In the High Peaks
















Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Nordic Noir, The Book Depository, and Spring Photo Up

Last weekend I turned again to Sarah's Crime Pieces' review of Barry Forshaw's newest book, Nordic Noir: The Pocket Essential Guide to Scandinavian Crime Fiction, Film, and TV and decided to buy it. When I found it wouldn't be published in the U.S. until September (Who can wait that long?), I let my laptop spirit me over to The Book Depository's website and ordered it, with no shipping costs. So delighted was I that I would receive this 160-page reference in a couple of weeks rather than five months, I also ordered Forshaw's first book about Scandinavian crime novels, Death in a Cold Climate. Although this title has been published in the U.S., it was not available via our network's dozens upon dozens of libraries, though one can buy it from Amazon or Barnes and Noble for $28. Yet I was able to order it from The Book Depository for around $20, no shipping.

Now that makes me worry about the BD. All I can say is, the company can't be making any money from me, seeing as it ships books all the way from the Channel Islands, but I'm glad it has thus far included the U.S. within its "no shipping" scope. If you live in the U.S. and want a book recently published in the UK, do check them out. I have ordered a few other titles and have been very pleased that the books arrive in excellent condition. I will be ordering more from them soon. Life is too short to wait months and months for books to be published here, not to mention all the great ones that never will!

6 comments:

  1. Judith, fear not - they probably are making money from you because the fact that they are operating through the Channel Islands means that they do not have to pay any sort of business tax!

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    1. Katrina,
      I wondered about that! I knew there had to be a hitch somewhere. Of course, it's not fair to everyone else in business, but if that's what keeps the shipping costs free, I'm okay with it this week. I'm very thankful to be able to buy recently published books in the UK however they come.

      Do you have to pay an additional tax if you order from them?

      Wishing you more than little dots of sunshine!

      Judith


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  2. I haven't bought anything from them but I don't think we pay extra.
    It almost feels like spring now!

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    1. Gads! We had lovely spring weather yesterday and then today, nothing but brisk winds and cold and a bit of snow! Honestly!

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  3. Hi Judith. I hadn't heard of The Book Depository but it sounds a useful resource if you are overseas. There is a big debate in the UK at the moment about tax avoidance schemes (mainly involving Amazon). I'll be interested to hear what you think of the 2 books.

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    1. You know, Sarah, I think you hit the nail on the head. The Book Depository is probably most useful for those not living in the UK.

      I'm so curious about the tax avoidance scheme with Amazon (!!) because even though Amazon does not have a "store" in New York State, we have to pay sales tax. This Amazon tax is flaunting the reasoning and spirit of state tax laws, but New York State is the one getting away with it.

      I'm still waiting on the books, but I think they will arrive this week.

      Best,
      Judith

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