spainrico

Has anybody researched this -

Is it better to buy books via Amazon UK from say World of Books (or Wob as they now seem to be known) or from Wob directly - in terms of price/speed of delivery?

kev1n

Buying from the UK involves custom costs since Brexit !

Fred James

Why don`t you use Amazon Spain?

spainrico

Yes, thanks I fully understand post Brexit there are additional costs to pay to ship stuff to Spain.

I do use Amazon Spain a lot but in the case of English language books (even second-hand), it is more expensive than buying from Amazon UK which has massive second hand book sellers like Wob.

Barriej

Not from Amazon as I do it all the time

You have to purchase the book via Amazon Spain not UK

I get art materials and some items for one of my collections and, as long as they are ordered via Amazon Spain they are sent from the UK (as the products in one case are only available in the UK).
My wife gets books and these are always shipped from the UK warehouse.
I pay no shipping, nor import duties.

BUT VAT will be added... Ive just checked a book and its €3 dearer in Spain than the Uk... No extra charges no shipping.

https://www.amazon.es/gp/help/custom...deId=201895760
This is what Amazon state..

DLC

There are two ways I know of that you can end up paying VAT when ordering from Amazon Spain - it may say the seller is Amazon UK instead of just Amazon, or you're buying from a third party seller with an address in GB (not NI).

On the other hand when the Book Depository (UK third party seller) was still running, they charged VAT at checkout with IOSS and there was no need to pay VAT to the postie.

So it's best to check the seller info pages.

You could find a larger selection of English-language books from the other Amazon websites inside the EU.

Retired in Euskadi

I always go to amazon UK first of all because of their huge database. I then compare a price, say from wob with Amazon.es. Often it's almost as good in which case I order it from Amazon Spain, but be careful because even on Amazon Spain sometimes the book still comes from UK.
Try also doing the same excercise with Abe books UK & then "iberlibro.com".
At least books ordered via Amazon Spain are less likely to get lost in the post.

As to customs, I'm often baffled because usually for a book or DVD from the UK I still don't pay any customs duty. And then suddfenly there is €6 to pay on an item.

Notdunroamin

Go e-reader and never pay for a book again!

Barriej

​​​​​​
Better for the environment as well. Less trees being cut down.

I have the Kindle account on Amazon and because you get free books, I now read stuff I wouldn't have before.

The only issue with e readers is when there are images or charts that are needed with the text as e books only show one page at a time...

NataHH

Are there any charity shops nearby? We sell 3 paperbacks for €1 but unfortunately it would be too far for you to travel 😫.

spainrico

Hi folks - thanks for all the comments....

Regarding charity shops - yes I have worked in 2 - Alzheimer's in Torrevieja and MABS local to where I am now (it has now closed) and yes I do call in my other local shops but lately, the choice has reduced but I still buy a few.

And the old chestnut of e-reader vs book - well who to say an e-reader is in fact greener given the components used, the manufacturing process, the need to recharge and then disposal at end of use vs recycled paper books - I do not know the answer but I would say it is debatable and I prefer a real book (I did own an e-reader once - I sold it)

So comparing some online options - based on 'On Chesil Beach'

Today - amazon ES 5€, Amazon UK 6,50€ and Iberlibro 4,98€

all final prices delivered. Never heard of Iberlibro and might be tempted to try them out.

Regarding VAT/IVA - as people say it is confusing - when you order from Amazon there are never any surcharges - sometimes from other sources there are additional costs and so I tend to stick to Amazon given their good track record on delivery and refunds if necessary.

philat98

There wont be much inspiration for authors and publishers if they dont earn any money. The US is trying to close down all the pirate ebook sites. Even the Archive.org is facing closure.

Rosemary

I agree with you about the pirate sites.

However, Amazon provide a great number of free books for Kindle so I suspect that you have misjudged Notdunroamin with you comment about the pirate sites.

Rosemary

philat98

I was thinking of Z-library.

Retired in Euskadi

It depends on what you like to read. Thumbing through a book I find gives you instant access better than an e-book. And on your shelf, even though they take up room, you know where they are immediately.
I like history amongst other topics and often ones written pre 1970 at least, won't be available on a Kindle.
But in the end it's horses for courses.