#38075
08/08/2001 9:24 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 197
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My friends, I am in search of British copies of the Harry Potter books in hardcover. We considered trying to order them online, but I don't like to order things from unfamiliar sites. Then I thought of you guys. I was wondering if someone from across the pond would be willing to obtain said items and ship them to me. (I, of course, would reimburse for the cost of the books and shipping.) Sorry to say that I've been away for so long. (At least Faldage seems to have fond memories of me.  ) It seems that school has become an all encompassing process. I try to check in from time to time, but seldom have opportunity to read or post much.
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#38076
08/08/2001 10:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
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Dear xara: I think you are really trying to do it the hard way. I have had very good luck buying books from Amazon. I have no idea how readily available the Potter books are at this time, but I believe the wait would be far less, and the paperwork much simpler. I suspect our UK friends would not find it easy to help you;.
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#38077
08/09/2001 12:18 AM
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
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...but does Amazon handle the British copies?
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#38078
08/09/2001 12:32 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379 |
you can find most things used at abe.com
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#38079
08/09/2001 1:07 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
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You're right, tsuwm. I forgot there are some differences between the British and the American text. It didn't occur to me that she was specifying the British text. It would be unlikely that Amazon would have both.
But Amazon,UK would have the British text, and it figures that they would take U.S. credit cards, and be just as secure are the US Amazon.
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#38080
08/09/2001 1:37 AM
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
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Otherwise, xara, I will be glad to sort it out for you (good to see you back). The only problem will be the freight, which tends to be disproportionately expensive and quite slow (but probably still just as quick as Amazon!). If you are interested, I can look up the details later today.
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#38081
08/09/2001 12:22 PM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
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At least Faldage seems to have fond memories of me
Who could forget "it doesn't taste right".
But don' be gettin' no funny ideas. Me'n AnnaS are a item.
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#38082
08/09/2001 12:39 PM
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
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Guide re parcels freight: 2 services, 'standard' @ 5-8 days transit, 'economy' @ 28-30 days. Standard: 1kg=$23, 2kgs=$32, 3kgs=$41, 4kgs=$50 Economy: 1kg=$19, 2kgs=$26, 3kgs=$31, 4kgs=$36 Post turns out to be cheaper by some margin: 'small packet / printed papers' allows up to 5kgs at a cost of around $12/kg (linear in 5g steps). Catch 22: Slow Book To China (takes up to 12 weeks) 
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#38083
08/09/2001 1:28 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 315
enthusiast
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enthusiast
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It seems that no one has an idea about what bad mails can be : if you send something by Italian mails... well, perhaps it will arrive quickly, perhaps it will arrive slowly, perhaps... it will not arrive at all.
No rules, just hope..
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#38084
08/09/2001 1:44 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 197
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>>>Dear xara: I think you are really trying to do it the hard way.<<<
yes, yes, I know. Here's why I've chosen this method:
1. I've had extremely bad luck ordering from unfamiliar sites.
2. If Barnes and Noble has a UK site I can't find it.
3. Problems with Amazon:
a. they are indiscreet with their mailing/customer lists. having recently been victim of fraud, I'm even more wary than ever about how companies choose to handle privacy issues.
b. we (my husband in particular) do not support companies with software patents.
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#38085
08/09/2001 2:13 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 197
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maverick! How kind of you!
Are your $'s US dollars or UK pounds?
Oh How exciting! I weighed 4 average sized hardcover books and got about 7 lb (3kg) on my bathroom scale. I can handle paying about $31 for shipping.
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#38086
08/09/2001 2:18 PM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 144
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Hi Xara,
Why don't you give Waterstone's a try - www.waterstones.co.uk - I had a quick look and they seem to have the full selection in paperback, hardback and audio tape.
If you don't want to trust your credit card to the site, then look up the contact details for their Gower St, London store (it's the biggest one). I'm sure they'd happily do transactions over the phone.
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#38087
08/09/2001 2:54 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
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Dear xara: Sounds like good old Maverick is going to solve your problem for you. But, since you asked:
If Barnes and Noble has a UK site I can't find it.
I looked, and Barnes and Noble is affiliated with Bertelsmann (BOL) and they do accept several credit cards and ship overseas. You could get details from service@bol.com
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#38088
08/09/2001 3:12 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 771
old hand
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old hand
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Xara - I found a hardcover UK First Edition of Goblet of Fire for $75 at http://www.powells.com. They're the first place I'd trust in executing secure e-commerce ~ never a problem. The big question is whether you want to go for the US rare book price and get the bonus cache for the same price as the shipping from the Isles!
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#38089
08/10/2001 10:58 AM
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
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My $ are USn greenbacks and my £ are overvalued segments of a Euro  Let me know if you want me to do anything, xara but don't tell Jackie, it's got to be kept a complete secret!- and if so, which titles.
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#38090
08/10/2001 5:00 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 427
addict
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Re: ordering from Waterstones in London A friend of mine in the US did exactly this. He called them up and paid for his books over the phone. I am not sure whether they can ship them themselves, because this friend knew somebody who was travelling from here to the US and he got this person to pick them up and post them once they were in the US. You could simply ask. Oh, and this brings up the question, how different are the British and North American versions of Harry Potter anyway? 
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#38091
08/10/2001 5:14 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
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Very in ways that matter to this board!
lots of words have been changed-- and these words sometimes change the whole character of the scene--
one i remember reading about was "crumpets" to "english muffins"-- and there are so many things wrong with this change.. i suppose you can buy store baked crumpets.. but similar to biscuits in US-- crumpets are fast, and easy to make--and when made well, heavenly.. english muffins, well are nice, but hardly compare.. besides, english muffins get toasted.. and are more often thought of as a breakfast food.. crumpets are closer to what is sometime sold in US bakeries and coffee shops as "tea scone"-- which i always think are way to rich and cake like -- compared to the scones my nana made..
this is one one change... and look what it does-- multiply by a 1000 over the course of the series.. its like reading 2 different sets of books...
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#38092
08/10/2001 5:17 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156
old hand
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how different are the British and North American versions of Harry Potter anyway?
I've heard (on the radio) that they replaced British words and phrases with American equivalents. Things like "cellotape" are changed to "Scotch™ Tape", because apparently the publishers think American children are too stupid to work out those things for themselves. That is an insult to American children, as far as I am concerned. I read plenty of British stories as a kid, and when there was an odd word usage, I either looked it up or guessed it from context. God forbid the children be allowed to THINK while they're reading. [scowl]
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#38093
08/10/2001 5:48 PM
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
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i suppose you can buy store baked crumpets... ot witters on.
there you go again.... <eg>
-joe friday, g.p.*
*reagan patrol
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#38094
08/11/2001 12:56 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 197
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>>>how different are the British and North American versions<<< They're different enough that the title of the first book is different. The US version is called The Sorceror's Stone, the British The Philosopher's Stone. One thing in particular that I want to know about is the use of units. Harry frequently states that they must be "miles under the school" in hidden caves and tunnels. Kilometers seems like a much more reasonable statement than miles. I'm curious what the original text says. There were other things that just struck me as a bit odd which made me wonder what was actually written. (like, did they change football to soccer?) see also: http://wordsmith.org/board/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=words&Number=2548&page=&view=&sb=&vc=1
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#38095
08/11/2001 2:19 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
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Xara,here's a thought.
With Visa or American Express card in hand, place a call to Harrod's, Knightsbridge, London, and ask for book department, order and charge. They mail. Do not belive there is any customs duty on books but you might want to check.
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#38096
08/13/2001 5:10 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
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Xara:
I can't help you with the Harry Potter books, English version, but I can tell you something that only two people in the world know: the name of the final Harry Potter book. Ms Knowling is an old friend of mine, and she has agreed that since Harry will be married with children in the final book it only makes sense to call it "Harry, Pater Familias."
TEd
NO part of the foregoing is true except the first phrase.
TEd
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#38097
08/13/2001 5:46 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jan 2001
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"miles under the school"
I grew up in a metric world, but we still use Imperial exaggerations.
It's miles and miles from here to home!
I drank gallons of water this afternoon.
That guy must be ten feet tall!
I just dragged out tons of garbage.
A one-ton truck.
etc. So (since we were a British colony and must have metrified around the same time, it was mid-1960's here), it is possible that Harry Potter did say "miles".
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#38098
08/13/2001 5:53 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 771
old hand
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TEd: You gave yourself away when you referred to the author as Ms. Knowling (some old friend if you've got her last name wrong!)... besides, your reputation precedes you. FB
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#38099
08/13/2001 8:46 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
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>You gave yourself away when you referred to the author as Ms. Knowling (some old friend if you've got her last name wrong!)... besides, your reputation precedes you
Hey, I said no part of the foregoing is true. Rowling? Something like that.
TEd
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#38100
08/13/2001 9:33 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
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Now, now, Fiberbabe and TEd, let us have no Rowling.
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#38101
08/14/2001 2:03 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
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#38102
08/14/2001 9:41 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094
old hand
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Having bought a few things online, I would probably trust using a credit card online more than over the phone. Amazon.com and the other online book retailers have privacy policies and it's all automated. No human involvement. Over the phone you have the chance of the person being untrustworthy and using your info. The chances are slim, but you never know. Online you know that there's no middle man.
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#38103
08/14/2001 10:46 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
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I would probably trust using a credit card online more than over the phone. Amazon.com and the other online book retailers have privacy policies and it's all automated. No human involvement. Over the phone you have the chance of the person being untrustworthy and using your info. The chances are slim, but you never know. Online you know that there's no middle man.
~~~`~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And there you have a perfect illustration of the Generation Chasm!
I'd rather take a chance on one person than put info into any internet vehicle, no matter how secure they say it is! Ha!
Or, should my paranoia becoming especially active I would ask total cost and send a written order and a return address that is an anonymous Postal Box or an office address enclosing either a Bank check or International Money Order in payment ...
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#38104
08/15/2001 8:49 AM
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
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In reply to:
Oh, and this brings up the question, how different are the British and North American versions of Harry Potter anyway?
I've been wondering recently not just about the Harry Potter books but whether other British books are changed much in American editions. I noticed that "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" has been changed to "Corelli's Mandolin" for some reason (they don't have captains in the US???? [furrowed brow emoticon]). Does anybody know of other changes that have been made to British books are across the Atlantic?
Bingley
Bingley
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#38105
08/15/2001 9:44 AM
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 387
enthusiast
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"Captain Corelli's Mandolin" has been changed to "Corelli's Mandolin"
Are you sure about that? I've only seen it with the Captain part.
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#38106
08/15/2001 12:28 PM
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Posts: 3,065
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That's the title it's arrived here under. I'll check again where it was published. The copy I was given in the UK a couple of Christmases ago was "Captain Corelli's Mandolin."
Bingley
Bingley
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#38107
08/15/2001 12:31 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156
old hand
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My book is called "Corelli's Mandolin" while the movie is called "Captain Corelli's Mandolin". My book was a gift from a friend, and I think they got it from some US website, although I'm not sure.
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#38108
08/15/2001 1:27 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
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I mentioned this long time ago -- I had a friend get me a copy in London and title was "Captain Corelli's Mandolin." Later, raving about the book to my Librarian she said "We have that only here it's 'Corelli's Mandolin'!" So there you go. All this talk about differences makes me think I should borrow the library's US copy and check .... nah!
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#38109
08/15/2001 1:36 PM
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Posts: 427
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Bean, I do the same. I work in metric, but I use imperial "measure exaggerations" freely, without even knowing how much they amount to! At the end of the day, I have only a vague idea how long a mile or a foot is. Fortunately, the new "European" Britain has had to turn bi-measural, so I can manage just fine. My British friends get all miffed about it, claiming that since I am in Britain I should learn to measure in imperial! Well, they can sit around and wait a bit longer for that to happen...
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#38110
08/16/2001 11:28 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
Pooh-Bah
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Joined: Aug 2000
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Don't worry about it Marianna! We really are increasingly bi-metric, to the extent that when I am buying wood, it is usually "3 metres of 4 inch by two inch," or some such blend. My wife buys curtain material by the metre, but its width is still measured in inches.
I am told, BTW, and I have no idea of the truth of this, that the construction industry in Scandinavia finds that the metre is an inconvenient measure, so have invented a measure which is one third of that length - in other words, about the same length as the imperial foot.
The secret lies, I guess, in the fact that the old measures were based on human activity and human dimensions, so fit humans well. For instance, the League (as in "seven-league boots") was the distance that a man and pack horse could walk in one hour, therefore varied in linear distance from one terrain to another. (In the fairy tales, of course, the person with seven-league boots could complete a day's journey in one step!) It has died out, I suppose, because we no longer need that sort of measure - it is a matter of how many miles we do in an hour rather than hours to complete a mile!
But metric measurements are based on an estimate of the world's circumference made in the 1790s! What sort of basis is that, I ask you!
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#38111
08/16/2001 12:13 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
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It has died out, I suppose, because we no longer need that sort of measure - it is a matter of how many miles we do in an hour rather than hours to complete a mile!
But metric measurements are based on an estimate of the world's circumference made in the 1790s! What sort of basis is that, I ask you!
Ah, yes--change: further evidence that (linear) time has passed! [naughtily cross-threading e]
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#38112
08/16/2001 2:07 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 315
enthusiast
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My "measure" is my open hand . I know that it is 20 centimeters, and I often measure everything around me in this way - tables, furniture, public bathrooms...
In fact, I am very interested in
- how small you can build a comfortable house
- which are the correct measures for ergonomic pieces of furniture .
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#38113
08/16/2001 5:21 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
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a US dollar bill is 6 inches long (actually 6 1/8 inches) but close enough for a rough measurment.
as for
which are the correct measures for ergonomic pieces of furniture --
until human come in one size-- how can any one size be ergnomic?
my parents are very short-- (Father 5.1, mother 5.2)-- and they often had problems buying furnature. Dining room chairs were often too high for them.. and couches were too deep..
of course, those of us who are normal sizes (or at least normal height) found their furniture way too low, and too shallow.. My favorite chair as child was our wing chair-- i didn't feel like my knees were in my chin when i sat in it.. my mother hated that chair-- when she sat in it, her feet didn't touch the floor!
the japanese, seem to have mastered small living spaces.. and one trick they sometimes use, is high ceilings..
big spaces, with low ceiling seem cramped. -- the NYC subway has some.. ceiling heights of just over 2 meters, so that very tall people feel they have to crouch. and even though there is a lot of area, the low ceiling is very uncomfortable.. even for me, and i am in no danger of hitting my head on the ceiling.
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#38114
08/16/2001 5:58 PM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 544
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But metric measurements are based on an estimate of the world's circumference made in the 1790s! What sort of basis is that, I ask you!
Some while back, I read a story, only vaguely remembered, about a town in England that had posted their speed limit signs in km/hr. When asked if this meant that England was at long last converting to the metric system, somebody (local official, mayhap? the Queen?) is reputed to have said "Do you honestly think we'll ever adopt a measurement system invented by a people that have to say 'three twenties and seventeen' for 77?"
But the way weight and volume correspond in the metric system sure is useful and cool. Makes it easier to guess how much my hot tub weighs when full, which is very important, for reasons I'll not go into here.
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