About The Purchasing Links On Kids Guide To The Globe
The links shown on Kids Guide To The Globe are leading you, for the most part, to these on-line stores:
Amazon.fr (French/France)
Amazon.de (German)
Amazon.ca (Canada, both French and English)
When you click on my links, you'll be taken to those stores. Each store is separate from the others. You check out from each one individually. You can have individual accounts at each store. Your purchases from these stores are not linked to your account at Amazon.com. (I know, it's weird. The sites are so similar, you would think they're all linked together. But they're not.)
(Occasionally, Amazon will bump you around from store to store, depending upon what search terms you've typed in. Then it will guide you to check out at whatever store you're currently in.)
About Overseas Amazon Stores
These overseas Amazon stores work very much like Amazon.com. Let's take an example.
If you purchase an item from Amazon.de, the item will ship from Germany, and you'll be charged in Euro's, which will be converted into your own currency on your credit card. Items from overseas take much longer, but they do arrive, and they are worth the wait.
For the most part, these overseas Amazon stores handle transactions exactly the way Amazon.com does. You'll get emails updating you as to the status of your order and you'll be able to check the status by going to your account on-line.
Purchasing From Overseas Amazon Stores
Nervous about ordering in a foreign language? Here's an easy way to order with Amazon, since the sites are so similar. Let's assume you're ordering from Amazon.fr.
- Open up 2 sessions of your internet browser. (Or drag a lap top over to your computer, if you've got one, and open a session of your internet browser on it.)
- Point one to Amazon.com, and one to the Amazon.fr.
- Pick an item you're planning to order from Amazon.com. Or pick a "phantom item" that you will bail on at the last minute.
- Begin the process of ordering both items. Go one step at a time: first the Amazon.com item, then the Amazon.fr item. In each step, carefully note where you click with Amazon.com, and click on the same links for Amazon.fr.
- Bail out of the item on Amazon.com before the last step. (Or cancel the order if you go too far.)
(Coming soon: a glossary of useful terms that will help you in the check-out process, as well as a step-by-step guide showing screen shots of the overseas Amazon sites.)
Install A Translator On Your ToolBar
You can install handy translator buttons right on your toolbar. I've got one ("WordTranslator") that translates the whole page, wherever I'm at. Just click, and boom: awkward, marginally understandable translation, but serviceable. Browse Google's Toolbar Button Gallery to find a translator that meets your needs.
For French CDs, Amazon.ca (Canada) Makes It Easier
The Amazon Canada site gives you the option of ordering in French or English, regardless of what item you're ordering. Look in the upper right corner of the the page for any item, just below "Your Account" and just above the price. It will say:
"Would you like to see this page in Engish? Click here." From there, you can toggle back and forth between French and English.
Not all French items are available on Amazon.ca, but I'll list as many as possible.
You're Pretty Much On Your Own, Folks
Sorry, but Kids Guide To The Globe accepts no responsibility for difficulties / problems / mishaps in ordering from any on-line stores we link to. We can't translate emails you get from the overseas Amazon stores (although we aim to have some help with that coming soon). Usually, however, emails from these overseas Amazon stores are telling you that the item is:
- on its way, and all you have to do is wait.
- back ordered. They'll offer you the option to cancel the order. If you want to keep the order, do nothing.
- not available. You won't be charged for the item, and the order is canceled.
Good luck, and let me know if you buy anything good!
