Kobo Discounts: Coupon Codes + Discussion

[Crusader]

Originally Posted by notes515

What I think is your are not getting my point. I work in a customer relations field. If I have items that are currently listed at 50% during a time at which I want to show appreciation to a customer how stupid would I look if I offered them 20% instead.

A note saying that they appreciate my business is cool. And true if at any other time this code was offered that would be great. But to not recognize that this offer during the time of a valid 50% is just a little insulting.

I would never treat a customer this way. And no I am not a tad greedy. I am using the 50% like an intelligent person would. Just don't get why the company would offer this under the current circumstances. Perhaps it is just a reflection of the company being a little out of touch with their clients.

Think of it this way. If you didn't visit Mobileread or check deal websites you wouldn't know about the 50% off coupon so that 20% coupon would have come as a welcome surprise.

From my perspective the 50% is a great marketing tool. Instead of giving a high coupon to a single customer they are gaining loads more by making it generally available. Can't fault them for that.

[notes515]

Originally Posted by Crusader

Think of it this way. If you didn't visit Mobileread or check deal websites you wouldn't know about the 50% off coupon so that 20% coupon would have come as a welcome surprise.

From my perspective the 50% is a great marketing tool. Instead of giving a high coupon to a single customer they are gaining loads more by making it generally available. Can't fault them for that.

I can see that from your perspective and accept your point of view. I guess from my point of view I am assuming that they are totally aware of the number of sites that give out their codes.

I am sure that it is just a difference in perspective. And yes, I do very much appreciate the 50% and all the contests.

[Chapter One]

Originally Posted by Pax

I would be very happy, when somebody could send me a discount code which is above 50%.

I cannot participate in Kobo's Contest, because I am not living inside the US, UK or Canada.

I dont live in any of those places either but I still do the contest for the codes. When you sign up you can put any random US details. I think I put that I live in Brentwood California and used zip code 90210. I just made up a phone number.
I get the codes emailed to me after every entry. I wouldnt be eligible to claim the big prize at the end but that doesnt bother me.

[Chapter One]

The 20% off birthday code would have just been sent out automatically by the computer, which wouldnt know what other coupons were available at the time.
The 20% will be a standard coupon given to all on their anniversary. They cant be expected to give some people a larger coupon just because there happens to be another coupon around at the time, that would be very unfair and would result in countless complaints.
To be honest, I think complaining about the free coupon you receive is quite ungrateful and petty. They could be like Amazon and never give out coupons at all, but instead they are very generous with the discounts they give.

[pdurrant]

Wow. I just got a 75% off coupon in the competition!

Now if only I can still find a book I really want that I haven't already bought with the 50% off code!

I know - The Human Division by John Scalzi. It's not out in paperback until next year sometime. Even at Amazon the ebook is £9.49. Normally I'd just wait until next year, but with a 75% off coupon, I've just bought it at Kobo (Normally £13.31!) for £3.32. Excellent!

[Major General]

If anyone has a 65 or 75 code to spare I'd really appreciate it--there's a $20 ebook that's calling my name .

[paola]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Wow. I just got a 75% off coupon in the competition!

Now if only I can still find a book I really want that I haven't already bought with the 50% off code!

I know - The Human Division by John Scalzi. It's not out in paperback until next year sometime. Even at Amazon the ebook is £9.49. Normally I'd just wait until next year, but with a 75% off coupon, I've just bought it at Kobo (Normally £13.31!) for £3.32. Excellent!

I am green with envy! The problem is that sometimes Kobo books are much more expensive than on Amazon even after the 50% discount (e.g. one on my hit list is 10.64 on Kobo, and £4.63 on amazon)...

[laurla]

Originally Posted by Crusader

Think of it this way. If you didn't visit Mobileread or check deal websites you wouldn't know about the 50% off coupon so that 20% coupon would have come as a welcome surprise.

From my perspective the 50% is a great marketing tool. Instead of giving a high coupon to a single customer they are gaining loads more by making it generally available. Can't fault them for that.

Originally Posted by notes515

I can see that from your perspective and accept your point of view. I guess from my point of view I am assuming that they are totally aware of the number of sites that give out their codes.

I am sure that it is just a difference in perspective. And yes, I do very much appreciate the 50% and all the contests.

Kobo may or may not be aware of how many sites share the codes they give out. That's not the point. The fact of the matter is that they did not send YOU the 50% code (and if they did, skip to the next sentence), so why would they even think about delaying your anniversary code for a code that to their factual knowledge you don't have. Oh, and that's assuming the programming that is controlling the anniversary codes is even aware that a 50% code is out there.

Not to mention that the 50% code will end soon (and who knows when another unlimited one will come around) - I'm guessing your anniversary code extends beyond that... so save until then. Or until after the contest is over. Or don't use it at all - but that's your choice. Kobo gave you a gift and you're complaining about it. Your analogy about the trash is just wrong. Kobo (aka your husband) isn't coming to you and telling you that they did you only a partial favor and asking you to be happy about it. It would be more apt to say it's like your husband bringing you your favorite ice cream as a surprise even though you already had some in the freezer. Are you saying you'd be insulted because he brought you something you enjoy, whether he knew you already had some or not? I tell you, if my husband brought me ice cream without me asking for it... well, let's just say I'd be showing him some appreciation back. And as for the garbage. If he took out one of four bags, I'd say thank-you for the help, I sure didn't want to have to make 4 trips.

I hope when actual people do nice things for you, you don't actually look at them and say "that's stupid, I already have one (or 2 or 3) and I'm insulted that when wanted to do something nice for me you didn't consider that." THAT's what's insulting.

ETA - Sorry for the rant-i-ness. Those who know me from other threads know I don't usually go on such tirades but it just irks me when people complain about a gift given to them. It's a GIFT. It's the thought that counts, not the actual gift.

Okay, stopping now. Really. Sorry for going so far off topic of the thread...

[bgalbrecht]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I know - The Human Division by John Scalzi. It's not out in paperback until next year sometime. Even at Amazon the ebook is £9.49. Normally I'd just wait until next year, but with a 75% off coupon, I've just bought it at Kobo (Normally £13.31!) for £3.32. Excellent!

Oh, yay! I've been waiting for Tor books to be eligible for coupons ever since Macmillan settled with the DOJ. (edit) Hmm, not all Tor books are eligible yet, but The Human Division is.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by paola

I am green with envy!

You wouldn't believe how surprised I was when it popped up!

[Lynx-lynx]

Originally Posted by Lynx-lynx

I've just gotten an email response from Kobo re my complaint that no ebook format was displayed prior to my purchase of an O'Reilly book yesterday:

Spoiler:

My complaint:

Today I purchased an ebook without realising that it wasn't in epub format.

Apparently it's in kepub format - which I would not have purchased.

I only buy Kobo books in epub format.

It seems that Kobo may have breached Australian consumer laws because Kobo did not identify pertinent details, that is the ebook format, prior to the sale of the ebook.

I want a refund.

Kobo's response
Thank you for contacting Kobo Customer Care. We are sorry to hear that your purchased book "The Modern Web" is not compatible with your Kobo Glo eReader and you weren't able to verify the file format before purchase. We will be happy to assist you regarding this issue.

Please be advised that Kobo does not provide refunds unless there is something wrong with the eBook in question as all sales are final. However, we will be happy to with a Kobo store credit of $9.69 AUD within 48 hours.

My response back to them
Your response to my complaint comes across as wilful misrepresentation because you did not respond to the issues I clearly raised.

That is - the ebook did not display information as to the format prior to purchase. And nor does it display format information post purchase - one needs to 'guess' the format.

Nor do I know whether the ebook is DRM free or not DRM free because it also is not written on the site information regarding the ebook I bought. This is very important information.

I only buy Kobo ebooks for 2 reasons:
i) they are in EPUB format
ii) the price

The 'new' Kobo Australian website does not state in words the format of any of the ebooks that I've looked at. That is more than likely a breach of the Australian Consumer laws because the format of an ebook is highly pertinent to the purchase information decision making process.

It is also imperative to know the DRM status of an ebook prior to purchase.

I again ask you to address my areas of complaint.

So, this looks like it's going to be a longish chat until Kobo identifies with the area of complaint being the lack of format info.

Edit
For info,the book I purchased is:

The Modern Web
By Gasston, Peter

Originally Posted by Lynx-lynx

------------------------------------------------

I got back the Kobo reply .... Kobo's entire response re not knowing the format pre pruchase is:

'Thank you for contacting Kobo Customer Care. We are sorry to hear that you were unable to sync your eBook "The Modern Web" onto your Kobo Glo eReader and it is our pleasure to assist you today.

Unfortunately, since we are still in the process of upgrading our website, there are a few glitches but we are working to resolve them as soon as possible.'

I do not know if they were talking about format info at all!!

Anyway, I've now asked them to provide me with the EPUB version of the book - because it's an O'Reilly published book.

See how I go, eh ...

Well, I got an email back and the gist of it is that Kobo doesn't have an epub version of this book!!

What a hoot!! So it appears that they are now selling kepub only ebooks and not letting the consumer know pre purchase!

Any further chat re this will be in the 'How important is knowing the format before purchase' thread in the Kobo devices sub-forum.

[Anak]

Thanks for the 50% couponcode.

[taming]

Originally Posted by laurla

Kobo may or may not be aware of how many sites share the codes they give out.

The 50% off code was sent to anyone who has signed up to be a Kobo affiliate for use on their website or blog. I am pretty sure they thought it would get a lot of use .

[Chapter One]

Has anyone played the contest but not received a coupon code? I just answered the Beatrix Potter question, I got it correct first go, and it did the ta-da noise but then didnt give me any code. I havent received the usual email either :/

[laurla]

Originally Posted by taming

The 50% off code was sent to anyone who has signed up to be a Kobo affiliate for use on their website or blog. I am pretty sure they thought it would get a lot of use .

that wasn't the point...