Anyone else feel wrong getting a Special Offers Kindle for someone as a gift?

[Okkoto86]

First off im not putting anyone down for giving or receiving a Special Offers Kindle, just curious for some opinions.  Also im not really taking about getting someone a kindle who specifically asked for one and knows all about them, that's a little different.  Im talking abut getting one for someone as a surprise who is new to kindles.

Here's my example: Im thinking about getting my Dad a kindle for Christmas, im not sure yet if im going Fire or e-ink but for the sake of argument lets say I get him a normal kindle.  Now he's actually a pretty techie person and knows what the kindles are and he's seen mine, but knows exactly nothing about them.  I can see it now, I get him a SO Kindle, he opens it up, turns it on, and boom, there's an ad.  What would he say?  He would say what every person getting a kindle that doesn't know about the Special Offers would say, "Wait, is that an ad"?  What exactly do you say to that?  "Um, yea, that's the special offers version, its got ads on it but it was cheaper.  You can get rid of them, but it costs $40".  Exactly how good is it gonna feel saying that?  I can't imagine a more awkward gift explanation.

Would he still love it and be grateful to his son for getting him a great gift? Of course.  Would I feel like a douche knowing I cheaped out and surprised him with a ad-ware version? You bet I would, lol!

Again, no intention of any judging going on here, it wouldn't bother me at all to receive a SO version, that's just my feeling on giving one, what do you guys think?  Does a SO kindle make for a worse gift than a normal kindle?

[leigh7911]

I would guess it would depend on the relationship, maybe? I'm debating getting a kindle for my sister for Christmas, and there's no way in hades I'm paying more to have it no-ad. In fact, it'll probably be the baby kindle, since it's $20 less than the touch.    It does make me feel a *little* cheap, but we're not made of money and she knows that. She's been wanting one for a bit, but is even less made of money, so I think she personally would just be thrilled to get something she'd been wanting without having to save up herself. Maybe if finances aren't an issue you could include a gift card for the difference? A thread on here the other day warned that the GC can't be used to turn off special offers, but if he wanted them off he could do so on his card and have the GC available for books.

[CegAbq]

I would guess it would depend on the relationship, maybe? I'm debating getting a kindle for my sister for Christmas, and there's no way in hades I'm paying more to have it no-ad. In fact, it'll probably be the baby kindle, since it's $20 less than the touch.    It does make me feel a *little* cheap, but we're not made of money and she knows that. She's been wanting one for a bit, but is even less made of money, so I think she personally would just be thrilled to get something she'd been wanting without having to save up herself. Maybe if finances aren't an issue you could include a gift card for the difference? A thread on here the other day warned that the GC can't be used to turn off special offers, but if he wanted them off he could do so on his card and have the GC available for books.

I agree, especially the part about depending on the relationship (& the age you are at).

I'm 57 but fairly techie; if one of my kids gave me a Kindle (they are 22, 22, & 24), because of where they are at in their lives, I'd totally be awed & overwhelmed that they'd do this for me, no matter whether it was a Kindle with or without special offers. As a reasonably competent "techie", I know the ins & outs of what had been gifted & again, I'd be incredibly touched & appreciative that my kid would understand my love of tech & eReaders & the awesomeness of Kindles.

[Sandpiper]

I got a Touch w/SOs for my BFF for Christmas.  (It's being delivered to her . . . later today.)  She has a K2, so she is familiar with Kindles.  Also giving her either a $50 Amazon gift card for cover and/or whatever OR a $75 gift card for an Oberon cover.  It's all more than I would usually spend, but being that she said she could not afford a new Kindle I want to giver it and GC to her.  After all that I am saving a little by getting her the Touch w/SOs.  (P.S.  My Christmas list is very short.)

[patrickt]

Absolutely not, Okkoto86, so with Christmas coming if you'd like to send me a Kindle S.O. I'll gladly send you my shipping address. If you decide not to it was still a nice thought.

I think the old saying, "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth," might apply. Of course, if it's a gift a husband gives his wife it will never be quite right anyway.

[laurie_lu]

The gift recipient also has the option of returning it to Amazon and paying the extra to exchange it for a Kindle without special offers.

[dbeman]

Just consider "special offers" as the gift that keeps on giving year 'round!

[Holly]

I am giving three Kindles for Christmas gifts - a Kindle4 and two Kindle Keyboards.  I'm Canadian so the SO are not yet available as an option.  Knowing that you can now opt into the SO versions, I guess I would feel a little less like Scrooge.  At least the "deals" are money saving unlike the ads that you get when you "gift" a magazine subscription or the ads should your gift be a new TV.  

[Ann in Arlington]

There are people I wouldn't hesitate to give an SO kindle to and people I wouldn't even dream of it with.  Totally depends on the person.

[KimberlyinMN]

What I would probably do is also say that the occasionally the offers are REALLY good - like 50% off covers, etc., and that you thought they'd appreciate the "gift that keeps on giving".   I find it kind of fun to see what new offers on are on it when I open the cover.

And, at least for the K4, it's only $30 to have the ads removed.  I keep seeing people referring to this as $40... so I'm not sure if it varies between devices? I did double-check this for my K4 before writing this.

[Ann in Arlington]

What I would probably do is also say that the occasionally the offers are REALLY good - like 50% off covers, etc., and that you thought they'd appreciate the "gift that keeps on giving".  I find it kind of fun to see what new offers on are on it when I open the cover.

OTOH, it's the gift that keeps on taking as it does keep encouraging you to spend more money.  So it's kind of how you look at it.

And, at least for the K4, it's only $30 to have the ads removed.  I keep seeing people referring to this as $40... so I'm not sure if it varies between devices? I did double-check this for my K4 before writing this.

True. . . . it's $30 on the basic Kindle and $40 on the touch. . .essentially the price difference between the two models.

[tlc]

I was thinking about getting mynsismone with adds but can someone tell me how often do the adds pop up? Does it happen when you are reading?

[Ann in Arlington]

I was thinking about getting mynsismone with adds but can someone tell me how often do the adds pop up? Does it happen when you are reading?

They don't 'pop up' at all.

The screensavers, rather than generic pictures, are ads for some product or service.  On the home screen there's a small banner at the bottom that matches whatever the screensaver was just before you woke it from sleep.  That's it.  You don't see them while you're reading, just while you're on the home screen or the device is 'sleeping'. 

If you want to get more info about a product you just select the banner and an email will be sent.  But, even then you're not obligated to anything, it's just 'more information', in some cases a code for a discount or instructions on how to get the offer. 

New offers show up about every 4 days or so, which means some may stop appearing.  You do need to have WiFi on for a little bit every few days so the kindle can d/l the upcoming offers to display when they're available.

[Linjeakel]

I would get him the SO one but tell him right away that you weren't sure which model to get but thought he might like the ads as there are some good deals, though if he'd prefer not to have them you will upgrade it for him, no problem. That way he gets to choose whether he has the ads - there might be some he wants to take advantage of - and you only have to pay the extra if it's really necessary.

[LaraAmber]

If you are shopping for someone who likes to "get a good deal" they might really appreciate the SO version and prefer it.  Now if it's for someone who is always lamenting about how you "can't get away from advertising" and complains about having to sit through commercials at the movie theater before the movie starts, I'd go for the non-SO version. 

Now my mother would complain if I got her a new one, she inherits all her tech from me and my sister. 

[Hadou]

Depends on the person. 

But, with the new ones being able to "buy" their way out of ad oppression, I think that it's less of an issue (to me, anyhow).  If I didn't already have a Kindle, I'd be pleased as punch to get one from someone and couldn't care less if it had the special offers.  I mean, hey, someone just bought me a Kindle.  Whoo-hoo!

[Sandpiper]

The gift recipient also has the option of returning it to Amazon and paying the extra to exchange it for a Kindle without special offers.

You don't have to return it.  You can go into "Manage Your Kindle" and change it from WITH special offers to WITHOUT.  Your credit card will be charged the difference ($40 for Touch).

[CNDudley]

I got the kids the mini-Kindle and didn't find the ads very aggressive (some are much better looking than the Alexandre Dumas and Emily Dickinson screensavers!). And with the cost of cover thrown in, it's hardly a cheap gift.

i'm in the camp where, if someone gave me a Kindle, i'd just be plain thrilled.

[Okkoto86]

If you are shopping for someone who likes to "get a good deal" they might really appreciate the SO version and prefer it.  Now if it's for someone who is always lamenting about how you "can't get away from advertising" and complains about having to sit through commercials at the movie theater before the movie starts, I'd go for the non-SO version.

I think that's the trick for me, he does hate ads in exactly the way you describe lol.  If I get him one it will be the non-SO version, I mean im really thinking about getting him a Fire, so even a full fat $189 Kindle is less than a Fire.  Just curious in hearing other people thoughts, good replies so far! 

[scarlet]

Just consider "special offers" as the gift that keeps on giving year 'round!

Exactly.  Don't call them "ads" tell them they are opportunities.  And I won't say that it cost less because of it, unless they are the kind of person who would say the same thing.

[RobertKindle]

No

The ads are not intrusive at all.  The small banner at the bottom and the screen saver are very mild.  The offers aren't annoying, irritating ads like most online ads have become which have flashing colors, sounds, etc.  I generally associate online ads with those irritating movie clips which randomly appear and play on some websites and that is not what the special offers are. 

Plus I have to say I am biased because my brother will be getting the Kindle Touch.  However I did get a gift receipt in case he wants to return it in order to get a different model; he could want the Fire or the Keyboard, all I know is he reads which is what the Kindle is about

[Thumper]

"It's the Special Offers Kindle...so cool! You get these ads as screen savers, and every now and then a killer deal comes up and you can save a metric ton of cash on something you already wanted!"

It's the gift that keeps on giving.

And it's all in the presentation...

[gina1230]

I bought the touch with special offers for a friend.  It never occurred to me that she might dislike the special offers. 

[SamIam]

I wouldn't feel bad at all, didn't think the ads were that obtrusive at all

[beccaprice]

I got the K4SO for my son for Christmas, because we're not sure whether he'll actually use it or not, or whether he'll like it. If he finds the ads bothersome, but likes and uses the Kindle, I'll gladly pay the extra to opt him out of them.