Why is it so hard to buy a Kobo Touch?

MrsJoseph · 08-01-2011, 10:09 AM

My Kobo Wi-fi got broken so I decided to buy a new KT.

First I go to Kobo's website. Can't buy there. The website directs me to try:

Borders Books
Best Buy
Fry's - There are none anywhere near me.

Of course since Borders is going out of business I try them first. They have one or two left but there is no return or assistance - even if the model is defective or damaged.

Next I try Best Buy. Best Buy has Kindles, Kobo Wi-fi, Sonys, nooks and every tablet ever created but no Kobo Touch.

Not a big deal, I can buy online...but when you're in the store and you have no ereader...sometimes you buy a nook.

My concern is that I really have to go out of my way to get a kobo touch. I really wanted to walk into a store and walk out with an ereader, not order one online. What makes it worse is that online ordering costs more than in-store purchase.

I did buy a Nook STR but after playing with it last night I'm taking it back. It's...ok I guess. It's cool that it has shelves and the possibility of lending. What's not cool is that it only shows you book location by page number - no percentages. It also doesn't list or notate open books. The home screen is completely worthless. You have to buy a microSD card because internal memory is tiny.

EMG · 08-01-2011, 10:28 AM

The Kobo Touch only came out in June. It's a pretty hot item right now! I know you said you don't want to order online, but most places don't charge shipping so it should be the same price as in-store. Have you tried Staples?

You also mentioned that the Nook has lending. Kobo is coming out with it's book sharing option pretty soon.

MrsJoseph · 08-01-2011, 10:32 AM

I wish I could. The ereader is only sold in a few places in the US (officially at least). I've never heard of Fry's before and Best Buy will charge shipping.

m_bisson · 08-01-2011, 11:05 AM

best buy doesn't charge shipping over $20.... in canada

taming · 08-01-2011, 11:23 AM

Although you may not have heard about it, Frys is a reputable company that has been around for a long time. I believe that they had bricks and mortar stores in California before going on-line and selling nationally. Not sure when that happened, but their website was first copyrighted in 1995.

MrsJoseph · 08-01-2011, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taming

Although you may not have heard about it, Frys is a reputable company that has been around for a long time. I believe that they had bricks and mortar stores in California before going on-line and selling nationally. Not sure when that happened, but their website was first copyrighted in 1995.

I checked out their site, they look very reputable. I guess the point I was trying to make is that there are none of those retail stores near me. I like Kobo's products but they don't have the best customer service ever. Plus, when I had a problem with my wi-fi and contacted Kobo they told me I was stuck and could not have it sent to them for repairs - it would need to go to the retail store i got it from.

If I get it from a retail store I will be able to return it in case of defects or damage.

jswinden · 08-01-2011, 12:14 PM

I hear your complaint and agree. Sony readers are even harder to find in the USA at retail centers, and even the Sony web store is often out of stock. So at least KTs seem to be available via online ordering.

If you ask me, it was darn stupid of Kobo to partner with Borders on the release of the KT given that they should have known that Borders was breathing its last breath! I assume Borders had an exclusive right to market in physical stores for a certain period of time and thus why we cannot find KTs at other brick and mortars.

I like the Sony readers and the KT, but I'm starting to get really miffed that both companies treat the USA customers like the bastard children no one wants.

MrsJoseph · 08-01-2011, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswinden

I hear your complaint and agree. Sony readers are even harder to find in the USA at retail centers, and even the Sony web store is often out of stock. So at least KTs seem to be available via online ordering.

If you ask me, it was darn stupid of Kobo to partner with Borders on the release of the KT given that they should have known that Borders was breathing its last breath! I assume Borders had an exclusive right to market in physical stores for a certain period of time and thus why we cannot find KTs at other brick and mortars.

I like the Sony readers and the KT, but I'm starting to get really miffed that both companies treat the USA customers like the bastard children no one wants.

I noticed it was hard to find a Sony, too! At least my preferred size, that is. I tried 3 different stores (including a dedicated SONY store) and nada. They only had the pocket readers and I want at least a 6" screen.

the.Mtn.Man · 08-01-2011, 01:07 PM

Kobo is a smaller company and doesn't have the clout with retailers that Sony, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble has.

geormes · 08-01-2011, 02:31 PM

"...Of course since Borders is going out of business I try them first. They have one or two left but there is no return or assistance - even if the model is defective or damaged. "

Is this so? Obviously Borders won't be around to honor a return, but isn't the warranty Kobo's?

MrsJoseph · 08-01-2011, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geormes

"...Of course since Borders is going out of business I try them first. They have one or two left but there is no return or assistance - even if the model is defective or damaged. "

Is this so? Obviously Borders won't be around to honor a return, but isn't the warranty Kobo's?

I wasn't expecting a 3 month later return, I was thinking more of a "I just got home and popped this bad boy open...and discovered that a jackass sales consultant f'ed up the screen" return.

As I said previously, when I had an issue with my last Kobo I was told that the returns have to go to the store it came from. Have they changed this policy? I don't know. Was the sales person just being lazy? I don't know that, either.

PeterT · 08-01-2011, 03:19 PM

I'd suggest getting in touch with Kobo again; they do seem to have changed their policies....

the.Mtn.Man · 08-01-2011, 03:23 PM

I recently bought two Kobo Touch for 10% off from a going-out-of-business Waldenbooks, and the gal told me that any warranty service would have to go through Kobo if there were any problems (thankfully there haven't been).

MrsJoseph · 08-01-2011, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the.Mtn.Man

I recently bought two Kobo Touch for 10% off from a going-out-of-business Waldenbooks, and the gal told me that any warranty service would have to go through Kobo if there were any problems (thankfully there haven't been).

Hmmm. The supervisor at Borders didn't give me any information whatsoever. Even the cashiers were surprised (one counseled me to buy a nook and the other to buy a kindle) and shocked. I specifically asked about defects and damaged because the Borders looked like a tornado hit it. My husband was concerned that the few they had left could have been damaged.

MrsJoseph · 08-01-2011, 04:51 PM

I wonder: Why doesn't Kobo allow purchase direct from their website?

08-01-2011, 10:09 AM	#1
MrsJoseph Loves Ellipsis... Posts: 1,554 Karma: 7899232 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Kobo Wifi (broken), nook STR (returned), Kobo Touch, Sony T1	Why is it so hard to buy a Kobo Touch? My Kobo Wi-fi got broken so I decided to buy a new KT. First I go to Kobo's website. Can't buy there. The website directs me to try: Borders Books Best Buy Fry's - There are none anywhere near me. Of course since Borders is going out of business I try them first. They have one or two left but there is no return or assistance - even if the model is defective or damaged. Next I try Best Buy. Best Buy has Kindles, Kobo Wi-fi, Sonys, nooks and every tablet ever created but no Kobo Touch. Not a big deal, I can buy online...but when you're in the store and you have no ereader...sometimes you buy a nook. My concern is that I really have to go out of my way to get a kobo touch. I really wanted to walk into a store and walk out with an ereader, not order one online. What makes it worse is that online ordering costs more than in-store purchase. I did buy a Nook STR but after playing with it last night I'm taking it back. It's...ok I guess. It's cool that it has shelves and the possibility of lending. What's not cool is that it only shows you book location by page number - no percentages. It also doesn't list or notate open books. The home screen is completely worthless. You have to buy a microSD card because internal memory is tiny.

08-01-2011, 10:28 AM	#2
EMG Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: Kobo Touch	The Kobo Touch only came out in June. It's a pretty hot item right now! I know you said you don't want to order online, but most places don't charge shipping so it should be the same price as in-store. Have you tried Staples? You also mentioned that the Nook has lending. Kobo is coming out with it's book sharing option pretty soon. Last edited by EMG; 08-01-2011 at 10:31 AM.

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08-01-2011, 10:32 AM	#3
MrsJoseph Loves Ellipsis... Posts: 1,554 Karma: 7899232 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Kobo Wifi (broken), nook STR (returned), Kobo Touch, Sony T1	I wish I could. The ereader is only sold in a few places in the US (officially at least). I've never heard of Fry's before and Best Buy will charge shipping.

08-01-2011, 11:05 AM	#4
m_bisson Groupie Posts: 170 Karma: 25803 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: kobo touch :)	best buy doesn't charge shipping over $20.... in canada

08-01-2011, 11:23 AM	#5
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	Although you may not have heard about it, Frys is a reputable company that has been around for a long time. I believe that they had bricks and mortar stores in California before going on-line and selling nationally. Not sure when that happened, but their website was first copyrighted in 1995.

08-01-2011, 12:14 PM	#7
jswinden Nameless Being	I hear your complaint and agree. Sony readers are even harder to find in the USA at retail centers, and even the Sony web store is often out of stock. So at least KTs seem to be available via online ordering. If you ask me, it was darn stupid of Kobo to partner with Borders on the release of the KT given that they should have known that Borders was breathing its last breath! I assume Borders had an exclusive right to market in physical stores for a certain period of time and thus why we cannot find KTs at other brick and mortars. I like the Sony readers and the KT, but I'm starting to get really miffed that both companies treat the USA customers like the bastard children no one wants.

08-01-2011, 01:07 PM	#9
the.Mtn.Man Guru Posts: 710 Karma: 2483502 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: Kobo Aura	Kobo is a smaller company and doesn't have the clout with retailers that Sony, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble has.

08-01-2011, 02:31 PM	#10
geormes Groupie Posts: 153 Karma: 216188 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook Classic, Kobo Touch, Nook Simple Touch, Kobo Aura	"...Of course since Borders is going out of business I try them first. They have one or two left but there is no return or assistance - even if the model is defective or damaged. " Is this so? Obviously Borders won't be around to honor a return, but isn't the warranty Kobo's?

08-01-2011, 03:19 PM	#12
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,471 Karma: 78880114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	I'd suggest getting in touch with Kobo again; they do seem to have changed their policies....

08-01-2011, 03:23 PM	#13
the.Mtn.Man Guru Posts: 710 Karma: 2483502 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: Kobo Aura	I recently bought two Kobo Touch for 10% off from a going-out-of-business Waldenbooks, and the gal told me that any warranty service would have to go through Kobo if there were any problems (thankfully there haven't been).

08-01-2011, 04:51 PM	#15
MrsJoseph Loves Ellipsis... Posts: 1,554 Karma: 7899232 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Kobo Wifi (broken), nook STR (returned), Kobo Touch, Sony T1	I wonder: Why doesn't Kobo allow purchase direct from their website?

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