Kobo has ended their partnership with Walmart

ZodWallop · 04-07-2024, 09:59 PM

I haven't been able to find any articles on this. But I just signed in to the Kobo website on a new laptop and was met with a message saying Kobo ended their partnership with Walmart. I didn't think to take a screenshot. Anyone have anything further?

Anyway, not a shock. Walmart had a good idea, but in Google fashion, they launched a program and then immediately lost focus on it.

Aleron Ives · 04-07-2024, 11:26 PM

I just signed in and didn't receive a notification.

drofgnal · 04-08-2024, 04:51 AM

I never knew they had one.

JSWolf · 04-08-2024, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I haven't been able to find any articles on this. But I just signed in to the Kobo website on a new laptop and was met with a message saying Kobo ended their partnership with Walmart. I didn't think to take a screenshot. Anyone have anything further?

Anyway, not a shock. Walmart had a good idea, but in Google fashion, they launched a program and then immediately lost focus on it.

I just had a look at Walmart and they still have Kobo Readers for sale.

John F · 04-08-2024, 06:08 AM

I just checked the U.S. site, and the NIA was the only reader sold and shipped by Walmart.

JSWolf · 04-08-2024, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John F

I just checked the U.S. site, and the NIA was the only reader sold and shipped by Walmart.

I didn't notice that. Well spotted.

ratinox · 04-08-2024, 09:09 AM

The kobo.com US login page no longer presents Walmart as the default option. You have to drill down into other options to find it. No notice upon login but I never used the Walmart option for logins so I think that isn't surprising.

theducks · 04-08-2024, 09:39 AM

Is this notice to users of the Kobo (for PC) tool or using a web browser login?

(I have been using Walmart payment linking to buy books from Kobo. This will add another account with my payment data at risk . )

Cactus Chef · 04-08-2024, 10:38 AM

Well that's a shame. I know they hadn't focused on it in some time (I stopped being able to find Walmart Ebook/Kobo gift cards in physical stores over a year ago, and had to start buying them digitally), but their products were still available. On the Kobo subreddit I had largely encouraged US customers to order their Kobo through Walmart rather than directly through Rakuten, as they seemed to have a better delivery/distribution system, and fewer headaches for returns/exchanges.

I think this will hurt Kobo's US presence long-term. It's especially a shame that this happens right before the color Kobo's launch, because that could've potentially made them the first widely-available color e-ink device on the market.

What is the impact to those who had their Kobo account linked to a Walmart account? My first Kobo, a Clara HD, was through Walmart, and as a result whenever I buy a book from Kobo--even directly from Kobo's site, or from the Kobo Android app--I still get a Walmart digital receipt in my inbox. Hoping this doesn't cause any longterm entanglement headaches. I have always purchased books from Kobo, not "Walmart Ebooks", but there still seems to be that backend association.

Also, I notice that the Walmart Ebooks page now seems to be broken:
https://walmartebooks.kobo.com/hc/en-us

tomsem · 04-08-2024, 12:38 PM

Won't hurt 'em. Amazon is the everything store.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kobo/p...C?ref_=ast_bln

cfrizz · 04-08-2024, 05:48 PM

It looks like you can still buy e-gift cards from Walmart, that all I use them for.

Paperbackstash · 04-08-2024, 06:55 PM

Well, that's a shame - it seemed like it would have been a good chance to grow but not sure Walmart put much effort or consistency in it, so it's probably not a growth enough for partnership for Kobo

theducks · 04-08-2024, 07:52 PM

The thing I liked, was being able to touch one before buying (ordering, as not all models were on display).

ZodWallop · 04-08-2024, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Is this notice to users of the Kobo (for PC) tool or using a web browser login?

I installed Linux on a laptop and saw the message as I logged in using Firefox the first time.

Maybe try logging out and log in again and see if you see the message. I tried with no luck, probably because they already showed me the message.

I tried searching again and all that came up is a post from GoodeReader.

theducks · 04-09-2024, 06:09 PM

I was using the desktop app, and it finally showed when I tried to login to buy a title.
Who knows why? Or local Walmart now has so many items under lock and key, it makes it a pain when you want something.
(the Kobo display was about 4', shelf, but the stock may have been underneath)

04-07-2024, 09:59 PM	#1
ZodWallop Gentleman and scholar Posts: 11,011 Karma: 108312789 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space City, Texas Device: Clara HD; Nook ST w/Glowlight, (2015) Glowlight Plus, Paperwhite 3	Kobo has ended their partnership with Walmart I haven't been able to find any articles on this. But I just signed in to the Kobo website on a new laptop and was met with a message saying Kobo ended their partnership with Walmart. I didn't think to take a screenshot. Anyone have anything further? Anyway, not a shock. Walmart had a good idea, but in Google fashion, they launched a program and then immediately lost focus on it.

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04-07-2024, 11:26 PM	#2
Aleron Ives Wizard Posts: 1,031 Karma: 11500112 Join Date: Sep 2022 Device: Kobo Libra 2	I just signed in and didn't receive a notification.

04-08-2024, 04:51 AM	#3
drofgnal Wizard Posts: 1,231 Karma: 7838248 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Ipad Pro/Kindle Oasis 3/iPhone 13 Pro Max	I never knew they had one.

04-08-2024, 06:08 AM	#5
John F Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,176 Karma: 63764653 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo Glo HD	I just checked the U.S. site, and the NIA was the only reader sold and shipped by Walmart.

04-08-2024, 09:09 AM	#7
ratinox Fanatic Posts: 531 Karma: 5060708 Join Date: Oct 2016 Device: Forma, iPad Air 4	The kobo.com US login page no longer presents Walmart as the default option. You have to drill down into other options to find it. No notice upon login but I never used the Walmart option for logins so I think that isn't surprising.

04-08-2024, 09:39 AM	#8
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,821 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Is this notice to users of the Kobo (for PC) tool or using a web browser login? (I have been using Walmart payment linking to buy books from Kobo. This will add another account with my payment data at risk . )

04-08-2024, 10:38 AM	#9
Cactus Chef Addict Posts: 299 Karma: 4504466 Join Date: Apr 2019 Device: Kobo Sage, Kobo Clara HD, Galaxy Tab S5e, Kindle 4th Gen	Well that's a shame. I know they hadn't focused on it in some time (I stopped being able to find Walmart Ebook/Kobo gift cards in physical stores over a year ago, and had to start buying them digitally), but their products were still available. On the Kobo subreddit I had largely encouraged US customers to order their Kobo through Walmart rather than directly through Rakuten, as they seemed to have a better delivery/distribution system, and fewer headaches for returns/exchanges. I think this will hurt Kobo's US presence long-term. It's especially a shame that this happens right before the color Kobo's launch, because that could've potentially made them the first widely-available color e-ink device on the market. What is the impact to those who had their Kobo account linked to a Walmart account? My first Kobo, a Clara HD, was through Walmart, and as a result whenever I buy a book from Kobo--even directly from Kobo's site, or from the Kobo Android app--I still get a Walmart digital receipt in my inbox. Hoping this doesn't cause any longterm entanglement headaches. I have always purchased books from Kobo, not "Walmart Ebooks", but there still seems to be that backend association. Also, I notice that the Walmart Ebooks page now seems to be broken: https://walmartebooks.kobo.com/hc/en-us

04-08-2024, 12:38 PM	#10
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,481 Karma: 26425959 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	Won't hurt 'em. Amazon is the everything store. https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kobo/p...C?ref_=ast_bln

04-08-2024, 05:48 PM	#11
cfrizz Wizard Posts: 1,531 Karma: 34583358 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Quincy, MA Device: Samsung 54A, Kobo Libra H2O, Samsung S6 Lite	It looks like you can still buy e-gift cards from Walmart, that all I use them for.

04-08-2024, 06:55 PM	#12
Paperbackstash Wizard Posts: 1,592 Karma: 20086276 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Central Florida Device: Oasis 3, PW 3, 4, 5, Fire HD 2012, Fire HD 8 (8th Gen)	Well, that's a shame - it seemed like it would have been a good chance to grow but not sure Walmart put much effort or consistency in it, so it's probably not a growth enough for partnership for Kobo

04-08-2024, 07:52 PM	#13
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,821 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	The thing I liked, was being able to touch one before buying (ordering, as not all models were on display).

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04-09-2024, 06:09 PM	#15
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,821 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	I was using the desktop app, and it finally showed when I tried to login to buy a title. Who knows why? Or local Walmart now has so many items under lock and key, it makes it a pain when you want something. (the Kobo display was about 4', shelf, but the stock may have been underneath)