Kobo Jumps Their Prices

rcentros · 03-01-2023, 02:05 AM

I see Kobo jumped their prices on most of their models by $10 (in the U.S.) — not sure when. I guess they had to do what they had to do but that puts the Nia at a huge disadvantage (hardware wise) when compared to the "All New" Kindle (Basic). 300 dpi vs 212 dpi and the Nia is $10 more. I thought the Nia would be dropping in price, not going up. I guess the Clara HD spoiled me at $120, but the 2E at $140 is fair, though (for those who like bigger screens) that puts it at the same price as the 6.8" Kindle Paperwhite (when not on sale).

Have Kobo's prices gone up worldwide, or is this U.S. thing?

stumped · 03-01-2023, 02:18 AM

sage was £30 off in UK until a few days ago
maybe clearing out old stock ?

Cootey · 03-01-2023, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

I see Kobo jumped their prices on most of their models by $10 (in the U.S.) — not sure when. I guess they had to do what they had to do but that puts the Nia at a huge disadvantage (hardware wise) when compared to the "All New" Kindle (Basic). 300 dpi vs 212 dpi and the Nia is $10 more. I thought the Nia would be dropping in price, not going up. I guess the Clara HD spoiled me at $120, but the 2E at $140 is fair, though (for those who like bigger screens) that puts it at the same price as the 6.8" Kindle Paperwhite (when not on sale).

Have Kobo's prices gone up worldwide, or is this U.S. thing?

I believe there was a sale going on. All the models seem to be at their usual MSRP for me in the US store. Sometimes you can find a better deal for the models on Walmart or Amazon, as you probably already know.

However, I agree that $99 should be the Nia's normal price point because of the Kindle.

georgemk · 03-01-2023, 05:49 AM

In the UK, the Nia is now £94.99 which is £5 more than last August when I purchased mine. Cannot comment on the other models pricing.

Asawi · 03-01-2023, 05:52 AM

Here in Sweden eReaders don't sell much at all. I don't know the prices of all Kobos, but I have kept track on the Libra2 and it has been pretty stable since release, with the occational temporary price drop. Much to my surprise it's pretty equal to US prices.
The Libra2 is definitely more bang for bucks than the Kindle Oasis that costs quite a bit more, but too many people here just think that eReader=Kindle and don't realize that with the Kobo you can (for example) borrow library books without stripping DRM, converting or whatever you need to do with Kindles. And as for Amazon books, well, if you want to read in Swedish that's not the place to go!

JSWolf · 03-01-2023, 06:26 AM

Yes, prices have gone up. Shame really.

stumped · 03-01-2023, 06:26 AM

is just sale prices ending over here. e.g. the sage price here went down by £30 a couple of weeks back. not its gone back to the previous stable price. Amazon do similar pricing stunts with their devices

JSWolf · 03-01-2023, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stumped

is just sale prices ending over here. e.g. the sage price here went down by £30 a couple of weeks back. not its gone back to the previous stable price. Amazon do similar pricing stunts with their devices

The Libra 2 is more expensive then when I bought mine. It was not on sale when I bought it.

stumped · 03-01-2023, 01:14 PM

I had been tracking sage price since Xmas, as I gave my forma to my son.

It was 269 for weeks, then went to a sale price of 219 for a week, then reverted.

I noticed that every on line retailer moved their prices down and back up on exact same days and by the exact same amount

Seems like price fixing collusion to be, but probably legal

rcentros · 03-02-2023, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cootey

I believe there was a sale going on. All the models seem to be at their usual MSRP for me in the US store. Sometimes you can find a better deal for the models on Walmart or Amazon, as you probably already know.

However, I agree that $99 should be the Nia's normal price point because of the Kindle.

The price of the Libra 2, Sage, Nia and Clara 2E all went up by $10 (I think in the U.S. and Canada). I guess it happened at the beginning of January, except for the Clara 2E that went up at the end of January. I just hadn't been paying attention.

https://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/20...ore-expensive/

https://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/20...kobo-clara-2e/

As for the Nia, it has lesser hardware specs compared to the Kindle. I think its price should be $90 or even less.

rcentros · 03-02-2023, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stumped

I had been tracking sage price since Xmas, as I gave my forma to my son.

It was 269 for weeks, then went to a sale price of 219 for a week, then reverted.

I noticed that every on line retailer moved their prices down and back up on exact same days and by the exact same amount

Seems like price fixing collusion to be, but probably legal

The Sage was originally $259.99. It jumped to $269.99 in early January.

(Screen shot from Archive.org -- December 8, 2022.)

https://web.archive.org/web/20221208..._campaign=Sage

Maybe this partly why they run these sales, so they raise the price when the sale ends.

rcentros · 03-02-2023, 09:32 PM

Looks like Walmart found a stash of new Clara HDs.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Kobo-Clar...5?athbdg=L1600

Now that a new HD is $20 cheaper than a 2E would you be tempted to buy it instead?

Cootey · 03-03-2023, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

The Sage was originally $259.99. It jumped to $269.99 in early January.

(Screen shot from Archive.org -- December 8, 2022.)

https://web.archive.org/web/20221208..._campaign=Sage

Maybe this partly why they run these sales, so they raise the price when the sale ends.

Well spotted. I hadn’t thought to check with archive.org. I verified the prices with blog posts and reviews.

With everything going up in price across-the-board, we shouldn’t be surprised that Kobo hiked their prices up. We should probably just be surprised that they waited so long to do it.

rcentros · 03-03-2023, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cootey

With everything going up in price across-the-board, we shouldn’t be surprised that Kobo hiked their prices up. We should probably just be surprised that they waited so long to do it.

Maybe, but their main competition is Amazon and (especially at the lower end) Amazon has better hardware specs. I realize Amazon is subsidizing their Kindles, but Rakuten could do the same with Kobo. They both sell books and Rakuten is not a small retailer.

Undeniably better specs with Nia vs Basic Kindle, PaperWhite vs Clara 2E depends on whether you would like a bigger screen or not.

patrik · 03-03-2023, 05:33 AM

Kobo Libra 2 has been pretty stable here in Sweden. Sage is similar.

03-01-2023, 02:05 AM	#1
rcentros eReader Wrangler Posts: 7,473 Karma: 48453105 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Boise, ID Device: PB HD3, GL3, Tolino Vision 4, Voyage, Clara HD	Kobo Jumps Their Prices I see Kobo jumped their prices on most of their models by $10 (in the U.S.) — not sure when. I guess they had to do what they had to do but that puts the Nia at a huge disadvantage (hardware wise) when compared to the "All New" Kindle (Basic). 300 dpi vs 212 dpi and the Nia is $10 more. I thought the Nia would be dropping in price, not going up. I guess the Clara HD spoiled me at $120, but the 2E at $140 is fair, though (for those who like bigger screens) that puts it at the same price as the 6.8" Kindle Paperwhite (when not on sale). Have Kobo's prices gone up worldwide, or is this U.S. thing?

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03-01-2023, 02:18 AM	#2
stumped Wizard Posts: 3,305 Karma: 10259306 Join Date: May 2016 Device: kobo forma, Kobo Libra, Huawei media Tab, fire HD10, PW3 HDX8.9,	sage was £30 off in UK until a few days ago maybe clearing out old stock ?

03-01-2023, 05:49 AM	#4
georgemk Addict Posts: 235 Karma: 291844 Join Date: Oct 2019 Device: Kobo Nia	In the UK, the Nia is now £94.99 which is £5 more than last August when I purchased mine. Cannot comment on the other models pricing.

03-01-2023, 05:52 AM	#5
Asawi Gadgetoholic Posts: 1,462 Karma: 2731820 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sweden Device: Kobo Libra2, Tolino Vision 6	Here in Sweden eReaders don't sell much at all. I don't know the prices of all Kobos, but I have kept track on the Libra2 and it has been pretty stable since release, with the occational temporary price drop. Much to my surprise it's pretty equal to US prices. The Libra2 is definitely more bang for bucks than the Kindle Oasis that costs quite a bit more, but too many people here just think that eReader=Kindle and don't realize that with the Kobo you can (for example) borrow library books without stripping DRM, converting or whatever you need to do with Kindles. And as for Amazon books, well, if you want to read in Swedish that's not the place to go!

03-01-2023, 06:26 AM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,277 Karma: 129333566 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Yes, prices have gone up. Shame really.

03-01-2023, 01:14 PM	#9
stumped Wizard Posts: 3,305 Karma: 10259306 Join Date: May 2016 Device: kobo forma, Kobo Libra, Huawei media Tab, fire HD10, PW3 HDX8.9,	I had been tracking sage price since Xmas, as I gave my forma to my son. It was 269 for weeks, then went to a sale price of 219 for a week, then reverted. I noticed that every on line retailer moved their prices down and back up on exact same days and by the exact same amount Seems like price fixing collusion to be, but probably legal

03-02-2023, 09:32 PM	#12
rcentros eReader Wrangler Posts: 7,473 Karma: 48453105 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Boise, ID Device: PB HD3, GL3, Tolino Vision 4, Voyage, Clara HD	Looks like Walmart found a stash of new Clara HDs. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Kobo-Clar...5?athbdg=L1600 Now that a new HD is $20 cheaper than a 2E would you be tempted to buy it instead?

03-03-2023, 05:33 AM	#15
patrik Guru Posts: 658 Karma: 4568205 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Kobo Forma	Kobo Libra 2 has been pretty stable here in Sweden. Sage is similar.

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