Troubleshooting Kindle 3G, got scammed...

[Anubis_]

Hello,
EDIT-- Situation solved, read somewhere near the end
I've read on the forum that some other user(s) got into this unlucky situation where you buy a Kindle 3G/WiFi from e-B-a-y or similar sites and got shipped to their addresses blacklisted kindles...
Now, the first reason why I bought a Kindle was the possibility of getting books from 3G, which is useless when you call up Amazon's CS and they tell you how your kindle has been reported as stolen and is therefore unusable.

I came up with an idea, but before putting any more money out for this I was going to ask some experts (i.e. you guys) if this could make any sense.

Is it possible to buy a new Kindle ( i.e. a broken one) retrieve it's serial number and overwrite the serial number of the blacklisted Kindle with it ( i've read you can do it in debug mode). Then register the kindle normally.

What are your opinions?

Thanks

[kindlekitten]

have you done this (bought a used broken kindle) and want help, or are you thinking about doing it and want our help?

regardless... take a long walk off a short plank

[jbcohen]

I have heard about people buying Kindles from ebay and recieving garbage in the mail. Unfortunately Kindles are targets for scams since they are the highest profile of all of the electronic readers. My best recommendation is to buy your Kindles only from Amazon even if you need to pay more for that. Amazon has a lot to loose from scaming their customers then someone on ebay does. Can you immagine the explaining that Amazon would need to do if word got out that they were scamming customers.

[Mikou]

So, you bought a Kindle and found out it was stolen from its owner? And now you're trying to figure out how to use the stolen Kindle? I don't think you're going to get too much help with that here. Isn't there some way to return it to the rightful owner?

[DiapDealer]

Is it possible to buy a new Kindle ( i.e. a broken one) retrieve it's serial number and overwrite the serial number of the blacklisted Kindle with it ( i've read you can do it in debug mode). Then register the kindle normally.

Where do you buy new, broken Kindles?

What you describe is probably not completely impossible, but certainly highly improbable (and I don't believe for a second that it can be done in debug mode). Even if you were successful, you'd end up paying for one questionable Kindle and one broken Kindle... of which only one can be registered. Don't throw good money after bad.

[GoSharks]

Originally Posted by Anubis_

What are your opinions?

[covfam]

i avoid buying electronics off ebay, far too many scammers and you cant get support from the manufacturers for the electronics. yes you CAN get things off ebay but you have to be VERY VERY VERY VERY extra VERY carefull and only use a merchant that has a good reputation... if the price is too good to be true ... it is.

[tubemonkey]

I don't do eBay, PayPal, Craig's List, and most companies that don't have physical stores where I live.

[Anubis_]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Where do you buy new, broken Kindles?

What you describe is probably not completely impossible, but certainly highly improbable (and I don't believe for a second that it can be done in debug mode). Even if you were successful, you'd end up paying for one questionable Kindle and one broken Kindle... of which only one can be registered. Don't throw good money after bad.

People sell Kindles with broken batteries, screens etc, I just need an authentic Serial Number...but if you think it's unlikely check this out...https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=122362

About the ethical fact...What else am I supposed to do with a kindle that has been PAID for (by me) but stolen by someone else????

[Anubis_]

Originally Posted by Mikou

So, you bought a Kindle and found out it was stolen from its owner? And now you're trying to figure out how to use the stolen Kindle? I don't think you're going to get too much help with that here. Isn't there some way to return it to the rightful owner?

I doubt Amazon would give out details about that, what do you think

[mewmartigan]

I would go back through PayPal(or whatever payment method you used) to get your money back........or you may just have to suck up the loss.
I wonder if scammers take PayPal, or if they just take cash/checks. It certainly isn't easy to get your money back through PayPal but it is possible...especially if you have documentation from Amazon showing the item you bought is blacklisted.

If you are trying to save some money on the Kindle, you are safer going with a refurb from Amazon or the one with ads.

[Anubis_]

Going to contact Amazon, I just contacted the vendor saying I'm going to file complaints on both the auction site and the payment system (pay-pal): Let's see what happens, these people that do such scams need to pay the consequences.

[DiapDealer]

I just need an authentic Serial Number...but if you think it's unlikely check this out...https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=122362

You said "debug mode," which implies something completely different than what's going on in that particular thread.

Can the serial number even be retrieved from a K3 that doesn't work? I was under the impression that it wasn't printed on the chassis anywhere like with older models.

[Anubis_]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

You said "debug mode," which implies something completely different than what's going on in that particular thread.

Can the serial number even be retrieved from a K3 that doesn't work? I was under the impression that it wasn't printed on the chassis anywhere like with older models.

If your kindle's screen is broken but it still boots, by knowing the key combination it is indeed possible to retrieve it as it gets logged in a .txt file in ur Kindle. Nevertheless I doubt I'm going to do it, as no one else ever tried and I don't have a new kindle S/N to do tests with ... besides it might just not work, hence I'm not gonna pay for a broken kindle (like someone else said).

[Kenneth_irl]

Originally Posted by Anubis_

Hello,

I've read on the forum that some other user(s) got into this unlucky situation where you buy a Kindle 3G/WiFi from e-B-a-y or similar sites and got shipped to their addresses blacklisted kindles...
Now, the first reason why I bought a Kindle was the possibility of getting books from 3G, which is useless when you call up Amazon's CS and they tell you how your kindle has been reported as stolen and is therefore unusable.

I came up with an idea, but before putting any more money out for this I was going to ask some experts (i.e. you guys) if this could make any sense.

Is it possible to buy a new Kindle ( i.e. a broken one) retrieve it's serial number and overwrite the serial number of the blacklisted Kindle with it ( i've read you can do it in debug mode). Then register the kindle normally.

What are your opinions?

Thanks

Under which conditions did you buy this Kindle? E.g., price, rating of the seller, ect. Did you try to contact the seller about the issue? You didn't state any of this (edit: I missed that you are trying to contact the seller in a later post of yours)

I'm not really out to judge you, but perhaps it will help others that are thinking of buying via Ebay or similar sites. I myself got my Kindle of a trusted seller on Ebay without any complications.

I suspert that many of these rip-offs are made possible because people are not careful enough during the purchase (not saying this is true in your case), though I'm also sure that some of these scammers are quite cleaver at this sort of business.