Kobo Discounts: Coupon Codes + Discussion

[Geralt]

Originally Posted by uhkp

It seems that it's important to use an applied gift code balance only with the chosen currency. Which explains why you can't use an US balance with the canadian shop.

I purchased mine in UK store and applied it in India store. The currency switched to rupees. When I switch to UK store, currency switches back to pounds again.
India doesn't have an egift card buying option as far as I know so I'm not sure what ATDrake is saying is completely true. I did buy my egift card few months ago, so maybe it changed.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by CairnsRock

I just used JUSTFORYOU to get a $40 discount off a kobo Aura. I'm in Toronto. $139 - $40 = $99.

COOL! Congrats!

[Lynx-lynx]

Originally Posted by uhkp

That must be new, three or four month ago I purchased an online gift card in Germany and applied it to the US Store.

It seems that it's important to use an applied gift code balance only with the chosen currency. Which explains why you can't use an US balance with the canadian shop.

It should work in Europe for example with the german, french or italian shops.
I never tried, cause I only read german and english, my french is not up to literature and my italian nonexistent.
I have to try Ireland, never came to mind before, UK won't work they don't use Euros.


just my 2ct

Originally Posted by Geralt

I purchased mine in UK store and applied it in India store. The currency switched to rupees. When I switch to UK store, currency switches back to pounds again.
India doesn't have an egift card buying option as far as I know so I'm not sure what ATDrake is saying is completely true. I did buy my egift card few months ago, so maybe it changed.

Yep, I agree with you both re info provided in the initial explanatory post doesn't match the reality from all reports.

And like fbone said those of us with actual experience just keep answering questions as they arise.

For various reasons, including location of the member, a number of people need to comment on the same attribute before we get the know how or understanding. Well, that's my observation ....

[ATDrake]

Originally Posted by uhkp

That must be new, three or four month ago I purchased an online gift card in Germany and applied it to the US Store.

It seems that it's important to use an applied gift code balance only with the chosen currency. Which explains why you can't use an US balance with the canadian shop.

Originally Posted by Geralt

I purchased mine in UK store and applied it in India store. The currency switched to rupees. When I switch to UK store, currency switches back to pounds again.

India doesn't have an egift card buying option as far as I know so I'm not sure what ATDrake is saying is completely true. I did buy my egift card few months ago, so maybe it changed.

Just over a month ago, at the end of September, I purchased my online gift card (no code actually provided in the email, just a Redeem link) using the standard link at the bottom of the Kobo shop, in Canadian dollars.

I was unable to apply it to the US store after multiple attempts throughout October, which kept telling me to change my password after trying to login to redeem it (which I did change, and kept getting the same error message loop upon trying the new password, which otherwise worked perfectly well for logging back into my account). So I went and bought a physical Kobo gift card (in CAD) at the local Chapters at the end of October and applied it to my US account, where it got converted to USD).

I was able to get the e-gift-card to work in the UK store on the first redemption attempt in the beginning of November, where the CAD balance was converted to UK pounds. This was done right after my final attempt to redeem it to the US store (by about one or two hours, as I'd just returned from Chapters with 2 more physical gift cards to use in case it didn't work in the UK store either (and to top up my US account) and I had to feed the e-gift-card back into my Canadian account).

So it may be one of those YMMV situations, depending on where you originally bought it and where you attempt to apply it.

Or as you say, it might be another one of those things that Kobo has changed recently.

It would be interesting to hear if anyone else has tried it in the past few weeks to see if it really is a change like the contest coupon codes being country-restricted, or if instead something just went wrong with my particular redemption attempts.

In any case, I've edited it in my post with the qualifier that it was just my personal experience with purchasing and using the e-gift-cards from Canada to the US/UK (in separate accounts, without any traveling involved) and that people starting from and going to other countries may have better success with it.

[BearMountainBooks]

I know you can't buy gift certs in the US. I asked my affiliate guy and while it sounded like they might be working on it, right now there was no way to buy them for the giveaway I was doing. (I ended up doing it as a paypal giveaway). I believe they are available in Canada and that is where most buy them (and then travel.) They also USED to be available in the US, but aren't currently if I understand things correctly.

[bgalbrecht]

I traveled to Australia to buy mine, and sent it to myself and it converted to US dollars. The last time I did this was on October 2nd, so they could have changed things since then. I don't think I've used the most recent one to buy anything in any countries other than the US store, but previous ones worked in other countries.

[zelda.owns.link]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I know you can't buy gift certs in the US. I asked my affiliate guy and while it sounded like they might be working on it, right now there was no way to buy them for the giveaway I was doing. (I ended up doing it as a paypal giveaway). I believe they are available in Canada and that is where most buy them (and then travel.) They also USED to be available in the US, but aren't currently if I understand things correctly.

Fry's Electronics still carries a physical gift card for Kobo.

[Blue2u]

YMMV, but my experience was that when I had a gift card as payment method I was not able to multi-tab.

[ATDrake]

Kobo just sent me two emails to save 50% off a select list of books (fine print says it's a 1-time use offer limited to Canada, US, Australia, New Zealand, UK, & South Africa):

Use the code Grt50dis by the end of Nov 29th EST on your choice from these two lists (all trad-pub/backlist publishers as far as I can tell, with no obvious self-pub stuff in it):

• Canadian list
• US list with a different set of titles

Since this came to my former Sony accounts which I haven't yet bought anything in (and the email said Save 50% on your first purchase, or words to that effect), I tried this on one book from the US list in my Canadian account (An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England), and the coupon did discount properly, though I didn't actually purchase. It didn't work on an off-list book I tried it on, from a normally discountable publisher.

I'll note that if you're tempted by Ian Hamilton's The Water Rat of Wanchai on the Canadian list, 1st in his entertaining and recommended Ava Lee forensic accountant mystery series, there's a far better edition of it which includes the prequel novella which is occasionally discounted to $4.99 (couponable) during Kobo's periodic weekend sales. Or the omnibus of #1-2 + novella is a better price when you have the good coupons available.

For YA fantasy fans, there's a Rosemary Sutcliff, a Tamora Pierce, and some Rick Riordan among the offerings.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I know you can't buy gift certs in the US. I asked my affiliate guy and while it sounded like they might be working on it, right now there was no way to buy them for the giveaway I was doing. (I ended up doing it as a paypal giveaway). I believe they are available in Canada and that is where most buy them (and then travel.) They also USED to be available in the US, but aren't currently if I understand things correctly.

From what I heard unofficially, Kobo stopped the online gift cards in US due to recent changes in laws pertaining to gift cards purchase and redemption. Their use is now highly regulated to prevent anti-consumer terms and conditions. Plus, each state can add their own statutes to the Federal ones.

For example, in my state any balance less than $5 can be returned to me in cash at my request. All gift cards will escheat to the state after 5 years from date of purchase.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Fbone

From what I heard unofficially, Kobo stopped the online gift cards in US due to recent changes in laws pertaining to gift cards purchase and redemption. Their use is now highly regulated to prevent anti-consumer terms and conditions. Plus, each state can add their own statutes to the Federal ones.

For example, in my state any balance less than $5 can be returned to me in cash at my request. All gift cards will escheat to the state after 5 years from date of purchase.

Yes, I think it was something like this--complex rules that make it really hard on businesses, especially ones worldwide.

I generally only give away 5 dollar gift certs, so it probably isn't worth going to Fry's --although thanks for that info. Never know when it might come in handy!!!

[Lynx-lynx]

Originally Posted by ATDrake

^
ETA: While I'm posting, I might as well mention:

• contest codes only stay valid for one week after the end of the contest (i.e., if a contest ended on Friday, then the codes are good through to the end of next Thursday)

My experience is that the codes may last up to a week after the Contest closes, but that's not hard and fast and their use has expired earlier than 1 week.

• sometimes Kobo resets certain codes like the "welcome" codes and SAV50 every few months or so, making them reusable

SAV50 seems to be rare among Kobo Discount codes in that it has been re-cycled. The 'come back' Discount codes appear to be generic across the membership, and seem to be given out continually which is why they don't seem to expire.

As you've indicated that you're editing your info, inserted above is my view on some of the points. However, I stress that these are just my point of view and I encourage others to add their points of view, because as most of us have noticed at one point or another, with Kobo the situation can change without notice so to speak.

[sufue]

Originally Posted by Blue2u

YMMV, but my experience was that when I had a gift card as payment method I was not able to multi-tab.

This is my experience too, and was driving me crazy until I figured it out. Now I have one account with a gift card balance for the very rare undiscountable title I buy, and another on which I multi-tab to my heart's content...

[ATDrake]

Originally Posted by Lynx-lynx

As you've indicated that you're editing your info, inserted above is my view on some of the points. However, I stress that these are just my point of view and I encourage others to add their points of view, because as most of us have noticed at one point or another, with Kobo the situation can change without notice so to speak.

Thanks for your input. I've further edited my post to incorporate your experiences, as well as those of Blue2u and sufue on multi-tabbing with a gift card balance, as well as uhkp, Geralt, and bgalbrecht on the applicability of e-gift-cards when traveling.

In the past (over a year or two ago, IIRC), some of the "welcome" and "anniversary" codes would sometimes reset the way SAV50 seems to. Perhaps it's something they like to keep available for promos to newer Kobo users without having to come up with a new, easy to remember word combo each time?

If anyone else has an experience they'd like to share on any non-obvious aspect of Kobo shopping, it would be much appreciated. The more we can figure out about how Kobo is doing things, the easier it will be for everyone to hopefully benefit from buying stuff there.

[Lynx-lynx]

For info Kobo India has Random House Australia books going very cheaply as well, eg from AUD 4 cents. And there are a number of childrens ebooks that might interest those thinking about Christmas gifts.

Here's the link, sorted into low to high price. And of course, discount codes apply.

(Don't forget that you'll need to already be signed in to the India store to see the books.)