USA Dealers?

dow · 04-22-2015, 11:24 AM

I'm thinking about buying my wife a new reader for Mother's day, and so far, the only place that I've found to buy one in the US is Kobo itself. Is this correct, or are there other US retailers who handle kobo readers? familychristian.com shows them, but their webpage is woefully out of date, as they still show the kobo mini, along with the touch, glo and arc, but nothing newer. Interestingly, they do show the white mini to be available, both online and at some of the San Antonio area stores.

AnemicOak · 04-22-2015, 12:14 PM

From what I remember the only options to get a Kobo from a store in the US are Family Christian stores and independent book stores. Best Buy used to sell them, but dropped them quite a while ago.

As you say, Family Christian's website only shows older stuff. There is a store finder for indie stores here, https://www.kobo.com/indie although I don't know if their stock would be any more up to date. From what little I've read from folks around MR few indie stores even sell them any more and finding newer models from most can be tough.

Most people here seem to order from Canada, either straight from Kobo or from Chapters.

dow · 04-22-2015, 12:22 PM

Thanks Brian.

I wonder... is one better than the other? Kobo vs Chapters?

icallaci · 04-22-2015, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dow

Thanks Brian.

I wonder... is one better than the other? Kobo vs Chapters?

I use Chapters and have been very pleased with them. Delivery is very fast, and the exchange rate means you save a bit on the price, although you do have to pay for shipping.

twowheels · 04-22-2015, 01:05 PM

It is a real problem. The small independent bookstore where I sometimes browsed didn't sell ebook readers and is currently having a liquidation sale, and I'd probably burst into flames if I walked into Family Christian, so I don't know if they carry them in this area, nor which models. I don't think I've seen a Kobo in real-life for at least 3 years, whenever Borders closed and Best Buy stopped carrying them.

dow · 04-22-2015, 01:08 PM

Quote:

I use Chapters and have been very pleased with them. Delivery is very fast, and the exchange rate means you save a bit on the price, although you do have to pay for shipping.

The fast delivery is important, especially now, but when I went to check out, the only delivery method I got was US Ground Delivery, which shows a delivery date of "by May 14, 2015." Obviously, this is a little bit late for a Mother's Day surprise. How far are you from Canada, and what was your experience like, time-wise?

Ripplinger · 04-22-2015, 01:23 PM

Make sure you call ahead to any local book stores if you go that route. Many of them only order as they get a call for a single reader, or they'll stock one version only and not the other 4, or they discontinued them because they just haven't been selling a lot of them.

I've picked up 2 Glos from a local book store, The Book Cellar, but they're no longer even stocking Glos anymore and definitely won't be getting in the Glo HD.

MGlitch · 04-22-2015, 01:54 PM

I pre-ordered the H2O, and while I found the lack of any tracking information sent, despite several requests, the H2O arrived fairly quickly.

I'll note that when I say no tracking information arrived, I mean that they did not email me when it shipped, and it took three calls to finally get a tracking number. The first two of those three calls were moderately frustrating since I was told 'Oh it'll probably ship in a day or two' both times, those calls were three days apart.

Once I got a tracking number I was able to see my H2O had started its journey to me on Oct 1st, it arrived on the 6th. So a speedy delivery considering that some of those days were over a weekend.

I'm in NY, and I ordered through Kobo directly. The tracking issue and lack of info from Kobo CS seems to be a known issue which just keeps not being resolved, dunno if Chapters would be any better in that regard.

dow · 04-22-2015, 02:35 PM

Well, I ended up ordering direct from Kobo. Thanks for all the help, guys.

TechniSol · 04-22-2015, 02:55 PM

If it's not too much trouble, please post back and let others know how the experience went in terms of notifications, shipping time, on time arrival, etc.

I bought my Glo in a little, reasonably local, independent book store after calling around based on a list provided on Kobo's web site, but have no idea if they still continue to sell them -really hit and miss, I think.

dow · 04-22-2015, 03:09 PM

Will do. Not that it matters, but I ordered an aura h20.

gabby98 · 04-22-2015, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twowheels

It is a real problem. The small independent bookstore where I sometimes browsed didn't sell ebook readers and is currently having a liquidation sale, and I'd probably burst into flames if I walked into Family Christian, so I don't know if they carry them in this area, nor which models. I don't think I've seen a Kobo in real-life for at least 3 years, whenever Borders closed and Best Buy stopped carrying them.

I felt the same way about Family Christian...last time I was in a store here in the MidWest, they had the Glo and the Mini in stock...that was about 6 months ago.

filmo · 04-22-2015, 03:53 PM

Politics and Prose book store in Washington D.C. sells Kobo Readers in store and on line. They now show Kobo Aura HD for sale on their web site. Should start selling Glo HD when they are available as they did with Kobo Aura HD.
http://www.politics-prose.com/kobo

Last time I walked into a store in USA selling Kobo readers I bought my 3rd Kobo reader. Will buy another that I don't really need when I see one in a store. Like wanting ice water in hell.

murg · 04-22-2015, 10:34 PM

DO NOT ORDER FROM FAMILY CHRISTIAN STORES WEBSITE

Family Christian Stores is in bankruptcy, and having problems resolving that.

If FCS goes into deeper bankruptcy, it is possible that your CC will be charged, you do not receive the product, and you become a creditor of FCS.

This issue does not apply if you go into a physical store.

icallaci · 04-22-2015, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dow

The fast delivery is important, especially now, but when I went to check out, the only delivery method I got was US Ground Delivery, which shows a delivery date of "by May 14, 2015." Obviously, this is a little bit late for a Mother's Day surprise. How far are you from Canada, and what was your experience like, time-wise?

I've ordered three Kobos from Chapters and all have arrived within a week. I'm in Arizona.

04-22-2015, 11:24 AM	#1
dow Addict Posts: 248 Karma: 848380 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Boerne, TX Device: Kobo Forma, Kobo Aura HD, Sony PRS-505	USA Dealers? I'm thinking about buying my wife a new reader for Mother's day, and so far, the only place that I've found to buy one in the US is Kobo itself. Is this correct, or are there other US retailers who handle kobo readers? familychristian.com shows them, but their webpage is woefully out of date, as they still show the kobo mini, along with the touch, glo and arc, but nothing newer. Interestingly, they do show the white mini to be available, both online and at some of the San Antonio area stores.

04-22-2015, 03:09 PM	#11
dow Addict Posts: 248 Karma: 848380 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Boerne, TX Device: Kobo Forma, Kobo Aura HD, Sony PRS-505	Will do. Not that it matters, but I ordered an aura h20. Last edited by dow; 04-22-2015 at 03:13 PM.

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04-22-2015, 12:14 PM	#2
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	From what I remember the only options to get a Kobo from a store in the US are Family Christian stores and independent book stores. Best Buy used to sell them, but dropped them quite a while ago. As you say, Family Christian's website only shows older stuff. There is a store finder for indie stores here, https://www.kobo.com/indie although I don't know if their stock would be any more up to date. From what little I've read from folks around MR few indie stores even sell them any more and finding newer models from most can be tough. Most people here seem to order from Canada, either straight from Kobo or from Chapters.

04-22-2015, 12:22 PM	#3
dow Addict Posts: 248 Karma: 848380 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Boerne, TX Device: Kobo Forma, Kobo Aura HD, Sony PRS-505	Thanks Brian. I wonder... is one better than the other? Kobo vs Chapters?

04-22-2015, 01:05 PM	#5
twowheels Wizard Posts: 1,853 Karma: 13432974 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kobo Clara HD, iPad Pro 10", iPhone 15 Pro, Boox Note Max	It is a real problem. The small independent bookstore where I sometimes browsed didn't sell ebook readers and is currently having a liquidation sale, and I'd probably burst into flames if I walked into Family Christian, so I don't know if they carry them in this area, nor which models. I don't think I've seen a Kobo in real-life for at least 3 years, whenever Borders closed and Best Buy stopped carrying them.

04-22-2015, 01:23 PM	#7
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	Make sure you call ahead to any local book stores if you go that route. Many of them only order as they get a call for a single reader, or they'll stock one version only and not the other 4, or they discontinued them because they just haven't been selling a lot of them. I've picked up 2 Glos from a local book store, The Book Cellar, but they're no longer even stocking Glos anymore and definitely won't be getting in the Glo HD.

04-22-2015, 01:54 PM	#8
MGlitch Wizard Posts: 2,855 Karma: 22003124 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: Kobo Forma, Kobo Sage, Kobo Libra 2	I pre-ordered the H2O, and while I found the lack of any tracking information sent, despite several requests, the H2O arrived fairly quickly. I'll note that when I say no tracking information arrived, I mean that they did not email me when it shipped, and it took three calls to finally get a tracking number. The first two of those three calls were moderately frustrating since I was told 'Oh it'll probably ship in a day or two' both times, those calls were three days apart. Once I got a tracking number I was able to see my H2O had started its journey to me on Oct 1st, it arrived on the 6th. So a speedy delivery considering that some of those days were over a weekend. I'm in NY, and I ordered through Kobo directly. The tracking issue and lack of info from Kobo CS seems to be a known issue which just keeps not being resolved, dunno if Chapters would be any better in that regard.

04-22-2015, 02:35 PM	#9
dow Addict Posts: 248 Karma: 848380 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Boerne, TX Device: Kobo Forma, Kobo Aura HD, Sony PRS-505	Well, I ended up ordering direct from Kobo. Thanks for all the help, guys.

04-22-2015, 02:55 PM	#10
TechniSol GranPohbah-Fezzes r cool! Posts: 1,056 Karma: 3151024 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook STRs, Kobo Touch, Kobo Glo	If it's not too much trouble, please post back and let others know how the experience went in terms of notifications, shipping time, on time arrival, etc. I bought my Glo in a little, reasonably local, independent book store after calling around based on a list provided on Kobo's web site, but have no idea if they still continue to sell them -really hit and miss, I think.

04-22-2015, 03:53 PM	#13
filmo Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 1077205 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kobo Touch, Sony T1, Kobo Mini	Politics and Prose book store in Washington D.C. sells Kobo Readers in store and on line. They now show Kobo Aura HD for sale on their web site. Should start selling Glo HD when they are available as they did with Kobo Aura HD. http://www.politics-prose.com/kobo Last time I walked into a store in USA selling Kobo readers I bought my 3rd Kobo reader. Will buy another that I don't really need when I see one in a store. Like wanting ice water in hell.

04-22-2015, 10:34 PM	#14
murg No Comment Posts: 3,240 Karma: 23878043 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Australia Device: Kobo: Not just an eReader, it's an adventure!	DO NOT ORDER FROM FAMILY CHRISTIAN STORES WEBSITE Family Christian Stores is in bankruptcy, and having problems resolving that. If FCS goes into deeper bankruptcy, it is possible that your CC will be charged, you do not receive the product, and you become a creditor of FCS. This issue does not apply if you go into a physical store.