Bought a used Kindle, turns out to be "lost or stolen"

Nakedsense · 07-21-2012, 01:22 PM

Hello there,Bought a used Kindle 3 two days ago from the internet. It was shipped this morning and 2 hours ago I got home.
Went to amazon and tried to register it.
Unfortunately it said there was an error. I contacted the support and I was said that It was a "lost or stolen" unit.
I asked If there is a way to contact the real owner and help him recover his/her kindle. Unfortunately, for security issues, they were unable to contact the owner.
Sent a message to the seller but I think I am scammed.
So I got this Kindle. As there is no way to contact the owner of the unit and the seller probably wont fix the problem, Is there a way to use it with Amazon?

RainingLemur · 07-21-2012, 01:35 PM

Well, I doubt that you're going to be able to find the original owner.

But, you can still sideload books onto it. Download the books from Amazon to your computer, then connect the Kindle via USB, and then drag the books from your PC to the Kindle's "documents" folder.

jgaiser · 07-21-2012, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainingLemur

Well, I doubt that you're going to be able to find the original owner.

But, you can still sideload books onto it. Download the books from Amazon to your computer, then connect the Kindle via USB, and then drag the books from your PC to the Kindle's "documents" folder.

This will only work with non-DRM books. Any DRM books from Amazon can only be sideloaded to a registered Kindle.

Nakedsense · 07-21-2012, 01:54 PM

Well, just contacted the seller. He said he wasn't aware that the unit was blacklisted. He will replace it next monday (mail services are not working here on sundays)

jgaiser · 07-21-2012, 02:03 PM

Very lucky and a surprisingly honest seller. Good luck.

copyrite · 07-21-2012, 03:14 PM

Now that's a (hopefully) happy ending!

jswinden · 07-21-2012, 04:55 PM

I would make sure he ships the replacement and verify that it can be registered before returning that one, and I suggest you make him pay return shipping if he wants the stolen one returned. No need to get scammed twice.

JSWolf · 07-21-2012, 05:07 PM

It's things like this that's the reason not to buy a used Kindle from other then Amazon. You just don't know if it will be able to be registered or not. And you could end up eating the cost for a Kindle that cannot be registered.

jswinden · 07-21-2012, 05:30 PM

You could get scammed on any item as eBay sellers sometimes ship items that are not from the photo in the listing. Sometimes they do this on purpose and sometimes out of ignorance. There are a lot of store fronts that are really nothing more than a person who goes around to garage sales and flea markets picking up items to resell at a profit. I would try to avoid those. I really think you are safer to buy from someone with a couple of hundred approvals and a rating of 100% positive than one of those store fronts with tens of thousands of approvals and a rating of 97% positive.

geoffwood · 07-21-2012, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's things like this that's the reason not to buy a used Kindle from other then Amazon. You just don't know if it will be able to be registered or not. And you could end up eating the cost for a Kindle that cannot be registered.

You can always ask for the Serial Number before making payment. Then you can go online and see if the system will let you add it to your account. Go to "Manage Your Devices" and then select "Add a Kindle" enter the 16 digit serial number and see what happens

They could still ship you a different unit, but it eliminates cases like this were it appears the seller was unaware of the issue.

Lordblacknail · 07-21-2012, 06:21 PM

I have seen that advice before, about only buying a used Kindle from Amazon, but I have never seen a used Kindle for sale by Amazon. I have seen used Kindles from the Amazon Marketplace, but according to what I was told, Amazon does not guarantee stuff from the marketplace, just things they sell themselves. Am I missing something here? I recently lost my Kindle 3 3g and have a very limited income, so if I could save on a used Kindle that was in great shape, I would be happy, but I don't want something that doesn't work.

geekmaster · 07-21-2012, 06:31 PM

The serial number is stored in the mmc, and can be rewritten. You can swap serial numbers with a broken kindle (that you own, if you know the serial number of the broken kindle, which is NOT the one printed on the back of a K3/K4/K5). With a broken screen, you can still read the serial number over the USB port (without hacking or jailbreaking it).

Fluribus · 07-21-2012, 08:35 PM

Some people will enter a note that contains their contact info. If you got one of those... If it hadn't been wiped...

Otherwise you'd probably have to be psychic.

BlueSky77 · 07-21-2012, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lordblacknail

I have seen that advice before, about only buying a used Kindle from Amazon, but I have never seen a used Kindle for sale by Amazon. I have seen used Kindles from the Amazon Marketplace, but according to what I was told, Amazon does not guarantee stuff from the marketplace, just things they sell themselves. Am I missing something here? I recently lost my Kindle 3 3g and have a very limited income, so if I could save on a used Kindle that was in great shape, I would be happy, but I don't want something that doesn't work.

Factory refurbished may be what most are speaking of when they say "buy a used Kindle from Amazon". Amazon does sell factory refurbished models with a warranty.

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HansTWN · 07-21-2012, 10:21 PM

I find it rather strange that Amazon doesn't assist owners of lost Kindles? What are the "security issues" if someone returns a stolen Kindle to Amazon and Amazon then contacts the owner? After all, if the Kindle has been blacklisted, then Amazon knows the original owner. And they might even be able to help track down thieves and/or people frequently fencing the stolen Kindles on Ebay/Craig's list.

07-21-2012, 01:22 PM	#1
Nakedsense Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Kindle 3	Bought a used Kindle, turns out to be "lost or stolen" Hello there,Bought a used Kindle 3 two days ago from the internet. It was shipped this morning and 2 hours ago I got home. Went to amazon and tried to register it. Unfortunately it said there was an error. I contacted the support and I was said that It was a "lost or stolen" unit. I asked If there is a way to contact the real owner and help him recover his/her kindle. Unfortunately, for security issues, they were unable to contact the owner. Sent a message to the seller but I think I am scammed. So I got this Kindle. As there is no way to contact the owner of the unit and the seller probably wont fix the problem, Is there a way to use it with Amazon?

07-21-2012, 06:21 PM	#11
Lordblacknail Groupie Posts: 171 Karma: 330000 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Tampa, Florida Device: Kobo Libre 2 Galaxy Tab S7 Plus Kobo Libre Colour	Used Kindle from Amazon I have seen that advice before, about only buying a used Kindle from Amazon, but I have never seen a used Kindle for sale by Amazon. I have seen used Kindles from the Amazon Marketplace, but according to what I was told, Amazon does not guarantee stuff from the marketplace, just things they sell themselves. Am I missing something here? I recently lost my Kindle 3 3g and have a very limited income, so if I could save on a used Kindle that was in great shape, I would be happy, but I don't want something that doesn't work.

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07-21-2012, 01:35 PM	#2
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	Well, I doubt that you're going to be able to find the original owner. But, you can still sideload books onto it. Download the books from Amazon to your computer, then connect the Kindle via USB, and then drag the books from your PC to the Kindle's "documents" folder.

07-21-2012, 01:54 PM	#4
Nakedsense Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Kindle 3	Well, just contacted the seller. He said he wasn't aware that the unit was blacklisted. He will replace it next monday (mail services are not working here on sundays)

07-21-2012, 02:03 PM	#5
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,283 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	Very lucky and a surprisingly honest seller. Good luck.

07-21-2012, 03:14 PM	#6
copyrite Wizard Posts: 1,835 Karma: 4985051 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Maryland Device: Kindle	Now that's a (hopefully) happy ending!

07-21-2012, 04:55 PM	#7
jswinden Nameless Being	I would make sure he ships the replacement and verify that it can be registered before returning that one, and I suggest you make him pay return shipping if he wants the stolen one returned. No need to get scammed twice.

07-21-2012, 05:07 PM	#8
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,189 Karma: 144286760 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	It's things like this that's the reason not to buy a used Kindle from other then Amazon. You just don't know if it will be able to be registered or not. And you could end up eating the cost for a Kindle that cannot be registered.

07-21-2012, 05:30 PM	#9
jswinden Nameless Being	You could get scammed on any item as eBay sellers sometimes ship items that are not from the photo in the listing. Sometimes they do this on purpose and sometimes out of ignorance. There are a lot of store fronts that are really nothing more than a person who goes around to garage sales and flea markets picking up items to resell at a profit. I would try to avoid those. I really think you are safer to buy from someone with a couple of hundred approvals and a rating of 100% positive than one of those store fronts with tens of thousands of approvals and a rating of 97% positive.

07-21-2012, 06:31 PM	#12
geekmaster Carpe diem, c'est la vie. Posts: 6,433 Karma: 10773668 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Multiverse 6627A Device: K1 to PW3	The serial number is stored in the mmc, and can be rewritten. You can swap serial numbers with a broken kindle (that you own, if you know the serial number of the broken kindle, which is NOT the one printed on the back of a K3/K4/K5). With a broken screen, you can still read the serial number over the USB port (without hacking or jailbreaking it).

07-21-2012, 08:35 PM	#13
Fluribus Guru Posts: 891 Karma: 8893661 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Kindle	Some people will enter a note that contains their contact info. If you got one of those... If it hadn't been wiped... Otherwise you'd probably have to be psychic.

07-21-2012, 10:21 PM	#15
HansTWN Wizard Posts: 4,538 Karma: 264065402 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Taiwan Device: HP Touchpad, Sony Duo 13, Lumia 920, Kobo Aura HD	I find it rather strange that Amazon doesn't assist owners of lost Kindles? What are the "security issues" if someone returns a stolen Kindle to Amazon and Amazon then contacts the owner? After all, if the Kindle has been blacklisted, then Amazon knows the original owner. And they might even be able to help track down thieves and/or people frequently fencing the stolen Kindles on Ebay/Craig's list.

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