After about 2 weeks with my Kindle 3 (wifi only version), I decided to write a letter to Amazon's customer service:
"I got a Kindle as a gift this Christmas and I love it.
Because of my location (in the Philippines), I am considered to be in the Asia-Pacific region.I am writing to complain about the rather shabby treatment we (Asia-Pacific users) are getting from Amazon.
Remember that, for reasons known only to you, all the books you sell to us are at least US$2.00 more expensive than the US price (including otherwise free e-books which are available, for free, to your US and UK customers but are being sold for US$2.00 to us).
In exchange for the considerably higher prices on e-books:
1. We, Asia-Pacific customers, get a crappy webpage which, when opened, shows a listing of "bestselling" e-books.
In contrast, the Kindle store website for UK customers shows links to "Kindle bestsellers", "award winners", "editor's picks", "free e-book selections" (which you probably cannot show here as there are only maybe 3), "e-books under 7 pounds", "kindle editions with audio/video" etc.
There are also listings for the Top 100 paid books, and the Top 100 free books and the best of 2010. There are book suggestions, for history buffs, the globe trotters, entertainers etc.
I mean, really, you can't be bothered to do the same for us Asia-Pacific customers especially since we pay US2.00 MORE per book?
2. We, Asia-Pacific customers, get none of the game applications. Granted, none of these are really good and we can probably play better games using other devices, but I'm not sure I understand the basis for the lack. Are there copyright restrictions for Hangman, Monopoly and Scrabble as well?
3. We, Asia-Pacific customers, do not get any special promotions or sales. In contrast, and for example, your UK customers have a "12 days of Kindle sale", where certain books are available for only a pound.
4. We, Asia-Pacific customers, don't have dedicated Twitter or Facebook pages. Only your US customers do. So, none of your "special offers", "deals" and amazing discounts are ever applicable to us.
It's bad enough that not all e-books available for US customers can be sold to us. But we understand that there are legal impediments as of the present time. What I don't get, because it is something totally within your control, is the lack of regard you have for your international customers. Items #1 and 4 above won't even cost you extra money (as you already have people maintaining the Kindle store for Asia-Pacific customers, and opening Twitter and Facebook accounts is free). I hope you do something about this disparity in treatment as soon as possible.
Your very disappointed
international Kindle owner,
x x x"
Lest I be misunderstood, I love the Kindle 3. As advertised, it's like reading a book - there's no glare at all. It's very light. I love that you can download samples (or excerpts) of a book before you buy. I wrote the letter above and this blog just to give the user's experience of someone who's not from the United States or the UK.
For the gadget itself, here's Engadget's review. CNET (which included it among its recommended holiday gifts for 2010) chimes in as well with a video review:
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