Amazon, Best Buy, Staples?

[wm ollie]

Is there any reason to buy from Amazon rather than the 2 local box stores?

Thanks,

[GAIL H]

Depending on where you live.....sales tax comes to mind

[wm ollie]

Depending on where you live.....sales tax comes to mind

I'm thinking more on warranty issues if there's a problem down the line.

[Ann in Arlington]

In all cases, I'd bet the warranty would be fullfilled by Amazon.

I have heard that the other stores my have a longer initial return period. . .but right now Amazon gives you to Jan 31 anyway.

If I was buying for ME, or someone who was going to share my account, I'd buy from Amazon because it would come registered and as soon as I order I can start buying books for it.

Amazon for sure has all models in stock -- it seems like there is limited stock at some of the stores so, for example, if you want a White Wifi/3G one -- you might not be able to find one at your local Staples.

Of course, if they do have what you want, you can take it home NOW rather than having to wait at least a day. . . .

[sabinfire]

I bought mine from Best Buy, as more of an impulse buy really.  I've wanted to buy an ereader for years and I've been on the brink of buying one for the past 6 months... I finally decided to take the plunge when I saw it in the store and held it in my hands.  Buying on Amazon.com probably makes the most sense, but that requires a bit of patience, forethought, and planning.  Not a big deal, but it's much less of an impulse buy.

Best Buy offers some protection plans.  I usually avoid those things so I couldn't tell you the details, but I'm sure they offer extended protection and possibly accidental coverage, although I can't say for sure.

If you have a RewardZone card (it's free), the Kindle purchase will get you most of the way toward a voucher for a future purchase.  Same with buying the leather case or other accessories at the store.  (I ended up paying $37 for the $60 leather case w/ light).

Also, I'm sure if anything happened to the Kindle within the return policy, you could take it back to Best Buy and get that remedied right away.  Probably same thing with the extended warranty.  I assume with Amazon you'd have to send it back and wait on them to send you a replacement.

As far as buying from Amazon so your Kindle is pre-registered... I guess that is convenient, although having to register a store-bought Kindle only takes a minute (if that) so no big deal.

[meeko350]

I assume with Amazon you'd have to send it back and wait on them to send you a replacement.

Actually all you have to do is call Kindle Customer service and they send a new one out the same day via overnight delivery.  Then you have 30 days to return the defective one.

[sabinfire]

Nice.  But it's still not as quick as running to your local store and doing an exchange.  I assume "overnight" is only 1 day delivery if you call Customer Service by a particular time of day, otherwise it actually doesn't ship until the next day?  That's 2 days without a functioning Kindle.  And how about the weekends?  I assume there's no overnight delivery on Sundays (and possibly Saturdays as well), so if you have a problem on a Friday morning, you might not actually see a replacement until sometime on Monday or even Tuesday.

Small complaints overall, and overnight delivery replacement is really the best you can get online.  But not quite as quick as the brick-and-mortar method.

[Meemo]

Nice.  But it's still not as quick as running to your local store and doing an exchange.  I assume "overnight" is only 1 day delivery if you call Customer Service by a particular time of day, otherwise it actually doesn't ship until the next day?  That's 2 days without a functioning Kindle.  And how about the weekends?  I assume there's no overnight delivery on Sundays (and possibly Saturdays as well), so if you have a problem on a Friday morning, you might not actually see a replacement until sometime on Monday or even Tuesday.

Small complaints overall, and overnight delivery replacement is really the best you can get online.  But not quite as quick as the brick-and-mortar method.

Maybe not as quick, but it can be a whole lot simpler and more convenient (and cheaper).  When my daughter's K2 needed to be replaced, it was much simpler for me to call Amazon and have them overnight me a replacement K2 than to change clothes, take the 20-minute drive each way (plus the $4 round trip toll bridge fee) to go to Best Buy would've been. 

To answer the original question, right now I'd buy from Amazon - there are all kinds of rumors about Black Friday deals on the nook now, so it's possible there'll be some type of Black Friday deal on Kindles too.  If Amazon does lower the price, it's historically been simpler to get a credit from Amazon (or to return a Kindle that's less than 30 days old) than to return one to another retailer. 

[klep88]

I have a kindle 3 I bought from best buy when amazon was still sold out, and I would have definitely bought from amazon if I had a chance to do it over. My kindle froze up and died about 2 weeks ago, and it was a pain getting a replacement sent out. Units from a retail store are replaced through a different department than units purchased from amazon, and you have to wait for them to contact you versus kindle cs just fulfilling your replacement request. It took 2 days and a lot of technical difficulties on amazons part before my replacement was even shipped. Then due to a technical glitch, they sent me 4 kindles and i had to deal with sending them all back. Save yourself a headache and just order from amazon.

[BTackitt]

I had a replacement Kindle within 16 hours from the time of my call to Kindle CS once.

[Sandpiper]

I have a kindle 3 I bought from best buy when amazon was still sold out, and I would have definitely bought from amazon if I had a chance to do it over. My kindle froze up and died about 2 weeks ago, and it was a pain getting a replacement sent out. Units from a retail store are replaced through a different department than units purchased from amazon, and you have to wait for them to contact you versus kindle cs just fulfilling your replacement request. It took 2 days and a lot of technical difficulties on amazons part before my replacement was even shipped. Then due to a technical glitch, they sent me 4 kindles and i had to deal with sending them all back. Save yourself a headache and just order from amazon.

That should answer the OP's question in a big way !!!