Kobo Discounts: Coupon Codes + Discussion

[apesmom]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

That's what I thought. When I was doing a giveaway on my blog two weeks ago, I couldn't find a link to a gift card. I wrote and asked about such but never received a reply. If anyone DOES ever see a link to doing gift cards from them please post here!!!

I've begun to suspect US customers not being able to buy gift cards for a company based in another country may be restricted by the Patroit Act.

[FizzyWater]

I know at one point, I bought one from the Canadian Indigo bookstore site. But they made it increasingly difficult to use (I think I could only use it on the "old checkout", but to be honest, I don't remember). So I didn't renew it or buy another after I used that one up.

[tempest@de]

you can travel to a country that has gift cards (I remember New zealand) chose the amount and fill the data for the receiver and in the checkout before you confirm you can change the country again, I’ve been doing this for several months, I bought 4 gift cards this way, the first one in new Zealand dolars, before I discovered that I could change the country at the checkout, two in Indian rupees and the last one in US dollars since the coupons don’t work in India now.

Here is a print screen, sorry it isn’t in English but I can’t change the language, even when I have my address set in US, Indian, new Zealand it always shows the language as Portuguese, I think it must be something about my real locations, maybe because off the IP address or something.

[pdurrant]

Thanks for the Gift Card link. It seems I can now buy eCards in the UK and apply them to my account. This may make travelling easier.

[Blue2u]

YMMV but a word of caution, for me, I couldn't multi-tab with gift card, and I couldn't purchase out of the country you apply the gift card in.

[sufue]

Originally Posted by Blue2u

YMMV but a word of caution, for me, I couldn't multi-tab with gift card, and I couldn't purchase out of the country you apply the gift card in.

Same for me - no multi-tabbing with a gift card. Took me a while to figure out that that was why I couldn't get the multi-tabbing to work...

[Purple Lady]

I just received an interesting 20% code - 9.43E+97
it doesn't work.

[Rev. Bob]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

I just received an interesting 20% code - 9.43E+97
it doesn't work.

Try it as 943E97 and see if that does the trick.

[tempest@de]

I use the gift card and I've been able to multitab, usually I open 4 tabs at a time, the first one goes ok and the next ones give me the error «ups something went wrong» but the books show in my library. I think there was one time I couldn’t multitab but that was because I didn’t had enough credit and had to use paypal for the remaining value.

[library addict]

I can only use my Chapters Indigo gift card (purchased from Canada) in old checkout in the US store. There is no spot under new checkput to use it. I've been trying to use it on 99¢ books with the lower, general coupons for 35% or less since the new contest coupons no longer work in old checkout. I'm glad I only purchased the one gift card this way. And I had to jump through hoops to get it as it was. The woman I spoke with was very nice, but them having to call the bank to verify my address seemed odd to me. And I understand why my one back would not talk to them.

[BearMountainBooks]

I am pretty sure I don't want to give away a gift card that may not work! I'll have to wait until they work in the US. I usually include paypal as a gift card nowadays and that keeps everyone happy. Shame Kobo is missing out. I don't even want to deal with gift cards for my own purchases if I have to hop, skip and fuss!!!

[AnotherCat]

Originally Posted by apesmom

I've begun to suspect US customers not being able to buy gift cards for a company based in another country may be restricted by the Patroit Act.

I think you will find it is actually related to increasing US Treasury rules and rule making regarding the use of gift cards domestically (there are onerous rules regarding the issuer's record keeping, etc), and their concerns (and potential rule making) regarding international use of them due to their potential use for money laundering.

As negotiable instruments gift cards have (theoretically) probably already been prohibited for many years from being sent in the domestic and international mail in all countries signatory to the Universal Postal Union.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by Rev. Bob

Try it as 943E97 and see if that does the trick.

Nope. It's only 20% and I just thought it was interesting.

[Rev. Bob]

Originally Posted by AnotherCat

I think you will find it is actually related to increasing US Treasury rules and rule making regarding the use of gift cards domestically (there are onerous rules regarding the issuer's record keeping, etc),

Would those "onerous rules" be the ones that prevent the issuing company from (a) declaring a gift card "expired" and refusing to honor it and/or (b) deducting a monthly "service fee" from the card's value?

Because I have to say, I'm rather a fan of those rules.

[AnotherCat]

Originally Posted by Rev. Bob

Would those "onerous rules" be the ones that prevent the issuing company from (a) declaring a gift card "expired" and refusing to honor it and/or (b) deducting a monthly "service fee" from the card's value?

Because I have to say, I'm rather a fan of those rules.

Sorry I have no idea what you are talking about as such things have nothing to do with the potential use of cards for money laundering. Perhaps you are just being sarcastic due to some other personal gripe you have with a card issuer(s)?

The Treasury rules, to the extent I am familiar with them, are along the lines of issuers being required to maintain long term records related to preserving traceability of cards, reporting of excessive purchases of cards by any one person or entity, etc., etc. So similar to rules for other negotiable instruments that exist worldwide and have done so for many years (e.g. the example I gave, the controls on sending convertible instruments such as debit cards, cash, titles, etc., and presumably gift cards, through the post).