) store via a US-based IP address. What's a secure method for making Amazon think that I'm in France so that I can buy books? I'm willing to pay for a trustworthy site given that I would be sending credit card information during the transaction.
(A) What technology setup do I need? "VPN" only?
(B) Who are the most reputable vendors? Is HideMyAss.com a trustworthy company?
I live in Canada, and have an "American" Kindle.
I have my Amazon USA account set up, using a US maildrop address. I just looked on Google for a UPS Store in New York and used their address - I've never had to send anything there to verify residency. I've also never had to use VPN or other services with my Kindle, let alone using the Amazon USA website to purchase books. I even have billing running through my Canadian billing address.
So far, the only Amazon service I use that requires a VPN is Instant Video.
posted by smitt at 4:09 PM on August 20, 2012 [3 favorites]
I have my Amazon USA account set up, using a US maildrop address. I just looked on Google for a UPS Store in New York and used their address - I've never had to send anything there to verify residency. I've also never had to use VPN or other services with my Kindle, let alone using the Amazon USA website to purchase books. I even have billing running through my Canadian billing address.
So far, the only Amazon service I use that requires a VPN is Instant Video.
posted by smitt at 4:09 PM on August 20, 2012 [3 favorites]
B) Hidemyass works fine, otherwise there are greasemonkey scripts for changing IPs, too. Hidemyass has an option to just select a country you want to "be" in.
posted by MinusCelsius at 4:10 PM on August 20, 2012
posted by MinusCelsius at 4:10 PM on August 20, 2012
what smitt said is interesting, I did the same thing with a 2nd account except that instead of using my european credit card I got some US Amazon gift certs and applied them to that US account.
posted by Spumante at 4:17 PM on August 20, 2012
posted by Spumante at 4:17 PM on August 20, 2012
Have you tried buying from another international ebook seller? Off the top of my head, kobobooks.com is Canada-based and thebookdepository.com is UK-based, plus doubtless others. Many sites sell in "Kindle" format (which I think is a fancified .mobi?), or you can convert the ebook file to Kindle format (or vice versa) with Calibre (calibre-ebook.com).
HideMyAss is AFAIK generally trustworthy but will not hide any illicit activity from the Feds; IIRC they released IPs etc that led to some Anonymous arrests. TorrentFreak.com has an article discussing VPN, privacy from a torrenting perspective.
posted by nicebookrack at 5:45 PM on August 20, 2012
HideMyAss is AFAIK generally trustworthy but will not hide any illicit activity from the Feds; IIRC they released IPs etc that led to some Anonymous arrests. TorrentFreak.com has an article discussing VPN, privacy from a torrenting perspective.
posted by nicebookrack at 5:45 PM on August 20, 2012
Also check out the iTunes France bookstore: many Japanese online retailers I visit sell Japanese iTunes giftcards to use to buy Japan-only iTunes material; I assume the equivalent exists for France.
posted by nicebookrack at 5:50 PM on August 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by nicebookrack at 5:50 PM on August 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
Try this:
Log in go Amazon.com, go to My Account -> Manage your Kindle. Scroll down until you see "Country Setting" at the bottom of the left navbar. Cliquez lá, e changez votre pays!
I discovered, when a purchase was blocked: not available in my country, that my Kindle had somehow been associated with Australia. So I cracked a tube and then changed the country code, following which my purchase was unobstructed. I've never been to, proxied via, or set up any form of paper residency in Oz.
Bon chance et Vive la France!
posted by Sunburnt at 7:55 PM on August 20, 2012
Log in go Amazon.com, go to My Account -> Manage your Kindle. Scroll down until you see "Country Setting" at the bottom of the left navbar. Cliquez lá, e changez votre pays!
I discovered, when a purchase was blocked: not available in my country, that my Kindle had somehow been associated with Australia. So I cracked a tube and then changed the country code, following which my purchase was unobstructed. I've never been to, proxied via, or set up any form of paper residency in Oz.
Bon chance et Vive la France!
posted by Sunburnt at 7:55 PM on August 20, 2012
The country settings page says
"Country Settings
If you're moving, you can change the country associated with your Kindle account."
And in my previous misadventure, I was unable to buy a US-only book (on amazon.com, not .com.au or .fr etc.) but the Kindle store took me for an Aussie, despite that all my other account information and history places me in the US.
I see now that attempting to change one's country means putting in a legit address in that country-- I'd try what smitt did and fill in a legit address that belongs to a mail drop you don't use.
posted by Sunburnt at 9:06 PM on August 20, 2012
"Country Settings
If you're moving, you can change the country associated with your Kindle account."
And in my previous misadventure, I was unable to buy a US-only book (on amazon.com, not .com.au or .fr etc.) but the Kindle store took me for an Aussie, despite that all my other account information and history places me in the US.
I see now that attempting to change one's country means putting in a legit address in that country-- I'd try what smitt did and fill in a legit address that belongs to a mail drop you don't use.
posted by Sunburnt at 9:06 PM on August 20, 2012
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posted by brianogilvie at 4:02 PM on August 20, 2012