Read Street: Kindle offers buyer a refund after price drop - A blog for a community of readers, in Baltimore and beyond.

Did you, like me, buy Amazon's Kindle a week or two before it went on sale? Did you, like me, think you had the worst luck ever? Then you, like me, could become $60 richer.

After admiring Read Streeter Nancy Johnston's Kindle 2 for weeks, I decided to take the plunge last week and hand over a whopping $359+ (I wanted a cover and a warranty) to get one, too. I have plans to travel in Europe via train this fall, and I didn't want to lug several books around. It arrived Friday. It was so pristine and pretty!

On Tuesday, Amazon announced it was dropping the price of the Kindle to $299. It cited lower production costs, but I think it was done, in part, to lure people who had been thinking about getting the e-book reader for awhile but couldn't quite commit. I committed about four business days too soon.

I didn't have much hope that I'd get a $60 credit or refund, as I couldn't find a price-adjustment policy online, but I thought I'd try. I used Amazon's "request call back feature," and a customer-service rep got back to me in about a minute.

I asked, "So ... do you guys have a price-adjustment policy like a store at the mall? Because I just got my Kindle on Friday, and it's now a whole lot ..." -- I didn't even finish my sentence, and the rep was like, "That's no problem." I got an e-mail within five or 10 minutes saying I'm getting 60 bucks refunded to my credit card. Hooray!

So, Kindle-ites, call and get your cash back if/while you can!

Now the question is, should I get more books? Book suggestions welcome!

Photo: Getty Images

Comments

Good for you, Carla. Given that Amazon has a 30-day return policy on the Kindle for ANY reason(no questions asked), you definitely deserved a refund. After all, you could have returned the first Kindle for credit and then purchased a new one at the lower price. Amazon did the right thing and saved you (and themselves) postage costs and trouble.

Good luck with the Kindle. I know you'll love it. Be sure to check out the Amazon customer discussion forums. I find that customers have THE BEST info on books in general, free books, and simple tips on using the Kindle. Oh, and I'm glad you bought a cover for your Kindle. You don't want it to get a chill!

Posted by: Gail Farrelly | July 10, 2009 7:16 PM

I'm so glad that Amazon refunded you $60! Now you can use it as the rest of us Kindle addicts have in the Kindle bookstore. One-click buying means that bookstore is open 24/7 with absolutely no hassle; all you have to do is click a few times to find most of the books that you want. It's extremely tempting. Good luck with your new Kindle!

Posted by: Carolyn L | July 10, 2009 11:02 PM

I am considering a Kindle...can anyone recommend the original or the second edition...From my research, I like the size of the original, but the added features of the second generation....Help me!

Posted by: Carol D | July 12, 2009 9:29 AM

Carol, this review by Nancy may help; it compares the two versions. http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/books/blog/2009/03/kindle_2_review.html

Posted by: Dave | July 12, 2009 8:51 PM

Well, you know there is a 30 day return policy on the kindle so the refund make sense. If your purchase was over thirty days, you would have to kiss that refund goodbye.

Posted by: Michael | July 12, 2009 9:37 PM

Carol, The Kindle 1 and the Kindle 2 are the same size but the Kindle 2 (the one I have) has text-to-speech, the audio feature. The Kindle DX is bigger, heavier, has a larger screen, and also has the audio feature.

In addition to Nancy's review, I'd recommend taking a look at the Amazon customer discussion forum. One thread I'd particularly recommend: "Kindle 1 or Kindle 2? Advice Please." Here's the link:

http://www.amazon.com/tag/kindle/forum/ref=cm_cd_ef_tft_tp?%5Fencoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx1D7SY3BVSESG&cdThread=Tx1CTQIPR7NJ16I

At the above link, you'll also see links to numerous other relevant threads in the Kindle Discussion Forum.

Amazon provides a good comparison between the Kindle 2 and the Kindle DX. Scroll down after you click on this link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00154JDAI/ref=s9_kq_gw_dlink?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=115S3WWK1X4MCQYS4SQF&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=482717591&pf_rd_i=507846

I know, I know, it sounds like I work for Amazon. I don't, but I DO love my Kindle! And I have learned SO MUCH from the Amazon customer discussion forums.

Posted by: Gail Farrelly | July 12, 2009 11:10 PM

Yaaaaay!!! So happy I found this! I considered returning and reordering but now I don't have to! Thank you very much!

Yay! Glad to hear it! Thanks for commenting! - C

Posted by: Duke | July 14, 2009 10:43 PM