Coming Soon: Gift a Kobo ebook

wallcraft · 11-18-2010, 02:15 AM

As reported by Mike Cane, Kobo intends to allow gifting of its ebooks. From Gift an eBook!

Quote:

Coming in time for the Holidays!

With Kobo, it's easy to give. Simply click "Send this book as a Gift" along with a personalized note to your friends or family. It's a nice way to let them know you're thinking about them, especially if they're far away.

This is a significant capability, that all ebook stores should provide. However, it again raises the question of geographic restrictions. If, say, I buy a US-only ebook from the US, can I gift it outside the US? The "far away" in Kobo's announcement implies that this is allowed.

Worldwalker · 11-18-2010, 02:26 AM

What's the difference between "give" and "gift"?

Sweetpea · 11-18-2010, 02:38 AM

A gift implies something that you "wrap up" and give as a present. Giving is simply that, I hand you something...

And wallcraft, that's good question! I'm wiling to be a guinea pig to try it out

elemenoP · 11-18-2010, 08:40 AM

I can't believe Amazon doesn't have this. They are usually so forward in all of their web-site features.

abookreader · 11-18-2010, 08:53 AM

I think it is a great idea but everytime it is brought up there are people who go nuts over the thought of others sending unapproved books to the devices.

Which leads me to wonder what kind of controls Kobo is implementing. Kobo of course doesn't have the Indie Platform to negotiate but if the other sites follow, is it possible we could soon see Kindle Spam?

elemenoP · 11-18-2010, 10:25 AM

Who says it has to go onto your device? It could send the gift recipient an email "So-and-so has sent you a book! Click here to get it!"

Not that I know how they implemented it, but that's how I would do it.

eP

Pookeysgirl · 11-18-2010, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elemenoP

Who says it has to go onto your device? It could send the gift recipient an email "So-and-so has sent you a book! Click here to get it!"

Not that I know how they implemented it, but that's how I would do it.

eP

I think it will probably be an e-mail with a link to the book that can be downloaded to your reader. Not everybody that buys at Kobo has a Kobo.

They will also have eGift Cards that you can send to you friends/family members that they can redeem at anytime for whatever book they choose.

I think this is awesome, now I know what I want for christmas

Kali Yuga · 11-18-2010, 12:04 PM

I'd say this definitely qualifies as a Good Thing. Unfortunately, I don't think the other retailers will get this in gear for the 2010 holidays.

No idea how this would work out for geo restrictions. It would make sense that the restrictions should apply only based on the location of the purchaser, but there may be some additional unknown issues in the databases, or legal issues.

Pookeysgirl · 11-18-2010, 05:17 PM

I can't get the "Learn More" links to work on the Kobo site. I would like to know if Chapters will carry actual gift cards for Kobo in store.

FizzyWater · 11-18-2010, 06:00 PM

I wonder if:

1) the buyer would have to know the user's login/account name
2) assuming #1 is yes, if Kobo will verify the user doesn't already have the book

And the ability to return books you don't want or already have from another source would be helpful...

Just my two cents.

desertgrandma · 11-18-2010, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elemenoP

I can't believe Amazon doesn't have this. They are usually so forward in all of their web-site features.

Amazon does have "Kindle gift cards"

Just me, but I would much rather pick out the book I wanted, than one someone thought I wanted......

elemenoP · 11-18-2010, 06:24 PM

I love gift cards too (when I was a kid all I wanted for my birthday was gift certificates to B. Dalton bookstore -- if anyone remembers them) but it's not the same thing as giving someone a BOOK, KWIM?

And the email approach could help with returns too. Don't charge the giver until the receiver has downloaded the book. So the receiver could say no thanks.

viviena · 11-18-2010, 10:02 PM

To quote one of the comments in The Digital Reader article:

Quote:

KoboScott // Nov 17, 2010 at 9:02 pm

Hi Andrys,

I’m a product manager at Kobo. Recipients will have the option to exchange the book for store credit. So as to not offend Uncle Bob and his love of knitting, the sender will simply receive a notice that the gift has been delivered.

Happy Gifting!
Scott

http://www.kobobooks.com

Sweetpea · 11-19-2010, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Amazon does have "Kindle gift cards"

Just me, but I would much rather pick out the book I wanted, than one someone thought I wanted......

You've never been gifted a book? (and I'm talking about the old-fashioned paper book...) I always liked getting a book better than getting a giftcard myself... Especially if it was a book I'd not ordinarily would get myself.

Worldwalker · 11-19-2010, 02:25 PM

IMO, gift cards are only marginally better than cash. There are families where everyone gives each other X amount of cash. What's the point? A carefully-selected gift says "I know you well, and I was thinking about you and what you'd want, so I got you this." A handful of cash (in plastic form or otherwise) says "the calendar says I have to hand something over, so here!"

Mind you, I don't turn down incoming gift cards ... but I think I'd rather have one book someone really thinks I'd like than ten times its value in meaningless plastic. Or, for that matter, I'd rather have one handmade bookmark that means something. When we traded the personal touch for greed, I think we ended up with the worst of the bargain.

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11-18-2010, 02:26 AM	#2
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	What's the difference between "give" and "gift"?

11-18-2010, 02:38 AM	#3
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	A gift implies something that you "wrap up" and give as a present. Giving is simply that, I hand you something... And wallcraft, that's good question! I'm wiling to be a guinea pig to try it out

11-18-2010, 08:40 AM	#4
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	I can't believe Amazon doesn't have this. They are usually so forward in all of their web-site features.

11-18-2010, 08:53 AM	#5
abookreader Wizard Posts: 1,516 Karma: 2567610 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindles - Keyboard, Fire, 2-US, iPhone, iPAD	I think it is a great idea but everytime it is brought up there are people who go nuts over the thought of others sending unapproved books to the devices. Which leads me to wonder what kind of controls Kobo is implementing. Kobo of course doesn't have the Indie Platform to negotiate but if the other sites follow, is it possible we could soon see Kindle Spam?

11-18-2010, 10:25 AM	#6
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	Who says it has to go onto your device? It could send the gift recipient an email "So-and-so has sent you a book! Click here to get it!" Not that I know how they implemented it, but that's how I would do it. eP

11-18-2010, 12:04 PM	#8
Kali Yuga Professional Contrarian Posts: 2,045 Karma: 3289631 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 4 No Touchie	I'd say this definitely qualifies as a Good Thing. Unfortunately, I don't think the other retailers will get this in gear for the 2010 holidays. No idea how this would work out for geo restrictions. It would make sense that the restrictions should apply only based on the location of the purchaser, but there may be some additional unknown issues in the databases, or legal issues.

11-18-2010, 05:17 PM	#9
Pookeysgirl Wizard Posts: 1,705 Karma: 12696746 Join Date: May 2010 Device: K3, Kobo Mini	I can't get the "Learn More" links to work on the Kobo site. I would like to know if Chapters will carry actual gift cards for Kobo in store.

11-18-2010, 06:00 PM	#10
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	I wonder if: 1) the buyer would have to know the user's login/account name 2) assuming #1 is yes, if Kobo will verify the user doesn't already have the book And the ability to return books you don't want or already have from another source would be helpful... Just my two cents.

11-18-2010, 06:24 PM	#12
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	I love gift cards too (when I was a kid all I wanted for my birthday was gift certificates to B. Dalton bookstore -- if anyone remembers them) but it's not the same thing as giving someone a BOOK, KWIM? And the email approach could help with returns too. Don't charge the giver until the receiver has downloaded the book. So the receiver could say no thanks.

11-19-2010, 02:25 PM	#15
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	IMO, gift cards are only marginally better than cash. There are families where everyone gives each other X amount of cash. What's the point? A carefully-selected gift says "I know you well, and I was thinking about you and what you'd want, so I got you this." A handful of cash (in plastic form or otherwise) says "the calendar says I have to hand something over, so here!" Mind you, I don't turn down incoming gift cards ... but I think I'd rather have one book someone really thinks I'd like than ten times its value in meaningless plastic. Or, for that matter, I'd rather have one handmade bookmark that means something. When we traded the personal touch for greed, I think we ended up with the worst of the bargain.