Krappy Kobo Kepub!

Shopaholic · 06-23-2014, 09:11 PM

Yes I'm grumpy. Sorry!

Can anyone assist me, and I'm quite sure I'm not the only one, on how to know whether the book I want to purchase is only available in the krappy kobo kepub format? I don't have a kobo. I don't want a kobo. I don't like kobo. I have my Sony and I want to read it there like they claim it can be but it cannot.

I purchased the Silkworm yesterday and there's no Adobe DRM ePub link to download it which leads me to believe that it's their lousy proprietary format only. On a book like this, I have no idea why!!

Is there a way to tell what format their books are in *before* you buy the blasted thing and waste valuable time and money?

Thanks!

eschwartz · 06-23-2014, 09:21 PM

I believe you can add the preview of the book to your account, and if it is available as ADE then you can tell from the library page. The precise details escape me, as I don't have a Kobo and only know from lurking on random threads for fun.

Lynx-lynx · 06-23-2014, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shopaholic

Yes I'm grumpy. Sorry!

Can anyone assist me, and I'm quite sure I'm not the only one, on how to know whether the book I want to purchase is only available in the krappy kobo kepub format? I don't have a kobo. I don't want a kobo. I don't like kobo. I have my Sony and I want to read it there like they claim it can be but it cannot.

I purchased the Silkworm yesterday and there's no Adobe DRM ePub link to download it which leads me to believe that it's their lousy proprietary format only. On a book like this, I have no idea why!!

Is there a way to tell what format their books are in *before* you buy the blasted thing and waste valuable time and money?

Thanks!

Yep, it's a real problem not knowing the format of the book prior to purchase and there have been many many threads saying the same thing. Kobo knows it's a problem and they were told by numerous members of this forum who contacted them complaining about the removal of the format information last July/August (?) when they brought in the new look front page and checkout.

Kobo's reply has been consistent, basically they're looking into it!!

So, in the meantime - you can still see the format if you use the old look front page via IE9.

Some have suggested that if on the new look format, book info page, if Blackberry is included in the download option images then it will be a epub.

Otherwise you can go for the preview option and then open it in your Kobo Desktop and see what the format says. However, that option doesn't work if the book doesn't have a preview option in the first place.

Total pain in the ass the whole 'hide the format' game that Kobo's playing!!

Also - if you can't download a book then immediately contact Kobo's chat line and demand a refund. Yep - they will refund for their failure to provide a book that you can't read, so others have posted.

Here's the chat address:
http://kobo.frontlinesvc.com/app/chat/chat_launch

GeoffR · 06-23-2014, 10:09 PM

Note that you don't actually need to download or open the preview to see what format the book will be in. Just adding the preview to your library will show the download options that are available for the book.

If it says either "Download options: EPUB (DRM-Free)" or "Download options: Adobe DRM EPUB" then there will be an epub version available for download once you buy the book.

Edit: Here's a link to a thread where I posted the same thing, but with a picture as well: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...25&postcount=5

PeterT · 06-23-2014, 10:21 PM

If you are up to some work, our friend Apprentice Alf does include a tool to remove Kobo's DRM, and then there is also a version of the calibre Modify ePub plugin that will remove all the extra <span>'s found in the kEpub format.

Shopaholic · 06-24-2014, 09:16 PM

Thanks for the replies. Is there no way to contact these clowns? The chat doesn't work. I tried help & did both email & phone where they say they'll call you in 5 minutes. Well, I'm certainly glad I didn't hold my breath! Sheesh. It was yesterday when I tried. I did again just now and still nothing. grrrr!

ottdmk · 06-25-2014, 01:34 PM

While I've found that the reply time is certainly not five minutes, I've dealt with Kobo's Customer Support team several times over the past few days. The worst response time was roughly 19 hours, but that only happened once. Every other time has been within an hour. Not great, but nor horrible either.

Shopaholic · 06-26-2014, 04:06 PM

They managed to get in touch with me after my third request & reaching out to them on Twitter. They did give me a refund and also confirmed this nonsense about Blackberry. I don't get it but whatever....

If the user sees Blackberry as one of the devices then the book can be downloaded and not just synced via wifi. I don't know...call me stupid but when their pictures show a reader I would assume I can use it on my Sony reader too because, well, it's a reader!!

I ended up getting the book for my Kindle so Kobo lost. Oh well.

GeoffR · 06-27-2014, 03:20 AM

Kobo has two different listings for The Silkworm, one that has an Adobe DRM epub download option, and one that doesn't.

Edit: Sorry, same publisher but different editions: the US edition is kepub only, the UK edition has the epub download option.

06-23-2014, 09:11 PM	#1
Shopaholic Cockatoo Mom! Posts: 1,509 Karma: 1841741 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: PW4, Kobo: A1, Clara, Libra 2, iPad Pro 11, iPad Mini	Krappy Kobo Kepub! Yes I'm grumpy. Sorry! Can anyone assist me, and I'm quite sure I'm not the only one, on how to know whether the book I want to purchase is only available in the krappy kobo kepub format? I don't have a kobo. I don't want a kobo. I don't like kobo. I have my Sony and I want to read it there like they claim it can be but it cannot. I purchased the Silkworm yesterday and there's no Adobe DRM ePub link to download it which leads me to believe that it's their lousy proprietary format only. On a book like this, I have no idea why!! Is there a way to tell what format their books are in before you buy the blasted thing and waste valuable time and money? Thanks!

06-23-2014, 10:09 PM	#4
GeoffR Wizard Posts: 3,821 Karma: 19162882 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Te Riu-a-Māui Device: Kobo Glo	Note that you don't actually need to download or open the preview to see what format the book will be in. Just adding the preview to your library will show the download options that are available for the book. If it says either "Download options: EPUB (DRM-Free)" or "Download options: Adobe DRM EPUB" then there will be an epub version available for download once you buy the book. Edit: Here's a link to a thread where I posted the same thing, but with a picture as well: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...25&postcount=5 Last edited by GeoffR; 06-23-2014 at 10:15 PM. Reason: Added link to thread with picture

06-27-2014, 03:20 AM	#9
GeoffR Wizard Posts: 3,821 Karma: 19162882 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Te Riu-a-Māui Device: Kobo Glo	Kobo has two different listings for The Silkworm, one that has an Adobe DRM epub download option, and one that doesn't. Edit: Sorry, same publisher but different editions: the US edition is kepub only, the UK edition has the epub download option. Last edited by GeoffR; 06-27-2014 at 03:29 AM. Reason: US vs UK editions

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06-23-2014, 09:21 PM	#2
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	I believe you can add the preview of the book to your account, and if it is available as ADE then you can tell from the library page. The precise details escape me, as I don't have a Kobo and only know from lurking on random threads for fun.

06-23-2014, 10:21 PM	#5
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,698 Karma: 79983758 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	If you are up to some work, our friend Apprentice Alf does include a tool to remove Kobo's DRM, and then there is also a version of the calibre Modify ePub plugin that will remove all the extra <span>'s found in the kEpub format.

06-24-2014, 09:16 PM	#6
Shopaholic Cockatoo Mom! Posts: 1,509 Karma: 1841741 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: PW4, Kobo: A1, Clara, Libra 2, iPad Pro 11, iPad Mini	Thanks for the replies. Is there no way to contact these clowns? The chat doesn't work. I tried help & did both email & phone where they say they'll call you in 5 minutes. Well, I'm certainly glad I didn't hold my breath! Sheesh. It was yesterday when I tried. I did again just now and still nothing. grrrr!

06-25-2014, 01:34 PM	#7
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,224 Karma: 3804496 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M9	While I've found that the reply time is certainly not five minutes, I've dealt with Kobo's Customer Support team several times over the past few days. The worst response time was roughly 19 hours, but that only happened once. Every other time has been within an hour. Not great, but nor horrible either.

06-26-2014, 04:06 PM	#8
Shopaholic Cockatoo Mom! Posts: 1,509 Karma: 1841741 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: PW4, Kobo: A1, Clara, Libra 2, iPad Pro 11, iPad Mini	They managed to get in touch with me after my third request & reaching out to them on Twitter. They did give me a refund and also confirmed this nonsense about Blackberry. I don't get it but whatever.... If the user sees Blackberry as one of the devices then the book can be downloaded and not just synced via wifi. I don't know...call me stupid but when their pictures show a reader I would assume I can use it on my Sony reader too because, well, it's a reader!! I ended up getting the book for my Kindle so Kobo lost. Oh well.