Anyone having problems buying books on Kobo?

Plumadona · 10-11-2013, 03:13 PM

Tried several times to buy a book on Kobo last night, got a "try again later" error message. Tried again this morning, got the same message. As a result of multiple tries, got a hold from my credit card for suspected fraud since their records showed that Kobo kept rejecting the valid card and it's a foreign country (I'm in the U.S.). Explained the situation to the credit card folks and got that straightened out. Spent a lot of time with Kobo chat and got kicked up to a Tier 2 case, but still no change. No word from Kobo yet; guess I'm not buying books from them anytime soon.

Is it just me or is anyone else having this problem?

Plumadona

moffattm · 10-11-2013, 05:01 PM

For some reason I've never been able to use my New Zealand Visa card on the Kobo site, it always rejects it. But Amazon and other international sites quite happily accept my card. If I want to buy anything from Kobo I have to pay via PayPal (which is linked to the same Visa card that Kobo doesn't like).

beckybug3 · 10-11-2013, 05:34 PM

I am having the same problem (although my issues grew WAY bigger). Kobo has been very nice, but Tier 3 has not yet found a resolution. I will let you know once they have an answer.

Thank you for you patience so far. We would like to apologize again for the inconvenience of this situation. We have located an error that is causing the issues you have been experiencing and are currently investigating possible fixes for it. Unfortunately, we don't yet have a resolution in place for it yet, nor do we have an ETA for when we would have that. Please be assured that we are working diligently to get this resolved for you and the others affected by this error as soon as possible. We will be keeping you posted of the progress. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you again for your patience and understanding.
Sincerely,

The Kobo Team

AnemicOak · 10-11-2013, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plumadona

Tried several times to buy a book on Kobo last night, got a "try again later" error message. Tried again this morning, got the same message.

IIRC Blossom has been having problems & posted about it in the Kobo discount/coupon thread. Don't know if she ever got it straightened out.

Quote:

As a result of multiple tries, got a hold from my credit card for suspected fraud since their records showed that Kobo kept rejecting the valid card and it's a foreign country (I'm in the U.S.).

Which is a little odd since they charge US customers through their US division out of Delaware as opposed to out of Canada and have for a while. I wonder if that has something to do with the errors you've been getting, like it's trying to use the US site and charge using the Canadian CC processor. Hard to know with Kobo, their site's always had glitches and seems worse since they moved to the new version.

I can say that I was able to buy two books a few minutes ago without problems.

Plumadona · 10-11-2013, 07:12 PM

Well, Tier 2 isn't doing so well either. Just got an email saying they thought they had a fix, tried to buy a book, but same result - error message. I wouldn't mind so much if not for the fact that too many of these tries sets off alarm bells with the credit card company (and rightfully so), which is more aggravation for me.

Oh, well. So much for the coupon-driven shopping spree this weekend. Between this and the unavailabilty of the Sony PRS-T3 in the U.S., I'm ready to go back to hard copy

Plumadona

AnemicOak · 10-11-2013, 07:21 PM

If there are things you really want to buy it would probably work to use your CC to pay Kobo via PayPal. Obviously not the best solution as it's an extra hoop to jump through, but it would allow you to make use of the coupon.

Plumadona · 10-11-2013, 07:24 PM

Brian, thanks for the heads up! I've asked the folks on that forum to post here if they have any resolution. If nothing else, the more Kobo hears about it, the more likely they are to work this out (I hope).

Plumadona

Blossom · 10-11-2013, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

IIRC Blossom has been having problems & posted about it in the Kobo discount/coupon thread. Don't know if she ever got it straightened out.

No it never fixed itself. I stopped trying. If I need a book I use PayPal which charges me about 6 cents more to process my card to Canada so it's not too bad but it's a extra step filling out my card info and billing info every time.

It just keeps me from buying more than I would because it is a extra step to log in to PayPal I have to wait for a text message with a log in code so Kobo has lost several sales this week.

My card is a U.S. Card which I have used at Kobo for years now. It seems when they switch over to the processor that charges me tax on every purchase this happens. My card no longer works for a time. I don't think they are with Delaware anymore they've gone back to using the same people they had last year before they switched over. This is not first time I had this issue, it happen last year but then they switched over to other processor and I could buy to my hearts' content.

Plumadona · 10-11-2013, 09:20 PM

Thanks for the info. I don't want to open a PayPal account, so I guess it's goodbye Kobo. Too bad, as they were becoming my favorite source for epub.

Plumadona

Blossom · 10-11-2013, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plumadona

Thanks for the info. I don't want to open a PayPal account, so I guess it's goodbye Kobo. Too bad, as they were becoming my favorite source for epub.

Plumadona

You don't need a PayPal account to use the Credit Card form. Just a Credit Card. It's totally different than logging in and paying with PayPal. I've done it a few times and it works fine. They just ask for your billing info, CC# and a email address to send you a receipt. It's like any other CC form.

VicLavigne · 10-11-2013, 11:02 PM

I think the issue is more than just with buying ebooks. I have been tempted to buy the Aura HD and tonight I finally gave in.... but the website refuses to sell me one. Keeps declining my credit cards. Tried two different cards, both declined and they were both good cards.

6charlong · 10-11-2013, 11:04 PM

I had the same exact problem trying to buy one of the new Auras. I checked with my bank and they said the purchase went through on their end but was immediately reversed by Kobo. I finally gave up and decided to wait and try one out in a local book store. They're expected sometime next month. Luckily, I'm still able to buy books from Kobo.

taming · 10-12-2013, 08:51 AM

I just noticed that they now have the Kids website/feature up. For reasons I will never understand, when Kobo changes the site in a major way, the site has major problems for a day or so. Poor planning around this kind of thing, for sure.

http://kids.kobobooks.com/en-CA

You can set up special kids accounts and do various other new things.

paola · 10-12-2013, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taming

I just noticed that they now have the Kids website/feature up. For reasons I will never understand, when Kobo changes the site in a major way, the site has major problems for a day or so. Poor planning around this kind of thing, for sure.

http://kids.kobobooks.com/en-CA

You can set up special kids accounts and do various other new things.

unfortunately it does not seem to work in the UK - pity, as today I did a search for Lionel Shriver "Big Brother", and - bearing in mind I am quite open minded and non shocked easily, but let us say that i was rather surprised at what else the search engine threw out!

Nightyume · 10-12-2013, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taming

I just noticed that they now have the Kids website/feature up. For reasons I will never understand, when Kobo changes the site in a major way, the site has major problems for a day or so. Poor planning around this kind of thing, for sure.

http://kids.kobobooks.com/en-CA

You can set up special kids accounts and do various other new things.

It's actually been around for two weeks now. How long do the page hiccups tend to last?

Quote:

Originally Posted by paola

unfortunately it does not seem to work in the UK - pity, as today I did a search for Lionel Shriver "Big Brother", and - bearing in mind I am quite open minded and non shocked easily, but let us say that i was rather surprised at what else the search engine threw out!

You could always change your location. That should work... Don't forget you have to activate the kids option in your account section. ¿Or do you mean that even activated it doesn't work? (I haven't tried it yet as I don't have kids).

10-11-2013, 03:13 PM	#1
Plumadona Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 615554 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Oasis, Kindle HD6, Kindle PW2, Sony PRS-T1, Nook NE1	Anyone having problems buying books on Kobo? Tried several times to buy a book on Kobo last night, got a "try again later" error message. Tried again this morning, got the same message. As a result of multiple tries, got a hold from my credit card for suspected fraud since their records showed that Kobo kept rejecting the valid card and it's a foreign country (I'm in the U.S.). Explained the situation to the credit card folks and got that straightened out. Spent a lot of time with Kobo chat and got kicked up to a Tier 2 case, but still no change. No word from Kobo yet; guess I'm not buying books from them anytime soon. Is it just me or is anyone else having this problem? Plumadona

10-12-2013, 08:51 AM	#13
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	I just noticed that they now have the Kids website/feature up. For reasons I will never understand, when Kobo changes the site in a major way, the site has major problems for a day or so. Poor planning around this kind of thing, for sure. http://kids.kobobooks.com/en-CA You can set up special kids accounts and do various other new things. Last edited by taming; 10-12-2013 at 08:53 AM.

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10-11-2013, 05:01 PM	#2
moffattm Addict Posts: 333 Karma: 1440670 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Device: Kobo Original, Kobo Glo	For some reason I've never been able to use my New Zealand Visa card on the Kobo site, it always rejects it. But Amazon and other international sites quite happily accept my card. If I want to buy anything from Kobo I have to pay via PayPal (which is linked to the same Visa card that Kobo doesn't like).

10-11-2013, 05:34 PM	#3
beckybug3 Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 17120 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Georgia, USA Device: Kobo Touch, a dead Kobo Aura HD, and a dead Kobo Wifi	I am having the same problem (although my issues grew WAY bigger). Kobo has been very nice, but Tier 3 has not yet found a resolution. I will let you know once they have an answer. Thank you for you patience so far. We would like to apologize again for the inconvenience of this situation. We have located an error that is causing the issues you have been experiencing and are currently investigating possible fixes for it. Unfortunately, we don't yet have a resolution in place for it yet, nor do we have an ETA for when we would have that. Please be assured that we are working diligently to get this resolved for you and the others affected by this error as soon as possible. We will be keeping you posted of the progress. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you again for your patience and understanding. Sincerely, The Kobo Team

10-11-2013, 07:12 PM	#5
Plumadona Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 615554 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Oasis, Kindle HD6, Kindle PW2, Sony PRS-T1, Nook NE1	Well, Tier 2 isn't doing so well either. Just got an email saying they thought they had a fix, tried to buy a book, but same result - error message. I wouldn't mind so much if not for the fact that too many of these tries sets off alarm bells with the credit card company (and rightfully so), which is more aggravation for me. Oh, well. So much for the coupon-driven shopping spree this weekend. Between this and the unavailabilty of the Sony PRS-T3 in the U.S., I'm ready to go back to hard copy Plumadona

10-11-2013, 07:21 PM	#6
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	If there are things you really want to buy it would probably work to use your CC to pay Kobo via PayPal. Obviously not the best solution as it's an extra hoop to jump through, but it would allow you to make use of the coupon.

10-11-2013, 07:24 PM	#7
Plumadona Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 615554 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Oasis, Kindle HD6, Kindle PW2, Sony PRS-T1, Nook NE1	Brian, thanks for the heads up! I've asked the folks on that forum to post here if they have any resolution. If nothing else, the more Kobo hears about it, the more likely they are to work this out (I hope). Plumadona

10-11-2013, 09:20 PM	#9
Plumadona Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 615554 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Oasis, Kindle HD6, Kindle PW2, Sony PRS-T1, Nook NE1	Thanks for the info. I don't want to open a PayPal account, so I guess it's goodbye Kobo. Too bad, as they were becoming my favorite source for epub. Plumadona

10-11-2013, 11:02 PM	#11
VicLavigne e-reading since 2008 Posts: 197 Karma: 112730 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hinesville Georgia Device: Nook STR, Sony PRS-T1	I think the issue is more than just with buying ebooks. I have been tempted to buy the Aura HD and tonight I finally gave in.... but the website refuses to sell me one. Keeps declining my credit cards. Tried two different cards, both declined and they were both good cards.

10-11-2013, 11:04 PM	#12
6charlong friendly lurker Posts: 896 Karma: 2436026 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: US Device: Kindle, nook, Apple and Kobo	I had the same exact problem trying to buy one of the new Auras. I checked with my bank and they said the purchase went through on their end but was immediately reversed by Kobo. I finally gave up and decided to wait and try one out in a local book store. They're expected sometime next month. Luckily, I'm still able to buy books from Kobo.

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