Sharing : Book Depository Online Bookstore

Edited to Add : I've received the book today (15th July 2010). It took about 20 days, and I don't know whether this is standard/early/late because I've never ordered anything from England before. I noticed one thing though, it took quite some time for the order to change from 'Processing' to 'Dispatched'. Around 3-4 days. I've since ordered another book, and this time it was dispatched within 24 hours. So maybe the first time Visa took a while to process the transaction?

Anyway, here's the picture! Taken by phone's camera so sorry for the poor quality.

So, if you don't mind waiting for the book to be delivered, this online bookstore is really a good alternative to buy imported books, especially those hard-to-find/out-of-print titles. Coincidentally Book Depository is also giving out 10% off vouchers at the moment so now is a good time to try the store out.

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First, let it be said I receive no commission whatsoever from writing this. :)

I would like to share a site that I just recently discovered, Book Depository. This online bookstore is most famous for its free worldwide shipping. Yes! Free worldwide shipping! Intrigued, I made a visit to this site.

Prices can be shown in 5 currencies : USD, GBP, EUR, AUD, CAD. I chose EUR because after comparisons of each currencies using the website XE.com, price in EUR is actually cheapest when converted to MYR.

I checked the price of a title I've been wanting to buy, but previously there was only hardcover version in Malaysia and the price was MYR99.90. The site list a paperback version, costing 9.55 EUR after a 9% discount. (9.55 EUR = 37.9084 MYR).


To make a comparison, I head to MPHOnline to see the price listed for the same title:

The same title, the same publisher (Harper UK) but at MPH Online it costs RM 44.90. A 7 ringgit difference.

And this is where MPH as a local bookstore loses SO MUCH against Book Depository:

MPH can't even provide a next day delivery when it costs that much for shipment. FAIL.

I checked with Kinokuniya Online Store KL, and the price for the book is same as MPH Online. However the shipping fee is RM 8 for West Malaysia and a whopping RM 40 for East Malaysia. Free shipping will only be given when one's total order is more than RM 300 for East Malaysia and RM 500 for West Malaysia. Either way, those living in Sabah & Sarawak lose. They are better off getting their books from Book Depository.

p/s: I've succesfully placed my order from the site. Will update this entry when the book is delivered!