Buying E Reader in Australia

CazMar · 07-01-2011, 09:29 PM

A rather scary morning! I just looked on the net to see how much for a new Kobo touch - and found that they just don't seem to be on sale in Australia. The Borders/Angus & Robertson debacle has meant that both those outlets are "out of stock" (probably permanently) and there doesn't seem to be another outlet. I did various Google searches for "ebook readers" in Australia and came up with a very poor showing. This is ridiculous! We probably aren't "allowed" to order from Kobo in Canada and no-one seems to have any here. Sony isn't much better, I guess there are still Kindles but I wanted EPUB.
Of course, this means even higher prices for what little stock is around.

speakingtohe · 07-01-2011, 09:33 PM

I see a lot of Australian tourists in Canada. Perhaps if you posted an add in Craigslist or similiar you could find someone to do you a favour?

vxf · 07-01-2011, 09:53 PM

Edit: post in wrong thread... sorry. I am tired.

CazMar · 07-01-2011, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

I see a lot of Australian tourists in Canada. Perhaps if you posted an add in Craigslist or similiar you could find someone to do you a favour?

My big reason for wanting to buy from an Australian store was so I could get warranty/return etc if it didn't work (as happened with the first one I bought). I can order from Ebay or other overseas sources as you mentioned, but surely it is crazy that can't buy a simple ereader here. Makes us look like a 3rd world country - a poor look when we have such a high GDP and have barely suffered in the global recession!

viviena · 07-01-2011, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CazMar

This is ridiculous! We probably aren't "allowed" to order from Kobo in Canada and no-one seems to have any here. Sony isn't much better, I guess there are still Kindles but I wanted EPUB.

Well, there's some Australian KT owners that have ordered from Borders US, and Chapters.ca also ships to Australia, I think. That said, I'd have also preferred buying a KT in person to take advantage of local support, even if it meant paying a bit extra. Dymocks seems interested so far in pushing the Acer Iconia Tab rather than any eInk devices, so I'm hoping we'll see mainstream eInk readers appear in department or gadget stores such as Myer and JB HiFi instead.

If Sony does come out with new models of ereaders, which is rumoured but not definite to happen at this time of year, Australia might be one of the first to get them, just as how we were one of the first to get the the 350s and 650s when they were released.

Solicitous · 07-01-2011, 10:35 PM

I have seen on other forums peoe buying from borders us and having them shipped. All in all it appears to not have cost a lot at all, ballpark being around $130 all up. A quick email to kobo support would verify if they will support you buying elsewhere. I think they will given the number of kobo owners in Australia and the current red group issues.

amward · 07-01-2011, 10:47 PM

I emailed Kobo about buying from overseas about a week ago but so far have had no response at all. I gave up and ordered a Sony from my closest store, Perth.

CazMar · 07-01-2011, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amward

I emailed Kobo about buying from overseas about a week ago but so far have had no response at all. I gave up and ordered a Sony from my closest store, Perth.

Well, I have just emailed Kobo as well and will keep MR members updated on what happens. I did at least get an automated reply from their help section.

Todd Young · 07-02-2011, 12:18 AM

I don't think you can buy a nook reader in Australia. Barnes and Noble is an Ameican company.

amward · 07-02-2011, 12:32 AM

[QUOTE=CazMar;1639443]Well, I have just emailed Kobo as well and will keep MR members updated on what happens. I did at least get an automated reply from their help section.[/QUOTE

Well I did get that but nothing since.

Ryvyan · 07-02-2011, 02:59 PM

There are no e-readers in Singapore too, so I used a freight forwarding company for a Nook (even the international-friendly Kindle is not supported here). I reckon that the gadget is not that expensive to break a sweat over warranty.

kiwipippa · 07-02-2011, 07:58 PM

I'm in New Zealand and bought a kobo touch from Borders.com They ship to NZ and Australia for $129 plus $9 shipping ($US). I'd rather have bought locally but given the problems with the retailers locally it isn't likely to happen any time soon. With the cheap price I decided to just get one anyway (and kobo themselves may to come to the party should anything go wrong).

My new kobo touch arrived last Thursday, I love it. If you check out the kobo forum you will see that there are lots of Aussies and Kiwis with new kobo touches, or waiting for them to arrive. Given the state of your dollar at the moment it would be hard to find a better deal.

CazMar · 07-02-2011, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwipippa

I'm in New Zealand and bought a kobo touch from Borders.com They ship to NZ and Australia for $129 plus $9 shipping ($US). I'd rather have bought locally but given the problems with the retailers locally it isn't likely to happen any time soon. With the cheap price I decided to just get one anyway (and kobo themselves may to come to the party should anything go wrong).

My new kobo touch arrived last Thursday, I love it. If you check out the kobo forum you will see that there are lots of Aussies and Kiwis with new kobo touches, or waiting for them to arrive. Given the state of your dollar at the moment it would be hard to find a better deal.

So it looks like Kobo are now selling direct to Australia and NZ - which they wouldn't when Borders were open. This certainly sounds much better than buying some unknown item through EBay. I am always impressed by the good service from USA & Canadian retailers and have been buying musical stuff from them since before the internet (used to communicate via fax!).

kiwipippa · 07-02-2011, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CazMar

So it looks like Kobo are now selling direct to Australia and NZ - which they wouldn't when Borders were open. This certainly sounds much better than buying some unknown item through EBay. I am always impressed by the good service from USA & Canadian retailers and have been buying musical stuff from them since before the internet (used to communicate via fax!).

No, kobo aren't selling direct - borders are (via borders.com). Not sure what the relationship is, but you can't buy the reader via kobobooks.com

CazMar · 07-03-2011, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwipippa

No, kobo aren't selling direct - borders are (via borders.com). Not sure what the relationship is, but you can't buy the reader via kobobooks.com

No - you cannot still buy them here from Borders as all the ereaders say "out of stock"- or do you mean Borders USA?

07-01-2011, 09:29 PM	#1
CazMar Book Geek Posts: 596 Karma: 1499085 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Adelaide, Australia Device: Kobo Touch, Asus MemPad 7" tablet, Nexus 5, Asus 10" tablet	Buying E Reader in Australia A rather scary morning! I just looked on the net to see how much for a new Kobo touch - and found that they just don't seem to be on sale in Australia. The Borders/Angus & Robertson debacle has meant that both those outlets are "out of stock" (probably permanently) and there doesn't seem to be another outlet. I did various Google searches for "ebook readers" in Australia and came up with a very poor showing. This is ridiculous! We probably aren't "allowed" to order from Kobo in Canada and no-one seems to have any here. Sony isn't much better, I guess there are still Kindles but I wanted EPUB. Of course, this means even higher prices for what little stock is around.

07-01-2011, 09:53 PM	#3
vxf Guru Posts: 944 Karma: 1490348 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Norman, OK Device: Sony PRS 350, 900, 950; Kindles (ALL of them!); Kobo Aura One	Edit: post in wrong thread... sorry. I am tired. Last edited by vxf; 07-01-2011 at 10:04 PM.

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07-01-2011, 09:33 PM	#2
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	I see a lot of Australian tourists in Canada. Perhaps if you posted an add in Craigslist or similiar you could find someone to do you a favour?

07-01-2011, 10:35 PM	#6
Solicitous Wizard Posts: 1,434 Karma: 1525776 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: TAS, Australia Device: Astak Pocket Pro (Black), 2 x Kindle WiFi (Graphite), iPod Touch 4G	I have seen on other forums peoe buying from borders us and having them shipped. All in all it appears to not have cost a lot at all, ballpark being around $130 all up. A quick email to kobo support would verify if they will support you buying elsewhere. I think they will given the number of kobo owners in Australia and the current red group issues.

07-01-2011, 10:47 PM	#7
amward Wizard Posts: 1,299 Karma: 2081110 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: SW Australia Device: Eco Eclipse, Sony PRS 350 (pink), Ipod Touch, Kindle Touch	I emailed Kobo about buying from overseas about a week ago but so far have had no response at all. I gave up and ordered a Sony from my closest store, Perth.

07-02-2011, 12:18 AM	#9
Todd Young Addict Posts: 243 Karma: 1004164 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Kindle 2	I don't think you can buy a nook reader in Australia. Barnes and Noble is an Ameican company.

07-02-2011, 12:32 AM	#10
amward Wizard Posts: 1,299 Karma: 2081110 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: SW Australia Device: Eco Eclipse, Sony PRS 350 (pink), Ipod Touch, Kindle Touch	[QUOTE=CazMar;1639443]Well, I have just emailed Kobo as well and will keep MR members updated on what happens. I did at least get an automated reply from their help section.[/QUOTE Well I did get that but nothing since.

07-02-2011, 02:59 PM	#11
Ryvyan I read what I want. Posts: 224 Karma: 372315 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Singapore Device: iPhone XS, iPhone 6, Kobo Clara	There are no e-readers in Singapore too, so I used a freight forwarding company for a Nook (even the international-friendly Kindle is not supported here). I reckon that the gadget is not that expensive to break a sweat over warranty.

07-02-2011, 07:58 PM	#12
kiwipippa Fanatic Posts: 578 Karma: 613022 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New Zealand Device: kobo glo, kobo touch (dead), kindle touch, android phone	I'm in New Zealand and bought a kobo touch from Borders.com They ship to NZ and Australia for $129 plus $9 shipping ($US). I'd rather have bought locally but given the problems with the retailers locally it isn't likely to happen any time soon. With the cheap price I decided to just get one anyway (and kobo themselves may to come to the party should anything go wrong). My new kobo touch arrived last Thursday, I love it. If you check out the kobo forum you will see that there are lots of Aussies and Kiwis with new kobo touches, or waiting for them to arrive. Given the state of your dollar at the moment it would be hard to find a better deal.