Kobo App -- How to Buy Books?

sakura-panda · 09-02-2010, 03:02 PM

I was looking at the Kobo webpage and reading about their smartphone apps. I'm interested, but I want to know how to pay for them. I don't plan to sit and enter my credit card number into my itty bitty smartphone keyboard whenever I want to buy a book. Do I have to leave my payment information in my account? Is there an option to prepay?

dmacmart · 09-02-2010, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sakura-panda

I was looking at the Kobo webpage and reading about their smartphone apps. I'm interested, but I want to know how to pay for them. I don't plan to sit and enter my credit card number into my itty bitty smartphone keyboard whenever I want to buy a book. Do I have to leave my payment information in my account? Is there an option to prepay?

The model is similar to iTunes. You can create your account on the website on your computer for typing convenience, and you can do your purchases on your computer. But as far as I can tell, it will remember your credit card number. You can't prepay.

You can sign out of your account on your smartphone every time you use it but all your books will be deleted until you sign in again, when they will all be downloaded again. (at least that's how it works on my iPhone)

Pookeysgirl · 09-02-2010, 03:28 PM

[QUOTE=sakura-panda;1089640] Do I have to leave my payment information in my account? QUOTE]

Kobo keeps your credit number on your account at all times. Unfortunately if you want to change your card number you have to sign in to your account on a PC. Or at least, I did.

sakura-panda · 09-02-2010, 03:49 PM

Thanks for the quick replies!

It seems like a pretty basic question, but I don't buy any paid apps for my Android phone for that reason -- I don't know how I'll be billed for it. It makes sense that it would be through the app by Kobo, even if it has to be handled by the PC. I was afraid I would be charged through whatever unknown-to-me method the Android Marketplace uses.

bwaldron · 09-02-2010, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sakura-panda

It seems like a pretty basic question, but I don't buy any paid apps for my Android phone for that reason -- I don't know how I'll be billed for it.

Android apps are paid for via your Google Checkout account, BTW.

sakura-panda · 09-02-2010, 05:39 PM

Really? I'll have to set it up. I used it once a long time ago, but that credit card is long gone.

My husband pays the phone bills and I've been afraid that any charges would go on there and I didn't want that to happen. Fluffy stuff like apps I'd rather pay separately and not tack onto the regular bill.

Thanks!

taming · 09-02-2010, 07:18 PM

Kobo is a real company, just like Amazon is 9but waaaay smaller). Having a credit card on file there is not like buying an app that makes quacking sounds from some unknown person. Whenever you buy on-line, you face the decision of whether the place you are buying from is reputable, trustworthy, and secure. Based on everything I know about Kobo, I feel confident that they are doing what they need to do to protect my credit card information. Does that mean that there will never be a security problem--well, we have seen big banks develop holes in their security system, so it could conceivably happen. it all boils down to a person's comfort level for this kind of thing.

sakura-panda · 09-02-2010, 08:04 PM

I only wish they had payment information posted somewhere. Just a little "we accept" blurb would have been enough for me. I couldn't find anything, which I thought was unusual for an online store. Perhaps Sony and Apple do not post it either -- I don't know -- but I have a GC for iTunes and I opened a Sony card to buy my Reader, so I didn't think twice about how I was going to pay to either one.

I didn't want to sign up and order a book and find out the bill would be mailed to me or something. It is one thing to assume they take Visa or Paypal or whatever, but it's nicer to have that spelled out for me.

This also probably means I'll need to set up an account before I try to buy a book through the app, to make things simpler.

ATDrake · 09-02-2010, 08:38 PM

They do kind of bury their payment options information in the Kobo Online FAQ section which can only be accessed from their Help page.

Amazingly, the front FAQ page puts all the question categories in tiny print in a sidebar at the bottom right-hand side, and a huge announcement takes up the main viewing area.

Kids, don't use blogging software for this sort of thing unless you really want to frustrate your customers. Or at least put the FAQ category links on the top left hand side and bold it.

Also, they're owned by Chapters Indigo, a major Canadian bookstore chain (which used to be two separate major Canadian bookstore chains before the merger/buyout).

taming · 09-02-2010, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATDrake

Also, they're owned by Chapters Indigo, a major Canadian bookstore chain (which used to be two separate major Canadian bookstore chains before the merger/buyout).

They started out owned by Chapters-Indigo, but they spun it off and then sold off a big part of the the new company to various international partners. If I remember correctly Chapters-Indigo owns 48% of the new company.

SensualPoet · 09-02-2010, 09:44 PM

Nope. Chapters-Indigo is the majority owner; US-based Borders, Instant Fame, a subsidiary of Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd., and REDgroup Retail Pty Ltd. are the other co-owners. Chapters owns 58%; Borders "under 20%; and the remain 22% by the other partners. See March 1, 2010 article in Canadian Business: http://www.canadianbusiness.com/mana...01_10019_10019

It helps explain why Kobo is not the only e-reader Borders sells.

taming · 09-03-2010, 02:58 AM

LOL--the 48% popped into my mind, but even as I typed it, I was scratching my head re the majority ownership thing. I should have taken the urge to scratch as a signal to look it up before I wrote

. I must be getting old--I swear I knew all of this two weeks ago.

sakura-panda · 09-03-2010, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATDrake

They do kind of bury their payment options information in the Kobo Online FAQ section which can only be accessed from their Help page.

I never saw that FAQ link and I was on that page! I must have been fixated on the menu at the left. That whole FAQ looks very useful and I wish they had more than (seemingly) one link to it. At the bottom of the main page would be a great place for it.

Thanks for sharing the link.

09-02-2010, 03:02 PM	#1
sakura-panda Guru Posts: 923 Karma: 9558874 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southeast Michigan, USA Device: 2017 10.5" iPad Pro (Kobo, NOOK, Kindle, Google Play Books & Scribd)	Kobo App -- How to Buy Books? I was looking at the Kobo webpage and reading about their smartphone apps. I'm interested, but I want to know how to pay for them. I don't plan to sit and enter my credit card number into my itty bitty smartphone keyboard whenever I want to buy a book. Do I have to leave my payment information in my account? Is there an option to prepay?

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09-02-2010, 03:28 PM	#3
Pookeysgirl Wizard Posts: 1,705 Karma: 12696746 Join Date: May 2010 Device: K3, Kobo Mini	[QUOTE=sakura-panda;1089640] Do I have to leave my payment information in my account? QUOTE] Kobo keeps your credit number on your account at all times. Unfortunately if you want to change your card number you have to sign in to your account on a PC. Or at least, I did.

09-02-2010, 03:49 PM	#4
sakura-panda Guru Posts: 923 Karma: 9558874 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southeast Michigan, USA Device: 2017 10.5" iPad Pro (Kobo, NOOK, Kindle, Google Play Books & Scribd)	Thanks for the quick replies! It seems like a pretty basic question, but I don't buy any paid apps for my Android phone for that reason -- I don't know how I'll be billed for it. It makes sense that it would be through the app by Kobo, even if it has to be handled by the PC. I was afraid I would be charged through whatever unknown-to-me method the Android Marketplace uses.

09-02-2010, 05:39 PM	#6
sakura-panda Guru Posts: 923 Karma: 9558874 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southeast Michigan, USA Device: 2017 10.5" iPad Pro (Kobo, NOOK, Kindle, Google Play Books & Scribd)	Really? I'll have to set it up. I used it once a long time ago, but that credit card is long gone. My husband pays the phone bills and I've been afraid that any charges would go on there and I didn't want that to happen. Fluffy stuff like apps I'd rather pay separately and not tack onto the regular bill. Thanks!

09-02-2010, 07:18 PM	#7
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	Kobo is a real company, just like Amazon is 9but waaaay smaller). Having a credit card on file there is not like buying an app that makes quacking sounds from some unknown person. Whenever you buy on-line, you face the decision of whether the place you are buying from is reputable, trustworthy, and secure. Based on everything I know about Kobo, I feel confident that they are doing what they need to do to protect my credit card information. Does that mean that there will never be a security problem--well, we have seen big banks develop holes in their security system, so it could conceivably happen. it all boils down to a person's comfort level for this kind of thing.

09-02-2010, 08:04 PM	#8
sakura-panda Guru Posts: 923 Karma: 9558874 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southeast Michigan, USA Device: 2017 10.5" iPad Pro (Kobo, NOOK, Kindle, Google Play Books & Scribd)	I only wish they had payment information posted somewhere. Just a little "we accept" blurb would have been enough for me. I couldn't find anything, which I thought was unusual for an online store. Perhaps Sony and Apple do not post it either -- I don't know -- but I have a GC for iTunes and I opened a Sony card to buy my Reader, so I didn't think twice about how I was going to pay to either one. I didn't want to sign up and order a book and find out the bill would be mailed to me or something. It is one thing to assume they take Visa or Paypal or whatever, but it's nicer to have that spelled out for me. This also probably means I'll need to set up an account before I try to buy a book through the app, to make things simpler.

09-02-2010, 08:38 PM	#9
ATDrake Wizzard Posts: 11,517 Karma: 33048258 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Roundworld Device: Kindle 2 International, Sony PRS-T1, BlackBerry PlayBook, Acer Iconia	They do kind of bury their payment options information in the Kobo Online FAQ section which can only be accessed from their Help page. Amazingly, the front FAQ page puts all the question categories in tiny print in a sidebar at the bottom right-hand side, and a huge announcement takes up the main viewing area. Kids, don't use blogging software for this sort of thing unless you really want to frustrate your customers. Or at least put the FAQ category links on the top left hand side and bold it. Also, they're owned by Chapters Indigo, a major Canadian bookstore chain (which used to be two separate major Canadian bookstore chains before the merger/buyout).

09-02-2010, 09:44 PM	#11
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	Nope. Chapters-Indigo is the majority owner; US-based Borders, Instant Fame, a subsidiary of Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd., and REDgroup Retail Pty Ltd. are the other co-owners. Chapters owns 58%; Borders "under 20%; and the remain 22% by the other partners. See March 1, 2010 article in Canadian Business: http://www.canadianbusiness.com/mana...01_10019_10019 It helps explain why Kobo is not the only e-reader Borders sells.

09-03-2010, 02:58 AM	#12
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	LOL--the 48% popped into my mind, but even as I typed it, I was scratching my head re the majority ownership thing. I should have taken the urge to scratch as a signal to look it up before I wrote . I must be getting old--I swear I knew all of this two weeks ago.

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