Lost Kindle

Alisa · 11-08-2008, 12:13 AM

So my husband came home from work today and told me he lost his Kindle. He thinks he put it in his bag before he got off the train. So either he accidentally left it on the train or it got stolen out of his bag at work, which is a dreadful thought. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had experience with a lost Kindle. Nobody has tried to buy anything so far. If there are no purchases this weekend, I'm going to wait until he goes back to work on Monday. Maybe he left it somewhere there and someone else picked it up. He did have a particularly hectic day. At that point I'm going to contact Amazon CS. I don't want to deregister because that would allow someone to register it. I would like to block it from my account at that point and hope that they would notify me if someone tried to register it. Anyone with experience out there?

MonaLS · 11-08-2008, 12:20 AM

Someone on the KindleBoard reported they had lost a Kindle and the Amazon representative helped them register an invalid (dummy) credit card so that no one could buy books. The person who lost the Kindle also put up a notice in the mall office near where she works and created a text document telling the person that found it who it belonged to and then sent it to the Kindle so that if someone woke it up and turned on the wireless they would get that document.

She did find the Kindle the next day, a delivery guy had found it at the side of the road.

Alisa · 11-08-2008, 12:55 AM

Thanks!

pilotbob · 11-08-2008, 11:05 AM

I'm not sure why you need Amazons help. Just go onto your Amazon account... go to "Manage Your Kindle" and click "Deregiater". Once you have done this no one will be able to purchase ebooks with that S/N.

I would also report it to Amazon... they may be able to black list that S/N so it can't be used any more... I don't know if they do this though.

BOb

KlondikeGeoff · 11-08-2008, 11:50 AM

While it may not always help, everybody should print a small card with their name and phone number, and perhaps "Reward if found" and tape it inside the front cover. I use transparent packing tape as it does not yellow and get sticky with age.

When I first got mine, I sent to feedback the request to have the firmware upgraded to make it possible to password protect it, such as is done with laptops, PDAs, etc. It should not be that hard, and is very important. Every owner should send in this request, then they might listen.

Alisa · 11-08-2008, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I'm not sure why you need Amazons help. Just go onto your Amazon account... go to "Manage Your Kindle" and click "Deregiater". Once you have done this no one will be able to purchase ebooks with that S/N.

I would also report it to Amazon... they may be able to black list that S/N so it can't be used any more... I don't know if they do this though.

BOb

And it would allow them to easily re-register it to themselves. I plan on contacting Amazon on Monday after my husband has checked at work to make sure it's not there. So far no one has tried to buy anything. If they do, I'll contact Amazon sooner.

desertgrandma · 11-08-2008, 12:47 PM

Should you be lucky enough to get it back, and should it ever happen again, you might try Ricky Maveetys' solution.....as soon as I figure out how, I'll do it for mine. From what I've read, those people who lose their Kindles usually get them back if the people have contact info...

Quote from Ricky Maveety"I created a bookplate with my name, address and phone number on it ... just in case my precious Kindle is ever lost. I posted it along with some others as free screensavers in another thread. (Without my name, address, and phone number on it, of course.)"

pilotbob · 11-08-2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alisa

And it would allow them to easily re-register it to themselves.

True... but are you worried about the person using it for themselves or about them buying stuff on your card? I would think the latter.

Most people that steal stuff like this to sell it. I think Amazon should have a way to blacklist a serial number. Of course, there is room to abuse this... I think that is why Apple doesn't do it.

BOb

DickyCheung22 · 11-09-2008, 06:51 AM

Hope you can get it back soon...

Alisa · 11-12-2008, 01:05 PM

Me, too. The folks at the transit agency say to give it awhile because sometimes it takes awhile for people to bring things in to the lost and found. I made a dummy account with no credit card and registered it there. No one tried to buy anything the week it was missing but Amazon decided to deregister it anyway. They apparently have no way of just disabling its privileges but decided to be "helpful" and deregister it even though I didn't want to. So I figured I'd just make a new account and put it there where it can do no harm. I sent a note to it offering a reward.

Alisa · 11-13-2008, 02:15 PM

A happy update: Someone turned in my husband's Kindle to the transit agency's lost and found. I wish I could thank them for being ethical and kind enough to go out of their way to do this for us.

pilotbob · 11-13-2008, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alisa

A happy update: Someone turned in my husband's Kindle to the transit agency's lost and found. I wish I could thank them for being ethical and kind enough to go out of their way to do this for us.

That's awesome... good to hear. I'm glad you got it back. There are good people in this world.

BOb

JSWolf · 11-13-2008, 02:50 PM

Wow! That is awesome. I'm glad you got your Kindle back.

Patricia · 11-13-2008, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alisa

A happy update: Someone turned in my husband's Kindle to the transit agency's lost and found. I wish I could thank them for being ethical and kind enough to go out of their way to do this for us.

That is happy news Alisa.
Isn't it nice to know that there are some good people around?

nohmi2 · 11-13-2008, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alisa

A happy update: Someone turned in my husband's Kindle to the transit agency's lost and found. I wish I could thank them for being ethical and kind enough to go out of their way to do this for us.

I am very happy for you. I goes a long way in restoring one's faith in human nature.

11-08-2008, 12:13 AM	#1
Alisa Gadget Geek Posts: 2,324 Karma: 22221 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)	Lost Kindle So my husband came home from work today and told me he lost his Kindle. He thinks he put it in his bag before he got off the train. So either he accidentally left it on the train or it got stolen out of his bag at work, which is a dreadful thought. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had experience with a lost Kindle. Nobody has tried to buy anything so far. If there are no purchases this weekend, I'm going to wait until he goes back to work on Monday. Maybe he left it somewhere there and someone else picked it up. He did have a particularly hectic day. At that point I'm going to contact Amazon CS. I don't want to deregister because that would allow someone to register it. I would like to block it from my account at that point and hope that they would notify me if someone tried to register it. Anyone with experience out there?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
I found a lost kindle 2 should I keep it or return it?	swt_decadent	Amazon Kindle	60	06-18-2010 08:57 PM
Did anyone actually lost their kindle and had amazon return them?	swt_decadent	Amazon Kindle	1	05-24-2010 03:03 PM
HELP>>>It appears Amazon lost all records of my wife's kindle and purchases...	rumbarrel	Amazon Kindle	18	12-25-2009 12:38 PM
What happens if a Kindle is lost, stolen or broken?	emoorman	Amazon Kindle	5	10-28-2009 07:40 PM
Replacing lost Kindle 2, should I get 2 or 1?	veezer	Amazon Kindle	23	07-09-2009 09:35 AM

11-08-2008, 12:20 AM	#2
MonaLS Groupie Posts: 180 Karma: 34 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: Kindle (Gen 1), Kindle DX, Kindle Fire, LG Enact	Someone on the KindleBoard reported they had lost a Kindle and the Amazon representative helped them register an invalid (dummy) credit card so that no one could buy books. The person who lost the Kindle also put up a notice in the mall office near where she works and created a text document telling the person that found it who it belonged to and then sent it to the Kindle so that if someone woke it up and turned on the wireless they would get that document. She did find the Kindle the next day, a delivery guy had found it at the side of the road.

11-08-2008, 12:55 AM	#3
Alisa Gadget Geek Posts: 2,324 Karma: 22221 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)	Thanks!

11-08-2008, 11:05 AM	#4
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	I'm not sure why you need Amazons help. Just go onto your Amazon account... go to "Manage Your Kindle" and click "Deregiater". Once you have done this no one will be able to purchase ebooks with that S/N. I would also report it to Amazon... they may be able to black list that S/N so it can't be used any more... I don't know if they do this though. BOb

11-08-2008, 11:50 AM	#5
KlondikeGeoff Wombat Aficionado Posts: 481 Karma: 733 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Arizona Device: Fire, Kindle1, Sony PRS-500 Reader, Rocket 1100 eBook	While it may not always help, everybody should print a small card with their name and phone number, and perhaps "Reward if found" and tape it inside the front cover. I use transparent packing tape as it does not yellow and get sticky with age. When I first got mine, I sent to feedback the request to have the firmware upgraded to make it possible to password protect it, such as is done with laptops, PDAs, etc. It should not be that hard, and is very important. Every owner should send in this request, then they might listen.

11-08-2008, 12:47 PM	#7
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462841 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Should you be lucky enough to get it back, and should it ever happen again, you might try Ricky Maveetys' solution.....as soon as I figure out how, I'll do it for mine. From what I've read, those people who lose their Kindles usually get them back if the people have contact info... Quote from Ricky Maveety"I created a bookplate with my name, address and phone number on it ... just in case my precious Kindle is ever lost. I posted it along with some others as free screensavers in another thread. (Without my name, address, and phone number on it, of course.)"

11-09-2008, 06:51 AM	#9
DickyCheung22 Enthusiast Posts: 48 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: none	Hope you can get it back soon...

11-12-2008, 01:05 PM	#10
Alisa Gadget Geek Posts: 2,324 Karma: 22221 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)	Me, too. The folks at the transit agency say to give it awhile because sometimes it takes awhile for people to bring things in to the lost and found. I made a dummy account with no credit card and registered it there. No one tried to buy anything the week it was missing but Amazon decided to deregister it anyway. They apparently have no way of just disabling its privileges but decided to be "helpful" and deregister it even though I didn't want to. So I figured I'd just make a new account and put it there where it can do no harm. I sent a note to it offering a reward.

11-13-2008, 02:15 PM	#11
Alisa Gadget Geek Posts: 2,324 Karma: 22221 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)	A happy update: Someone turned in my husband's Kindle to the transit agency's lost and found. I wish I could thank them for being ethical and kind enough to go out of their way to do this for us.

11-13-2008, 02:50 PM	#13
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,037 Karma: 129333114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Wow! That is awesome. I'm glad you got your Kindle back.

Advert

Advert