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JPenguin · 08-09-2010, 12:26 AM

Yup, even if the competition is growing here in Canada we might not see a permanent drop yet. The Kobo was selling really well at $150, the Kindle might beat it on price and features but the Kobo is available in store at Chapters & Indigo locations which I think helps a lot. We will see the price drop but while the Kobo is still selling well at $150 then it doesn't make sense to drop the price.

I wouldn't be too surprised if this weekend's drop was to gauge the market's response to a lower price, would sales increase dramatically or only increase a bit? If the sales didn't sky rocket then it doesn't really make that much sense for the price to drop, simple keep selling at the $150 price point and do sales till Christmas when a price drop will reposition them for the holiday sales. If the sales response was good then perhaps they will lower the price to compete with the Kindle.

I bought the Kobo on release day, I don't have any regrets about the price. I was a little disappointed about the Black version being available so quickly but at $150 it really wasn't enough to worry about and I don't dislike the blue button that much. If I was in the market for an ereader today I don't know which I'd go for, I would not buy a Kindle cause of the locked down format so the Nook would be the competitor but there's the lack of support/warranty there which would concern me.

-- Edit:

Also about the eReaders supposed to be cheap: I think that is very true with the Kindle, Amazon want to get the device into consumers hands to drive the sales of ebooks since ebooks can only be purchased through them. With the Kobo I think it is a little different, Kobo want to sell to everyone with a smartphone, PC, Sony reader, Kobo reader, iPad, or any other (Adobe DRM) ePub device. They probably want a slight profit margin on the Kobo reader since there's no vendor lock in while Amazon can support selling the Kindle at a loss to recoup in ebooks (like Sony & Microsoft were selling their consoles below cost initially with the intention of making money back on games).

08-09-2010, 12:26 AM	#26
JPenguin Connoisseur Posts: 90 Karma: 42 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo EReader, Kobo for Palm Pre	Yup, even if the competition is growing here in Canada we might not see a permanent drop yet. The Kobo was selling really well at $150, the Kindle might beat it on price and features but the Kobo is available in store at Chapters & Indigo locations which I think helps a lot. We will see the price drop but while the Kobo is still selling well at $150 then it doesn't make sense to drop the price. I wouldn't be too surprised if this weekend's drop was to gauge the market's response to a lower price, would sales increase dramatically or only increase a bit? If the sales didn't sky rocket then it doesn't really make that much sense for the price to drop, simple keep selling at the $150 price point and do sales till Christmas when a price drop will reposition them for the holiday sales. If the sales response was good then perhaps they will lower the price to compete with the Kindle. I bought the Kobo on release day, I don't have any regrets about the price. I was a little disappointed about the Black version being available so quickly but at $150 it really wasn't enough to worry about and I don't dislike the blue button that much. If I was in the market for an ereader today I don't know which I'd go for, I would not buy a Kindle cause of the locked down format so the Nook would be the competitor but there's the lack of support/warranty there which would concern me. -- Edit: Also about the eReaders supposed to be cheap: I think that is very true with the Kindle, Amazon want to get the device into consumers hands to drive the sales of ebooks since ebooks can only be purchased through them. With the Kobo I think it is a little different, Kobo want to sell to everyone with a smartphone, PC, Sony reader, Kobo reader, iPad, or any other (Adobe DRM) ePub device. They probably want a slight profit margin on the Kobo reader since there's no vendor lock in while Amazon can support selling the Kindle at a loss to recoup in ebooks (like Sony & Microsoft were selling their consoles below cost initially with the intention of making money back on games). Last edited by JPenguin; 08-09-2010 at 12:30 AM.