A question about cross-border Kobo shopping

kjturner71 · 02-28-2011, 11:49 AM

I live in Canada but I will be traveling to the US in a few weeks and I was thinking of buying a Kobo eReader at Borders (if I can find one that hasn't closed down and has Kobos in stock). They are ~$50 cheaper in the US than in Canada, where Kobo is based and where the devices are manufactured, go figure. My question is this: when I return home, will I be able to buy books from KoboBooks.com, in CDN prices, or do I have to buy books thru Borders? Will there be any gotchas with buying an eReader from a foreign country?

PeterT · 02-28-2011, 12:08 PM

From earlier discussions I believe all that is needed is to install the Kobo Desktop as opposed to the Borders Desktop. Once that has been done, when you sync the Kobo reader with the application it will ensure that the URLs on teh WiFi device for the store point to the Canadian Store and not the US store.

JackNF · 02-28-2011, 01:12 PM

Also make sure the ~$50 cheaper units are in fact the Wifi model. Refurbished 'original' non-wifi units can be found in Canada in the sub-$100 price range.

kjturner71 · 03-01-2011, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackNF

Also make sure the ~$50 cheaper units are in fact the Wifi model. Refurbished 'original' non-wifi units can be found in Canada in the sub-$100 price range.

Borders sells the newer wi-fi model. Not sure how Borders gets them cheaper than Indigo/Chapters, but they do.

SameerH · 03-06-2011, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

From earlier discussions I believe all that is needed is to install the Kobo Desktop as opposed to the Borders Desktop. Once that has been done, when you sync the Kobo reader with the application it will ensure that the URLs on teh WiFi device for the store point to the Canadian Store and not the US store.

More accurately, they will point to the KOBO store after syncing. The Kobo store services globally, so both US and Canadian patrons can buy from it.

But yes, this method is your best bet.

bairdn · 03-06-2011, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SameerH

More accurately, they will point to the KOBO store after syncing. The Kobo store services globally, so both US and Canadian patrons can buy from it.

But yes, this method is your best bet.

Including Australia & NZ?

pokee · 03-06-2011, 07:09 PM

The only thing that prevents me from buying electronics in the US vs. my native Canada, is the warranties. Check to make sure that you do not have to bring the Kobo back to a Borders store if there's a technical problem with it (see if you can exchange at a Chapters). There have been a fair number of Kobos with problems - more than the average electronic, IMO. I would personally pay the extra $50 to avoid potential exchange/warranty headaches.

Typically, I need to save over $100 to buy an electronic across the line vs. Canada. I will however, gladly cross the border to save $20 on a tank of gas!

SameerH · 03-08-2011, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bairdn

Including Australia & NZ?

Last I checked, yes. Simply go to Kobo.com and you'll see the books which are available in your region (geo-restrictions, unfortunately).

I don't remember offhand how full the catalogue was and I don't look at it every day (since I need an Australian credit card to fake an australian account).

But there should be many books available. Let me know how it goes.

Just understand that currently REDgroup retail accounts (Borders AU, A&R, Whitcoulls) are still separate from Kobo, so your library from any of those will not be available at Kobo. But if you want to start a new account, go for it!

bairdn · 03-08-2011, 10:41 PM

Thanks Sameer - I'll give it a try soon

02-28-2011, 11:49 AM	#1
kjturner71 Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Wireless	A question about cross-border Kobo shopping I live in Canada but I will be traveling to the US in a few weeks and I was thinking of buying a Kobo eReader at Borders (if I can find one that hasn't closed down and has Kobos in stock). They are ~$50 cheaper in the US than in Canada, where Kobo is based and where the devices are manufactured, go figure. My question is this: when I return home, will I be able to buy books from KoboBooks.com, in CDN prices, or do I have to buy books thru Borders? Will there be any gotchas with buying an eReader from a foreign country?

02-28-2011, 12:08 PM	#2
PeterT Taking a break; Fed up Posts: 4,446 Karma: 32677024 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Wife: Touch, Arc, Vox Me: Nexus 7, Glo	From earlier discussions I believe all that is needed is to install the Kobo Desktop as opposed to the Borders Desktop. Once that has been done, when you sync the Kobo reader with the application it will ensure that the URLs on teh WiFi device for the store point to the Canadian Store and not the US store. __________________ Peter

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02-28-2011, 01:12 PM	#3
JackNF Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 8224 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kobo eReader	Also make sure the ~$50 cheaper units are in fact the Wifi model. Refurbished 'original' non-wifi units can be found in Canada in the sub-$100 price range.

03-06-2011, 07:09 PM	#7
pokee Fanatic Posts: 561 Karma: 189397 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC Device: Kobo WiFi, Kobo WiFi Refurb, Kobo Vox, Samsung SII LTE, Samsung Tab2	The only thing that prevents me from buying electronics in the US vs. my native Canada, is the warranties. Check to make sure that you do not have to bring the Kobo back to a Borders store if there's a technical problem with it (see if you can exchange at a Chapters). There have been a fair number of Kobos with problems - more than the average electronic, IMO. I would personally pay the extra $50 to avoid potential exchange/warranty headaches. Typically, I need to save over $100 to buy an electronic across the line vs. Canada. I will however, gladly cross the border to save $20 on a tank of gas!

03-08-2011, 10:41 PM	#9
bairdn Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kob	Thanks Sameer - I'll give it a try soon


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