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> That math is why many book apps like those from Bookshop, Kobo and Barnes & Noble’s Nook haven’t typically let you buy e-books and audiobooks from their iPhon
by AdmiralAsshat 1y ago
> That math is why many book apps like those from Bookshop, Kobo and Barnes & Noble’s Nook haven’t typically let you buy e-books and audiobooks from their iPhone or Android apps. Instead, you must leave the app, buy from the bookstore’s website and hop back into the app to read or listen to it.
Not accurate, at least for Kobo. They accepted Google's billing system, so buying from the Kobo app on Android hooks into your Google Wallet billing method and works without an issue.
It does mean you can't use Kobo gift cards towards purchases made on your phone, but you can always pop onto the website to do that.
I'm actually really glad that Kobo just did that, even if Google is taking a ridiculous cut. Anecdotally I'm buying way more impulse books on Kobo (i.e. a book on sale for $2.99 or less) since they got the app working with Google Wallet.
- jorvi 1y agoWhy not add your payment method to Kobo's app? It's very little effort for doing your part in fighting the oligopoly.
- mvdtnz 1y agoGoogle Play billing is the only option in the Kobo Android app.
- jorvi 1y agoOh, I misunderstood. I thought Kobo added the Google Pay (Wallet Pay? Google Wallet? God knows with the constant name changes) button / system to the app in addition to their own payment flow. Damn.
- glitchc 1y agoThat does seem odd given that Google is liable to take a 30% cut of each purchase.
- mvdtnz 1y agoIt isn't "odd" it's the only way they are permitted by Google to sell their product. Yes, it's farcical and should be illegal. https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/10281818 https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answ...
- xbmcuser 1y agoMost of the big companies probably have better prices negotiated and are not paying 30%
- lupusreal 1y agoIt sucks because it means users can't buy books from Kobo on the app unless they give Google their payment info. I don't want Google to have my payment info, least of all so I can buy something from a completely different company. If Google insisted on being an option in the app it would be relatively fine. Users who prefer Googles payment system could chose it, but Google doesn't want users to have that choice.
- AdmiralAsshat 1y agoI already gave Google my payment info, though, because I use Google Wallet. And I actually find that more secure, because IIRC the credit card number that is stored in Google Wallet is a virtual credit card number, not the real number that is printed on the physical card (which Rakuten Kobo would store). Even when I buy books from Kobo, I never stored my credit card with them. I always bought gift cards and loaded the balance onto my account. That would occasionally get cumbersome, since the only vendor for those cards in the US used to be Wal-Mart, until they discontinued their relationship. Now I think Kobo might sell them directly out of Amazon.com--but either way, for the odd $2 and $3 purchases that I do on impulse buys (because a book may be on sale), just having it go through Google Wallet is much easier.
- kubav027 1y agoMy bank gives me virtual credit cards. Google is just unnecessary expensive middle man. But I live in Europe so US situation might be different.
- bluGill 1y agoWhy would I want a virtual credit card - US law gives me strong fraud protection and so if my number is compromised I just call my bank and dispute the charges and then I get a new number. Though I've never had the above happen. I've had a few times where my number was compromised but the bank found out and gave me a new card before whoever got the number was able to use it.