12-15-2017, 05:18 AM | #1 |
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Aura One - Terrible Quality Control?
The Kobo Aura One is by far the best e-reader I've used. But it's terribly let down by the QC. I'm wondering how it can be so bad:
Of the five I've used, only two worked as they should. First one worked great for a couple weeks, then the screen froze and it was dead, never to return to life. Two have light issues: In one, even at the end of the night slider, the light is very yellow, as opposed to the nice red it should go to (as it does in the others); in the other, the light has the right color, but there is totally, distractingly uneven, with big dark shadows covering the lower corners. (Even more annoying, customer service just told me to reset it, and that would solve all my problems. I wonder if I was communicating with a chatbot. Sure felt like it. Generally does when I chat with most customer service reps, which is why I always try to email, thought it's less and less an option.) Two have worked just as they should with no issues so far. I don't get how it can be that bad. Still. I want to give these as gifts. I want to send one to a friend in Australia, for example. But I can't just order it from a retailer there and have it sent. Rather, I have to have shipped to me in the US, where I am now, make sure it works properly, then send it along. It's already not cheap, and that just adds too much to the expense. With a defect rate as high as it is, it seems they need to have someone physically inspect each screen before it goes out. That would surely be cheaper than paying the shipping for all the returns, having so many duds, and giving so many customers bad experiences. |
12-15-2017, 07:35 AM | #2 | |
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12-16-2017, 12:58 AM | #3 |
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That's the problem - I want to send it as a gift. Obvious way would be to just have it shipped from J&B. Problem is, I have no idea what she, the recipient, will actually get.
Since she's unfamiliar with them, will she know that the light shouldn't be that shade (yellow)? Or have shadows? Of the five Auro Ones I've had so far, three have been defective. Would I be giving a nice gift or just a headache? I just really don't get why they don't have someone checking the screens before they go out. Given the defect rate, it would sure be cheaper than the returns. That said, when you've got one that's not defective, the Aura One is far and way the best reader going. It's really just a QC issue. |
12-16-2017, 01:18 AM | #4 | |
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12-16-2017, 02:02 AM | #5 | |
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12-16-2017, 02:13 AM | #6 |
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12-16-2017, 03:23 AM | #7 |
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For my needs, as things are progressing... it's not just that it's nicer, It weighs less, has a larger screen (and in the case of the limited edition, has actually decent sized storage). As far as storage goes, I actually need a lot of storage space on any given day, without a micro sdhc slot none of Kobo's current offerings are that useful to me. With the limited edition, I have the storage to go with really really light weight and a large screen.
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12-16-2017, 02:01 PM | #8 |
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What David said.
Better yet, if you are that worried, send her the money and let her go to the shop herself. |
12-20-2017, 05:25 AM | #9 |
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It's borderline as to whether it's worth the trouble. Yes, it really is that much better. Both for me, and for a couple people I've given these two, it changes how we read. Size matters. I read that a study found retention is higher with a larger screen.
It just feels right. And having a softer light than the glaring white of my Kindle Paperwhite makes a huge difference, as well. I guess I could just send her the money. That's lovely way to surprise someone with a gift: Um... here... here's some cash. Go buy yourself a present... Let me know if it's defective. Yeah. My point, though, is that with a bit of QC, this would blow everything else on the market away. Seems like it would also save money even on existing sales. |
12-20-2017, 09:33 AM | #10 | |
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12-20-2017, 09:52 AM | #11 | |||
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Selling their flagship product in a state where people are afraid to give it as a gift says a lot. |
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12-20-2017, 10:50 AM | #12 |
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12-20-2017, 10:51 AM | #13 |
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12-20-2017, 10:53 AM | #14 |
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12-20-2017, 11:00 AM | #15 |
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