Buying from Amazon

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onetapu

242 posts

Master Geek

#103158 31-May-2012 14:14

How does Amazon detect a non-US buyer? By NZ credit card or IP address or both??

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349 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#633430 31-May-2012 14:16

delivery address I believe.

onetapu

242 posts

Master Geek

#633432 31-May-2012 14:22

I don't think that is correct, with respect. I have changed my delivery address and am still not allowed to buy books restricted by my geographical zone.

dontpanic42

1574 posts

Uber Geek

#633436 31-May-2012 14:25

Are you talking about physical books, or Kindle ebooks?

onetapu

242 posts

Master Geek

#633438 31-May-2012 14:26

Both, and audible books.

khull

1245 posts

Uber Geek

#633440 31-May-2012 14:28

Both delivery/billing address and IP address I believe.

As of late - I suspect my account flagged because I was accessing via a non US IP address (I have family relative's delivery with a US issued credit card) but even with using a US IP address, I could not order books or MP3s

onetapu

242 posts

Master Geek

#633444 31-May-2012 14:31

I have read on other forums that they can detect a NZ credit card, even with a US billing address?

khull

1245 posts

Uber Geek

#633475 31-May-2012 14:51

I presume credit cards can be traced back to the issuing bank country. But I actually have a US credit card with a US billing address against my Amazon account

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wanghou168

453 posts

Ultimate Geek

#633583 31-May-2012 18:00

there is no problem with using a NZ credit card
as long as you have a US delivery address
I ordered US only Kindle touch from Amazon last Xmas, and having it shipped to a US mail forward service then forward the box to Auckland

same old NZ credit card, but a different US delivery address will do

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wanghou168

453 posts

Ultimate Geek

#633585 31-May-2012 18:02

plus do indicate your item is a gift
I remember ticking some boxes saying it is a gift then they will allow you to purchase with a NZ credit card but delivering to a US address is a must

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freitasm

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Geekzone

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#633587 31-May-2012 18:04

They also track IP addresses. If you have a US account but your purchases mainly come from a NZ IP address, at some stage the account will be locked out and you will have to talk to someone.

networkn

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#633723 31-May-2012 22:04

I don't understand, I order books and kindles, and kindle books all the time. (less books and more kindle books now admittedly). Occasionally I come across a book I can't purchase so I change my address to one of the hotels I have stayed at in the US, and bingo solved.

GBristow

178 posts

Master Geek

#633774 31-May-2012 23:24

I've been buying games from Amazon for the last couple months. Much, much cheaper than anything in stores here, and usually much cheaper than Steam. I did have to enter a US physical address.

onetapu

242 posts

Master Geek

#633916 1-Jun-2012 09:42

Changing your NZ billing address to a US one, and ordering with a NZ IP address does not work - I can attest to that having tried it.

The only way I can see that it's going to work is to open a new Amazon account with a US address, and place my order via a VPN facility. That's why I'm trying to find out whether using my NZ credit card is going to work for this scenario.

I don't think anyone has been able to categorically answer that question yet.

richms

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#633922 1-Jun-2012 09:48

People at work often order physical things shipped to a US supplier who puts them in with the freight order. No problems with a NZ card.

A friend was successful using their overpriced otherwise pointless Air NZ prepaid card to order something that wouldn't accept their BNZ visa, so that is another possibility if you find the card rejected.

Richard rich.ms

grant_k

3539 posts

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#633925 1-Jun-2012 09:58

onetapu: Changing your NZ billing address to a US one, and ordering with a NZ IP address does not work - I can attest to that having tried it.

The only way I can see that it's going to work is to open a new Amazon account with a US address, and place my order via a VPN facility. That's why I'm trying to find out whether using my NZ credit card is going to work for this scenario.

I don't think anyone has been able to categorically answer that question yet.

My wife found that if she ordered eBooks via her Kindle, the order was accepted, whereas ordering the same eBook on her laptop was not.

For quite a few months, we used the Gift Card workaround, but now it seems to be no longer necessary. Orders are accepted with her NZ credit card.

Maintaining a US Delivery Address is a must though. The same applies for eBooks as well as physical books. We use our son's address and get any physical books posted on to us.

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