If you've never used the Kobo store before, get some free credit

[skinmaan]

This isn't my usual topic of choice, but I got something in the latest HarperCollins newsletter that may be of interest to some of you here.

Support Your Local Indie Bookstore with eRead Local—Sign Up Today for $5 Credit!

Did you know that you can support a local bookstore with every e-book you buy? Now through November 29th, Kobo is offering an exciting incentive to promote this program. When you sign up, you'll get $5 account credit, and the store will also get $5 for acquiring a new customer. From that point forward, the bookstore will get a percentage of every e-book purchase you make! Stores are also eligible to win great prizes, from free e-readers to a grand-prize party with a bestselling author.

Sign up below and help spread the word with #ereadlocal.

Sign Up

Fine Print:

Offer valid only for legal residents of Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand, who make their first purchase on kobo.com between August 22, 2015 12:00AM EST and November 29, 2015 at 11:59PM EST. A $5.00 credit will be automatically applied against your purchase of $5.01 or more. Credit may only be used once, and is valid for first time purchasers only. If you have made a purchase using your Kobo account in the past, you will not be eligible for this offer. This offer is not valid in conjunction with any other offer or promotion and cannot be used to adjust amount paid on previous purchases. Discounts cannot be applied nor the discount value refunded once a purchase is complete. Rakuten Kobo Inc. reserves the right to change or cancel the offer at any time without notice.

Enjoy!
skinmaan

[Manabi]

I wonder what they count as a purchase? I've bought one book, but it was with a $5 credit I got previously. I don't even have a credit card on my account. I may give it a try and see if it'll work or not.

Edit: Well that answers that, despite what the terms say, they really mean new accounts only. I get this message: "Unfortunately this promotion applies to new Kobo accounts only." How hard would it be to say that in the terms and conditions?

[murg]

Originally Posted by Manabi

I wonder what they count as a purchase? I've bought one book, but it was with a $5 credit I got previously. I don't even have a credit card on my account. I may give it a try and see if it'll work or not.

Edit: Well that answers that, despite what the terms say, they really mean new accounts only. I get this message: "Unfortunately this promotion applies to new Kobo accounts only." How hard would it be to say that in the terms and conditions?

You've made a purchase with your account, so you won't get the credit.

If you had an existing account, without any purchases, then you should be able to get the credit.

I'm not sure how free books are handled, as Kobo doesn't seem to consider them purchases ('Add to Library').

[Manabi]

Originally Posted by murg

You've made a purchase with your account, so you won't get the credit.

If you had an existing account, without any purchases, then you should be able to get the credit.

I'm not sure how free books are handled, as Kobo doesn't seem to consider them purchases ('Add to Library').

That's what the terms say, but going to the page logged in gives me the very explicit message "Unfortunately this promotion applies to new Kobo accounts only." It doesn't say I'm not eligible for the promotion because of anything else, just very plainly says it is only for new accounts. That implies that even if you hadn't made a purchase, you aren't eligible.

So I'm not sure they have the terms matching what they're actually enforcing.

For what it's worth, I tried visiting the page from a different IP in a browser I hadn't logged in with. After finding my local bookstore, it then tells me it's redirecting me "so I can sign up for a Kobo account". That page does have an option to login with an existing account (it's the default account create/login page), but that wording also implies they really meant new customers only. I didn't go any further, as I'm not wanting to make a second account just to get this credit.

[murg]

Originally Posted by Manabi

That's what the terms say, but going to the page logged in gives me the very explicit message "Unfortunately this promotion applies to new Kobo accounts only." It doesn't say I'm not eligible for the promotion because of anything else, just very plainly says it is only for new accounts. That implies that even if you hadn't made a purchase, you aren't eligible.

So I'm not sure they have the terms matching what they're actually enforcing.

For what it's worth, I tried visiting the page from a different IP in a browser I hadn't logged in with. After finding my local bookstore, it then tells me it's redirecting me "so I can sign up for a Kobo account". That page does have an option to login with an existing account (it's the default account create/login page), but that wording also implies they really meant new customers only. I didn't go any further, as I'm not wanting to make a second account just to get this credit.

My comment was based on the following:

If you have made a purchase using your Kobo account in the past, you will not be eligible for this offer.

[Manabi]

Originally Posted by murg

My comment was based on the following:

I know, I'm pointing out that the message generated by the site does not match up with that part of the terms of the deal. I'm trying to point out that going by Kobo's own info, this may actually only be available to new accounts. In one place (terms) they say it's available for people who haven't made a purchase. In another (errors, other dialogue in the process) they say and imply it's only for new customers.

I give up, I really don't know how much more clearer I can be than bolding the damn error message in my last post. Please do me the favor of actually reading my posts before replying. I don't think you've read any of them, as I've included that error twice now.

For anyone else looking at the thread the bottom line is this: This deal may actually only be available to new accounts, even if you have never made a purchase.

[Jessica Lares]

Heh, I took this deal yesterday as I've never signed up for Kobo before, and was able to buy two $1.99 titles, use the coupon, and it told me I didn't have to add any credit card info since I had the $5 coupon. Whoops!

Very happy with my two freebies. Thank you!