Lose your Kindle? You'll need a subpoena for that.
The New York Times recently covered every Kindle owner's worst nightmare: Losing their Kindle (or, as mine is named, The Evil Book-eating Device, Vol. 2). And what's worse than leaving your Kindle behind, or having it stolen?
Amazon's policy on helping you get it back.
Let's say you lose your Kindle. You'd think, since the company has the device's serial number on record, it would be fairly easy for them to keep track of that number, and notify you if someone else starts downloading books to it from a different account. After all, they've proven themselves adept at finding out who's downloaded suddenly illegal copies of "1984" and erasing them from every Kindle in the world.
But actually, Amazon won't do anything beyond canceling the account on that particular device, so that any books downloaded to it won't be charged to you. Unless, of course, you convince a police officer to get a search warrant and question the company. It's like those horror stories cell phone reps would tell you to convince you to buy their exorbiant phone insurance plans.
On the one hand, the hands-off policy reflects recent popular opinion: People were rightly angry when the company went into their devices and took material off of them. And although Amazon has since apologized, it seems disingenuous for them to take the laissez-faire approach when it means that someone, somewhere will be able to buy books from Amazon on a device, even if they don't rightfully own it.
So which way would you rather Amazon takes it? Should they leave you to your own, ahem, devices? Or should you expect a little back up with your investment?
(AP photo)
Comments
Yet another reason for me to forgo the Evil Kindle and stay with BOOKS.
Posted by: caite | September 9, 2009 10:10 AM
That's a lot of legal headaches for Amazon if they get into that business, and much of it would likely be based on "he said, she said" anecdotal evidence. I can understand why they don't want to get involved voluntarily.
Posted by: Mary | September 9, 2009 10:43 AM
I believe that you should be able to contact the police and file a report. The police would contact Amazon and they would tell the police where the kindle was last used, similar to how LoJack works.
Posted by: Bob Page | September 9, 2009 10:46 AM
1. I agree Amazon would not go to a person's home and take back the 1984 book. What gives them authorization to go into a Kindle and remove a book without proper authorization? is that part of the little print in the disclosures given at time of purchase?
2. if a Kindle is reported lost/stolen to Amazon and the Police - wouldn't amazon be conisdered enabling the perpetrator if they see the kindle being used by someone other than the owner after such a report?
Posted by: frugal | September 9, 2009 1:19 PM