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Barnes & Noble Booksellers review: Kobo eReader 12

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3:29 pm EDT
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I bought a Kobo eReader after being assured that it works with any ePub book, whether you purchased it at Borders.com or anywhere. After many back and forth calls with the Kobo company, I cannot use my eReader to read ePub books (in this case downloaded from gutenberg.org). I attempted to exchange my eReader for a Sony but was told they do not accept electronic exchanges. I told them my Kobo does not work as advertised and as I was assured by the Borders staff in the store. She would not let me return my device. I called Kobo. They told me that I needed to call Adobe (Adobe Digital Editions) and open up a help desk ticket. They told me I had 'run out of authorizations' and that was my problem. I called Adobe. This was not the problem.
I was also let to believe that Kobo is supported by Borders and felt assured that the device would work. As a long term shopper at Borders, I will never return there. I will only shop at Amazon.com or independent bookstores. Sorry Borders, but you shouldn't push a device that is so poorly supported. This is bad business. Also, it is bad business to do this to a long term customer.

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12 comments
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puzzle
Cerritos, US
Jul 24, 2009 7:23 am EDT

Borders is notorious in sending tons of coupons. Then when the customers try to use the discounts, the clerks always pick problems with them. What a waste of time by luring people in. Be ware and just go to Barnes and Nobles.

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c eastaugh
strathcona county, CA
Dec 19, 2012 3:12 pm EST

bought a book from kobo download was about 15% of book e-mail to kobo re subject was informed that it was a small book i argued said it was a wlbur smith book of 600 plus pages i received 102 pages reply stated i was mistaken she had reviewed the book and it was complete therefore i would not get either a refund nor a re-issue of the book .since then they refuse to answer any of my e-mails ifind this the most degrading customer service i have ever received but rest assured enyone who mentions kobo to me gets a very good reason not to buy kobo the worst buy in canada i have ever encountered, the worst customer service, the worst piece of electronic junk on the market

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Lynne Boehlke
Edmonton, CA
Feb 13, 2012 11:03 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I used a gift card to purchase a book from the kobo store it took my money but did not download the book, Do I have any recourse?

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jmasiakos
Mineola, US
Jul 14, 2011 9:42 pm EDT

I purchased a Kobo reader in January 2011 from a local Borders. It was working fine for about six months. One evening in June I went to turn it on and the screen was all messed up - grey lines and frozen. There was no trauma to the device. I reset it several times with no luck. I called Kobo. They offered me a replacement which I accepted. Not surprisingly after about 1 week of using the replacement the same thing happened. Again there was no trauma. The screen was fading in and out. I emailed Kobo on June 29th requesting a full refund. They responded today (7/14) offering another replacement as a courtesy and said that the warranty does not cover screen damage. I responded demanding a full refund and that I would not accept another replacement. Lets see how long it takes them now to respond.

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glassycreek
san diego, US
Jun 30, 2011 3:13 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

well heres another problem that comes up after this. its keeps breaking down and i had them send me another and the same thing happened again, the screen became static and froze. no tramua. the they send me another but wouldn't send me my money back, so i gave up and my cousin asked for it, i told yes but warmed her that it'll break easily and told her mother too so she wouldn't get in trouble, well it broke before they even went back home and that was the third and she tried hard to be nice to it as much as possible. the thing is crap don't buy it. i have a kindle for awhile now its way better, hasn't break and it may not accept epub but it accepts alot of other file formats. and its still working.
the kobo just got thrown into the recycle didn't want to go thro the whole cycle of shipping it and waiting for a whole month to bring me back a kobo that'll last maybe a month.

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TDSimmons
Lethbridge, CA
Jun 30, 2011 4:33 am EDT

I bought a Kobo through Chapters in Canada and am having similiar issues and problems. Unfortunately is not owned by either Chapters or Borders but they sure got snowed by this completely unprofessional company. The issue with downloading books from other publishers and with totally unprofessional responses and a website that looks like a Grade 12 project that got a D are commonplace with this company.

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Chillytraveler
Chicago, US
Aug 09, 2010 2:40 pm EDT

I too purchased the Kobo only to have problems with the adjusting the font sizes of an epub book I downloaded from the library. I was assured by Kobo Customer Service that the firmware upgrade would fix this. Well what they didn't tell me was that I'd have to wait an additional 2 weeks for the firmware upgrade.

I patiently waited and finally was able to download the firmware upgrade, which was not an easy upgrade by any means. After the upgrade, I can't even open any epub documents from any sources. I once again contacted Kobo customer service and the agent was quite snippy. She said that I'm not the only person in the US having this issue and that my complaint would be 'escalated'. Well it's been 2 1/2 weeks and I'm now past my deadline to return this ridiculous, rushed to market gadget.

I'm planning to make a visit to my local Borders and request a full refund (for the gadget and 1 book I purchased but haven't read).

I also have another serious complaint. I purchased a book directly from Kobo (instead of Borders) and I can't even open it! Apparently, only Canadian users can buy books from Kobo.com. Also, Borders doesn't even have all of the books available on their website, that you would find on Kobo storefront and Borders is often more expensive.

If Borders doesn't take this ridiculous thing back, I'm going to contact the Better Business Bureau. The Kobo is not living up to its promises made in advertisement.

In the meantime, I'm just calling it quits and purchasing the Kindle. I've dealt with Amazon for year and they always stand behind their products and service. I've learned my lesson.

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glassycreek
san diego, US
Aug 08, 2010 1:23 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

i had the same problem with my kobo. i was told that my kobo would accept any pdf and epub file and i can't get any epub and pdf file from anywhere else other than through the borders store. i tried returning the thing but they said since i downloaded some books from the borders store into the kobo they cannot give me my money back. now i have to wait till tomorrow to see the manager. wish me luck but i am pissed off.

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Raven S
, US
Jun 21, 2010 2:17 am EDT

I agree with the first posting. I wanted to buy a book with 40 percent coupon for any item, and even the store manager didn't accept the coupon. The situation is teh following:

I visited the Borders store, which is located on 6103 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago.
The environment of the store is very unwellcomming, and the cashiers are very rude. I have been to this store before, and I have been having the same impression too. The manager, who worked on Sunday, was very polite and helpful. He is a male. However, there is a female working during the week in the evening who seems to be looking for a guy. As many times I go there with my boyfriend, she is trying to seduce him. She keeps passing by him on purpose, smiling at him, giving him the eye and bending at him as some easy girl. I have been told the same information by other girls going there with their boyfriends. In addition, she is using her power in her premises in order to make two people break up. I had a coupon for 40 percent. She didn't accept it. She kept attempting to seduce my boyfriend by thinking that I will start acting unprofessionally because of the fact that she didn't let me use the coupon.Other girls have told me the same think. However, she can not expect to break two people with a strong bond by bulling and teasing the girl. The guy will prefer to stay with the girl he is with rather than going for a mean and rude one. A real bully! After that we went to the store located on 4718 North Broadway Avenue. Unlike the store on Lincoln Avenue, the people in the borders store on Broadway Avenue were very polite and helpful. In additon, they accepted my coupon. Of course they will accept it since there was not any pervert manager. I told my man that I don't want us to go anymore to the Borders on Lincoln Avenue because I didn't like how I was treated, and he agreed with me. Other girls have done in the same way. Not only my friends but also my relatives will not go there shopping any more. This pervert store manager makes the store loose lots of money. If Border owners don't want to have a bad reputations and losing money because people want a wellcomming environment where they be treated professionally and with respect, they need to change the manager who is seducing her customers . If the pervert store manager needs a guy, I would suggest that she goes to craigslist.com or clubs.

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CosmicEsperanto
Sacramende, US
Sep 02, 2009 1:11 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Were you trying to scam them? Because that's the only thing I can think you were doing... or you can't read.

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Lancelot Lovejoy
, US
Aug 25, 2009 8:50 pm EDT

Exceptions are always printed right there on the coupon, and it's pretty straightforward. The clerks don't "pick problems;" if the coupon doesn't work, it's because you tried to buy something that the coupon doesn't cover. Read the fine print.

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bobtheman
, US
Jul 24, 2009 7:59 am EDT

I've never had a problem with the coupons. Can you be specific and explain what kind of issues the clerks come up with?

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