Borders, Angus Robertson, and Whitcoulls bankrupt :(

[talios]

So looks like Borders AU, Whitcoulls, and Angus & Robertson have gone belly up down under

http://www.theage.com.au/business/bo...217-1axt9.html

Sad day for book lovers. Wonder what this means for Kobo....

[rischa]

Uh oh, who's going to help me with my Kobo when it freezes if there's no more Borders stores? Guess I'll have to learn how to make that SD card...

[AprilHare]

This thread should have been in the main News section. After all, A&R etc. were selling other ebook readers at the end, and it's quite big news, not just to Kobo owners!
I made a thread before seeing this one..

[sabredog]

Some reassuring news from Kobo

http://www.itnews.com.au/News/248551...ankruptcy.aspx

[mamasue]

and not honouring gift vouchers unless the holder spends an equal amount.

[sabredog]

I hope the consumer protection has a good hard look at that one

[mamasue]

Originally Posted by sabredog

I hope the consumer protection has a good hard look at that one

yes, so do I!

I just heard on the ABC National news that the stores are actually demanding customers spend twice the amount of the vouchers before they will honour them.

And now the govt is arguing it's the publishers who are at fault because Australians have been paying 30% more than the rest of the world for too long!

helllllllloooooooooooooooo!!!!!!

[sabredog]

Funny how the Government agreed to the publishers demands that restrictions on parallel importing and the closed high prices system should remain not more than a couple or so years ago.

[Solicitous]

Originally Posted by sabredog

Some reassuring news from Kobo

http://www.itnews.com.au/News/248551...ankruptcy.aspx

Well the article said;

Any ebooks bought were unaffected, he said.

So would it be safe to assume if one had bought a Kobo from A&R and installed the A&R software and bought their ebooks from A&R that if A&R demise to the point of no more ebookstore, given that essentially they run off the Kobo selling system that all purchased ebooks through A&R (and Borders for that matter) will be replicated to Kobo so you could still access your purchased ebooks? As I see it now, buying from A&R doesn't reflect in your Kobo account despite running from the same system.

Originally Posted by mamasue

yes, so do I!

I just heard on the ABC National news that the stores are actually demanding customers spend twice the amount of the vouchers before they will honour them.

And now the govt is arguing it's the publishers who are at fault because Australians have been paying 30% more than the rest of the world for too long!

helllllllloooooooooooooooo!!!!!!

I heard that too on the way home. There was mention that customers should wait a little while before claiming vouchers, but given the uncertainty and we don't really know what is going on....well I doubt a voucher holder will be high on the list of creditors. It can't be long before someone points out the trade practices act and this will (a) go by the wayside, or (b) cost A&R money in legal fees.

Hmmm, sad news though, especially for the people at risk of losing their jobs.

[mamasue]

@ Solicitous ... I was hoping it was the media just beating it up.

and that customers would be assertive, know their rights as consumers & then demand that the vouchers be honoured. the shops were still open for business as usual yesterday.

unfortunately looks like many people may lose their jobs.