Kobo download option gone for new purchases?

[wandalynn]

Has Kobo gone the way of B&N in dropping the download option for new purchases? I don't see an option to download the book I bought today although the older items in my library still have that option.

And apologies if this has already been asked/addressed on the forum. My search didn't come up with anything but the B&N thread.

ETA: I usually sideload Kobo books to my nook since I don't have a Kobo reader. Anyone know a workaround? TIA

[doubleshuffle]

Lots of discussion of this problem scattered around here on MR, but the best quick overview can be found at the Dear Author blog.

[mr_nihilism]

Regular epubs should still be there but kepubs might not be.

[DiapDealer]

You may have just run into a kepub-only title. Those won't have a download option. If any of your past purchases still have the download option, this is very likely what happened. As for how to convert such a title (or archive safely), all I will say is obok.

[DrNefario]

I believe the download option sometimes appears a few days late on brand new releases, too.

[wandalynn]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

You may have just run into a kepub-only title. Those won't have a download option. If any of your past purchases still have the download option, this is very likely what happened. As for how to convert such a title (or archive safely), all I will say is obok.

If that is the problem, is there anyway to see what the ebook format is before purchase?

NM - this question was answered in the Dear Author blog.

I do have an android tablet with the Kobo app so I guess I'll be reading the book on it rather than on an e-ink reader.

ETA: the book I bought is an older release that was coupon eligible.

[Synamon]

Originally Posted by wandalynn

If that is the problem, is there anyway to see what the ebook format is before purchase?

NM - this question was answered in the Dear Author blog.

I do have an android tablet with the Kobo ap so I guess I'll be reading the book on it rather than on an e-ink reader.

ETA: the book I bought is an older release that was coupon eligible.

For anyone else who is curious, click the 'Available on these devices' link, if Blackberry is there then it will have a download button for Adobe DRM epub, if it's a kepub only then no Blackberry.

[kristalana]

Originally Posted by Synamon

For anyone else who is curious, click the 'Available on these devices' link, if Blackberry is there then it will have a download button for Adobe DRM epub, if it's a kepub only then no Blackberry.

No, the lack of Blackberry means it's a DRM-free epub (so it's the best one to see when buying a book). The only way to tell if it's a kepub beforehand is to do a Save Preview.

[snape]

Not sure if this is off topic, but is anyone else having trouble completing a purchase at Kobo? I found 2 books that were both a) couponable and b) not kepub, but after going through the PayPal purchase process I just get a Kobo-generated error page. PayPal says I've placed 2 orders but that's as far as anything is going - the account info at Kobo doesn't show the purchase ever occurred. It hasn't been very long (only since earlier this morning) so don't want to get too worked up about it if Kobo typically takes several hours to process everything. I don't remember much of a delay when buying books previously, though it's been at least a year since I've purchased anything there.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by snape

Not sure if this is off topic, but is anyone else having trouble completing a purchase at Kobo? I found 2 books that were both a) couponable and b) not kepub, but after going through the PayPal purchase process I just get a Kobo-generated error page. PayPal says I've placed 2 orders but that's as far as anything is going - the account info at Kobo doesn't show the purchase ever occurred. It hasn't been very long (only since earlier this morning) so don't want to get too worked up about it if Kobo typically takes several hours to process everything. I don't remember much of a delay when buying books previously, though it's been at least a year since I've purchased anything there.

I bought two books there last Thursday. I got an error please try again message and I tried twice more. The funds were deducted (three times) and the books haven't yet appeared in my purchases. I sent off an email to them that same day and have yet to hear back (due to the weekend I hope).

[snape]

Originally Posted by crich70

I bought two books there last Thursday. I got an error please try again message and I tried twice more. The funds were deducted (three times) and the books haven't yet appeared in my purchases. I sent off an email to them that same day and have yet to hear back (due to the weekend I hope).

Good to know. I'll not be trying again (I was worried the purchase would be processed multiple times, and your experience bears that out) so hopefully this works and my books actually show up. If not, I'll write off Kobo as a vendor and be done with it. I've already had issues with them in the past and I'm really only initiating these 2 purchases to take advantage of the BPH settlement credit I have with them.

I'll be curious to hear how/when your issues are resolved.

Edited: I just checked my PayPal account and, despite my diligence in going through the purchase process only once for each book, the pending charges from Kobo each appear twice.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by snape

Good to know. I'll not be trying again (I was worried the purchase would be processed multiple times, and your experience bears that out) so hopefully this works and my books actually show up. If not, I'll write off Kobo as a vendor and be done with it. I've already had issues with them in the past and I'm really only initiating these 2 purchases to take advantage of the BPH settlement credit I have with them.

I'll be curious to hear how/when your issues are resolved.

To be fair I have had some problems before and they have sorted it out. And the amount charged isn't large. I used a coupon and each charge is only $1.63 though that adds up a little bit. I'm hoping they will get back to me and refund the over charge (or at least give me credit if that isn't possible) and of course access to the two books.

[DiapDealer]

I usually hear the "You've got mail" chime of the Kobo receipt hitting my inbox before I even close my browser after purchasing. I don't think I've ever seen the purchase not immediately show up in my library. Too many availability delays were why I switched to Kobo (from B&N) in the first place.

I admittedly don't use PayPal, however, so that may explain the different experiences.

[cromag]

Originally Posted by wandalynn

If that is the problem, is there anyway to see what the ebook format is before purchase?

NM - this question was answered in the Dear Author blog.

I do have an android tablet with the Kobo app so I guess I'll be reading the book on it rather than on an e-ink reader.

ETA: the book I bought is an older release that was coupon eligible.

Once you get it to your Android there are still multiple ways to get it to your computer and then, eventually, the reader of your choice.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by snape

Good to know. I'll not be trying again (I was worried the purchase would be processed multiple times, and your experience bears that out) so hopefully this works and my books actually show up. If not, I'll write off Kobo as a vendor and be done with it. I've already had issues with them in the past and I'm really only initiating these 2 purchases to take advantage of the BPH settlement credit I have with them.

I'll be curious to hear how/when your issues are resolved.

Edited: I just checked my PayPal account and, despite my diligence in going through the purchase process only once for each book, the pending charges from Kobo each appear twice.

I think the people at Kobo must be confused. I got an email from them today (finally) and they have no record of my purchase of parts 4 and the final part of "The Island" and made mention of my pre-order of "Wings of Fantasy" as well but they seem to have the two orders mixed together. I had to send jpegs of the pre-order page for the one and of my charges on my bank statement for the other as a means of hopefully getting the mess sorted out.