Buying a Nook in Canada?

[NineOne]

It seems like as recently as 6 or 7 months ago, people in Canada were able to buy a Nook from the B&N website. Apparently now that's not the case, and I can't find an explanation why not.

I emailed support, and received no response; I called the 800 number, and heard a message saying my call can't be processed at this time, call back later; I've scoured the website and found nothing.

I like the Nook more than the new Kobo, and had initially thought to pick one up for my dad for Father's Day, since he's enamoured with the new Touch one, and one for myself. Now I'm not so sure, unanswered emails and a non-functioning support line number really turn me off of a company. But my dad still wants one, so I'm still digging.

Can anyone here explain to me why they won't ship to Canada, and how (if possible) I can get one here?

[Doug_Pardee Distinguished Bibliophile]

I don't know, but here's my guess:

The number of NOOKbook titles that B&N is permitted to sell in Canada has drastically shrunk over the past year. Notably, Simon & Schuster quit allowing B&N to sell most of its titles to Canada, and Samhain pulled Canadian rights on most of their titles.

The total number of Canadian-accessible NOOKbook titles is probably down to somewhere around 1000 now; there's no way to search for them, so the actual number is vague. B&N is unable to properly support the hardware in Canada (the warranty is void there, too), and they can't sell the content in Canada. There's little advantage and a significant risk of grief for each NOOK unit sold to Canada.

At the moment, B&N is a US company with no international operations. Personally, I wouldn't buy a NOOK if I lived outside of the US or expected to spend much time outside of the US.

[Plucknbach]

Then and only then will B&N allow Canadians to own a Nook.  

[NineOne]

While the lack of a Canadian presence explanation makes some sense, you have to wonder: if a Canadian like myself says to B&N that I'd like to give them $140 for one of their products, fully cognizant of the issues surrounding it, and they say no, what kind of business strategy are they operating under?

I found out how to get one in Canada, but after a remarkably underwhelming response from B&N support (irrespective of any book purchase or warranty issues), I've decided they won't get my money, and I'm buying a Kobo. I hope there are people in the B&N boardrooms patting each other on the back in celebration of narrowly avoiding earning more money.

[Doug_Pardee Distinguished Bibliophile]

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NineOne wrote:

you have to wonder: if a Canadian like myself says to B&N that I'd like to give them $140 for one of their products, fully cognizant of the issues surrounding it, and they say no, what kind of business strategy are they operating under?

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A business strategy that includes following the law.

Canada has erected legal restrictions designed to protect Canadian authors, publishers, distributors, and booksellers from foreign (American) competition. B&N, being an American company, cannot legally sell most products in Canada without the permission of the Canadian government. Amazon.ca, being a Canadian company, can. If you don't like it, write your MP and complain about how the Investment Canada Act keeps you from being able to buy what you want from whom you want.

Also, B&N's contracts with the publishers generally forbid sales outside of the United States. They aren't even permitted to sell most e-books to US territories like the US Virgin Islands.

B&N has indicated that they hope to start opening businesses outside of the US, probably starting in Europe/UK, within a few years. Right now, they're cash-pressed as they pour every penny of profit (and then some) into converting the business from printed books to e-books.

[Doug_Pardee Distinguished Bibliophile]

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Doug_Pardee wrote:

Canada has erected legal restrictions designed to protect Canadian authors, publishers, distributors, and booksellers from foreign (American) competition. B&N, being an American company, cannot legally sell most products in Canada without the permission of the Canadian government.

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By the way, about two years ago the Hachette publishing company decided to start distributing books in Canada, from their American warehouse, without getting the required permission. The Canadian government didn't intervene. In February, Canada's largest book distributor (H. B. Fenn) went out of business, unable to compete with Hachette.

So yes, B&N could probably just ignore Canadian law like Hachette did. Personally, I admire their integrity.

[NineOne]

I'll grant you I don't know too much about our copyright laws here, but the impression I'm still getting is that *some* books are available, and there is no law preventing B&N from letting me pay them extra shipping to send me a Nook. Irrespective of what eBooks are available to me, this still ultimately boils down to, "No, we don't want an extra $140 or $280."

I understand that it's probably not worth the risk of having unsatisfied customers who didn't read the fine, or huge and unmistakable, print complaining all over the internet; their reasons, however, no longer really interest me, I have two Kobos on the way.

B&N's appalling customer service turned me away from the Nook, not the difficulty in getting it here. Perhaps they should reinvest some of their profit in that direction.

[Doug_Pardee Distinguished Bibliophile]

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NineOne wrote:

there is no law preventing B&N from letting me pay them extra shipping to send me a Nook.

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No, but there's a certain business sense in not selling something to someone if that sale might well cause both the buyer and the seller grief. B&N isn't making an extra $140 or $280 on the sale. They're probably making a few dollars in profit after shipping. And since they can't sell e-books to you, that's basically all they're ever going to make from your sale.

There are ways for you to buy a NOOK, just not directly from B&N to Canada. B&N takes no responsibility for those sales, and if your NOOK has problems or if you aren't happy with it, it's not B&N's problem.

[BigNate_F]

I am a U.S. citizen and resident in Canada on business and saw this thread while looking over an ad offer.

The NOOK itself is a very, very good little ereader.   That said, I cannot buy books from B&N when I'm not in the U.S. and load them onto my NOOK.   I can buy the books and load them once I return to U.S. soil, or, I can simply use another source on the net for the ebook content.  

One of the good things about the NOOK is that it works with almost all ebook file formats as well as generic PDFs and raw text files.   I've never tried to open a MSWord file with it but that may work as well.

There are several good ebook store fronts on the web based in the EU that will sell you ebooks no matter where you are located.   Just search the web, pricing will be comparable and selection similar; better if you

are looking for French, or German or Spanish.

Support, go to the web, you will probably get better support than from B&N.   Remember, B&N is a Bookseller, not a tech store and these things, like tablets and smartphones are just little computers.

By the way, it is my opinion that while things may be slightly more expensive in Canada, the protections your government has put in place also protect your jobs and your culture and that is a very good thing.  

[bklvr896]

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BigNate_F wrote:

I am a U.S. citizen and resident in Canada on business and saw this thread while looking over an ad offer.

The NOOK itself is a very, very good little ereader.   That said, I cannot buy books from B&N when I'm not in the U.S. and load them onto my NOOK.   I can buy the books and load them once I return to U.S. soil, or, I can simply use another source on the net for the ebook content.  

One of the good things about the NOOK is that it works with almost all ebook file formats as well as generic PDFs and raw text files.   I've never tried to open a MSWord file with it but that may work as well.

There are several good ebook store fronts on the web based in the EU that will sell you ebooks no matter where you are located.   Just search the web, pricing will be comparable and selection similar; better if you

are looking for French, or German or Spanish.

Support, go to the web, you will probably get better support than from B&N.   Remember, B&N is a Bookseller, not a tech store and these things, like tablets and smartphones are just little computers.

By the way, it is my opinion that while things may be slightly more expensive in Canada, the protections your government has put in place also protect your jobs and your culture and that is a very good thing.  

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This thread is almost a year old and the rules for buying books in Canada have changed at least once since this thread was started.  You might want to check into it further.

[MurrayCode]

I have just bought a Nook Tablet in Bellingham based on the reviews I could find at the time.  As it turns out I cannot buy or view  most of the magazines or books I had hoped to. The reviews were not up to date with the facts at present.   For the publications I can convert to PDF ( and that depends on the PDF flavor) and view, the Nook will work.  However for most of the rest, like The New Yorker magazine for instance, I am left with an electronic subscription I can view on my computers or i pad.  The PDF's I have loaded into the chip and tried to open in the Nook, mostly are not readable either, I suppose due to some sort of protection.

All in all I'm pretty frustrated as the Nook is not the only device plagued with these issues, unless I stay with a full computer or ipad.  I was okay with the cost initially, believing I could access much of the digital content I needed or wanted to. But as it turns out is impossible due to various content protection on cross border purchases.

So I will attempt to return the device in the next few days and figure out what is next.

[keriflur]

Sorry to hear the nook didn't work out for you.  There are workarounds for books (sideloading from vendors that sell in Canada), but I don't know of any for magazines, other than using a US address for your payment option.

[str8arrow]

I too am Canadian and I really hoped and wanted to buy a Nook Colour.

I went through similar problems in trying to do so.

I am just disgusted with the B&N website and support line. (I, and many of my colleagues, have simply decided not to go with a Nook, but rather with a tablet, simply because B&N has made it impossible to buy a Nook Colour in Canada, and they've made it abundantly clear that they are not interested in our business.)

B&N should be a more customer-friendly, customer-centred company. It is a shame they truly don't care about the people who support them.

[str8arrow]

I disagree - most of the $140 or $280 IS in profit.

Irrespective of the many dollars that B&N would hope to then gain post-purchase, in Nook titles, they still acquire some significant profit from this sale. They chose not to do so.  The grief they would get from selling the product to a Canadian is minimal, if there even is any - we can read the fine print, just as well as any American. 

Many of the Canadians will end up buying a Kobo for lack of any other suitable alternative. I would personally suggest a tablet with an anti-glare screen coating. A Nook Color would be nice, but apparently, it remains out of reach.

[str8arrow]

Many thanks, for your very literate and comprehensive reply.

As a Canadian, I am certainly grateful for the protection our government has afforded us, over the months past. Thank you for recognizing this. 

(Caveat: I personally have some reservations, about the Investment Canada Act, and the way this apparently prevents us from purchasing titles with ease, here in Canada. I am frustrated with the lack of sense that underlies many laws, but on the whole, I agree, and I do appreciate the protection that our government, and our laws, provide.)

[ibdave]

To buy the actual Nook when you live in Canada; Order it and ship to a friend in the US to have it forwarded to you (I don't recommend UPS since their brokerage and other border fees are outrageous, US mail will work fine) go to US and buy one like I did, get someone there buy and send it to you etc etc.

As for purchasing B&N nook books this is what works for me.

- get an actual US address including ZIP code, any valid address will work, a store, a residence, doesn't matter - I use my daughter's who happens to live in SanFrancisco-not necessary to inform them since nothing will go there.

-open a B&N account using this address, use your actual email

-register what ever cr. card you want your books charged to BUT regardless of what the correct billing address is, tick the box that says the same as the shipping address (what ever US address you decided to use)

-register your nook to this account

purchase books from BN per their instructions, web, using nook's wifi, what ever and download to your nook. Your card will be charged and you will be billed by your cr. card company as usual.

If you don't want a lot of small charges, buy a BN gift  card and register it to your account and your purchases will be charged to it first.

BTW I have the original nook and I love it. However, I use it for reading books. It works where ever you would read a physical book. Color e-readers are hard to see outside but if you want magazines and games and photos or as a  tablet then choose a color nook

[slavonka]

I have a Nook and love it. No problem downloading books anywhere in Canada. Traveled to Europe with it and had no problem buying books.Mind you I do have American address as we spend winers there so that might help. Have a lot of friends with Kindle and Cobo and they all wish they could have Nook.

[Elderlight]

Hello out there.  I am a in Vancouver BC and very interested in the Nook Simple Touch GlowLight eReader.  Is is advisable to purchase one in Canada?  Does anyone have difficulty accessing library or downloading reading material?  I am reluctant to purchase one with all the negative reports about the lack of service in Canada. 

Thanks

[bklvr896]

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Elderlight wrote:

Hello out there.  I am a in Vancouver BC and very interested in the Nook Simple Touch GlowLight eReader.  Is is advisable to purchase one in Canada?  Does anyone have difficulty accessing library or downloading reading material?  I am reluctant to purchase one with all the negative reports about the lack of service in Canada. 

Thanks

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You can always buy your books from Kobo and sideload them.

[Elderlight]

Thanks.  Your experience and knowledge finally catapulted me over to the side of caution for there are too many reasons why not to buy a Nook.  It seems that there may not be much literature for the Nook for the US is preventing sales in Canada.  Such a retarded nation. 

Thanks.