When buying from Walmart.com

[anesthezea]

I've heard that buying a Kobo from Walmart.com will get you a Kobo that has Walmart ebook ads on the screensaver. I can't find anything to confirm this, though. Is this true?

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by anesthezea

I've heard that buying a Kobo from Walmart.com will get you a Kobo that has Walmart ebook ads on the screensaver. I can't find anything to confirm this, though. Is this true?

You can get rid of the Walmart stuff by editing the affiliate.conf file in the .kobo directory.

My personal choices are:

[General]
affiliate=KoboIndigo

or

[General]
affiliate=Kobo

[davidfor]

And I don't think the Walmart sourced Kobo devices shows ads. I'm fairly sure it only shows the Walmart logo. And then, only if the showing full-screen covers is not when sleeping/off is not turned on.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by anesthezea

I've heard that buying a Kobo from Walmart.com will get you a Kobo that has Walmart ebook ads on the screensaver. I can't find anything to confirm this, though. Is this true?

I own a Clara HD I bought from Walmart and the only time I see anything related to Walmart is when I turn the Clara completely off and back on — I see the Walmart logo — it only appears in the boot-up screen. When I originally bought the Clara (from Walmart) its affiliate was set to Kobo. I'm not sure how it got changed to Walmart, but I can change it back, and would so — except I hardly ever know it's there, so it's not a bother. No Walmart ads at all.

[ZodWallop]

I can confirm, if you buy from Walmart and make no changes, the only difference is when restarting from a complete power off it will show the Walmart logo in the reboot. I've attached photos of mine showing power off, reboot and sleep screens.

There is no other indicator anywhere* that Walmart is involved.

That is all if you change nothing. If you go into the affiliate.conf file in the .kobo directory as mentioned, those traces will disappear. It isn't like Kindle where there are ads on the lock screen and ads on the home screen.

*If you do not choose "Show current read" in "settings/energy saving and privacy", then the sleep screen will show the Walmart logo. But really, who buys a Kobo and doesn't show the book cover as their sleep screen?

Edit: The Dragonlance covers kinda suck, and I dusted my Kobo after looking at the pictures I posted

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by rcentros

When I originally bought the Clara (from Walmart) its affiliate was set to Kobo. I'm not sure how it got changed to Walmart, but I can change it back, and would so — except I hardly ever know it's there, so it's not a bother. No Walmart ads at all.

When I bought mine it was set to Walmart, I had to change it. In some firmware update it was reset. But like you, since I never turn my Kobo off except to show pictures of it on this forum, the Walmart affiliate really has zero impact on me.

[Calenorn]

I have purchased three ereaders directly from Kobo into the US, and have had no problems doing so. You have options.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Calenorn

I have purchased three ereaders directly from Kobo into the US, and have had no problems doing so. You have options.

How long did it take to arrive?

I ordered mine on a Wednesday and it was delivered Thursday. Unless there is a sale, there is no advantage, only disadvantages to ordering directly from Kobo in the US.

[Calenorn]

I see no disadvantage. I don't remember it taking a long time.

It's nice to have a choice. Some of us choose not to support WalMart. I won't argue the point.

[MGlitch]

Ordering direct from kobo has always taken several days to get the device in hand. Preorders are the worst though they’ve improved over the years.

Amazon shows the Elipsa, Sage, and Libra 2 as deliverable tomorrow for me at the time of this post. Though if you don’t support Walmart you probably don’t love Amazon either.

Chapters Indigo says by June 9th and wants 17 USD for shipping despite free shipping on orders over 30 dollars (probably fine print excluding international shipping).

In my experience Kobo would be faster than Chapters assuming June 9th is the delivery date.

Kobo doesn’t give a date that I saw just now but doesn’t charge shipping

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Calenorn

Some of us choose not to support WalMart.

That is valid. Otherwise, it is better to get something you paid for sooner rather than later.

[kyrilson]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

That is valid. Otherwise, it is better to get something you paid for sooner rather than later.

I've gotten them from both Walmart and Kobo. It was definitely faster and a better experience from Walmart. My Clara has the same Walmart splash screen on boot up as shown in a previous post but nothing else showing up to signify that it came from Walmart.

I typically decide I want a product and then I wait until I see a good deal for it before I will buy it. Thus I'm pretty brand/store neutral when it comes to the things I buy.

[anesthezea]

Originally Posted by Calenorn

I have purchased three ereaders directly from Kobo into the US, and have had no problems doing so. You have options.

I usually purchase directly from Kobo. However, Walmart has the option right now to make payments on the device that fit better with my current budget. That's why I'm considering the change in store.

[anesthezea]

Thank you for all your replies! You've all been very helpful.

[anesthezea]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I can confirm, if you buy from Walmart and make no changes, the only difference is when restarting from a complete power off it will show the Walmart logo in the reboot. I've attached photos of mine showing power off, reboot and sleep screens.

There is no other indicator anywhere* that Walmart is involved.

That is all if you change nothing. If you go into the affiliate.conf file in the .kobo directory as mentioned, those traces will disappear. It isn't like Kindle where there are ads on the lock screen and ads on the home screen.

*If you do not choose "Show current read" in "settings/energy saving and privacy", then the sleep screen will show the Walmart logo. But really, who buys a Kobo and doesn't show the book cover as their sleep screen?

Edit: The Dragonlance covers kinda suck, and I dusted my Kobo after looking at the pictures I posted

Thank you for taking the time to share pictures! The Walmart "ad" certainly isn't as intrusive as I thought it might be. Still, if I do get one from Walmart, I'll probably edit the config file anyway.