Lost/Stolen Kindle procedure

trekchick · 11-02-2010, 09:19 AM

My daughter lost my Kindle 3 in the restroom at Papa John's stadium in Louisville this weekend.

I called Amazon customer service yesterday and the rep deactivated (his word) the Kindle and he said that it not only is it blacklisted against registration to another account, but also my personal information is no longer visible. In the confirmation email, Amazon provided the serial number and a note that they will send the Kindle to me if it is returned to Amazon.

But, I'm wondering if I should have just left it registered to my account for a while longer. If the Kindle is locked, then my "If found please contact blah blah blah" message isn't visible anymore, is it? But that's something you have to go looking for in settings, so that may not have been helpful anyway. Maybe I should have emailed a document to the Kindle with my contact info and a plea to return the Kindle.

Anyway, it's too late to change anything with this Kindle, but I have 3 others on my account to think about. So, I'm wondering what other people have done to assist in recovering a lost Kindle. And I'm wondering if anyone has a story about Amazon actually reuniting them with their missing Kindle.

TheKindleWorm · 11-02-2010, 10:01 AM

I'm sorry to hear about your lost Kindle

The recovery of a lost Kindle relies heavily on the honesty of whoever finds it and I'm not sure how useful contact info on the actual Kindle might be - if I thought there was a chance of losing my Kindle, I think I'd supply a contact number on the casing of the kindle or inside the cover where it was highly visible.

I have read of cases where people have been reunited with lost Kindles (right here on mobileread, I can think of one example but it may have been a year or so ago) and the person who found the Kindle contacted Amazon.

Hopefully you will be lucky and get your Kindle back.

bjones6416 · 11-02-2010, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trekchick

My daughter lost my Kindle 3 in the restroom at Papa John's stadium in Louisville this weekend.

I called Amazon customer service yesterday and the rep deactivated (his word) the Kindle and he said that it not only is it blacklisted against registration to another account, but also my personal information is no longer visible. In the confirmation email, Amazon provided the serial number and a note that they will send the Kindle to me if it is returned to Amazon.

But, I'm wondering if I should have just left it registered to my account for a while longer. If the Kindle is locked, then my "If found please contact blah blah blah" message isn't visible anymore, is it? But that's something you have to go looking for in settings, so that may not have been helpful anyway. Maybe I should have emailed a document to the Kindle with my contact info and a plea to return the Kindle.

Anyway, it's too late to change anything with this Kindle, but I have 3 others on my account to think about. So, I'm wondering what other people have done to assist in recovering a lost Kindle. And I'm wondering if anyone has a story about Amazon actually reuniting them with their missing Kindle.

I've got my name and cell phone number as my screensaver:

daffy4u · 11-02-2010, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjones6416

I've got my name and cell phone number as my screensaver:

Ditto. I've added my name, email and cell phone number to each of my screensaver images.

desertblues · 11-02-2010, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

Ditto. I've added my name, email and cell phone number to each of my screensaver images.

As I haven't yet hacked my Kindle: I keep my fingers crossed, throw some salt over my left shoulder, a sticker on the back of the Kindle, a nice and polite request to send it back when found (in the cover)-----------and hope for the best.

Whatever Amazon can or cannot do: In the end it all depends on the integrety of the person who finds your Kindle.

ProfCrash · 11-02-2010, 01:32 PM

When I reported my Mom's Kindle stolen they said that if it was found and returned that we could have it reactivated. We would need to call and give them the info that was associated with the original account.

WS64 · 11-02-2010, 04:38 PM

Amazon can just remove your info and your personal data if and when the K3 is connected to any net. So if it is the WiFi version there is still a big chance that the finder can see your info. Just when he tries to connect to a WLAN this info will get lost.
No idea about the other versions...

Tiersten · 11-02-2010, 07:35 PM

I set my cell number as part of the Kindle name so it appears in the status bar which is significantly more visible than the useless Personal Info part at the end of settings.

trekchick · 11-02-2010, 08:06 PM

Those are all good ideas. The 3G was on, so I could have changed the name. I'm not holding out hope of getting it back, but before I let my daughter take one of the K2s out into the world, I feel like I should do something. Duct taping it to her hand is probably not practical.

curstpriest · 11-03-2010, 12:25 AM

Hey, I use one of these [this model] to label all of my stuff. It also keeps my brother from taking my shit and saying it's his.

Maybe I'm old school.

desertblues · 11-03-2010, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curstpriest

Hey, I use one of these [this model] to label all of my stuff. It also keeps my brother from taking my shit and saying it's his.

Maybe I'm old school.

That's what I do, as the battery of my Kindle can be empty by the time I loose it and...............nothing to be seen on the screen...............didn't lost the USB-cord as well!

peca007 · 11-04-2010, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertblues

That's what I do, as the battery of my Kindle can be empty by the time I loose it and...............nothing to be seen on the screen..............

eInk doesn't need power to show something on it. AFAIK, when screen saver displayed, it doesn't consume power. Screen saver picture remain visible even if battery will be discharged.

desertblues · 11-04-2010, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peca007

eInk doesn't need power to show something on it. AFAIK, when screen saver displayed, it doesn't consume power. Screen saver picture remain visible even if battery will be discharged.

Ai...if it's there for every one to see......then I must take care what I read before I close my Kindle.

Mike L · 11-04-2010, 04:05 PM

Why not simply write your name and phone number on a piece of paper and tape it to the back of the Kindle?

Why does everyone always look for a high-tec solution to every problem?

Bilbo1967 · 11-04-2010, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike L

Why not simply write your name and phone number on a piece of paper and tape it to the back of the Kindle?

Why does everyone always look for a high-tec solution to every problem?

Paper?! Paper?!

Are you mad, man?

I insist that this dangerous man is removed from MobileRead forthwith. Paper?!

11-02-2010, 09:19 AM	#1
trekchick Lurker Posts: 226 Karma: 9245 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Walton, KY Device: Sonys and Kindles and Nooks, oh my!	Lost/Stolen Kindle procedure My daughter lost my Kindle 3 in the restroom at Papa John's stadium in Louisville this weekend. I called Amazon customer service yesterday and the rep deactivated (his word) the Kindle and he said that it not only is it blacklisted against registration to another account, but also my personal information is no longer visible. In the confirmation email, Amazon provided the serial number and a note that they will send the Kindle to me if it is returned to Amazon. But, I'm wondering if I should have just left it registered to my account for a while longer. If the Kindle is locked, then my "If found please contact blah blah blah" message isn't visible anymore, is it? But that's something you have to go looking for in settings, so that may not have been helpful anyway. Maybe I should have emailed a document to the Kindle with my contact info and a plea to return the Kindle. Anyway, it's too late to change anything with this Kindle, but I have 3 others on my account to think about. So, I'm wondering what other people have done to assist in recovering a lost Kindle. And I'm wondering if anyone has a story about Amazon actually reuniting them with their missing Kindle.

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11-02-2010, 10:01 AM	#2
TheKindleWorm Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 177868 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: East Anglia UK Device: Kindle 3G, iPhone 3G, iPod 4G, PB 360, Sony 600 sold, Kindle 2i sold	I'm sorry to hear about your lost Kindle The recovery of a lost Kindle relies heavily on the honesty of whoever finds it and I'm not sure how useful contact info on the actual Kindle might be - if I thought there was a chance of losing my Kindle, I think I'd supply a contact number on the casing of the kindle or inside the cover where it was highly visible. I have read of cases where people have been reunited with lost Kindles (right here on mobileread, I can think of one example but it may have been a year or so ago) and the person who found the Kindle contacted Amazon. Hopefully you will be lucky and get your Kindle back.

11-02-2010, 01:32 PM	#6
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	When I reported my Mom's Kindle stolen they said that if it was found and returned that we could have it reactivated. We would need to call and give them the info that was associated with the original account.

11-02-2010, 04:38 PM	#7
WS64 ♫ Posts: 661 Karma: 506380 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Germany Device: Kobo Aura / PB Lux 2 / Bookeen Frontlight / Kobo Mini / Nook Color	Amazon can just remove your info and your personal data if and when the K3 is connected to any net. So if it is the WiFi version there is still a big chance that the finder can see your info. Just when he tries to connect to a WLAN this info will get lost. No idea about the other versions...

11-02-2010, 07:35 PM	#8
Tiersten Guru Posts: 987 Karma: 8641 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 3G+WiFi	I set my cell number as part of the Kindle name so it appears in the status bar which is significantly more visible than the useless Personal Info part at the end of settings.

11-02-2010, 08:06 PM	#9
trekchick Lurker Posts: 226 Karma: 9245 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Walton, KY Device: Sonys and Kindles and Nooks, oh my!	Those are all good ideas. The 3G was on, so I could have changed the name. I'm not holding out hope of getting it back, but before I let my daughter take one of the K2s out into the world, I feel like I should do something. Duct taping it to her hand is probably not practical.

11-03-2010, 12:25 AM	#10
curstpriest Confused Posts: 402 Karma: 5538 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Bay Area Device: Kindle DXG	Hey, I use one of these [this model] to label all of my stuff. It also keeps my brother from taking my shit and saying it's his. Maybe I'm old school.

11-04-2010, 04:05 PM	#14
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	Why not simply write your name and phone number on a piece of paper and tape it to the back of the Kindle? Why does everyone always look for a high-tec solution to every problem?

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