Kobo messed up again!

[cromag]

Originally Posted by cromag

Well, sure Kobo is screwing up. They're Kobo. It's what they do.

A while back I picked up a free book at Kobo. It's not the kind of book I usually read, but it was free on Kobo, and not free at Amazon. The book is Unnatural Relations, by Marilyn Campbell, and that's the way it shows up in my Kobo library. But the book that downloads to ADE is See How They Run, by Marilyn Campbell -- which does not appear to be available under that title at Kobo.

It was a free book and, as I said, I didn't have a burning desire for it, so I'm not worried about it. Right now I have a problem getting Kobo to download a book I paid for -- first, I'll solve that problem, then I'll worry about the other one.

Seriously, I've had enough problems with Kobo that I'll only buy a book from them if I have a good discount code. Surely they'd prefer that the discount code bring me in the "digital door" and then get me to buy books at full price. THAT won't happen until I'm reasonably sure they can run their business like a business.

Just spoke to Kobo support. Tried several times, finally acknowledged there's a problem. I went for a refund -- store credit would just mean I'd have to spend it with them, again.

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by Jane12

This is interesting from The Digital Reader. Though the comments after the article and the discussion on this thread suggest the problem has not been resolved after all.

Yep. I should have posted the question here first and sought confirmation.

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by cromag

The book is Unnatural Relations, by Marilyn Campbell, and that's the way it shows up in my Kobo library. But the book that downloads to ADE is See How They Run, by Marilyn Campbell -- which does not appear to be available under that title at Kobo.

I think Kobo might be owed an apology here.....

From Amazon.ca
http://www.amazon.ca/Unnatural-Relat.../dp/B0067QUH6I

Unnatural Relations (Lust and Lies Series, Book 1) [Kindle Edition]
...
Product Description
After nine years on the run, Barbara Johnson believes she's finally safe. Safe with her little boy, in a new city, with a new name. Safe from the abusive man they've escaped and from the wealthy family with the power to take her child.

Then a savage twist of fate exposes her location. Now those wanting to see her suffer and steal her child are coming, with every trick of the law and every weapon of terror.

Determined to stand her ground, Barbara is swept off her feet by a handsome stranger who saves her from a mugger. The timing couldn't be worse for falling in love, but Kyle Trent is simply too perfect to push away, and she desperately needs someone in her life who makes her feel desirable again.

As the burning passion of the present converges with the nightmares of Barbara's past, new secrets arise to remind her no one can be trusted.

Previously titled: See How They Run

[crich70]

Originally Posted by PeterT

I think Kobo might be owed an apology here.....

From Amazon.ca
http://www.amazon.ca/Unnatural-Relat.../dp/B0067QUH6I

Ah so they renamed it. Did they make notice of that on the page where it is offered for sale? If so it would seem to be an oversight on the part of the purchaser, but if not then Kobo messed up by not making that clear I'd think.

[PeterT]

I think it is the publisher / author who have retitled the book, but only in the metadata supplied to Kobo as opposed to the actual book itself.

Obviously most of the people replying in this thread (and the myriad of similar threads) have no interest in taking one minute to do some research to track down what might have happened.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by PeterT

I think it is the publisher / author who have retitled the book, but only in the metadata supplied to Kobo as opposed to the actual book itself.

Obviously most of the people replying in this thread (and the myriad of similar threads) have no interest in taking one minute to do some research to track down what might have happened.

Well I am not assigning blame to anyone about the renaming of the book. I'm just saying that if Kobo knew it had been changed and posted that info. then it's the fault of the purchaser for not noting it. But that if Kobo knew it had been re-named and didn't make that clear somehow then the fault was theirs in not making it clear. Obviously the book seller can't control what the publisher/author does but they do have a responsibility (I think) to the customer in that they are selling a product and owe it to the buyer to make clear what is being sold. If I sell you a part for your computer it is my job not to misrepresent the part as being of use when in fact it's either outmoded or the circuit board in it is fried. Likewise you as the buyer need to know something about what you are buying to make sure it is compatible with your system.

[cromag]

Originally Posted by PeterT

I think Kobo might be owed an apology here.....

Done. My apologies, Kobo.

Originally Posted by PeterT

I think it is the publisher / author who have retitled the book, but only in the metadata supplied to Kobo as opposed to the actual book itself.

Obviously most of the people replying in this thread (and the myriad of similar threads) have no interest in taking one minute to do some research to track down what might have happened.

... Although my interest in spending time and effort determining "what might have happened" has waned after the first few problems.

[Jane12]

Originally Posted by Jane12

This is interesting from The Digital Reader. Though the comments after the article and the discussion on this thread suggest the problem has not been resolved after all.

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Yep. I should have posted the question here first and sought confirmation.

Bummer. I was hoping you were right

[lkmiller]

I've found one easy and so far reliable way to tell if a book is available as an epub. It will say it can be read on Blackberry.

[EowynCarter]

I accidentally found a conter exemple :

http://store.kobobooks.com/fr-fr/boo...w&PageNumber=1

No blackberry, but, downloadable drm free epub.

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

I accidentally found a conter exemple :

http://store.kobobooks.com/fr-fr/boo...w&PageNumber=1

No blackberry, but, downloadable drm free epub.

Huh, you're right. Maybe the more reliable indicator now is if it has the online preview. When I sign out and look at the listings for the 4 kepubs I have, none of them have the online preview. (And one of them is DRM-free too, which makes it more annoying that Kobo doesn't provide the download.)

Looking at some of the other drm-free and downloadable epubs I have, I see they aren't available for Blackberry either. Can the Blackberry Kobo app only handle drm epubs? Or is it just a mistake?

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

Huh, you're right. Maybe the more reliable indicator now is if it has the online preview. When I sign out and look at the listings for the 4 kepubs I have, none of them have the online preview. (And one of them is DRM-free too, which makes it more annoying that Kobo doesn't provide the download.)

Looking at some of the other drm-free and downloadable epubs I have, I see they aren't available for Blackberry either. Can the Blackberry Kobo app only handle drm epubs? Or is it just a mistake?

The only reliable way to figure out format is to add it to your library.

[kristalana]

In my experience a book showing available on Blackberry means it's a DRM-free epub, without Blackberry it's Adobe DRM epub. For kepubs I have no idea, so yeah, the only reliable method is to do the Save preview.

[Julanna]

crich70 let us know how you went talking to Kobo. I've had very mixed success getting them to communicate with me. I think they are turning into a company that's too big for the good of the customers. They also took on the A&R online books and Booku.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by Julanna

crich70 let us know how you went talking to Kobo. I've had very mixed success getting them to communicate with me. I think they are turning into a company that's too big for the good of the customers. They also took on the A&R online books and Booku.

As it turned out my book was a different sort of epub than the straight one or the type with an acsm file link. I had to get it sorted via the App. I gave up asking about it. They'd just spout words about how it works via the app and so the book is ok I'm sure. I thought it was an error because they didn't make it very clear that it wasn't a straight epub or one accessed via the acsm file. I do think they did mess up though in that they don't identify such as being books that don't have a download link. According to others here they once did and promised to put such info. back on the website (eventually) but it's been a while since saying that (according to others here) and they still haven't done so.