Book with no EPUB download option

[Bookworm_Girl]

I was a customer back to the days when Kobo was known as Shortcovers. I stopped buying from them when they had font size issues with many of their books. Then I decided to start buying from them again because of their coupon deals and ran into this issue. I have stopped buying from them again!

[oj829]

Ran into this problem for the first time this weekend. I anticipate having little or no trouble eventually getting to the book I purchased, but this BS of publishing a "list of devices" you can read on is pointless, since Kobo makes apps for all the listed platforms (including Desktop).

My problem apart from the labor costs of the usual repugnant DRM crap, is that I really don't like Kobo's Android reader software. I tried their web-based read-anywhere platform exactly once and it was an absolutely unacceptable POS. I like my glo well enough, but that's hardly the point.

Irony? the non-EPUB title I bought was titled "Without Copyright".

[dixieknits]

I just purchased First Star on the Right, Mary Alice Monroe from Kobobooks and my library called it an Adobe DRM epub. When I downloaded the ASCM it named it First Star on the Right B&N epub. I'm assuming that is Barnes and Noble.. What's up with this? Are they connected companies? Is this what you are referring to..

[oj829]

Originally Posted by dixieknits

I just purchased First Star on the Right, Mary Alice Monroe from Kobobooks and my library called it an Adobe DRM epub. When I downloaded the ASCM it named it First Star on the Right B&N epub. I'm assuming that is Barnes and Noble.. What's up with this? Are they connected companies? Is this what you are referring to..

No - there is typically a blue button next to each book purchase in one's library that allows for an Epub download, "protected" by Adobe DE. On more and more titles, as I look over the forums, there is no Epub download option. But you don't KNOW this until after you've parted with your money.

I don't even want to think about a new third DRM ingredient (B&N, like Kobo, has a proprietary, non-Adobe DRM scheme locking their epubs.) Never seen that.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by dixieknits

I just purchased First Star on the Right, Mary Alice Monroe from Kobobooks and my library called it an Adobe DRM epub. When I downloaded the ASCM it named it First Star on the Right B&N epub. I'm assuming that is Barnes and Noble.. What's up with this? Are they connected companies? Is this what you are referring to..

They aren't connected. Not sure why an ePub from Kobo would mention B&N. Perhaps the publisher used the same file as they had sent to B&N for Kobo and somehow the file name came through? What folks are referring to are books that have no download option in their libraries on the Kobo website.

Originally Posted by oj829

(B&N, like Kobo, has a proprietary, non-Adobe DRM scheme locking their epubs.)

Actually B&N's DRM scheme, while it uses a different method for an encryption key, is in conjunction with Adobe and compatible with ADE 2.x & newer versions of the Adobe RMSDK (although other vendors usually choose not to enable support on their devices).

[oj829]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Actually B&N's DRM scheme, while it uses a different method for an encryption key, is in conjunction with Adobe and compatible with ADE 2.x & newer versions of the Adobe RMSDK (although other vendors usually choose not to enable support on their devices).

That's interesting. I may buy a cheap book from B&N and see what happens. When I stopped buying B&N books, the process was too cumbersome (and definitely didn't involve ADE) but if that has changed, I may just abandon Kobo as a bookstore entirely, because this:

However, please be assured that our Development team is working on improving our web site and implement a feature that will allow you identify which eBooks have this option.

(with passive-aggressiveness as a bonus - they listed my Kobo hardware purchases in their response.)

Anyway, sorry. Not when you charge $19 for an ebook. Nuh-Uh.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by oj829

That's interesting. I may buy a cheap book from B&N and see what happens. When I stopped buying B&N books, the process was too cumbersome (and definitely didn't involve ADE) but if that has changed, I may just abandon Kobo as a bookstore entirely, because this:

Just to clarify, ADE is not required for B&N books. They can be downloaded directly from the B&N website without ADE being involved, but since version 2.0 or so ADE can read books with B&N style DRM on them. Also as I said the RMSDK is compatible as well, but most companies that use it for their devices (Kobo, Sony, etc.) have not enabled this compatibility so them working in ADE doesn't mean they work on most eInk devices.

[oj829]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Just to clarify, ADE is not required for B&N books. They can be downloaded directly from the B&N website without ADE being involved, but since version 2.0 or so ADE can read books with B&N style DRM on them. Also as I said the RMSDK is compatible as well, but most companies that use it for their devices (Kobo, Sony, etc.) have not enabled this compatibility so them working in ADE doesn't mean they work on most eInk devices.

Thanks for clearing that up. I think that means I can send B&N books through the same ADE pathway I use on library and Kobo Adobe'd books to be on my way to Calibre happiness, if need be.

Point of all this is to simply use my favorite Android e-reader s/w, FBReader. Kobo's Android software isn't as bad as Google's, but none of them suit me like FBReader does.

[Tarana]

I have had my issues with Kobo in recent months, but Customer Service has been pretty good about issuing refunds. The only problem, of course, is that they are typically store credits, not refunds to your credit card.

I just make a habit of downloading the same day I buy something, removing the DRM and placing in my Calibre library for future use. The only time I've had a problem is the wrong content downloading for a book I've purchased at some great discount and THEY NEVER FIX IT! For instance, I bought book 4 of the 4400 series and it contains the content of book 3. They continue to have it for sale, yet they haven't fixed it yet and I reported the problem in early September!

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by oj829

Ran into this problem for the first time this weekend. I anticipate having little or no trouble eventually getting to the book I purchased, but this BS of publishing a "list of devices" you can read on is pointless, since Kobo makes apps for all the listed platforms (including Desktop).

There are some books that are not compatible with the e-ink readers. The few I have seen have been comic books. These can only be downloaded to the Arc devices or the apps on iPad/iPhone or Android devices.

[Rev. Bob]

Originally Posted by dixieknits

I just purchased First Star on the Right, Mary Alice Monroe from Kobobooks and my library called it an Adobe DRM epub. When I downloaded the ASCM it named it First Star on the Right B&N epub. I'm assuming that is Barnes and Noble.. What's up with this?

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

They aren't connected. Not sure why an ePub from Kobo would mention B&N. Perhaps the publisher used the same file as they had sent to B&N for Kobo and somehow the file name came through?

I've seen something like that happen myself. ADE uses the EPUB's metadata to determine the filename, and sometimes publishers will append the store name to that title field. I usually see it as "bookname Kobo", but there's no reason the publisher couldn't do it as you describe. After all, both stores are using EPUBs; there's no need to create a different file for each store.

[taming]

Originally Posted by dixieknits

I just purchased First Star on the Right, Mary Alice Monroe from Kobobooks and my library called it an Adobe DRM epub. When I downloaded the ASCM it named it First Star on the Right B&N epub. I'm assuming that is Barnes and Noble.. What's up with this? Are they connected companies? Is this what you are referring to..

Were you able to read the book on your (non-Nook) device? I have run into books that included information stating that they were kindle versions. They were not. My assumption was that the publisher did a bad job cleaning up the version they uploaded to Kobo.

[HarleyB]

I've had a fun time with Kobo and my attempts to access "The Gods of Guilt" by Michael Connelly that I purchased on the 19th November.
After my purchase I was dismayed to discover that there was no Adobe DRM button to download. Although it's not my preference I was prepared to read it on my ipad except the book would never sync or download to the kobo app on my ipad or my phone or the desktop app. The book showed in my library but was never able to be read.
I contacted the chat option for customer care are was quickly offered a refund but as I had used a great coupon (80% I think) I wasn't really that keen to get a refund as the book was going to cost me at least $11 more at Amazon. I suggested that as the book was a brand new release from a very popular author I was prepared to wait a few days and hopefully the problem would be fixed.
I kept checking but after a few weeks I eventually gave up. I got the book elsewhere and then went back to Kobo to get that refund I had been promised. Of course nothing is ever easy with kobo customer service and it took them a few days of emails before they agreed to the refund I was originally offered in mid November.
So I just checked my library and what did I see but The Gods of Guilt is still there and now FINALLY it has the blue Adobe DRM button I have been wanting.
Except that the book was supposed to have been removed from my account when I got the refund....

[Tarana]

MOST of Kobo's books are a nonproblem. I find it irritating that they don't tell you in advance what download options you have and then give you a store credit instead of a refund. This is fine, since I'm going to buy something else later in the month, but a great way to lose a new customer. Even worse, an ebook I bought had the wrong content. I've been after them to fix it since September because I want the book (at the 60% off that I bought it at). Amazingly, it is STILL wrong and they STILL have it for sale! Not a good way to do business.

[melmac]

Originally Posted by HarleyB

I've had a fun time with Kobo and my attempts to access "The Gods of Guilt" by Michael Connelly that I purchased on the 19th November.
After my purchase I was dismayed to discover that there was no Adobe DRM button to download. Although it's not my preference I was prepared to read it on my ipad except the book would never sync or download to the kobo app on my ipad or my phone or the desktop app. The book showed in my library but was never able to be read.
I contacted the chat option for customer care are was quickly offered a refund but as I had used a great coupon (80% I think) I wasn't really that keen to get a refund as the book was going to cost me at least $11 more at Amazon. I suggested that as the book was a brand new release from a very popular author I was prepared to wait a few days and hopefully the problem would be fixed.
I kept checking but after a few weeks I eventually gave up. I got the book elsewhere and then went back to Kobo to get that refund I had been promised. Of course nothing is ever easy with kobo customer service and it took them a few days of emails before they agreed to the refund I was originally offered in mid November.
So I just checked my library and what did I see but The Gods of Guilt is still there and now FINALLY it has the blue Adobe DRM button I have been wanting.
Except that the book was supposed to have been removed from my account when I got the refund....

Sorry that you've missed out on it I also purchased the same book from the AU store about the same time as you(22 Nov) there was no download button like you I thought I'd wait, I checked it the day before yesterday still no button, thought right when I get home I'm going to chase them for a credit but got busy and forgot. Now the button has appeared Yay! I'm at work so can't test it but it should work ok, so very happy as like you I purchased it with a big coupon.

I've never actually seen Kobo fix a book like that so it's good to know they can. Seeing as it's a big new release I'd bet they were taking a lot of calls on the issue.
Its a real bummer that you missed out are you able to repurchase(new discount code 70comic) or does it give you an error saying that it's already in your library(actually not)