[REVENGE]

Hey guys, I want to share my similar, yet somewhat different experience.

I purchased a Kindle 3 3G+WiFi sealed in box on craigslist for $150. After I discovered that the device was stolen when I attempted to register, I decided to first try and file a police report. The responding officer told me that in order for a crime report to filed, the serial number of the stolen Kindle must also be listed in their national police database of lost / stolen merchandise. So even though Amazon lists the Kindle as lost/stolen, the police could not file a crime report for me because it was not in their database.

The police officer and I then proceeded to contact Amazon's customer support together to try and obtain more information, but we were told that without a warrant or subpoena, they are not allowed to release any information regarding who reported the device as stolen. Furthermore, their representative told me and the officer that the blacklisting was most likely a mistake, took down the Kindle's serial and radio serial number, and told both of us I was probably going to get unbanned within 24 hours. Of course, that never happened and only resulted in the investigation being further delayed.

So here is a Catch-22 situation: The information that I need to file a crime report is off limits to all parties until a crime report has been filed and a warrant or subpoena issued. I asked the officer to contact Amazon's fraud and police inquiry department directly, but he obtained no additional information from them. I asked 6 different customer service representatives if they could notify the party that the Kindle was stolen from, but they refused. I also offered to return the Kindle to Amazon, but they declined saying that they have no responsibility to accept the Kindle.

I was burned, I was stupid, I ignored the warning signs of a very shady deal. The people who sold me the Kindle are the real criminals here, but I'm rather miffed that Amazon made basically no effort to aide either a police investigation or an effort to return lost/stolen property to its rightful owner. Sure, one stolen Kindle isn't really going to hurt their bottom-line, but I'm afraid that this particular fraud occurs far more often than they're willing to acknowledge.