Borders killing Kobo

[Kindle Addict]

Originally Posted by wrenn1

I get the impression at my Chapters (Canada) that the staff avoid the area because they know nothing about the product. When I approached the kiosk to find a Roots holder the staff in the vicinity scattered. They looked worried that I might ask a question.

They don't want to know anything about the product, because if they sell enough of them, they are out of a job!

The woman demonstrating a Nook to me said this:

"I hope they don't sell many of these, because I love books. I think there are enough people like me to keep books around."

This is while I was trying out the Nook (which I bought)!

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by Kindle Addict

They don't want to know anything about the product, because if they sell enough of them, they are out of a job!

The woman demonstrating a Nook to me said this:

"I hope they don't sell many of these, because I love books. I think there are enough people like me to keep books around."

This is while I was trying out the Nook (which I bought)!

That is a very common attitude amongst people when faced with new technology that makes their current jobs obsolete. The crazy thing here is that Borders and B&N have a better chance to stay alive in the paper book space if they have an active and vibrant presence in the ebook space. In fact, having special in store features available to ebookers like B&N does with the Nook (At least if it was implemented better) might give them a key advantage over Amazon, and give ebookers a reason to buy paper books (for gifts, or sometimes darn it, because the book looks so great ).

--
Bill

[Kindle Addict]

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

That is a very common attitude amongst people when faced with new technology that makes their current jobs obsolete. The crazy thing here is that Borders and B&N have a better chance to stay alive in the paper book space if they have an active and vibrant presence in the ebook space. In fact, having special in store features available to ebookers like B&N does with the Nook (At least if it was implemented better) might give them a key advantage over Amazon, and give ebookers a reason to buy paper books (for gifts, or sometimes darn it, because the book looks so great ).

--
Bill

You're right, and someone should fill the B&N employees in on this. If they don't sell enough eReaders, there's a greater chance that they'll be out of a job. Same for Borders/Chapters/Indigo.

[notyou]

The B&N employees at my local store were *ALL OVER* the Nook. Really pushing it hard. But we're in Silicon Valley, so maybe it's different here.

[techie42]

I walked into the nearest Chapters that indicated that they had the black kobo's in stock. I was there to pick up a Kobo for my daughter.

At the time I wondered if I would be able to buy ebooks in store. You know, the place where you see interesting books and say to your self, hey I think I want that book for my kobo. After all you can test drive a book while you are there in the store.

[Kindle Addict]

Originally Posted by techie42

I walked into the nearest Chapters that indicated that they had the black kobo's in stock. I was there to pick up a Kobo for my daughter.

At the time I wondered if I would be able to buy ebooks in store. You know, the place where you see interesting books and say to your self, hey I think I want that book for my kobo. After all you can test drive a book while you are there in the store.

Someone else asked that question. Here was Indigo's response:

"Indigo and Kobo are separate entities, and at this time, we do not offer in-store browsing, inventory, or purchase of Kobo e-books in Chapters or Indigo book stores."

I can take my Nook into any B&N and read (and purchase) any e-book I want over WiFi, but the WiFi in most B&Ns is usually very busy. People seem to like that feature, and I'm surprised that Indigo doesn't offer something similar (at least with a USB connection to the terminals they have all over the store).

[SageTracey]

I bought my Kobo online from Borders Australia after handling a demo unit in store. What really annoys me know is that they keep emailing me with special offers - but the fine print excludes ebooks!

I am reluctant to unsubscribe as I keep hoping their marketing people will catch on and realise that selling the Kobo is just the first step in what could be a long and lucrative relationship with this particular customer!

[HarleyB]

Originally Posted by SageTracey

I bought my Kobo online from Borders Australia after handling a demo unit in store. What really annoys me know is that they keep emailing me with special offers - but the fine print excludes ebooks!

I am reluctant to unsubscribe as I keep hoping their marketing people will catch on and realise that selling the Kobo is just the first step in what could be a long and lucrative relationship with this particular customer!

EXACTLY!!!!

After I opened the first (I dunno maybe) 10 of those emails hopefully looking for a nice bargain and was bitterly disappointed to find all the deals expressly EXCLUDED ebooks I became a bit peeved.

I even sent an email to them asking if they could only send me emails that related to ebooks as that was all I would ever be buying and was getting rather frustrated at all the offers that I couldn't use. They didn't respond...

I would just unsubscribe but I have received an email with a discount code from kobobooks.com which saved me a bit of money. I live in hope that Borders might send me one sometime...
Yeah I know - I'm dreaming.

[zoran]

Originally Posted by HarleyB

I even sent an email to them asking if they could only send me emails that related to ebooks as that was all I would ever be buying and was getting rather frustrated at all the offers that I couldn't use. They didn't respond...

I would just unsubscribe but I have received an email with a discount code from kobobooks.com which saved me a bit of money. I live in hope that Borders might send me one sometime...
Yeah I know - I'm dreaming.

If their site has option to tweak emailing lists, you might be lucky.
There is almost always number or buttons to set what you like and
what you don't. Just unclick all and point to ebooks. If available, of
course.
If they have no such an option, why they send you anything?

[Vzzzbx]

Those emails are great if you're not willing to save 60-70% by just buying your books from BD. I agree that at least some offers should apply to ebooks, especially if they're serious about making this whole ebook thing work.

Went into Chadvegas Borders today. They've moved the Kobo table under a strong light, and all the demo units were charged too. Looks like someone's starting to getting it.

With Fathers' Day coming up I doubt the price will drop in the next month though. Shame.

[SensualPoet]

I receive an e-mail from Kobobooks every week it seems. At last once a month, I have been sent a code for a modest discount and a link to around 100 recent popular titles. Some of the codes work on titles outside the list and I tend to be interested in other stuff. It's kept me buying, and browsing.

[triffids]

In Canada, I think it depends on the actual store. The Kobo eReader display is usually easy to find, but in some stores there are obviously some employees nearby, keeping an eye on the display (and ready to talk to customers) while in other stores, the employees do seem scared that they might be asked about the technology.

I don't know what kind of training employees get ... my guess is that it's minimal. Which is too bad - I think some confidence would help enormously. And anyone I know with an eReader *still* buys regular books - it expands our options, doesn't replace them. Book lovers are going to be justifiably apprehensive of something that is labelled as a "book killer"!

I suspect I'm a better salesperson (as an owner - often get asked questions if I use the eReader in public) than many of the Chapters/Indigo employees ...

[triffids]

Also, I don't know if this is true for other countries, but I was told that in Canada, the original plan was for all Kobo sales to be online. It was a relatively late decision to sell in brick-and-mortar stores. That could explain some of the issues we see in stores, I guess ...?

[thymaster]

I had a different experience when I recently purchase my first Kobo eReader. The Kobo display was right in the middle of the store with 6 live demos, 3 whites and 3 black. When I first walked over to the table, within 30 seconds a staff approached me and ask if I had any question about the device. I asked him a few simple questions and he didn't quit answer them with confidence. Seems to me he wasn't properly trained or have owned one himself but I admired his thrive to help customers. I wasn't sure if he was on commission so I told him I would purchase one from him. I've done a little research prior to visiting the store.

I think Kobo should give out a free or 80% off on Kobo eReader to all the book stores staffs for them to appreciate the product and give them a hands on experience with the product. By doing so, the sales staff will show more confident in the product and better present the brand. I work in the wireless industry and they give us 80% off on the latest gadgets.

[J. Strnad]

They should at least have a unit that the employees could borrow overnight and play with on breaks. And if they would add a $5 commission on each sale, they'd have knowledgeable, eager sales staff pushing them at every turn.