A lot of people have been asking about the Kobo Clara BW lately since it’s no longer available to purchase from anywhere in the US, and some are starting to wonder if Kobo has decided to phase it out.
I assumed it was out of stock because of a simple supply issue, but now it’s gotten to the point where I’m starting to get suspicious too. I think it’s been out of stock for well over a month at this point, and it’s not available to purchase anywhere in the US.
The product page for the Clara BW doesn’t even show up anymore on Amazon when you try to search for it.
I really hope Kobo hasn’t decided to just offer models with color E Ink screens moving forward. That would be a really bad idea, but they kind of already decided to do that when they didn’t release a black and white version of the Libra model. Would it really be that surprising if they decided to ditch the BW Clara too?
On Kobo’s website, the Clara Colour has over 20% more reviews than the Clara BW, which would suggest the color model is outselling the black and white model. Maybe they’d rather just sell the more expensive version moving forward to increase profits.
I still think it’s most likely a supply issue and the Clara BW will be back in stock soon, but you never really know with Kobo. They’ve discontinued models in the past when I wouldn’t have expected them to, like the Kobo Mini and the Kobo Aura One.
The weird thing is the Clara BW is still in stock on Kobo’s Canadian and UK websites, and it has been for a while now—I’m not sure if it was ever out of stock in the UK. So why has it been out of stock in the US for several weeks now?
I also suspect a supply bottleneck. The (identical) Tolino shines are still available, but sometimes with low stocks. And the (Tolino) devices have been on the market for less than a year.
I guess kobo has a lot of customers who would never have bought a BW reader, only a color one, so they probably have a lot of new users – also for their book store.
But if kobo decides to discontinue BW readers then I won’t buy from kobo anything ever again.
They are still sold in my country (Belgium), so it must be it’s a supply chain issue specific to the US. Our local Mediamarkt is selling them for €139, which is their normal price.
I think it’s a supply chain issue in the US. It’s also available from chapters indigo. I don’t think they’re getting rid of BW, that would be a huge mistake. Color is so inferior to BW for reading.
I’m glad I just got the last one available at Best Buy around me!
I found this a little odd. I went to rakuten website this morning and yes bw clara is sold out. There was a do you want to know when restock happens button that I filled out. Later in the afternoon I got a message saying it’s back in stock buy now.
I think it’s a supply issue as well, today they have it in stock again for the US. I’ve been keeping my eye on the BW model as I was hoping it might go on sale soon so I could scoop one up at a little bit of a discount. I have been a little worried too that they might just axe it but it almost seems like they’re constantly selling out of it here in the US & resupplying it slowly at times. My assumption on the review amounts being different from the BW to the Colour models are that maybe more people are feeling compelled to leave a review for the Colour since it’s a ‘new technology’ for Kobo.