Gifting Kobo eBooks?

pwjone1 · 12-17-2014, 04:31 PM

Is there a way to gift an eBook to a person with a Sony reader? I understand that Kobo picked up the Sony eBooks business, and the person has a Sony eBook reader (plus a Samsung Android tablet), so they are on Kobo now, but I could not figure out how to give them an eBook they want for Christmas. The Youtube video:

http://youtu.be/PqJjcDHr81Y

shows a Give as Gift button, but I actually cannot find that at all when I find the book, so I assume that is not working any longer. Shame really, looked pretty simple.

I went to a web site mentioned in another post:

http://www.kobobooks.com/gifting

But that seems to just refer me to the store, which again has no "Send as Gift" option, at least that I could find.

Did Kobo take away the "Send as Gift" option?
Is there any other way to do it?

I suppose I could give them a gift card, but it seems kind of impersonal, and I would rather give them an eBook than a printed book.

Suggestions?

JSWolf · 12-17-2014, 04:38 PM

Would you please post the full YouTube link in place of the shortcut link? There are some people (like myself) that will not click on these shortcut links. MR support full links so there is no need for shortcuts. Thanks.

pwjone1 · 12-17-2014, 06:29 PM

You do realize, I hope, that a youtu.be shortened link is generally to YouTube, if not, it is explained here:

http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2...ube-links.html

but anyway, easy enough to repost as a video.

pwjone1 · 12-17-2014, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwjone1

but anyway, easy enough to repost as a video.

...or maybe not. For some reason, doesn't look like the YouTube embed works. Odd, after I posted it in the YOUTUBE tags, it still won't play. Interesting.

eschwartz · 12-17-2014, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwjone1

but anyway, easy enough to repost as a video.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwjone1

...or maybe not. For some reason, doesn't look like the YouTube embed works. Odd, after I posted it in the YOUTUBE tags, it still won't play. Interesting.

How's this?

And here is the full list of MR supported bbcode: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/mis...bbcode#youtube

[YOUTUBE]PqJjcDHr81Y[/YOUTUBE]

(Using the [NOPARSE][/NOPARSE] bbcode (to noparse itself, even).

)

PeterT · 12-17-2014, 08:33 PM

I believe that Gifting as shown there no longer exists.

pwjone1 · 12-18-2014, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

I believe that Gifting as shown there no longer exists.

Bummer. I could not find the buttons in the video, but was kind of hoping I was just doing something wrong.

You would think that once they got this working, Kobo would have left it up. There web site seems a bit confused:

http://www.kobobooks.com/giftideas#egifting

Not quite but pretty close to a dead link.

I'd prefer to give eBooks instead of Gift cards. Looks like Kobo doesn't have many places carrying the gift cards:

http://www.kobo.com/giftcards/wheretobuy

Lists basically Fry's Electronics, which is about 600 miles from where I am. Kobo seems a bit confused themselves:

http://www.kobobooks.com/giftideas#giftcards

Says 600 stores in the U.S., but there are not that many Fry's electronics. Odd too that they list Best Buy in Canada, but not the U.S.

The forum seem to have a lot of complaints about Kobo gift cards not working. Has anyone actual recent experience with them?

I am really beginning to wonder if I should just by the person a Kindle for Christmas, they are all on sale, and then gifting eBooks works fine. Doesn't look like Google Play does book gifting (but their Gift cards seem ubiquitous), and an iPad is a bit pricy (though they do have some sort of Android tablet). This Kobo stuff, yes they have books there from Sony, but I am wondering if the whole thing is a lost cause.

ottdmk · 12-18-2014, 06:16 PM

One option with Kobo is e-gift cards. They also make a great way to buy a bunch of books from them at one time. Buy the gift card, apply it to your account, and away you go.

eschwartz · 12-18-2014, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottdmk

One option with Kobo is e-gift cards. They also make a great way to buy a bunch of books from them at one time. Buy the gift card, apply it to your account, and away you go.

Already considered:

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwjone1

I'd prefer to give eBooks instead of Gift cards.

I suspect this is about the more "personal" giving of an actual book rather than mere money.

(My personal rants are about people who give me gift cards, and specifically when they give me gift cards to Target and <shudder/> Barnes & Noble <ward/>

.)

GeoffR · 12-18-2014, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwjone1

Is there a way to gift an eBook to a person with a Sony reader? I understand that Kobo picked up the Sony eBooks business, and the person has a Sony eBook reader (plus a Samsung Android tablet), so they are on Kobo now, but I could not figure out how to give them an eBook they want for Christmas.

Sonys read epubs, so you can buy from any epub retailer, not just Kobo.

OmniLit is one retailer that allows gifting books. You buy the book on your account, and then you have the choice of downloading it or gifting it to someone else.

pwjone1 · 12-19-2014, 05:01 AM

I had a look at Rakuten.com , since they own Kobo, but no Gift cards there. Interesting that the owning company doesn't have the gift cards (they seemed to have a lot). Kobo/Rakuten is not making this easy on me.

pwjone1 · 12-19-2014, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottdmk

One option with Kobo is e-gift cards. They also make a great way to buy a bunch of books from them at one time. Buy the gift card, apply it to your account, and away you go.

I wonder if this is different for different people, as I get:

http://www.kobo.com/egiftcards

Sorry, but this page isn’t available.
To see the great Kobo offerings that are available to you, please go to: http://store.kobobooks.com

___

Looks like:

http://www.kobo.com/egiftcards?___st...style=onestore

Is a "better" link, at least for me, but not that much better as it yields:

We're sorry, but eGift cards are not available at this time.

If you like, you can purchase Kobo gift cards from one of our retail partners.
__

which, of course, I am having trouble finding.

HarryT · 12-19-2014, 06:16 AM

Moderator Notice

Please take a few moments to look at our Posting Guidelines and note in particular the portion of section 8 that states:

URL shortening services may not be used.

Thank you.

eschwartz · 12-19-2014, 10:32 AM

What url shortening service was used?

If you mean the youtu.be one, that is not comparable at all...

ottdmk · 12-19-2014, 12:13 PM

Hmnn. Interesting. My best guess is that e-gift cards aren't available to US customers. How very odd.

I really can't blame US consumers for choosing Kindle over Kobo. As Kobo was unable to make any real dent in the US market, they pretty much ignore it now.

For Canadians, it's pretty much the opposite. Our market has never really been a priority for Amazon. We're an afterthought.

12-17-2014, 04:31 PM	#1
pwjone1 Bookie Posts: 110 Karma: 702568 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY Device: none	Gifting Kobo eBooks? Is there a way to gift an eBook to a person with a Sony reader? I understand that Kobo picked up the Sony eBooks business, and the person has a Sony eBook reader (plus a Samsung Android tablet), so they are on Kobo now, but I could not figure out how to give them an eBook they want for Christmas. The Youtube video: http://youtu.be/PqJjcDHr81Y shows a Give as Gift button, but I actually cannot find that at all when I find the book, so I assume that is not working any longer. Shame really, looked pretty simple. I went to a web site mentioned in another post: http://www.kobobooks.com/gifting But that seems to just refer me to the store, which again has no "Send as Gift" option, at least that I could find. Did Kobo take away the "Send as Gift" option? Is there any other way to do it? I suppose I could give them a gift card, but it seems kind of impersonal, and I would rather give them an eBook than a printed book. Suggestions?

12-17-2014, 06:29 PM	#3
pwjone1 Bookie Posts: 110 Karma: 702568 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY Device: none	You do realize, I hope, that a youtu.be shortened link is generally to YouTube, if not, it is explained here: http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2...ube-links.html but anyway, easy enough to repost as a video. Last edited by pwjone1; 12-19-2014 at 05:43 AM. Reason: Fix link

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12-17-2014, 04:38 PM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,317 Karma: 129333690 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Would you please post the full YouTube link in place of the shortcut link? There are some people (like myself) that will not click on these shortcut links. MR support full links so there is no need for shortcuts. Thanks.

12-17-2014, 08:33 PM	#6
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,216 Karma: 73758904 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	I believe that Gifting as shown there no longer exists.

12-18-2014, 06:16 PM	#8
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,197 Karma: 3765734 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M8 HD	One option with Kobo is e-gift cards. They also make a great way to buy a bunch of books from them at one time. Buy the gift card, apply it to your account, and away you go.

12-19-2014, 05:01 AM	#11
pwjone1 Bookie Posts: 110 Karma: 702568 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY Device: none	I had a look at Rakuten.com , since they own Kobo, but no Gift cards there. Interesting that the owning company doesn't have the gift cards (they seemed to have a lot). Kobo/Rakuten is not making this easy on me.

12-19-2014, 06:16 AM	#13
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Moderator Notice Please take a few moments to look at our Posting Guidelines and note in particular the portion of section 8 that states: URL shortening services may not be used. Thank you.

12-19-2014, 10:32 AM	#14
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	What url shortening service was used? If you mean the youtu.be one, that is not comparable at all...

12-19-2014, 12:13 PM	#15
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,197 Karma: 3765734 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M8 HD	Hmnn. Interesting. My best guess is that e-gift cards aren't available to US customers. How very odd. I really can't blame US consumers for choosing Kindle over Kobo. As Kobo was unable to make any real dent in the US market, they pretty much ignore it now. For Canadians, it's pretty much the opposite. Our market has never really been a priority for Amazon. We're an afterthought.

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