Where to buy --UK--

[KonKon]

Hello everyone,
i am new to this community and still finding out the extend of all the topics. For sure i will need a lot of things posted here.

I have decided to buy the KA1 after a lot of thought, still not being sure it will be with no problems.

My main concern is that due to the fact that i live in Greece (where noone sells this device) i will have some friends' relative bring me one from the UK. So if i will need anything like warranty stuff etc. i will have to deal with sending there my device for repairs or anything.

Could anyone tell me if there is a trusted seller there among those listed in kobo's website? Has anyone bought it from within the UK and could provide some advice?

Also, could i arrange so that i can use someones library card from the UK to borrow books in my KA1, or even set up an account from here?

I know i post a lot of questions. If someone can help, it will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance

[Telemachus]

I bought my Aura One from Argos....in the unlikely event that the device is faulty or even if you find it unsuitable they pretty much have a no quibble return policy.
I have 5 Kobo ereaders and have never had a single fault with any of them.
Sometimes I wonder if the number of reported problems by people on here with a low post count is part of a smear campaign by a rival company to besmirch the Kobo product range...maybe I'm just paranoid..

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Telemachus

I bought my Aura One from Argos....in the unlikely event that the device is faulty or even if you find it unsuitable they pretty much have a no quibble return policy.
I have 5 Kobo ereaders and have never had a single fault with any of them.
Sometimes I wonder if the number of reported problems by people on here with a low post count is part of a smear campaign by a rival company to besmirch the Kobo product range...maybe I'm just paranoid..

I think it is more people post the bad and less people post the good.
So I don't think it is a smear campaign.
If you think this forum (Kobo) is besmirching, then you should check out the kindle forum. Even more complaints there.

[John F]

Originally Posted by Telemachus

...

I have 5 Kobo ereaders and have never had a single fault with any of them.

...

Sorry to nitpick, but could you define "fault"?

Originally Posted by Telemachus

Sideloaded 4.4.9298 on to my upatched Touch N905C...same story.
Content stored on the Sandisk 4 GB SD card not showing in My Books. I tried moving one from the folder to the root of the SD card, it's just not processing the content. Books stored in the device memory show up ok.
Also noticed that when I power on, the wi-fi, battery and sync icons in the top right position seem to scroll horizontally left a few pixels before settling into position.
Darn it...factory reset

I think the "you only here about the bad ones" falls into the same internet urban legend as "I've never had any problems".

[Telemachus]

Originally Posted by John F

Sorry to nitpick, but could you define "fault"?

Uneven illumination from the Comfort Light, excessive battery discharge, units dying...It's just me, I must be seeing conspiracy where none exists.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Telemachus

Uneven illumination from the Comfort Light, excessive battery discharge, units dying...It's just me, I must be seeing conspiracy where none exists.

Silly question.
Are there over 1000 of any of these complaints?
Conspiracy is that roughly 1 in 500 owners of anything will have a problem.
Of these 500 at least 50 will post somewhere of the problem.
People that are happy with their anything typically don't post.
That is more a .5 of 500 people.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Telemachus

Uneven illumination from the Comfort Light, excessive battery discharge, units dying...It's just me, I must be seeing conspiracy where none exists.

Excessive battery discharge is not a fault. It's a firmware issue and Kobo is working on it.

As for you conspiracy, none exists. It's all in your mind.

[lensmann]

Originally Posted by KonKon

Could anyone tell me if there is a trusted seller there among those listed in kobo's website? Has anyone bought it from within the UK and could provide some advice?

I'd endorse the recommendation of Argos, who have an excellent return policy.

Originally Posted by KonKon

Also, could i arrange so that i can use someones library card from the UK to borrow books in my KA1, or even set up an account from here?

Firstly, not all UK libraries use Overdrive. Quite a few have switched to Bibliotheca. You'll need to make sure that the library uses Overdrive.

Secondly, most local libraries require you to be a resident of the local area to have an account. Some libraries will give an account to anyone who lives in the UK, but I don't think there's any library which will give someone who lives outside the country an account. Sharing an account is a breach of the library's terms, and could lead to the card being cancelled if they find out. I've borrowed books on my Aura One when I've been back visiting family in Norway, so I don't think they check the IP address, but it's certainly possible that someone would notice if it's constantly used from outside the country.

[John F]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Silly question.
Are there over 1000 of any of these complaints?
Conspiracy is that roughly 1 in 500 owners of anything will have a problem.
Of these 500 at least 50 will post somewhere of the problem.
People that are happy with their anything typically don't post.
That is more a .5 of 500 people.

Did you get these generic user behavior numbers from somewhere? A study? A Survey? Could you please provide a link?

It sounds very interesting. In the age of the internet, It would be very interesting to see how this changed over time: forums bocoming more popular, more companies switching to FB for support, ...?

.
.
.

Sorry, I see you started with "Conspiracy".

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by John F

Did you get these generic user behavior numbers from somewhere? A study? A Survey? Could you please provide a link?

It sounds very interesting. In the age of the internet, It would be very interesting to see how this changed over time: forums bocoming more popular, more companies switching to FB for support, ...?

.
.
.

Sorry, I see you started with "Conspiracy".

I don't think there are any real statistics but if you care to do the math: the old rule of thumb was if 1 person complained loudly 10 people probably had the same problem. But only like 5% of the total consumers would have that problem.

So old rule of thumb because you will notice I didn't specify the anything.

Since Facebook, those figures may have changed.

*oh and just for useless trivia: last time I looked the total number of ereaders was at 75 million. That is all ereaders not just the biggies.

[filmo]

I have never had any Kobo comfort light problems on my readers!

[KonKon]

Thanks everybody for your answers, both about the stores and the library stuff too! These are really helpfull! The truth is that i also am very troubled because of the fact that during my online research, everywhere i looked, there were people talking about these exact issues with this device. But personaly, i like to think and to hope that yes there might be problematic devices/firmware issues but the overwhelming opinions suggest that it is a decent reader that covers so many needs effectively. I trully hope that i dont fall in the category of those who get dissapointed, as i really like the KA1 from everything i have seen so far.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by KonKon

Thanks everybody for your answers, both about the stores and the library stuff too! These are really helpfull! The truth is that i also am very troubled because of the fact that during my online research, everywhere i looked, there were people talking about these exact issues with this device. But personaly, i like to think and to hope that yes there might be problematic devices/firmware issues but the overwhelming opinions suggest that it is a decent reader that covers so many needs effectively. I trully hope that i dont fall in the category of those who get dissapointed, as i really like the KA1 from everything i have seen so far.

What did you expect to find?
Little secret: no matter how many complaints you read on the internet about the Kobo, a kindle, a kitchenaid, keurig or a kitten, there will be 9 people that are happy with their K thing for every 1 complaint.
Happy people are too busy using their K thing to take the time to post.
So there is a 90% chance that you will have no problems.
Oh and of the 10% that do complain, about 50% of the problems can be traced back to user error.
Let's see, the screen is cracked, I didn't do anything but rest my elbow on it, drop it down a flight of stairs onto concrete, accidentally run over it with the car. Company should tell users the screens are very fragile.
Device caught on fire. I just changed out the battery for a stronger one and charged it under my pillow. The company should have warned us. (They had.)
Company should replace my device because it got a little wet and no longer works. (They had run it through a washing machine.)

Oh and most ereaders do not like hot bubble baths. Though the owner of that one knows exactly who is at fault. (The author of the book she was reading. )


I wish I had made those up but they are all true.
Anyway good luck and you should be fine.

[John F]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

What did you expect to find?
Little secret: no matter how many complaints you read on the internet about the Kobo, a kindle, a kitchenaid, keurig or a kitten, there will be 9 people that are happy with their K thing for every 1 complaint.
Happy people are too busy using their K thing to take the time to post.
So there is a 90% chance that you will have no problems.
Oh and of the 10% that do complain, about 50% of the problems can be traced back to user error.
Let's see, the screen is cracked, I didn't do anything but rest my elbow on it, drop it down a flight of stairs onto concrete, accidentally run over it with the car. Company should tell users the screens are very fragile.
Device caught on fire. I just changed out the battery for a stronger one and charged it under my pillow. The company should have warned us. (They had.)
Company should replace my device because it got a little wet and no longer works. (They had run it through a washing machine.)

Oh and most ereaders do not like hot bubble baths. Though the owner of that one knows exactly who is at fault. (The author of the book she was reading. )


I wish I had made those up but they are all true.
Anyway good luck and you should be fine.

And don't forget the old gem that 92% of all statistics are made up.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by John F

And don't forget the old gem that 92% of all statistics are made up.

I thought it was 94%.

Though we are probably both off since with the right phrasing, you can make a statistic do anything you want.