When did Best Buy begin selling Kobos again?

rcentros · 08-27-2026, 03:20 AM

I remember several years ago looking at Kobo Minis at Best Buy (about the time Kobo phased them out). I didn't realize they had Kobos back in their stores now. Just curious, when did this happen? (I guess I'm really out of touch, but I have been wanting to see what a Kobo Clara's B/W screen looked like. It looks like I may have a chance to do that now.)

JSWolf · 08-27-2026, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

I remember several years ago looking at Kobo Minis at Best Buy (about the time Kobo phased them out). I didn't realize they had Kobos back in their stores now. Just curious, when did this happen? (I guess I'm really out of touch, but I have been wanting to see what a Kobo Clara's B/W screen looked like. It looks like I may have a chance to do that now.)

Best Buy US or CA?

Deskisamess · 08-27-2026, 09:10 AM

They have them at my local Best Buy, northeast Ohio.

Cactus Chef · 08-27-2026, 09:38 AM

Recently.

https://goodereader.com/blog/electro...-buy-us-stores

I keep meaning to drive to my local BB to see if they have any on display. The last time I got to look at display model Kobo's was when I was passing through a FNAC at a Paris train station.

rcentros · 08-27-2026, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Best Buy US or CA?

U.S. now (again). I knew they had them in Canada. Apparently I can go today and pick one up in Boise (mostly I just want to see what the Clara's B/W screen looks like).

rcentros · 08-27-2026, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cactus Chef

Recently.

https://goodereader.com/blog/electro...-buy-us-stores

I keep meaning to drive to my local BB to see if they have any on display. The last time I got to look at display model Kobo's was when I was passing through a FNAC at a Paris train station.

Oh, okay. So this just happened. I guess I wasn't quite as out of touch as I thought I was. They currently have the Clara B/W on sale at $140 which, at today's prices, is a pretty good deal I guess. They also have the Clara Color on sale for $160. I could check to see the difference between the color and b/w screens with my own eyes. (Not that I'm looking for either at this time.)

Hasdrubal_Lector · 08-27-2026, 09:04 PM

Interesting news. This is a good thing for Kobo. My local Best Buy has the Libra Color the Clara Color and the BW listed as in stock in store. And the sleep covers the stylus 2 and the Remote. I may drop in to see the Libra color screen. I am curious to see a color screen in person, even thoug I have no interest in buying a color ereader. I'm tempted to get a remote too, since it sounds more convenient than using the 8bitdo micro.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

...I have been wanting to see what a Kobo Clara's B/W screen looked like. It looks like I may have a chance to do that now.)

Do. It is a very nice screen. My Clara BW is the perfect out and about ereader. Much nicer than trying to read on my phone. It's very portable. It seems Kobo has raised the price again. The Memory shortage maybe?

JSWolf · 08-27-2026, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hasdrubal_Lector

Interesting news. This is a good thing for Kobo. My local Best Buy has the Libra Color the Clara Color and the BW listed as in stock in store. And the sleep covers the stylus 2 and the Remote. I may drop in to see the Libra color screen. I am curious to see a color screen in person, even thoug I have no interest in buying a color ereader. I'm tempted to get a remote too, since it sounds more convenient than using the 8bitdo micro.

Do. It is a very nice screen. My Clara BW is the perfect out and about ereader. Much nicer than trying to read on my phone. It's very portable. It seems Kobo has raised the price again. The Memory shortage maybe?

Do not buy the Kobo sleep cover. A number of people (myself included) have had them wear out much sooner then they ever should. They are cheaply made junk.

rantanplan · 08-28-2026, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Do not buy the Kobo sleep cover. A number of people (myself included) have had them wear out much sooner then they ever should. They are cheaply made junk.

Same with me, the edges of my official Sage cover started to wear out after a year.

Quoth · 08-28-2026, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hasdrubal_Lector

Do. It is a very nice screen. My Clara BW is the perfect out and about ereader. Much nicer than trying to read on my phone. It's very portable. It seems Kobo has raised the price again. The Memory shortage maybe?

There is a 20% off sale on Clare BW in UK? Or is that after raising the price?

TheSmitty · 08-28-2026, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

Oh, okay. So this just happened. I guess I wasn't quite as out of touch as I thought I was. They currently have the Clara B/W on sale at $140 which, at today's prices, is a pretty good deal I guess. They also have the Clara Color on sale for $160. I could check to see the difference between the color and b/w screens with my own eyes. (Not that I'm looking for either at this time.)

This week I got the Clara BW for $129 on the Kobo website. Also got case and remote there as well. So far so good. The screen is nice, I have LC and find it not as good as the Colorsoft so wasn’t sure what to expect with the Clara BW, but it is good. Off topic I know, sorry.

lock67ca · 08-28-2026, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rantanplan

Same with me, the edges of my official Sage cover started to wear out after a year.

My Clara BW one was starting to fall apart after about six months, and I wasn't rough with it at all. For what they charge for it, it definitely is cheap junk.

DNSB · 08-28-2026, 09:59 PM

My Libra Colour case is 26 months old and while it has some scuffs and mark, it is not falling apart. My Kobo Sage case is quite a bit older and has developed an odd bump on the back (looks as if I have stuffed a MagSafe connector under it and the edge of the cover flap is starting to show wear on the long edge. The worst spot is where I punched a hole over the power button but that was something I expected.

rcentros · Today, 04:54 PM

I finally got to Best Buy to see the Kobos on display. Kind of disappointing overall.

First Best Buy is now basically a glorified "flea market" -- mostly renting out "stalls" for vendors to sell their specific brands. In the back, where there used to be shelves for several products, there's now a huge Ray Ban Meta booth of some kind. The appliance section is empty as they are setting it it up for different vendors (instead of having rows of the same products with a variety of vendors). I guess this is the only way for Best Buy to survive but, even though it's been partially a "flea market" for a while now, at least there was still some of the old Best Buy left the last time I was there.

At any rate, on to the Kobos. There was an extremely small display area. Only one Kobo on display, a Kobo Clara Colour. There was a spot for the Kobo Libra Colour, but even though they one in a box on the bottom shelf, there weren't any displayed. They had about three Kobo Clara BWs, a couple Clara Colours on the lower shelf, plus a case or two, but nowhere to display them. So my main object in going there, to compare the BW vs Colour was thwarted. Maybe when they're done completely converting Best Buy into a flea market, they'll pay more attention to Kobo section, but I'm not holding my breath.

My main impression of the Kobo Clara Colour was that the screen was dull. Not terrible, but not up to the standard of my PocketBook. What I really wanted to see was how good the Clara BW's screen was. It doesn't look like that's going to be an option after all.

08-27-2026, 03:20 AM	#1
rcentros eReader Wrangler Posts: 8,007 Karma: 53606457 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Boise, ID Device: PB HD3, GL3, Voyage	When did Best Buy begin selling Kobos again? I remember several years ago looking at Kobo Minis at Best Buy (about the time Kobo phased them out). I didn't realize they had Kobos back in their stores now. Just curious, when did this happen? (I guess I'm really out of touch, but I have been wanting to see what a Kobo Clara's B/W screen looked like. It looks like I may have a chance to do that now.)

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08-27-2026, 09:10 AM	#3
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,836 Karma: 46117477 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 13 Pro, iPad mini, iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8", Scribe 2022	They have them at my local Best Buy, northeast Ohio.

08-27-2026, 09:38 AM	#4
Cactus Chef Guru Posts: 949 Karma: 12345678 Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: East Coast, United States Device: Kobo Sage, Kobo Clara HD, Galaxy Tab S5e, Kindle 4th Gen	Recently. https://goodereader.com/blog/electro...-buy-us-stores I keep meaning to drive to my local BB to see if they have any on display. The last time I got to look at display model Kobo's was when I was passing through a FNAC at a Paris train station.

08-28-2026, 09:59 PM	#13
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 54,404 Karma: 182161789 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	My Libra Colour case is 26 months old and while it has some scuffs and mark, it is not falling apart. My Kobo Sage case is quite a bit older and has developed an odd bump on the back (looks as if I have stuffed a MagSafe connector under it and the edge of the cover flap is starting to show wear on the long edge. The worst spot is where I punched a hole over the power button but that was something I expected.

Today, 04:54 PM	#14
rcentros eReader Wrangler Posts: 8,007 Karma: 53606457 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Boise, ID Device: PB HD3, GL3, Voyage	I finally got to Best Buy to see the Kobos on display. Kind of disappointing overall. First Best Buy is now basically a glorified "flea market" -- mostly renting out "stalls" for vendors to sell their specific brands. In the back, where there used to be shelves for several products, there's now a huge Ray Ban Meta booth of some kind. The appliance section is empty as they are setting it it up for different vendors (instead of having rows of the same products with a variety of vendors). I guess this is the only way for Best Buy to survive but, even though it's been partially a "flea market" for a while now, at least there was still some of the old Best Buy left the last time I was there. At any rate, on to the Kobos. There was an extremely small display area. Only one Kobo on display, a Kobo Clara Colour. There was a spot for the Kobo Libra Colour, but even though they one in a box on the bottom shelf, there weren't any displayed. They had about three Kobo Clara BWs, a couple Clara Colours on the lower shelf, plus a case or two, but nowhere to display them. So my main object in going there, to compare the BW vs Colour was thwarted. Maybe when they're done completely converting Best Buy into a flea market, they'll pay more attention to Kobo section, but I'm not holding my breath. My main impression of the Kobo Clara Colour was that the screen was dull. Not terrible, but not up to the standard of my PocketBook. What I really wanted to see was how good the Clara BW's screen was. It doesn't look like that's going to be an option after all.