Very creepy conversation with Kindle Specialist

palex481 · 03-06-2009, 08:21 AM

So I am interested in Kindle 2 and just for kicks I called Amazon and spoke to a "Kindle Specialist" to ask her about transferring non amazon books to the device. Here's how it went:

Me: I was wondering about transferring books that are not from the Kindle Store to the Kindle

Specialist: We do not support any other DRM enabled books.

Me: These are not DRM books, they are legal public domain books.

Specialist: We do not support transferring books to the device not from the Kindle store, only "Personal Documents"

Me: So how do I get these "Personal Documents" on the Kindle?

Specialist: You can email them to the device as long as they are under 50 megs.

Me: I can't transfer them via USB?

Specialist: This is an ereader, not a storage device.

Me: I understand that but with my Sony I can drag and drop books to the device when it is hooked up to the computer.

Specialist: You can email your "Personal Documents" to the device as long as they are under the limits.

Me: What about Mobi formatted non drm books?

Specialist: We do not support other book stores.

At this point, I gave up. But I found it very creepy how she kept saying "Personal Documents", like how dare I even try to transfer something not bought from Amazon! And her apparent lack of knowledge about USB. It totally turned me away from Kindle.

lilac_jive · 03-06-2009, 08:25 AM

Just stick with your Sony

Sparrow · 03-06-2009, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palex481

...At this point, I gave up. But I found it very creepy how she kept saying "Personal Documents", like how dare I even try to transfer something not bought from Amazon! And her apparent lack of knowledge about USB. It totally turned me away from Kindle.

Not good.
I'd probably try ringing them again, to see if their other 'specialists' are more helpful, before giving up completely.

sirbruce · 03-06-2009, 08:48 AM

She was, of course, completely wrong. All you have to do is read the Kindle 2 User's Guide to see that.

You can transfer documents via USB, not just email. You can drag and drop non-DRM MOBI and PRC and TXT files into the documents folder and it works just fine.

There is a "Personal Documents" listing, new to the Kindle 2. However, no one knows how to "tag" a document such that it belongs there. Everything you copy via USB seems to go under "Books", which is fine if they are books.

busy91 · 03-06-2009, 08:50 AM

I wouldn't base all the specialists on that one woman. She sounded like she was uptight. I agree, try again. From what I understand, there is a way to get non-Kindle books on the device. I'm no where near as proficient as some, but I read it can be done. Of course the specialist is going to try to push the Amazon books, I suppose that is her job, she is probably recorded too.

KimmyA · 03-06-2009, 09:24 AM

Sounds like she memorized her script a little too well. I'm sorry she wasn't very helpful. I agree with Sparrow. Try calling again and maybe you'll get someone capable of thinking.

Or you can always just post your questions here. There are lots of friendly, helpful folks here.

daffy4u · 03-06-2009, 09:32 AM

I ditto Kimmy A. I bet we know waaay more about the Kindle than the "trained from a script" specialist. Actually she probably knows a lot but it restricted from sharing all she knows (Big Brother and all).

slayda · 03-06-2009, 09:41 AM

Hey, I learned something from this thread. I didn't know I could email documents to my Kindle. Comes from not RTFMing. That'll teach me!!

daffy4u · 03-06-2009, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slayda

Hey, I learned something from this thread. I didn't know I could email documents to my Kindle. Comes from not RTFMing. That'll teach me!!

You could ready the myths thread or wiki (it's an early post and entry) and learn more about it without having to read the whole manual.

KindleDude · 03-06-2009, 11:30 AM

I've had better luck emailing Kindle support, but only for specific issues.

For the kind of questions you were asking,, you should have just come here (where the folks who REALLY know stuff hang out) or to any number of excellent Kindle blogs that have technical advice, such as the "tech tips" that appear in each post on Len Edgerly's Kindle Chronicles.

Of course you can transfer material, including books and documents, to your Kindle as long as it is in a format the Kindle can read. I personally find emailing easier, but USB works fine, just remember it has to go in the "documents" folder on the Kindle.

InlawBiker · 03-06-2009, 11:44 AM

As a new Kindle owner I'm pretty happy with the device only because I've figured out how to get my own books onto it. I'm an experienced techie and I ran into challenges and needed this forum for help. I wouldn't expect the average user to figure it out or even care to try.

Amazon made it very easy to buy from them and only them, which is I think the point of the Kindle. I expect I'll buy books from them, but I'm also going to use my local library and any other source I choose.

KindleKat · 03-06-2009, 12:03 PM

almost sounds like a bot or something.

JSWolf · 03-06-2009, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slayda

Hey, I learned something from this thread. I didn't know I could email documents to my Kindle. Comes from not RTFMing. That'll teach me!!

If you have to RTFM, it's not worth having it (it is anything you have to RTFM for).

MsAstoria · 03-06-2009, 12:26 PM

As a former Sony 505 owner, I had no trouble transferring my non drm books to K2. My non drm books were in Epub format and I just loaded them up on Calibre and "converted" them to mobi, then transferred them to K2's document folder. I actually had all the books converted and sitting in a folder on my desktop while waiting for K2 to arrive, then just transferred them directly by drag and drop to K2 document folder. Painless! Seriously!
I really liked the Sony but wanted the added features of Whispernet wifi so I could use it for email and web searches when not at home. I really like the built in dictionary too and even use the text to speech for having books read to me while I am doing other tasks. The K2 is really a cool device, a mini computer for sure.
As long as your books aren't drm secured, you can convert them through Calibre. Another note, if you have multi format books that you bought on Fictionwise, you can go to your account there and change the format to mobi, then all your books automatically changed over and you can download them to the K2.
If you aren't familiar with Calibre, there is a thread through this forum. Get it even if you keep your Sony. It's very cool, free, and you can download news feeds and custom feeds to your unit.

pilotbob · 03-06-2009, 01:48 PM

Apparently the "Kindle Specialist" didn't read the Amazon kindle FAQ/Guide online.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...169400&#others

BOb

03-06-2009, 08:21 AM	#1
palex481 Connoisseur Posts: 93 Karma: 53 Join Date: May 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505	Very creepy conversation with Kindle Specialist So I am interested in Kindle 2 and just for kicks I called Amazon and spoke to a "Kindle Specialist" to ask her about transferring non amazon books to the device. Here's how it went: Me: I was wondering about transferring books that are not from the Kindle Store to the Kindle Specialist: We do not support any other DRM enabled books. Me: These are not DRM books, they are legal public domain books. Specialist: We do not support transferring books to the device not from the Kindle store, only "Personal Documents" Me: So how do I get these "Personal Documents" on the Kindle? Specialist: You can email them to the device as long as they are under 50 megs. Me: I can't transfer them via USB? Specialist: This is an ereader, not a storage device. Me: I understand that but with my Sony I can drag and drop books to the device when it is hooked up to the computer. Specialist: You can email your "Personal Documents" to the device as long as they are under the limits. Me: What about Mobi formatted non drm books? Specialist: We do not support other book stores. At this point, I gave up. But I found it very creepy how she kept saying "Personal Documents", like how dare I even try to transfer something not bought from Amazon! And her apparent lack of knowledge about USB. It totally turned me away from Kindle. Last edited by palex481; 03-06-2009 at 08:24 AM.

03-06-2009, 12:26 PM	#14
MsAstoria Evangelist Posts: 423 Karma: 47344 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Astoria, Oregon, USA Device: Kindle Fire HDX, iPhone (yes, I read on my phone)	As a former Sony 505 owner, I had no trouble transferring my non drm books to K2. My non drm books were in Epub format and I just loaded them up on Calibre and "converted" them to mobi, then transferred them to K2's document folder. I actually had all the books converted and sitting in a folder on my desktop while waiting for K2 to arrive, then just transferred them directly by drag and drop to K2 document folder. Painless! Seriously! I really liked the Sony but wanted the added features of Whispernet wifi so I could use it for email and web searches when not at home. I really like the built in dictionary too and even use the text to speech for having books read to me while I am doing other tasks. The K2 is really a cool device, a mini computer for sure. As long as your books aren't drm secured, you can convert them through Calibre. Another note, if you have multi format books that you bought on Fictionwise, you can go to your account there and change the format to mobi, then all your books automatically changed over and you can download them to the K2. If you aren't familiar with Calibre, there is a thread through this forum. Get it even if you keep your Sony. It's very cool, free, and you can download news feeds and custom feeds to your unit. Last edited by MsAstoria; 03-06-2009 at 12:30 PM.

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03-06-2009, 08:25 AM	#2
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	Just stick with your Sony

03-06-2009, 08:48 AM	#4
sirbruce Provocateur Posts: 1,859 Karma: 505847 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Columbus, OH Device: Kindle Touch, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, iPhone 3GS	She was, of course, completely wrong. All you have to do is read the Kindle 2 User's Guide to see that. You can transfer documents via USB, not just email. You can drag and drop non-DRM MOBI and PRC and TXT files into the documents folder and it works just fine. There is a "Personal Documents" listing, new to the Kindle 2. However, no one knows how to "tag" a document such that it belongs there. Everything you copy via USB seems to go under "Books", which is fine if they are books.

03-06-2009, 08:50 AM	#5
busy91 Connoisseur Posts: 79 Karma: 264 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NYC Device: Kindle 2, Nook Color	I wouldn't base all the specialists on that one woman. She sounded like she was uptight. I agree, try again. From what I understand, there is a way to get non-Kindle books on the device. I'm no where near as proficient as some, but I read it can be done. Of course the specialist is going to try to push the Amazon books, I suppose that is her job, she is probably recorded too.

03-06-2009, 09:24 AM	#6
KimmyA Member Posts: 23 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: kindle	Sounds like she memorized her script a little too well. I'm sorry she wasn't very helpful. I agree with Sparrow. Try calling again and maybe you'll get someone capable of thinking. Or you can always just post your questions here. There are lots of friendly, helpful folks here.

03-06-2009, 09:32 AM	#7
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	I ditto Kimmy A. I bet we know waaay more about the Kindle than the "trained from a script" specialist. Actually she probably knows a lot but it restricted from sharing all she knows (Big Brother and all).

03-06-2009, 09:41 AM	#8
slayda Retired & reading more! Posts: 2,764 Karma: 1884247 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Alabama, USA Device: Kindle 1, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6S+, Kobo Aura One	Hey, I learned something from this thread. I didn't know I could email documents to my Kindle. Comes from not RTFMing. That'll teach me!!

03-06-2009, 11:30 AM	#10
KindleDude Connoisseur Posts: 80 Karma: 172 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Kindle	I've had better luck emailing Kindle support, but only for specific issues. For the kind of questions you were asking,, you should have just come here (where the folks who REALLY know stuff hang out) or to any number of excellent Kindle blogs that have technical advice, such as the "tech tips" that appear in each post on Len Edgerly's Kindle Chronicles. Of course you can transfer material, including books and documents, to your Kindle as long as it is in a format the Kindle can read. I personally find emailing easier, but USB works fine, just remember it has to go in the "documents" folder on the Kindle.

03-06-2009, 11:44 AM	#11
InlawBiker Connoisseur Posts: 94 Karma: 544 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle WA Device: Kindle 1.0	As a new Kindle owner I'm pretty happy with the device only because I've figured out how to get my own books onto it. I'm an experienced techie and I ran into challenges and needed this forum for help. I wouldn't expect the average user to figure it out or even care to try. Amazon made it very easy to buy from them and only them, which is I think the point of the Kindle. I expect I'll buy books from them, but I'm also going to use my local library and any other source I choose.

03-06-2009, 12:03 PM	#12
KindleKat Connoisseur Posts: 99 Karma: 29 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kindle	almost sounds like a bot or something.

03-06-2009, 01:48 PM	#15
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	Apparently the "Kindle Specialist" didn't read the Amazon kindle FAQ/Guide online. http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...169400&#others BOb

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