Format: How important is knowing the format before purchase

Lynx-lynx · 09-16-2013, 06:41 PM

As many of you re aware Kobo has changed it's website and appears to be gradually migrating this 'new look' website to each country.

The new look website does not show the following information relating to an ebook at any time prior to (and post) purchase:

format of the ebook

DRM status of the ebook

For me, the two most important considerations prior to the purchase of any ebook are format and price.

Whilst it may be construed that Kobo may get around to once again including format and DRM status as part of the information supplied .... they may not (and if they do it may not be for some time [months, years?] to come.

How important is knowing the format prior to purchase of a Kobo ebook for you?

ectoplasm · 09-16-2013, 07:44 PM

I would immediately ask for a refund if they tried to surprise me with a PDF. If they can't (or won't) display basic information about a purchase, I'm inclined to go elsewhere.

GeoffR · 09-16-2013, 08:12 PM

I don't care much about whether it is kepub or epub, but I really don't want to accidentally buy a pdf, and I want to buy DRM-free where there is a choice even if it costs more.

jackastor · 09-16-2013, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffR

I don't care much about whether it is kepub or epub, but I really don't want to accidentally buy a pdf, and I want to buy DRM-free where there is a choice even if it costs more.

Its actually very important. Not every reader one owns is a Kobo and when you buy the book you buy it to read regardless of whether you read it on a kobo or a kindle. The most compatible and acceptable format therefore is 100percent Epub.

regards

Jack

Ripplinger · 09-16-2013, 09:14 PM

I will not make a purchase without knowing what format it is, and that's from any online store. It's an absolute necessity to know.

selina4books · 09-16-2013, 09:16 PM

It's crucial. I am really annoyed by this. If you read Kobo's About Us page the very first paragraph states:

http://www.kobo.com/aboutus?___store...rce=kobodirect

"Inspired by a "Read Freely" philosophy and a passion for innovation, Kobo is one of the world's fastest-growing eReading services. Read Freely stems from Kobo's belief that consumers should have the freedom to read any book, anytime, anyplace – and on any device. As a result, Kobo has attracted millions of readers from more than 190 countries and features one of the world's largest eReading catalogues with over 3.5 million eBook, newspaper and magazine titles."

I'd like them to explain to me how I'm supposed to "read freely" when they sneak a PDF or kepub on me. I hate PDF for book reading. Most ereaders do not handle them all that well. And that kepub isn't going on my Nook, so how's that reading freely? I don't read much on my Nook because I feel my Kobos are superior devices but if I WANT to, I should be able to!

Lynx-lynx · 09-16-2013, 09:27 PM

Selina you raise an excellent point ... Kobo seems to be ignoring their own philosophy to read freely on any device!!

Lynx-lynx · 09-16-2013, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ectoplasm

I would immediately ask for a refund if they tried to surprise me with a PDF. If they can't (or won't) display basic information about a purchase, I'm inclined to go elsewhere.

I'm in a Customer Service issue with them at the moment re my buying an O'REilly ebook from Kobo on Sunday via their 'new look' Aus website and didn't know that I was buying a kepub, and still don't know officially the DRM status.

They told me the following when I asked for a refund:

'Please be advised that Kobo does not provide refunds unless there is something wrong with the eBook in question as all sales are final. However, we will be happy to with a Kobo store credit of $9.69 AUD within 48 hours.'

My latest request of them is that they issue me with the EPUB version of the book, and tell me the DRM status.

Nascarfan1972 · 09-17-2013, 12:55 AM

It is simple really, if they do not show a list of devices a book can be read on then it is a PDF. Likewise if the book cover is only a black silhouette of a book, it is a PDF.

For those of you that complain about them not specifiying whether a book is an epub or a kepub, if having an epub is so important, download the book to your PC or Mac, remove the DRM and sideload it. You now have an epub on your kobo.

Problem solved.

I notice non of you are complaining that the kobo bookshop are not listing a lot of the books you can buy from it, unless you put generic search queries in for instance if you use the ebooks>sports>football, it gives 251 books, if you use the generic search term "football" it gives 1133 books. Is this not a bigger problem than not seeing if a book is a kepub or an epub. And before anyone askes I have used football as an example because I know it is one of the most popular sports in the world.

filmo · 09-17-2013, 01:36 AM

What kind of football? US, Canadian, Australian, England all have games called football and very different games.

Lynx-lynx · 09-17-2013, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nascarfan1972

It is simple really, if they do not show a list of devices a book can be read on then it is a PDF. Likewise if the book cover is only a black silhouette of a book, it is a PDF.

For those of you that complain about them not specifiying whether a book is an epub or a kepub, if having an epub is so important, download the book to your PC or Mac, remove the DRM and sideload it. You now have an epub on your kobo.

Problem solved.

I notice non of you are complaining that the kobo bookshop are not listing a lot of the books you can buy from it, unless you put generic search queries in for instance if you use the ebooks>sports>football, it gives 251 books, if you use the generic search term "football" it gives 1133 books. Is this not a bigger problem than not seeing if a book is a kepub or an epub. And before anyone askes I have used football as an example because I know it is one of the most popular sports in the world.

Nascarfan not sure if you realise that you can't reformat a kepub that has DRM.

You can reformat a non DRM kepub by adding the extension .epub to it and then Calibre will accept it.

But Calibre doesn't accept straight kepub files.

Re the current search issues on the Kobo sites - perhaps you could start a thread on that?

Lyn2012 · 09-17-2013, 03:39 AM

Yesterday I contacted Kobo regarding needing to know the format before buying a book. This is their reply:

We would like to inform you that you can check the format of your eBook before you purchase it. Once you locate the eBook you want to purchase, you clink on the eBook cover and it will take you to the eBook description. At the right bottom side you are going to find the format of the eBook and supported devices where you can read your eBook on.

They don't even appear to know their own website!

samhy · 09-17-2013, 03:45 AM

I need to know before a purchase whatever site I'm buying from. Who knows I may end up with a PDF ebook

On fnac.com, the affiliate seller of Kobo in France, when buying one can see the format and the DRM status but not the devices on which said ebook can be read. One day when I wasn't really careful I bought a guide book which is full of pictures and weights a little less than 80M

It was an epub file, so what can go wrong I was thinking. Well tablets can deal very well with epub files too and I did forget that (at that time).

So now what I want to see before a purchase is the format, the DRM status and the devices that can be used.

paola · 09-17-2013, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nascarfan1972

It is simple really, if they do not show a list of devices a book can be read on then it is a PDF. Likewise if the book cover is only a black silhouette of a book, it is a PDF.

So do Kobo provide a legend for their symbols? I could not find it anywhere, but do welcome any pointers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lyn2012

Yesterday I contacted Kobo regarding needing to know the format before buying a book. This is their reply:

We would like to inform you that you can check the format of your eBook before you purchase it. Once you locate the eBook you want to purchase, you clink on the eBook cover and it will take you to the eBook description. At the right bottom side you are going to find the format of the eBook and supported devices where you can read your eBook on.

They don't even appear to know their own website!

Yes, same happened to me in chat, but eventually my chat person asked, and the solution proposed was, get the preview first, check the format, then buy!!!

Also, a while back I know various people from MR posted on Kobo blog their feedback on this, but no comments can be seen there:
http://cafe.kobo.com/blog/kobo-ebook...autiful-design

Josieb1 · 09-17-2013, 03:53 AM

I think in addition to the comment about no devices showing means a PDF, the ePub and kpub are differenced by the blackberry sign. With means an ePub, without means a kpub.

Hopefully someone will come along and confirm that for us.

I am fine with both epubs and Adobe DRM epubs, and even, although I'd be really annoyed if they sold me one, a PDF, but I don't have a Kobo so kpubs are useless to me.

View Poll Results: Format: How important is knowing the format before purchase
not important, don't care	7	4.07%
good to know, but not necessary	15	8.72%
absolutely important, want to know	150	87.21%
Voters: 172. You may not vote on this poll

09-16-2013, 06:41 PM	#1
Lynx-lynx Treachery of images ... Posts: 4,069 Karma: 91561091 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Australia Device: Blackberry Playbook, Sony 650, Kobo Glo, H2O, Aura One, Forma, Libra 2	Format: How important is knowing the format before purchase As many of you re aware Kobo has changed it's website and appears to be gradually migrating this 'new look' website to each country. The new look website does not show the following information relating to an ebook at any time prior to (and post) purchase: format of the ebook DRM status of the ebook For me, the two most important considerations prior to the purchase of any ebook are format and price. Whilst it may be construed that Kobo may get around to once again including format and DRM status as part of the information supplied .... they may not (and if they do it may not be for some time [months, years?] to come. How important is knowing the format prior to purchase of a Kobo ebook for you?

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09-16-2013, 07:44 PM	#2
ectoplasm Addict Posts: 255 Karma: 1151364 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Aura HD and H2O	I would immediately ask for a refund if they tried to surprise me with a PDF. If they can't (or won't) display basic information about a purchase, I'm inclined to go elsewhere.

09-16-2013, 08:12 PM	#3
GeoffR Wizard Posts: 3,821 Karma: 19162882 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Te Riu-a-Māui Device: Kobo Glo	I don't care much about whether it is kepub or epub, but I really don't want to accidentally buy a pdf, and I want to buy DRM-free where there is a choice even if it costs more.

09-16-2013, 09:14 PM	#5
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	I will not make a purchase without knowing what format it is, and that's from any online store. It's an absolute necessity to know.

09-16-2013, 09:16 PM	#6
selina4books Addict Posts: 205 Karma: 459093 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Kobo Aura, Mini, Glo, & Aura HD, KPW, Nook Glow, Nook HD	It's crucial. I am really annoyed by this. If you read Kobo's About Us page the very first paragraph states: http://www.kobo.com/aboutus?___store...rce=kobodirect "Inspired by a "Read Freely" philosophy and a passion for innovation, Kobo is one of the world's fastest-growing eReading services. Read Freely stems from Kobo's belief that consumers should have the freedom to read any book, anytime, anyplace – and on any device. As a result, Kobo has attracted millions of readers from more than 190 countries and features one of the world's largest eReading catalogues with over 3.5 million eBook, newspaper and magazine titles." I'd like them to explain to me how I'm supposed to "read freely" when they sneak a PDF or kepub on me. I hate PDF for book reading. Most ereaders do not handle them all that well. And that kepub isn't going on my Nook, so how's that reading freely? I don't read much on my Nook because I feel my Kobos are superior devices but if I WANT to, I should be able to!

09-16-2013, 09:27 PM	#7
Lynx-lynx Treachery of images ... Posts: 4,069 Karma: 91561091 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Australia Device: Blackberry Playbook, Sony 650, Kobo Glo, H2O, Aura One, Forma, Libra 2	Selina you raise an excellent point ... Kobo seems to be ignoring their own philosophy to read freely on any device!!

09-17-2013, 12:55 AM	#9
Nascarfan1972 Banned Posts: 95 Karma: 29532 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Kobo Glo/Mini/Aura/Glo HD/Clara/Libra & Forma & Kindle PW	It is simple really, if they do not show a list of devices a book can be read on then it is a PDF. Likewise if the book cover is only a black silhouette of a book, it is a PDF. For those of you that complain about them not specifiying whether a book is an epub or a kepub, if having an epub is so important, download the book to your PC or Mac, remove the DRM and sideload it. You now have an epub on your kobo. Problem solved. I notice non of you are complaining that the kobo bookshop are not listing a lot of the books you can buy from it, unless you put generic search queries in for instance if you use the ebooks>sports>football, it gives 251 books, if you use the generic search term "football" it gives 1133 books. Is this not a bigger problem than not seeing if a book is a kepub or an epub. And before anyone askes I have used football as an example because I know it is one of the most popular sports in the world.

09-17-2013, 01:36 AM	#10
filmo Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 1077205 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kobo Touch, Sony T1, Kobo Mini	What kind of football? US, Canadian, Australian, England all have games called football and very different games.

09-17-2013, 03:39 AM	#12
Lyn2012 Addict Posts: 382 Karma: 1118562 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Middlesex, UK Device: Kobo Aura One, iPhone 8, iPad Pro	Yesterday I contacted Kobo regarding needing to know the format before buying a book. This is their reply: We would like to inform you that you can check the format of your eBook before you purchase it. Once you locate the eBook you want to purchase, you clink on the eBook cover and it will take you to the eBook description. At the right bottom side you are going to find the format of the eBook and supported devices where you can read your eBook on. They don't even appear to know their own website!

09-17-2013, 03:45 AM	#13
samhy Wizard Posts: 1,820 Karma: 9503859 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: France Device: (Sony (J) PRS 650), Kobo Mini, Kobo Glo HD	I need to know before a purchase whatever site I'm buying from. Who knows I may end up with a PDF ebook On fnac.com, the affiliate seller of Kobo in France, when buying one can see the format and the DRM status but not the devices on which said ebook can be read. One day when I wasn't really careful I bought a guide book which is full of pictures and weights a little less than 80M It was an epub file, so what can go wrong I was thinking. Well tablets can deal very well with epub files too and I did forget that (at that time). So now what I want to see before a purchase is the format, the DRM status and the devices that can be used.

09-17-2013, 03:53 AM	#15
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,010 Karma: 18018738 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kobo Forma, Libra2, Clara 2e, Kindle PW SE & Kindle 2022	I think in addition to the comment about no devices showing means a PDF, the ePub and kpub are differenced by the blackberry sign. With means an ePub, without means a kpub. Hopefully someone will come along and confirm that for us. I am fine with both epubs and Adobe DRM epubs, and even, although I'd be really annoyed if they sold me one, a PDF, but I don't have a Kobo so kpubs are useless to me.

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