French Amazon — Just in Time for the Holidays!

So I have to say I am really impressed by the French version of Amazon (aka amazon.fr). My husband ordered one of my presents (books) from there on Sunday at 3pm EST, and the package showed up, kid you not, YESTERDAY. As in Tuesday. Now, it is true he used the expedited shipping option, but considering that expedited shipping for North America can take up to 5 days from Europe, I am still impressed. I do think it helps that the package left Paris to go to Washington, DC, as opposed to a remote town in the U.S., but still!

Honestly, I am not sure U.S. Amazon’s one day shipping could have topped that, because we ordered very late on Sunday (ie 9pm French time).

So if you are dying for some French books, stationery or other goodies, amazon.fr could become your new best friend. As a displaced Francophone (and no, I am not French, sadly) it is nice to know that book fix can be so easily attained. I am also going to keep an eye on Fnac’s site – Fnac is a Borders meets Best Buy type of chainstore situation. Very cool place. And if you don’t speak French, trust me, there are still many lovely things you can order to French-ify your lifestyle!

Now all I need is a multi-region DVD player which sadly Fnac (or Best Buy) does not carry. Some of my favorite French movies and TV shows are Region 2 only. I guess the lawyers and dealmakers for licenses figure no one will watch certain shows and movies in the U.S. so why bother making a licensing deal. The one I most want to see if Avocats Associes — think a French Ally McBeal (before it got really bad) meets Grey’s Anatomy (in dialogue and too much sex way, not in the medical sense) meets a tiny bit of Law and Order. I saw a few episodes on and off during visits to Europe, and it is really good.

So if you need an infusion of French books or other media, go to Amazon.fr. And if you need French inspiration, you must check out The Paris Apartment, one of my latest re-discoveries via the lovely Hang On Tomato blog. I saw the book back when it came out 10 years ago — and now need to revisit it. Off to add it to my Amazon wishlist.