Why is it so hard to buy a Kobo Touch? - Page 2

jeffry · 08-01-2011, 05:39 PM

I bought my from Borders at 20% off. It works great!

However, it is really strange that you can't even buy it direct from Kobo.

know-one · 08-01-2011, 06:21 PM

I got mine like someting like 2 months ago @ Best Buy and they had tons of them.

robko · 08-01-2011, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsJoseph

I wonder: Why doesn't Kobo allow purchase direct from their website?

Pretty simple really: Chapters/Indigo is a major (majority?) shareholder in Kobo and already has the logistics/physical buildings etc. to do the shipping of a physical product. Kobo itself runs the "electronic" side of things so they just need office space, and don't need to re-invent the wheel and develop the physical shipping side of things when they only have 1 product. They also have (had - Borders) other partners with similar abilities so no need/reason for them to do it themselves.

jswinden · 08-01-2011, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by know-one

I got mine like someting like 2 months ago @ Best Buy and they had tons of them.

We are talking about the Kobo Touch, not the Kobo WiFi.

Fbone · 08-01-2011, 10:22 PM

May have to wait until Best Buy has them in stores, if there is a location nearby.

MrsJoseph · 08-01-2011, 10:41 PM

I ordered one from best buy online. It should be here by next week.

remcdonald · 08-01-2011, 11:08 PM

welcome to the kobo touch club (you will love it). As for why Kobo doesn't sell online. Well basically they are a victim of their own success. Kobo Readers were really designed to be the in house reader for Chapters/Indigo in Canada and to help with promoting ebook sales in Canada (where neither amazon or sony ereaders had ever caught on in a big way). Since they had shipping and in store sales via Chapters there was no need to develop it for the Kobo site, especially since they had a deal in place with borders, now with borders folding I won't be suprised if Kobo picks up a new American partner or tries to woo independent book stores into their network.

Sher0808 · 08-02-2011, 12:55 PM

I am from Canada and bought mine online through Chapters........perhaps you could try that route.

siraks · 08-02-2011, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsJoseph

I ordered one from best buy online. It should be here by next week.

which one did you end up getting?
the exclusive blue one from best buy or another color?

MrsJoseph · 08-02-2011, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siraks

which one did you end up getting?
the exclusive blue one from best buy or another color?

The black one.

I'm going to skin it anyway. I'm thinking about this one.

siraks · 08-02-2011, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsJoseph

The black one.

I'm going to skin it anyway. I'm thinking about this one.

ahh, sweet. i love my black kt.

i like the design of your skin. i've wanted to skin my kobo for the longest time but i'm not 100% sold on it.

i have some questions / concerns ..
will the back feel fine with a layer / skin over it?
will the edges of the skin begin to roll over / peel from sliding it in and out of the sleeve i have for it.

i just don't want to pay for a wicked awesome skin and then have it peel so soon afterwards.

i guess if i take it out of the house i can use the sleeve and at home just not use the sleeve..there are options but i guess i'm just giving myself a reason not to get it.

you'll love the touch, especially with the updates. it was amazing from day 1 but they've greatly improved the device.

MrsJoseph · 08-02-2011, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siraks

ahh, sweet. i love my black kt.

i like the design of your skin. i've wanted to skin my kobo for the longest time but i'm not 100% sold on it.

i have some questions / concerns ..
will the back feel fine with a layer / skin over it?
will the edges of the skin begin to roll over / peel from sliding it in and out of the sleeve i have for it.

i just don't want to pay for a wicked awesome skin and then have it peel so soon afterwards.

i guess if i take it out of the house i can use the sleeve and at home just not use the sleeve..there are options but i guess i'm just giving myself a reason not to get it.

you'll love the touch, especially with the updates. it was amazing from day 1 but they've greatly improved the device.

If the KT is mad from the same material as the Kobo Wi-fi, it'll feel good. The Gelaskin doesn't leave residue (I know, I had to remove mine before

) but sticks really well...well enough to get in the quilt lines but won't feel soft like the actual reader. I never had a problem with lifting or peeling...but I didn't use a sleeve or anything, I just threw it in my purse and would go. I also used a screen protector...

siraks · 08-02-2011, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsJoseph

If the KT is mad from the same material as the Kobo Wi-fi, it'll feel good. The Gelaskin doesn't leave residue (I know, I had to remove mine before

) but sticks really well...well enough to get in the quilt lines but won't feel soft like the actual reader. I never had a problem with lifting or peeling...but I didn't use a sleeve or anything, I just threw it in my purse and would go. I also used a screen protector...

hmmmmm... can't do it, have decided not to get a purse lol.

thanks for the info though, i may get one just to have it. i like change here and there though, i like changing my desktop backgrounds to reflect my mood or just what i'm into currently. could get pricey with skins.

SensualPoet · 08-02-2011, 10:41 PM

Kobo is continuing to organically grow its retail sales distribution. You've already ordered yours online from Best Buy so you are good to go. If you check www.kobo.com/ereader_wheretobuy you'll notice they update the distributors from time-to-time. For Kobo Touch, Fry's was just added recently.

I think you can reasonably expect that KT will be rolled out to, at a minimum, all the KW locations. Plus, European distribution must be coming since the German bookstore is open now and the France, Italy, Nederlands, Spain stores are all expected to open in the next few days or weeks.

MrsJoseph · 08-03-2011, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siraks

hmmmmm... can't do it, have decided not to get a purse lol.

thanks for the info though, i may get one just to have it. i like change here and there though, i like changing my desktop backgrounds to reflect my mood or just what i'm into currently. could get pricey with skins.

Very much so, lol! I want several but I have to restrain myself...especially when I think about how much they cost.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

Kobo is continuing to organically grow its retail sales distribution. You've already ordered yours online from Best Buy so you are good to go. If you check www.kobo.com/ereader_wheretobuy you'll notice they update the distributors from time-to-time. For Kobo Touch, Fry's was just added recently.

I think you can reasonably expect that KT will be rolled out to, at a minimum, all the KW locations. Plus, European distribution must be coming since the German bookstore is open now and the France, Italy, Nederlands, Spain stores are all expected to open in the next few days or weeks.

That would be good.

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08-01-2011, 05:39 PM	#16
jeffry Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 26 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Arizona, USA Device: Kobo Touch	I bought my from Borders at 20% off. It works great! However, it is really strange that you can't even buy it direct from Kobo.

08-01-2011, 06:21 PM	#17
know-one Connoisseur Posts: 77 Karma: 240112 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: kOBO	I got mine like someting like 2 months ago @ Best Buy and they had tons of them.

08-01-2011, 10:22 PM	#20
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,288 Karma: 101697116 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	May have to wait until Best Buy has them in stores, if there is a location nearby.

08-01-2011, 10:41 PM	#21
MrsJoseph Loves Ellipsis... Posts: 1,554 Karma: 7899232 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Kobo Wifi (broken), nook STR (returned), Kobo Touch, Sony T1	I ordered one from best buy online. It should be here by next week.

08-01-2011, 11:08 PM	#22
remcdonald Connoisseur Posts: 60 Karma: 49376 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kobo, Kobo Touch	welcome to the kobo touch club (you will love it). As for why Kobo doesn't sell online. Well basically they are a victim of their own success. Kobo Readers were really designed to be the in house reader for Chapters/Indigo in Canada and to help with promoting ebook sales in Canada (where neither amazon or sony ereaders had ever caught on in a big way). Since they had shipping and in store sales via Chapters there was no need to develop it for the Kobo site, especially since they had a deal in place with borders, now with borders folding I won't be suprised if Kobo picks up a new American partner or tries to woo independent book stores into their network.

08-02-2011, 12:55 PM	#23
Sher0808 Sher0808 Posts: 15 Karma: 280 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: Kobo	I am from Canada and bought mine online through Chapters........perhaps you could try that route.

08-02-2011, 10:41 PM	#29
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	Kobo is continuing to organically grow its retail sales distribution. You've already ordered yours online from Best Buy so you are good to go. If you check www.kobo.com/ereader_wheretobuy you'll notice they update the distributors from time-to-time. For Kobo Touch, Fry's was just added recently. I think you can reasonably expect that KT will be rolled out to, at a minimum, all the KW locations. Plus, European distribution must be coming since the German bookstore is open now and the France, Italy, Nederlands, Spain stores are all expected to open in the next few days or weeks.