Were you aware that you can only buy the Amazon Kindle on the international amazon website? - It isn’t available on the Amazon Canada website. Are you ready to pay the extra costs come checkout time?
Amazon is the only online retailer of its amazing Kindle eBook reader and they choose to sell it only out of the United States. To put it in other words; if you’re Canadian like the rest of us, don’t waste your time going to the Amazon Canada website – you won’t be able to buy the Kindle there.
You will be able to, however, buy the Kindle Canada on the Amazon international website.
But this means you should be ready for a few extra charges come checkout. These charges are legitimate, of course, but Amazon doesn’t do a great job of displaying them, so your final check out totals will be different enough to elicits an inappropriate and spontaneous verbal response. Keep the kids away.
What you’ll find out once you get to check out.
* You have to pay for shipping – Free shipping in the U.S doesn’t apply to Canadian orders.
* You will have to pay a deposit for Kindle import duties to Canada.
* All prices are in USD (U.S dollars) – Does not come as a surprise and is actually an advantage for us Canadians with our strong currency.
In total, your credit card is going to be charged for some $166 for that Kindle 3 reader that’s listed at “$139 with free shipping”.
Cheer up, eh!
1. the currency exchange rate, as mentioned before, is favorable.
2. The Kindle Canada is a great eBook reader and you’ll absolutely love it.
3. You have got no choice if you want to buy one. and want one you should.
So let’s take a concluding look at the price. The final price we have to pay for the privilege of living in Canada. a) currency conversion b) shipping costs c) customs duties.
Here’s how Canadian prices stack up vs the prices paid by american resident buying the same Kindle:
Currency exchange: not a factor. The exchange rate is favorable, and price fluctuates by less than $5.
Shipping costs: Kindle shipping to Canada is $9.98. If you lived in the U.S. Amazon would offer a free shipping option to you, but they do not provide this for addresses outside the U.S.
Import duties: you must pay Canadian import duties for importing in a Kindle – a U.S. resident will obviously not have to pay this. Amazon at least takes care of this hassle by automatically adding these duties to your final bill.
The real Kindle Canada price:
When you see those price quotes on the Amazon website, here are the real prices you will be paying:
Kindle 3 Wi-Fi. Amazon price: USD $139. Total Cost after taxes, import duties and shipping: around CAD $166.
Kindle Wi-Fi + 3G. Amazon price: USD $189. Total Cost after taxes, import duties and shipping: around CAD $223.
Kindle DX. List price USD $379. Total Cost after taxes, import duties and shipping: around CAD $436.
A quick tip: don’t waste time complaining – It won’t help. Remember, We have no choice if we want to buy a Kindle in Canada, and we do! they are fabulous.
