Yes, I did. I lost it. The new one. The new, very expensive one. I have only had it a few weeks…… and yes, I’m so sad.
But this post is not about my stupidity or my angst (although I could rant about both!). This is to tell you about the experience I had with Amazon after losing the Kindle …..
My first thought (well, ALMOST my first thought, after a good hour or so of spouting un-repeatable words directed at myself and my carelessness) was to protect my account. After all, you can buy books directly from your Kindle by tapping on any book in the store. If someone had my Kindle, I worried that they could ring up some massive bills by downloading a boatload of books.
And so, once I could think rationally, again, I took several steps to protect myself. I hope you never need this information, but in case you also lose your Kindle some day,
here is what you should do:
First, go to your Amazon account, then drill down a bit. Go to “Manage Your Content and Devices” and then “Your Devices”.
Select your Kindle (If you have more than one registered, make sure you select the one that is missing.)
Click on that Kindle. You will then see an option to “deregister” that device. Go ahead and deregister it. Now it is no longer connected to Amazon, and no one can buy anything from it.
But you’re not done, yet.
You absolutely should call Amazon: 1 (888) 280-4331
I connected with a very nice fellow who kindly sympathized with me for a few minutes before getting down to the nitty gritty.
He told me that deregistering it was exactly the right thing to do (although he could have also handled that in the phone call).
Beyond the deregistering of the Kindle, Amazon then takes it a step further. He explained to me that because of my call, he would flag my Kindle. This means that if anyone “finds” my Kindle and tries to register it, they will be unable to. (YAY!) He said that Amazon will tell the person that this particular Kindle has been reported as lost or stolen, and, NOPE, it can NOT be registered. So the “new owner” of my Kindle will own a brick, not a reading device.
And finally, I asked that IF my Kindle is returned, would I be able to register it again, myself? They have that covered, too. He sent me an email while I was still on the phone, with confirmation that I’ve reported it missing, and with a number to use to re-register it if it is found, proving that I am the owner. Well done, Amazon.
I still can’t believe I was so careless…….. ARGH!
sharechair 
Did they offer to sell you a new one at a discount? That’s what they did when I washed mine in the washer at the laundromat. It wasn’t much of a discount, but it eased the pain a little bit.
No, they didn’t suggest that. But with a waiting list for the Oasis, I’m not surprised. It is painful, isn’t it? And I pride myself on being so careful!!!
Thanks for sharing your experience and tips!
I hope there are no more “losers” out there, but if so, it’s good to know that Kindle can be made useless to the taker.
Sorry kiddo!!!!!! But, you remain a great educator by passing on what you have learned !!!
Awww, thanks. I hope no one needs the information, but if they do, it’s here!
So sorry you lost it. Thanks for the heads-up on what to do when one is lost or stolen. Hope you have already ordered a new one and it is on its way!
I did, but with a 2 to 4 month wait, I can cancel if it is found and returned…. (wishful thinking???)
Hope it works out!
My condolences.
Thank you. Truly.
Oh, no! Well, good for Amazon!
It is nice to know that the “taker” can not benefit from their action. I am happy that Amazon can help their customers in this way.
That’s tough losing it, I can understand how you feel, but thanks for the head’s up on Amazon; hope I never have to use it.
I’ll admit I’m pleased that the “finder” will never get to use it. Happy to share the word, but I do hope you never ever need to know this.
Aw, I’m so sorry to hear this, SC! Man, I panic when I can’t find my phone, my glasses, or my wallet. Maybe it will still turn up in some forgotten corner, somewhere. I hope so. In the meantime, I’m glad you were able to render it useless to anyone finding it, and I thank you for sharing that information with us. Hope you find it, or get a replacement, very soon. I don’t know how I’d get through the day without mine! (How quickly we become addicted to our devices!)
I’m still kicking myself. I am always SO careful about everything. I’m a “checker” …. over and over again. How I lost this, I’ll never know. Yes, indeed, this is painful to be without. I have an iPad, tho, so I can still read my books, but it’s NOT the same as my beloved Kindle!!! Love your new picture, BTW!!!
Argh, sums it up, for sure, Kathy. This remind me! This morning I was looking for a pair of earrings. I couldn’t find them. I am such a creature of habit; you know – a place for everything and everything in its place… After returning from an appointment I suddenly remembered I’d had a weekend in Sydney recently, and saw, in my mind’s eye, the earrings in a travel case! Saved… 😉
No such luck for you, do you think? Well, if nothing else, we’ve all learned that Google is pretty good with its protective procedures… Though, I know it’s little compensation for your very new and wonderful Kindle…
xoxoxo
Congrats on the recovery of your earrings!! Such relief when you find what is lost!
Unfortunately, this stroke of luck can’t happen to me. You see, I lost it on a cruise ship. I’m home, now, and thoroughly unpacked. No Kindle. 😦
However, I know that in the big picture of Life, this is just a little thing. I’ll order another, and move on!
Oh my!!!! That is total tragedy!!!! Lost???? Really???? (although, sadly, my world does allow for those types of occurrences……………) Maybe it will “re-appear”!?!
I’m afraid it can’t reappear. I left it on a cruise ship (I am still kicking myself for being so careless!). I’ve called, and they said no one turned it in. Bummer.
But, I am aware that in the circle of life this is just small potatoes as far as ‘things that can go wrong.’ No Kindle = all the more time to practice my new hobby of quilting! 🙂
YES!!! You are so wise………..hehe….hugs……..
I am so sorry for your loss! I hope by some miracle, you find it or it is returned to you.
That would be wonderful. However I just heard from the lost and found and no one has turned it in. Still hopeful (although hope is fading fast…..) Thanks for your good wishes!
Good to know. Kind of like canceling a credit card if you lose it,except people might not think of it for the kindle. In the meantime until you find your kindle or get a new one, the kindle app on the iphone works great. I actually haven’t touched my kindle since I found that app. One less thing to pack because I can just put the phone in airplane mode and use it for a kindle when I travel.
Yes, indeed. I can read on my Kindle app on my iPhone and iPad, but I just love having the gently lit Kindle to read with as I go to sleep. I just heard from Royal, and they said it was not turned in. Grrrrr………
At least you did contact Royal so you do have a chance of getting it back if it turns up. I have heard of people getting jewelry back 6 months later from the lost and found at corporate from whatever cruise line so you never know. I suppose a lost piece of jewelry is more likely to be unique and identifiable than a kindle though.
So true. Unfortunately it was SO new, there were no distinguishing marks or anything on it. But yes, Royal has been very helpful. They took all the information, and called back twice (not with good news, but I do appreciate being updated. 🙂 )
Thanks for posting this. My Fire was lost for about a week. I knew (almost certainly) it was in the back seat of a friend’s car, and it was, and I got it back. But I also knew (definitely) it might NOT be there–and it never occurred to me to notify Amazon in order to protect myself. I’m going to reblog.
There is comfort in knowing that the Kindle will be useless to whoever decided to keep it…….
Reblogged this on Kathy Waller and commented:
Losing a Kindle can be more expensive than just the replacement cost. Here’s how to protect yourself.
Thank you for the reblog!!!!
Wow, that could happen to anyone! I left my pencil bag with two checking accounts worth of check in it along with pencils and numerous other handy items in the restaurant 50 miles away last Thursday night. My hubby picked that up, and then the next day went to Staples 25 miles away and picked up my thumb drive with all my original photos from my Woodlake book on it. YIKES! Both were retrieved. I have hundreds more stories like that. Doesn’t make it any better, does it?
I always check and recheck things …… but I guess this happens, as you certainly know!
Yes, more stories than you would like to hear! I am sorry about your Kindle. Hope you get it back! 🙂
What a disaster, hope it turns up, but pleased to hear Amazon is on the ball and so helpful and a free 1800 ph number.
It does make me feel a wee bit better that no one will get to actually use the Kindle…..
Have you replaced it yet?
It was hard to swallow the expense of buying another, but my family has been most kind in reminding me that “things happen” and I should just go ahead and get another. So, yes, I ordered one, but it won’t be ‘available’ until the end of the summer. In the meantime, I have a very early model that I use in the bathtub 🙂
and it will do just fine. I love that Amazon did not make the old models obsolete…. they are still perfectly fine.
That is a long wait, good job you have your old one. I’m amazed you can use it in the bathtub. Are they water resistant?
No …. not waterproof. But you can slip it into a zip lock bag to keep it dry. I’ve been doing this for years! 🙂
Good idea in the bag
Aah, what a pain. Sorry! Thank you for sharing the lessons learnt from it.
The lessons learned are the silver lining…. 🙂
Oh no! That’s the saddest thing I ever read.
Not joking – I am never more than three feet from my Kindle at any given time.
Thanks for the useful info; if the day ever comes when I – gasp! – lose my Kindle, I’ll be glad I saved this post.
I know! Same here … my Kindle is always within reach. I never ever EVER thought I could lose it. Amazon should drill a hole in the corner, and then I could (and would) keep it tethered to me somehow!