Kobobooks - no epub option

digiSara · 02-28-2011, 01:23 PM

I just purchased a book from kobobooks.com only to discover it doesn't have an epub download option. I've seen this on the free books section, but never before on the purchased books, and I can't find any other examples from scrolling around the site. So I'm wondering if this is an error, or is this common practice?

The book is relatively recent (The Birth House by Ami McKay), published by Knopf Canada (or Vintage Canada) - I have other books from this publisher in epub.

It's not a huge problem, since I have downloaded it to my Kobo - but I do like to have an epub backup - just in case something ever happens to Kobo's website! Any one else experience this?

La Coccinelle · 03-01-2011, 02:51 PM

How did you download it to your Kobo if it's not in the EPUB format? All of the books I have from kobobooks.com are in EPUB format, so this seems strange. (Unfortunately, I can't see the options for download unless I actually order the book, so I'm not sure if it's just a glitch on your end or if the book just isn't available in EPUB.)

The Terminator · 03-01-2011, 06:25 PM

Go to the online Kobo site not you desktop app, sign in and go to purchased it will have download epub option

digiSara · 03-01-2011, 06:57 PM

@Terminator - I bought it on the Kobo website - there is no download epub option though (have bought and downloaded other books, so I know where to look)

@Coccinelle - you don't NEED to download the epub version from the website - it will sync to your book using either desktop app or over the wifi but then they are in Kobo's own kepub format. Which is not a problem for reading - I just like the assurance of having an epub version on my computer for backup.

La Coccinelle · 03-01-2011, 08:13 PM

I thought a kepub was an EPUB. Or a type of EPUB...

If there's no EPUB option on the Kobo website, then I guess it just doesn't come in that format. There are bound to be a few...

3d0g · 03-01-2011, 08:47 PM

At one point, Kobo was claiming there should be EPUB versions of every book they sell. Dunno if they've backed off that claim though.

icedtea · 03-05-2011, 07:10 PM

I don't think it's an error. But based on two of my previous purchases that were at the time not available in epub, it's possible you may have access to the epub later on.

I have two Harlequin titles that didn't have epub when I purchased, but now in my library there are epub links. This might be publisher-specific as Harlequin/Carina seem to be phasing out their other file formats in favour of epub.

obs20 · 03-05-2011, 07:39 PM

The Birth House by Ami McKay is available as an epub at least on the US website.

taming · 03-06-2011, 08:56 AM

There are times when books are available as kepub (the Kobo DRM flavour of ePUB), but not as the Adobe DRM version of ePUB. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen.

foldor · 03-11-2011, 02:25 PM

I actually had this exact same issue with another book. (Dark Tower 6 to be exact)

I had to go through over 2 months of useless support tickets, until I came here and complained directly to Sameer. It turns out they actually didn't have the book available in *any* format. There was no way to actually download the book. They finally refunded my money, and promised to get it online soon. It's still in my library, but it's been removed from the website completely.

Try making a support ticket and contacting someone on the Kobo team directly if that doesn't work.

carlb · 03-12-2011, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digiSara

I just purchased a book from kobobooks.com only to discover it doesn't have an epub download option. I've seen this on the free books section, but never before on the purchased books, and I can't find any other examples from scrolling around the site. So I'm wondering if this is an error, or is this common practice?

I've had this happen once with a paid-for Kobo book (Suite Française by Irène Nemirovsky). The description looks normal on Google's cached copy (a foreign server), but any attempt to view that webpage directly (I'm midway between Montréal and Toronto) gives:

"We're Sorry! This content is not available internationally. Unfortunately, this content is only available in select countries, and we do not currently have the rights to offer this content for browsing or purchasing in Canada. For more information on our geographic availability, please click here."

Worse yet, my Kobo is not functioning properly (lines through the display, with part of the "Please wait while your Kobo eReader processes new content" message there permanently) and I haven't had a chance to read this book (purchased December 2010) yet. Hopefully I haven't lost this title to the evils of DRM, now that I'm (for the moment) reading on some other (non-Kobo) device?

icaria · 03-12-2011, 01:54 AM

same thing with me. I downloaded a couple of free ebooks today from Borders Aust and they are sitting in a kepub folder with no file extension. There was no option to download an ADE epub version.

Looks like I'm only able to read them with the Borders/Kobo Appz.

taming · 03-12-2011, 12:32 PM

@ Icaria: What are you downloading with--an app or a reader? I believe (may no longer be true) that when you use a kobo app, by default you get the kepub format. It is added to your library though and you can download the ePUB version onto your computer and transfer it to an application that reads that format.

PeterT · 03-12-2011, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taming

@ Icaria: What are you downloading with--an app or a reader? I believe (may no longer be true) that when you use a kobo app, by default you get the kepub format. It is added to your library though and you can download the ePUB version onto your computer and transfer it to an application that reads that format.

Taming; there actually are some books on the Kobo web site that do NOT have ePub formats; only the kEpub variant.

taming · 03-12-2011, 02:13 PM

Yes, I know that (and if you scan up a few posts you will see that I mentioned that), but icaria's profile indicates that she does not have a reader.

02-28-2011, 01:23 PM	#1
digiSara Groupie Posts: 158 Karma: 153344 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kobo wifi	Kobobooks - no epub option I just purchased a book from kobobooks.com only to discover it doesn't have an epub download option. I've seen this on the free books section, but never before on the purchased books, and I can't find any other examples from scrolling around the site. So I'm wondering if this is an error, or is this common practice? The book is relatively recent (The Birth House by Ami McKay), published by Knopf Canada (or Vintage Canada) - I have other books from this publisher in epub. It's not a huge problem, since I have downloaded it to my Kobo - but I do like to have an epub backup - just in case something ever happens to Kobo's website! Any one else experience this?

03-12-2011, 01:54 AM	#12
icaria Member Posts: 22 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	same thing with me. I downloaded a couple of free ebooks today from Borders Aust and they are sitting in a kepub folder with no file extension. There was no option to download an ADE epub version. Looks like I'm only able to read them with the Borders/Kobo Appz. Last edited by icaria; 03-12-2011 at 02:43 AM.

03-12-2011, 12:32 PM	#13
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	@ Icaria: What are you downloading with--an app or a reader? I believe (may no longer be true) that when you use a kobo app, by default you get the kepub format. It is added to your library though and you can download the ePUB version onto your computer and transfer it to an application that reads that format. Last edited by taming; 03-12-2011 at 12:34 PM.

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03-01-2011, 02:51 PM	#2
La Coccinelle Connoisseur Posts: 67 Karma: 432 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Canada Device: Kobo (original)	How did you download it to your Kobo if it's not in the EPUB format? All of the books I have from kobobooks.com are in EPUB format, so this seems strange. (Unfortunately, I can't see the options for download unless I actually order the book, so I'm not sure if it's just a glitch on your end or if the book just isn't available in EPUB.)

03-01-2011, 06:25 PM	#3
The Terminator Retired Posts: 2,552 Karma: 37638420 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver Island Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Optimus One (2.3), Nexus 7 (4.2)	Go to the online Kobo site not you desktop app, sign in and go to purchased it will have download epub option

03-01-2011, 06:57 PM	#4
digiSara Groupie Posts: 158 Karma: 153344 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kobo wifi	@Terminator - I bought it on the Kobo website - there is no download epub option though (have bought and downloaded other books, so I know where to look) @Coccinelle - you don't NEED to download the epub version from the website - it will sync to your book using either desktop app or over the wifi but then they are in Kobo's own kepub format. Which is not a problem for reading - I just like the assurance of having an epub version on my computer for backup.

03-01-2011, 08:13 PM	#5
La Coccinelle Connoisseur Posts: 67 Karma: 432 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Canada Device: Kobo (original)	I thought a kepub was an EPUB. Or a type of EPUB... If there's no EPUB option on the Kobo website, then I guess it just doesn't come in that format. There are bound to be a few...

03-01-2011, 08:47 PM	#6
3d0g I make fjords. Posts: 304 Karma: 11192 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Colorado Device: kobo 1 (retired), kobo 2, iPad, G2, Galaxy Tab 7+	At one point, Kobo was claiming there should be EPUB versions of every book they sell. Dunno if they've backed off that claim though.

03-05-2011, 07:10 PM	#7
icedtea elibrary love Posts: 162 Karma: 375558 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kindle3, RIP Mini	I don't think it's an error. But based on two of my previous purchases that were at the time not available in epub, it's possible you may have access to the epub later on. I have two Harlequin titles that didn't have epub when I purchased, but now in my library there are epub links. This might be publisher-specific as Harlequin/Carina seem to be phasing out their other file formats in favour of epub.

03-05-2011, 07:39 PM	#8
obs20 Wizard Posts: 2,782 Karma: 29028512 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida Device: Sony PRS 600, Nook ST, Toshiba Excite 10.1 AT 300	The Birth House by Ami McKay is available as an epub at least on the US website.

03-06-2011, 08:56 AM	#9
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	There are times when books are available as kepub (the Kobo DRM flavour of ePUB), but not as the Adobe DRM version of ePUB. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen.

03-11-2011, 02:25 PM	#10
foldor Member Posts: 10 Karma: 26 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kobo Wi-Fi	I actually had this exact same issue with another book. (Dark Tower 6 to be exact) I had to go through over 2 months of useless support tickets, until I came here and complained directly to Sameer. It turns out they actually didn't have the book available in any format. There was no way to actually download the book. They finally refunded my money, and promised to get it online soon. It's still in my library, but it's been removed from the website completely. Try making a support ticket and contacting someone on the Kobo team directly if that doesn't work.

03-12-2011, 02:13 PM	#15
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	Yes, I know that (and if you scan up a few posts you will see that I mentioned that), but icaria's profile indicates that she does not have a reader.

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