Kobo book site becoming worse? - Page 2

slm · 01-25-2026, 05:27 PM

When I have trouble, I usually try site search on google such as
"site:kobo.com h beam piper"
It tends to get pretty good results. It does pick up some entries that refer to H. Beam Piper, but not a lot of junk.

Apache · 01-25-2026, 08:52 PM

Add Audible to the list of book sites with horrible search engines. And yes, I know they are part of Amazon.

They will show a supposedly 5,000 results of a search. Unfortunately, with 50 per page it only shows 10 pages. If my math is correct there seems to be a zero missing in the search results.
Apache

Martinoptic · 01-26-2026, 07:07 AM

↑↑ This!
And I wonder what I'm missing out on

cgsmom · 01-26-2026, 02:07 PM

I know this is of no help. But, I sure do miss Fictionwise and Books on Board.

JSWolf · 01-26-2026, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgsmom

I know this is of no help. But, I sure do miss Fictionwise and Books on Board.

Agreed.

ownedbycats · 01-28-2026, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.p.s

Search on amazon has been terrible for years, and not just for books.

I had to give up on kobo and ebooks.com a year or so ago because their web sites stopped working with some particularly nasty third party cookies blocked. Before that happened, I noticed the rising emphasis on audio books when I almost accidentally bought some audio books because they were listed first or no ebook was listed. Good thing they didn't have oneclick.

Some people have had "Buy Now" not confirm beforehand, so

DJUNGELSKOG · 01-29-2026, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acousticvillage

Are there better epub book sites than kobo?

Does your local retailer sell them? I tend to buy e-books from bol.com , they have a partnership with kobo and many of their e-books have turned out to be drm-free.

meeera · 01-29-2026, 10:32 AM

Google search of any particular site often works better than using the site's own search engine.

ownedbycats · 01-29-2026, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meeera

Google search of any particular site often works better than using the site's own search engine.

When I try I get editions from different countries

nana77 · 01-30-2026, 03:49 AM

When trying to search a word inside a book I'd read, from the site account's, I'd found it infinitely slow; while doing it on my device (offline) it kinda freezes too, but there I would guess it's because the Forma doesn't have a large amount of RAM.

Dr. Drib · 01-30-2026, 07:23 AM

I don't know if it's worse, but the effort to find something is what I imagine clipping one's toenails must be like when you're 100 years old.

IanScuffling · 01-30-2026, 09:03 AM

Maybe try bookshop.org? I get most of my books from public libraries, but bookshop.org seems like a decent place. Supports local bookstores, too.

ownedbycats · 01-30-2026, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanScuffling

Maybe try bookshop.org? I get most of my books from public libraries, but bookshop.org seems like a decent place. Supports local bookstores, too.

from ebooks page:

Quote:

Browse and buy on Bookshop.org, and read right in your web browser, or download our iPhone or Android apps for the full reading experience.

No access to ebook files? No thanks

Sirtel · 01-30-2026, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanScuffling

Maybe try bookshop.org? I get most of my books from public libraries, but bookshop.org seems like a decent place. Supports local bookstores, too.

AFAIK they don't have a lot of the ebooks Kobo and Amazon do.

Sirtel · 01-30-2026, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

from ebooks page:

No access to ebook files? No thanks

Yes, that's a dealbreaker. Their FAQ does say that you can download DRM-free books, though.

01-30-2026, 07:23 AM	#26
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,799 Karma: 61187853 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	I don't know if it's worse, but the effort to find something is what I imagine clipping one's toenails must be like when you're 100 years old. Last edited by Dr. Drib; 01-30-2026 at 07:44 AM.

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01-25-2026, 05:27 PM	#16
slm (who/what) Posts: 533 Karma: 5065098 Join Date: Feb 2003 Device: Kindle: Voyage,PW1,KOA, Kobo: Clara Colour, Nook GLP, Pocketbook verse	When I have trouble, I usually try site search on google such as "site:kobo.com h beam piper" It tends to get pretty good results. It does pick up some entries that refer to H. Beam Piper, but not a lot of junk.

01-25-2026, 08:52 PM	#17
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,325 Karma: 91001502 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	Add Audible to the list of book sites with horrible search engines. And yes, I know they are part of Amazon. They will show a supposedly 5,000 results of a search. Unfortunately, with 50 per page it only shows 10 pages. If my math is correct there seems to be a zero missing in the search results. Apache

01-26-2026, 07:07 AM	#18
Martinoptic Bibliophist Posts: 8,074 Karma: 7319684 Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: England Device: none	↑↑ This! And I wonder what I'm missing out on

01-26-2026, 02:07 PM	#19
cgsmom Addict Posts: 394 Karma: 5188425 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: USA Device: Kobo Clara Color, Kindle Colorsoft SE, Nook GL4,	I know this is of no help. But, I sure do miss Fictionwise and Books on Board.

01-29-2026, 10:32 AM	#23
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,894 Karma: 71370116 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	Google search of any particular site often works better than using the site's own search engine.

01-30-2026, 03:49 AM	#25
nana77 Wizard Posts: 1,444 Karma: 898412 Join Date: May 2025 Device: Kobo Forma	When trying to search a word inside a book I'd read, from the site account's, I'd found it infinitely slow; while doing it on my device (offline) it kinda freezes too, but there I would guess it's because the Forma doesn't have a large amount of RAM.

01-30-2026, 09:03 AM	#27
IanScuffling Enthusiast Posts: 48 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Washington DC Device: Kobo Aura HD	Maybe try bookshop.org? I get most of my books from public libraries, but bookshop.org seems like a decent place. Supports local bookstores, too.