Kobo Discounts: Coupon Codes + Discussion - Page 923

lkmiller · 08-11-2015, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mura35

I got nothing but "we will look into it" in response to my email :/ However, I didn't expect anything in return, so I guess I am even

I expected nothing too. So I was pleasantly surprised. And I thought I would let people here know that sometimes you do get a working code when adding your voice to the "hey, Kobo, your contest is broke!" crowd.

Fbone · 08-11-2015, 04:37 PM

I used to look forward to the contests. Now I dread them.

I don't understand why they break during the contest. What happens?

AnemicOak · 08-11-2015, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fbone

I don't understand why they break during the contest. What happens?

Only Kobo really knows (or maybe not

), but it seems like some kind of issue with the contest webpage communicating with whatever is generating and issuing the code for a correct answer (since wrong answers behave as expected) and it seems like it only happens after days of codes being issued. Whatever it is it's something that's been changed in the past 2-3 months as before that I don't recall the contests breaking like this.

Susan A · 08-11-2015, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Here's the info from the Visa Checkout offer email...

What's left of mine is still there, but I worry I should use the rest ASAP.

Oh bummer. I thought that date was just the offer date, not the use your credit by this date. However, the 23 cents should still be there.

lkmiller · 08-12-2015, 08:19 AM

For a few days before the US contest actually stopped working, it started going slower and slower. Seems like it can't handle the amount of entries it's been getting in the last few contests.

issybird · 08-12-2015, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkmiller

For a few days before the US contest actually stopped working, it started going slower and slower. Seems like it can't handle the amount of entries it's been getting in the last few contests.

I noticed that, too, and your conjecture seems reasonable to me, knowing nothing about the workings of the contest!

What I fail to understand Is why Kobo doesn't change to a system where the code itself is only revealed via email, as in, "You've won a 30% off coupon! Check your email for the code," - especially since they're emailing the codes anyway. It would have to cut down on the number of entries significantly. Sure, some would still have scores of entries, but the number who generate several hundred or more by dint of bogus emails would have to be severely curtailed.

AnemicOak · 08-12-2015, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

What I fail to understand Is why Kobo doesn't change to a system where the code itself is only revealed via email, as in, "You've won a 30% off coupon! Check your email for the code," - especially since they're emailing the codes anyway. It would have to cut down on the number of entries significantly. Sure, some would still have scores of entries, but the number who generate several hundred or more by dint of bogus emails would have to be severely curtailed.

That's assuming they want to cut down on the entries.

issybird · 08-12-2015, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

That's assuming they want to cut down on the entries.

I would think they'd rather generate fewer codes over 50%, and don't want to cater to those who will only buy at 65% or 75% off, especially to the extent that people buy with big discounts at Kobo but go elsewhere for their regular-priced books. In any case, if the number of entries is breaking the system, they ought to put a brake on them. As evidenced here, the broken contests are generating a lot of customer dissatisfaction, which can't be the aim.

AnemicOak · 08-12-2015, 10:57 AM

Well sure having it break isn't their goal, but I'd bet they're using the number of contest entries as a selling tool to get the publishers who sponsor the contests to keep doing it.

issybird · 08-12-2015, 11:21 AM

Honestly, I think the publishers have to be savvier than that, than to be taken in by spurious entries that only result in sales at the very tip of the prize structure. There must be models that predict the typical conversion of coupons to sales in better-run contests and Kobo's results would be so far off the curve as to be in the next county.

But, I don't know; it's all idle speculation. The only certainty is that Kobo's ways are unfathomable.

BearMountainBooks · 08-12-2015, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Well sure having it break isn't their goal, but I'd bet they're using the number of contest entries as a selling tool to get the publishers who sponsor the contests to keep doing it.

THIS.

sufue · 08-12-2015, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susan A

Oh bummer. I thought that date was just the offer date, not the use your credit by this date. However, the 23 cents should still be there.

The credits are still in both my account and my husband's account, but I'm wondering if maybe the credit is only good for some period of time after it was earned. (I did both of ours late in the month...)

Of course with Kobo, you never know if they even know how their codes and credits work!

I will now try to use the rest of these credits promptly...

BetterRead · 08-12-2015, 04:31 PM

I think I've had it with Kobo.

Before the contest broke, I won a 55% off code -- the highest I've ever won!

I'm sure you can guess the rest of the story...

lkmiller · 08-13-2015, 08:48 AM

I just had a thought...wasn't the first contest that broke also the first contest where you were able to re-use your email and password from the previous contest (instead of needing to fill out the registration again each contest)?

issybird · 08-13-2015, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkmiller

I just had a thought...wasn't the first contest that broke also the first contest where you were able to re-use your email and password from the previous contest (instead of needing to fill out the registration again each contest)?

Oho! I think you're on to something with this. It certainly made entries very much faster.

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08-11-2015, 04:37 PM	#13832
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,298 Karma: 101697116 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	I used to look forward to the contests. Now I dread them. I don't understand why they break during the contest. What happens?

08-12-2015, 08:19 AM	#13835
lkmiller Laura Posts: 1,543 Karma: 23597272 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: Kobo Sage, Kobo Elipsa, Nook Glowlight 4 Plus, Kindle Oasis 2	For a few days before the US contest actually stopped working, it started going slower and slower. Seems like it can't handle the amount of entries it's been getting in the last few contests.

08-12-2015, 10:57 AM	#13839
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Well sure having it break isn't their goal, but I'd bet they're using the number of contest entries as a selling tool to get the publishers who sponsor the contests to keep doing it.

08-12-2015, 11:21 AM	#13840
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,368 Karma: 235205657 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	Honestly, I think the publishers have to be savvier than that, than to be taken in by spurious entries that only result in sales at the very tip of the prize structure. There must be models that predict the typical conversion of coupons to sales in better-run contests and Kobo's results would be so far off the curve as to be in the next county. But, I don't know; it's all idle speculation. The only certainty is that Kobo's ways are unfathomable.

08-12-2015, 04:31 PM	#13843
BetterRead Addict Posts: 229 Karma: 3773072 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Android Tablet	I think I've had it with Kobo. Before the contest broke, I won a 55% off code -- the highest I've ever won! I'm sure you can guess the rest of the story...

08-13-2015, 08:48 AM	#13844
lkmiller Laura Posts: 1,543 Karma: 23597272 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: Kobo Sage, Kobo Elipsa, Nook Glowlight 4 Plus, Kindle Oasis 2	I just had a thought...wasn't the first contest that broke also the first contest where you were able to re-use your email and password from the previous contest (instead of needing to fill out the registration again each contest)?

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