Kindle Touch 3G+WiFi $109 at WalMart

[tomsem]

Don't know how many stores still have them in stock, but WalMart has been selling the KT3G for $109.99. I already had a Kindle Touch Wifi but this was too good to pass up (even with the rumors flying about Kindle Lighted Touch). It's really great to have access to my library from almost anywhere, as well as the web features like Translate, Wikipedia lookup, Sharing, Report a Content error etc. It also seems to have less 'ghosting' than my previous Touch, perhaps due to production refinements. And my previous Touch had developed a minor but annoying screen blemish.

I was visiting my mom at the time and she got one for the same price at Best Buy, once they called around to verify the price and in-stock status at a local WalMart (it took a little while, and it probably helped that we could present them with a WalMart receipt as proof).

A curious story: the one I originally bought would not register with Amazon. It was factory sealed, but when I called Amazon they said it had been reported 'lost or stolen' and only the 'owner' could throw the switch to allow registration. Fortunately I was able to find another Walmart which had it in stock and I was able to exchange it for the one I have now. But had to check at 2 different stores, and it took about an hour to actually complete the exchange, not to mention driving to the stores, the anxiety about having bought a 'stolen' Kindle, etc., so the $40 savings was hard won in this case.

My theory is that the Kindle in question had been ordered directly from Amazon, but never reached the customer, having been stolen in transit. The customer reported it lost/stolen, and Amazon flagged the serial number as such. The thief then purchased one at Walmart, then returned the stolen one (still factory sealed) for a refund (figuring they could not register a stolen Kindle to themselves). Walmart put it back in stock and later sold it to me. Either that or Amazon has some glitches in their system.

[ProfCrash]

You theory on what happened is probably accurate. There have been many a story about stolen Kindles sold on EBay, Craigs List and the like. Most folks seem to think that the stolen Kindles are taken from delivery trucks or front doors.

[QuantumIguana]

It does seem the more expensive the item is, the more likely it will be left on your doorstep. If the item is really cheap, then they make you sign for it.

I rather doubt Walmart would wind up with a stolen and yet factory sealed Kindle. I suspect Amazon just screwed up when they packaged it and/or scanned it into their system. Perhaps it was a returned item they repackaged and then forgot to clear the original owners registration.

[ProfCrash]

The idea that someone stole a box off of a deck, purchased a K3 at Walmart, and returned the stolen one is more then feasible. I am not sure that there would be a way of telling that they were different Kindles.