Kobo Discounts: Coupon Codes + Discussion

[koland]

Originally Posted by Mura35

I had a few undownloadable books. Kobo refunded the cost, but never removed them from my library. Two months later I clicked the link for the fun of it and was able to download all three of them.

I find a different problem with Kobo now, tho. I have 2 books that I did not download at the time of purchase. I don't know what happened - links shifted? - but now I can't download them Sent a couple of e-mails to CS in October and November and to this date received no response.

Got my reply - they removed the book from my library....

I asked them to put it back. Maybe when they do I'll be able to download it. Don't ask me what sort of bizarre database system they have that removing a book from your library and putting it back could fix a download issue....

[Chapter One]

HHmm 20th of the month and still no contest. Not looking good folks......

[Lynx-lynx]

Maybe Monday Canadian time.

[Canuck_in_Japan]

I'm a little depressed by all these changes going on at Kobo. When they had a more liberal sales policy I was spending lots of money on books. But since that changed I haven't spent a single dollar on books. So how is Kobo winning?

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Canuck_in_Japan

I'm a little depressed by all these changes going on at Kobo. When they had a more liberal sales policy I was spending lots of money on books. But since that changed I haven't spent a single dollar on books. So how is Kobo winning?

1. Because if they weren't making money on each individual sale, it was profitless to have high sales in the aggregate.

2. They need to reeducate their highest volume customers not to expect constant discounts over 50%, and also to eliminate the expectation that there would always be another contest in another month, and purchases could be postponed until then.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Canuck_in_Japan

I'm a little depressed by all these changes going on at Kobo. When they had a more liberal sales policy I was spending lots of money on books. But since that changed I haven't spent a single dollar on books. So how is Kobo winning?

They weren't making money on the sales. From what I understand, the trivia contests are sponsored by the books/publisher in the contests. BUT with coupons, since the publishers don't allow those coupons to be used, the cut comes from Kobo--so they were probably operating largely at a loss (loss leader) in the hopes people would buy other books while shopping, remember and use the site. If people don't come back, don't buy other books and they were/are operating at a loss with the trivia...well, they'll only do it so long. It could well be a marketing thing that didn't work out for them or it worked well enough for a while, but any marketing idea will run its course. It could be that it worked very well for a while, but as people came to know and expect coupons/trivia, they began NOT buying at full price...and so the contests may have served their purpose.

Even if they worked well, it's not uncommon for a company to try an change out marketing strategies to reach new and different customers. They seem to be fairly active in promoting certain books and items on FB now and in their newsletters.

[BelleZora]

As much as I loved those unlimited high coupons, I want Kobo to succeed, develop great customer service and an easy-to-navigate website, and make good business decisions. It's going to take years, anyway, to read all the books I bought for practically nothing in the good old days.

[jimars]

I just checked-- the November contest did not start until the 24th, so there is still hope (the December contest was early).

[peachiekene]

Originally Posted by jimars

I just checked-- the November contest did not start until the 24th, so there is still hope (the December contest was early).

Yeah, there were a couple of months last year that had "two" contests because one carried over from the previous month.

---Not sure if it's relevant to the kobo contest, but it is MLK day (federal holiday) in the US, so maybe?
I know Kobo is based in Canada so that may not apply, but maybe?

[issybird]

Originally Posted by BelleZora

As much as I loved those unlimited high coupons, I want Kobo to succeed, develop great customer service and an easy-to-navigate website, and make good business decisions. It's going to take years, anyway, to read all the books I bought for practically nothing in the good old days.

I remember when I used to leap on a 25% coupon. It'll be a long time before that seems appealing, much less compelling, again.

[koland]

Originally Posted by koland

Got my reply - they removed the book from my library....

I asked them to put it back. Maybe when they do I'll be able to download it. Don't ask me what sort of bizarre database system they have that removing a book from your library and putting it back could fix a download issue....

Well, they added it back. So, responsiveness is a + over past experience.

Not that it helped in the least, of course. So, technical knowledge and approach gets an F. As does the issue occurring in the first place.

The book may be a KEPUB. However, it's labeled as DRM-Free EPUB. And the download constantly fails. Since I don't buy KEPUB, as I refuse to use their app or devices, due to losing any free book read on it, if I accidentally use the DELETE function (the alternative is you ignore read books until it is annoying, then either clear data, which removes the books, or remove the app entirely to do so; removals seems to be the only solution sometimes), I'm not entirely certain if this is the same failure behavior you get for KEPUB (since normally there isn't a download button, I thought, from when I hit this once, long ago).

[bookmarked]

Well, the January contest was open about 4 hours ago, but it's closed again, at least in the US.

I thought they might have jumped the gun because while the contest page said there would be 10 questions, there were 11 blank spots for answered questions.

The email I got with my usual 30% code says "Contest closes January 30th, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. E.S.T."

Accomplished Aficionado Trivia Contest

[BuyMore]

Originally Posted by bookmarked

Well, the January contest was open about 4 hours ago, but it's closed again, at least in the US.

I thought they might have jumped the gun because while the contest page said there would be 10 questions, there were 11 blank spots for answered questions.

The email I got with my usual 30% code says "Contest closes January 30th, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. E.S.T."

Accomplished Aficionado Trivia Contest

Huh? Kobo ...

[Lynx-lynx]

The Contest is up now.

Here's a direct link to the US Contest: https://www.kobo.com/contest/login?name=aficionadous

CA Contest: https://www.kobo.com/contest?name=aficionadoca
UK Contest: https://www.kobo.com/contest?name=aficionadouk

And the odds (yucko again!!! )

Coupon Value Daily Distribution
10% off 15.0%
20% off 15.0%
25% off 30.0%
30% off 25.00%
35% off 13.15%
45% off 1.00%
55% off 0.50%
65% off 0.20%
75% off 0.15%

Edit
There's only 1 x H2O given away each day, but I don't know if that's 1 per site, or 1 across the three combined sites.

Edit 2
I don't think that the link or info for the Contests is showing on the kobobooks.com home page for any of the countries yet (as at time of posting), so use the links to access the Contest.

[bookmarked]

Originally Posted by Lynx-lynx

The Contest is up now.

Here's a direct link to the US Contest: https://www.kobo.com/contest/login?name=aficionadous

...

Still shows as closed for me (US). I'd guess that it's checking the date & time where you are logging in from.