US Retail Partners not excited about Kobo Glo? - Page 2

maxbookworm · 10-03-2012, 04:14 PM

scrapking -- if you could pick one up for me I would be extremely grateful!

scrapking · 10-03-2012, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxbookworm

scrapking -- if you could pick one up for me I would be extremely grateful!

I'll be happy to. Shipping, duty, etc., is all on you, though.

EldRick · 10-05-2012, 02:14 PM

Back on the original topic:

Quote:

US Retail Partners not excited about Kobo Glo?

How could they possibly get excited about products that they apparently cannot obtain from Kobo?

tnforpaul45 · 10-07-2012, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EldRick

Back on the original topic:

How could they possibly get excited about products that they apparently cannot obtain from Kobo?

Eld, I agree, but also, the flip side of that is because of the lack of interest and demand in the retail channels, Kobo decided that the US market was a secondary target (and rightfully it should have: 46% market share in Canada and way lower than that in the US).

I know this whole thread that I have started reeks of a little bit of Ameri-centric egotism, but WAAHH I want the Kobo Glo here and now!

Lets hope that Kobo increases its competitiveness here, and that Amazon and B&N increases their coverage in Canada and other countries as well. It's a global world now (ironic use of words), Friedman "flattened" it, so lets get rid of country-specific releases, shall we? Just pipe dreamin'. . .

ottdmk · 10-07-2012, 10:16 AM

Given the rate of buy-in from the ABA that I read about on another thread, I think things will improve for Kobo in the States when the agreement kicks in next year.

EldRick · 10-07-2012, 10:38 AM

Let's see: 46% market share in Canada, which has one-ninth of the population of the US...

Ho hum - I mean national pride and all that, but really...

ottdmk · 10-07-2012, 10:48 AM

It's a question of picking your battles, really. The US market is huge, yes, and that makes it important to any international corporation. But when you're releasing product to remain competitive in the rest of the world (because you're getting beaten over the head by Amazon and Barnes & Noble in the US) and you don't have a strong retail partnership until 2013... what's the better move? Focusing on the market where you have difficulties you know aren't going to get resolved in a timely manner for your product launch, or focus on the markets where you're trying to maintain your competitive advantage?

There are pluses & minuses to any approach here.

Jane12 · 10-07-2012, 11:31 AM

I was rather excited about the Kobo Glo, but the lack of info in the U.S. has dampened my interest considerably.

It would be nice if Kobo would clarify what "Coming Soon" means -- any day now? next month? in time for the holidays? 2013? next summer? I'd actually be willing to wait if I had a sense of how long the wait would be so I could temper my expectations. As it is, the vagueness is making me look at other readers, which is an easy thing to do in the U.S.

EldRick · 10-07-2012, 11:43 AM

I agree - Kobo is losing any chance they had at a US market share by totally blocking sales here.

david_e · 10-07-2012, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EldRick

I agree - Kobo is losing any chance they had at a US market share by totally blocking sales here.

I disagree.

I don't think anyone is 'blocking' sales. If they had enough product, the readers would be in the stores. Could be a supply issue, could be underestimating demand, we don't know.

If it's worth wanting, it's usually worth waiting.

robko · 10-07-2012, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EldRick

Let's see: 46% market share in Canada, which has one-ninth of the population of the US...

Ho hum - I mean national pride and all that, but really...

I have deliberately been avoiding posting in this thread because I didn't want to come across as anti-American and I truly do feel your pain having been on the other side of the fence too many times (waiting forever to get products that have been released in the U.S.). Why do you feel you have more right to this device than anyone else which is how you're coming across at this point?. Not that you'll care, but you've lost my sympathy at this point.

EldRick · 10-07-2012, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Why do you feel you have more right to this device than anyone else...

I don't feel that at all, but I'd sure like to have at least a chance at walking into a store and seeing or buying one, which is not possible so far. And your sympathy is not something I've sought, so keep it.

Haesslich · 10-07-2012, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EldRick

I agree - Kobo is losing any chance they had at a US market share by totally blocking sales here.

I suspect it was more Amazon previously blocking sales, if anything. Hell, Best Buy and all had Amazon Kindle displays when Sony could barely get shelves... despite Kindle being Amazon-only (no B&M sales) for years.

Between the "burnt by Amazon" issue and the fact that B&N is the other big player... well, I'm not surprised. And given this is the situation Amazon has put other countries in for years (and only now do they deign to acknowledge other markets exist)...

Maybe it's time to stop whining to Kobo for not sucking up to you, and turn your ire on sources closer to home who deserve it?

TongueTied · 10-07-2012, 10:27 PM

Actually, it isn't available here either or in many parts of the world for that matter. So, it is most probably not any attempt by block the device from the US and nor is it US retailers showing little or no interest in the device. Based on the lack of availability EVERYWHERE, I'd say it is just a case of limited supply. Now, I have no clue how Kobo does things but I can imagine a scenario where they notified all their country distribution channels of the new device and told them to get their initial orders in and that orders would be handled on a first come first served basis. So, US retailers were on an equal basis with every other country (except Canada who, naturally enough, got first pickings) and have to just grin and wait just like the rest of us.

Jane12 · 10-07-2012, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david_e

I don't think anyone is 'blocking' sales. If they had enough product, the readers would be in the stores. Could be a supply issue, could be underestimating demand, we don't know.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TongueTied

Actually, it isn't available here either or in many parts of the world for that matter .... Based on the lack of availability EVERYWHERE, I'd say it is just a case of limited supply.

I agree. I think it's a supply issue, rather than someone blocking sales.

I just wish Kobo would be more specific than "Coming Soon," as I find it easier to wait for something when I have a general idea of how long the wait will be. "Coming Soon" with no option to pre-order translates to me as "not anytime in the forseeable future."

P.S. The "Coming Soon" I'm referring to is on Kobo's own web site, not a retail partner.

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10-03-2012, 04:14 PM	#16
maxbookworm Addict Posts: 372 Karma: 1122865 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: Kindle Voyage, Galaxy Note 2	scrapking -- if you could pick one up for me I would be extremely grateful!

10-07-2012, 10:16 AM	#20
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,196 Karma: 3765734 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M8 HD	Given the rate of buy-in from the ABA that I read about on another thread, I think things will improve for Kobo in the States when the agreement kicks in next year.

10-07-2012, 10:38 AM	#21
EldRick Evangelist Posts: 470 Karma: 112801 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Aura H2O (i86, M96C, Mini&Glo, PRS-950, STR, K-Touch, K-DX, K-3)	Let's see: 46% market share in Canada, which has one-ninth of the population of the US... Ho hum - I mean national pride and all that, but really...

10-07-2012, 10:48 AM	#22
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,196 Karma: 3765734 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M8 HD	It's a question of picking your battles, really. The US market is huge, yes, and that makes it important to any international corporation. But when you're releasing product to remain competitive in the rest of the world (because you're getting beaten over the head by Amazon and Barnes & Noble in the US) and you don't have a strong retail partnership until 2013... what's the better move? Focusing on the market where you have difficulties you know aren't going to get resolved in a timely manner for your product launch, or focus on the markets where you're trying to maintain your competitive advantage? There are pluses & minuses to any approach here.

10-07-2012, 11:31 AM	#23
Jane12 Groupie Posts: 171 Karma: 1706300 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: iDevices	I was rather excited about the Kobo Glo, but the lack of info in the U.S. has dampened my interest considerably. It would be nice if Kobo would clarify what "Coming Soon" means -- any day now? next month? in time for the holidays? 2013? next summer? I'd actually be willing to wait if I had a sense of how long the wait would be so I could temper my expectations. As it is, the vagueness is making me look at other readers, which is an easy thing to do in the U.S.

10-07-2012, 11:43 AM	#24
EldRick Evangelist Posts: 470 Karma: 112801 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Aura H2O (i86, M96C, Mini&Glo, PRS-950, STR, K-Touch, K-DX, K-3)	I agree - Kobo is losing any chance they had at a US market share by totally blocking sales here.

10-07-2012, 10:27 PM	#29
TongueTied Zealot Posts: 128 Karma: 18512 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Buderim, Australia Device: Kobo Touch, Kobo Glo	Actually, it isn't available here either or in many parts of the world for that matter. So, it is most probably not any attempt by block the device from the US and nor is it US retailers showing little or no interest in the device. Based on the lack of availability EVERYWHERE, I'd say it is just a case of limited supply. Now, I have no clue how Kobo does things but I can imagine a scenario where they notified all their country distribution channels of the new device and told them to get their initial orders in and that orders would be handled on a first come first served basis. So, US retailers were on an equal basis with every other country (except Canada who, naturally enough, got first pickings) and have to just grin and wait just like the rest of us.