Kobo has ended their partnership with Walmart

ZodWallop · 04-07-2024, 10:59 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 · 04-08-2024, 12:26 AM

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

drofgnal · 04-08-2024, 05:51 AM

I never knew they had one.

JSWolf · 04-08-2024, 06:31 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, 07:08 AM

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

JSWolf · 04-08-2024, 07:36 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, 10:09 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, 10:39 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, 11:38 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, 01:38 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, 06:48 PM

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

Paperbackstash · 04-08-2024, 07:55 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, 08:52 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, 09:31 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, 07:09 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, 10:59 PM	#1
ZodWallop Gentleman and scholar Posts: 11,386 Karma: 110916577 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space City, Texas Device: Clara BW; Nook ST w/Glowlight, 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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04-08-2024, 12:26 AM	#2
Aleron Ives Wizard Posts: 1,484 Karma: 16300090 Join Date: Sep 2022 Device: Kobo Libra 2	I just signed in and didn't receive a notification.

04-08-2024, 05:51 AM	#3
drofgnal Wizard Posts: 1,313 Karma: 8166080 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Ipad Pro/Kindle Oasis 3/iPhone 13 Pro Max	I never knew they had one.

04-08-2024, 07:08 AM	#5
John F Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,617 Karma: 67894585 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo Clara 2E	I just checked the U.S. site, and the NIA was the only reader sold and shipped by Walmart.

04-08-2024, 10:09 AM	#7
ratinox Fanatic Posts: 583 Karma: 7012262 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Somewhere in Time Device: Forma, iPad Mini	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, 10:39 AM	#8
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,506 Karma: 58055868 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, 11:38 AM	#9
Cactus Chef Addict Posts: 390 Karma: 6324692 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, 01:38 PM	#10
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,802 Karma: 26985557 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, 06:48 PM	#11
cfrizz Wizard Posts: 1,542 Karma: 36124474 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, 07:55 PM	#12
Paperbackstash Wizard Posts: 1,650 Karma: 20102554 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Central Florida Device: Oasis 3, PW 3 & 5, Fire HD 8 & 10	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, 08:52 PM	#13
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,506 Karma: 58055868 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, 07:09 PM	#15
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,506 Karma: 58055868 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)