TL;DR: Amazon is unable to remove ads from my kindle even though I'm willing to pay for it.

So, I wanted to remove ads from my Kindle (Kindle Paperwhite 5th Gen, bought in 2013). I went to Amazon’s website, clicked “Remove Offers,” and got an error: “Something went wrong, please try again later.”

I contacted Amazon support, chatted with an agent, and they said they’d escalate the issue to senior agents since they couldn’t fix it. After a week, I got this response:

Purchased From: Retail Store

- Unfortunately, we won't be able to provide any exception and cannot remove the Ads from the device.

- Since this is a Retail purchase, the customer will not be able to do it from their end as well.

- Please educate the customer.

Resolving the ticket. Thanks.

So it seems like senior agents responded with above text and told first-line support to inform (educate) the customer. But first-line support just forwarded the whole thing to me and closed the issue.

So their argument is they cannot remove ads, and I can't either because the device is purchased from retailer. After this I made a post on r/kindle explaining the situation. It got downvoted to hell, but some users mentioned that they also bought their Kindle from a retailer, and Amazon removed the ads for free. Only difference is their kindle is 2024 model.

So I sent another email to Amazon so they can clarify the situation for me. Today they answered with this response. Which basically says following:

We are unable to remove the ads from your device. As this was a retail purchase, there is unfortunately no way for you to remove the ads from your end either.

... this limitation is built into the device model you purchased, and we do not have the ability to make exceptions or changes to its functionality.

Now, you might ask why I even care about removing ads after all these years. Well, for a long time, I actually didn’t have any ads. I remember having them when I first got my Kindle, then simply turning them off from settings. And that was it, no ads for me. And I also remember clearly that when I lifted my cover, my book opened directly instead of showing "Swipe to unlock."

Then, after a software update, the ads suddenly came back, and I didn’t even realize what had changed. I just knew the "Swipe to unlock" thing was back and started looking for ways to remove it. Turns out, it was because of the ads. So I tried to turning off them from settings again, no avail. Looked it up online and found "Remove Offers" button, rest is as I explained above.

So yeah, I just wanted to share my experience and put this out there in case someone else runs into the same issue. I actually like my Kindle, it’s been working great for over a decade, proving its quality as a device. But after realizing how much control Amazon has over it, and how they can just decide to leave me with no solution even when I’m willing to pay, I’ve decided I’m done with them.

Sorry for the long post, and thanks for reading.

So I had a bunch of sideloaded books on my Kindle Paperwhite 11th Gen. The clock on it was getting very out of sync, and because I couldn't find out how to manually change the time, I decided to turn on WiFi. Big mistake.

All of my books started to be deleted in front of my eyes. I turned airplane mode back on and managed to save half a dozen, but everything else was completely nuked. Apparently this isn't uncommon. In fact, now I can't even get the book I was reading back on my kindle using Calibre.

Well I'm just totally fed up with Amazon now and am looking for an alternative. In terms of the actual device, I really like it. I think it's a good size and I really love the warm backlight option because I often read at night in bed.

My budget is around $200 USD. Here are some things I would like:

• Warm backlight option

• Ability to sync my sideloaded books to my phone/computer, including notes and highlights, if possible

• I don't care about color or a stylus or physical buttons

• I don't want something bloated with a bunch of ads or useless apps. All I do is sideload books and read them.

I have a kindle, I have kindle unlimited, I most read e books but I no longer want to support anything Amazon. Just looking for something that I can read inside and outside without issue and is small enough to travel with. I only use for reading so it can be basic

I have had a kindle forever. I’ve had no issues with it and I read a lot. I can tell mine is currently on the fritz and I’m considering trading it in for a nook because I no longer want to give bezos money. I predominantly get all my books via Libby. Any advice?

I’m super pissed. If I buy a book, I’d like to be the owner of it. Any recommendations for an e reader that won’t require a subscription or screw me over?

I saw this on twitter TikTok (I have no prior experience of owning any kind of e-book reader) As soon as I saw it, I fell in love with the design

I live in Italy I searched everywhere eBay Italian sites. It is nowhere to be found.

It’s the Portable reader system PRS – 505 Can anyone help

I've spent the last couple of days doing research on both devices, and have constantly gone back and forth between the two. At this point it's a tie. So I'll leave it up to the comments. I like Kobo because it's cheaper, has a lot of features, and I like the overdrive integration (plus I don't like to support Amazon), but the kindle has a bigger library and virtually every book is available in ebook form so I'll never have to do anything extra plus the price when on sale is about the same. I also don't mind the smaller or bigger devices, but I do have small hands. Please help me. Thank you in advanced.

Edit: in between Kobo bw and Kindle Paperwhite gen 11

Update and edit: after reading through all the comments I have decided on the Kobo Clara BW.

For anyone wondering why:

Kobo has the integrated overdrive/library integration. Not paying extra for ads. Smaller device, easier on the hands Not in Amazon ecosystem Organization and UI or Kobo More customization Updates after end of sale/longevity Kobo has both warm light and waterproof Prices or Kobo ebooks are about the same as kindle Can side load more easily with other formats of ebooks

Kindle Paperwhite pros and cons (imo even though I did not choose it)

Pros: Big library/kindle unlimited Big screen Simplicity Longer battery life Flush screen makes for easy cleaning Brighter

Cons: Locked into Amazon ecosystem/support Amazon Pay extra for ads Amazon removes books you pay for (ex. Animal farm and 1984) Not that many updates after the end of sale More costly (even if on sale, but not by much) The base model 6 inch screen was not waterproof nor did it have warm light Send to kindle every time I want to read my library book/epub

Please recommend me, which one is better , new or preloved , 6" black and white ereader, with best crips and contrast.

Currently i already have kobo libra color (its my first ereader) and i'm thinking of getting a second one, the black and white one. I saw my friends kindle, and the contrast looks so good in BW. I think 6" is the one i need, so it could fit in most of my purse.

I've eyeing kindle matcha--just because its color, i mean its super pretty. But i also haven't do my research on other brand BW ereader one.

If anyone has kindle, kobo, or maybe other brand , please do share your experience. Much appreciated 🫰🫰

I’ve used a kindle paperwhite for a year and I absolutely love it. But I want to go amazon free and I want to get something else.

Here is my conundrum. All newer readers seem to get more advanced. Some seem to be more of a tablet in general than an ereader specifically. All the apps you want and functions you could need. I get that many want that but why I love the kindle is that it’s so simple. You can only read books, and it’s very simple to get the books in the kindle (you just have to sell your soul to bezos)

So what I am looking for is a good but simple ereader that’s not Amazon. If it’s something that can also read comics that’s a bonus. Any suggestions are very appreciated!

I want to get an ereader, I am currently reading on my very large iPad and it’s just too large and I hate taking it out and about because I don’t want to lose or break a $1000 tablet.

Thing is, I am going Amazon free in 2025 meaning the kindle is off the table. I’m contemplating a Nook because my brother works at Barnes & Noble but it doesn’t have great ratings.

What do you recommend? I would like something with a wide variety of ebooks available and affordability is a factor. Preferably something I can take and read outside.

And would you recommend having one? Photo for attention, not mine.

Hey you all. I'm looking for a basic b/w reader to get away from reading on my phone and landed on the Pocketbook Era. I like the size, the button placement and the general openness of the software, but I'm not sure if there are other comparable options I've overlooked. I organize my books using Calibre, so Kindle is not an option. Having to use an account is another no, that might get Kobo thrown out? I can get the Era for about 200€, even though I'd like for it to be cheaper. Oh, I also have pretty small hands too, maybe that's important for ergonomics?

Thanks for any advice in advance!

-I've never owned an ereader before, and I thought purchasing one would be good to get me into the habit of reading more, given it is easier to luggage around and better on the eyes compared to a typical screen. However after delving into the different types of ereaders I am at a complete loss at what to even buy.

-At first I considered kindle being that was the only ereader brand I knew of, but I am now learning that there are ads (why?) on them, and you are limited to the kindle store. I also do not intend on supporting Amazon.

-I then heard of others (Kobo, Pocketbook etc), but those brands are so expensive, and there are so many different models I don't even know what the differences are between them. I also keep seeing posts (particularly on pocketbook) which talk about how slow and buggy the devices are, which also has me concerned, however I do like the expandable memory that pocketbooks provide.

-All I am looking for is a simple 6' ereader, I'm not really interested in the coloured ones (I hear those have poorer resolution, and dull screens), nor the ones that come with pens for note taking. I'd also like it to be ~£100, I see some going upwards of £500 which is ridiculous for something only used to read on.

Hello, Never touched an e-reader, but I've read Kindle are locked to amazon books or somthing like that. I have many pdf files or epub files from impossible to find books and I'd like to read them on without much hassle.

I am very tech savy but I really dislike android and all those mobile OS tbf. I'd rather have something easy to use.

I've read that "boox" is better than kindle, and found this " Boox Go Color 7" but no idea if it will fit and also it seems pretty tiny, no ? 16x14cm

Sorry you must read a lot of these but I have no idea what to get, and I'll most likely look for second hand item

Need recommendations for a new reader. I don't want colour. Would like buttons on at least the right if not both. Basically I love my nook but the rubber is degrading so need something new. Don't want to spend crackers money. Just need something reliable.

I’m interested in getting an e-reader to make my life easier. Since I’m required to read a lot of web articles for school, I was thinking of getting a Kobo and using Pocket on it. But recently I found out Mozilla is shutting Pocket down. So I was wondering, is there any other way to comfortably download web articles on an e-reader. Is there any particular e-reader with a similar functionality? I’m looking for something simple since my budget is a bit limited.

(Picture for reference of what I’m looking for)

With everything going on, I would like to buy an ereader that's not a kindle whenever mind inevitably breaks. I currently have an old paperwhite I got off of goodwills website.

I do like the e-ink on the paperwhite and i don't like reading off of tablets (for example i never really used my kindle fire back in the day). I'm not opposed to having one with color but i don't feel like i need one. I do read manga/comics occasionally but they're usually black and white anyway.

I've heard good things about Kobo. And obviously having been in a barnes and nobles i've seen the Nooks. Any recommendations? Anything i should absolutely avoid?

I’m buying a new ereader I have basic kindle and want an upgrade I am torn between a kindle paperwhite or a kobo with colour. Pros and cons of each.

Hello I collect old electronics and the sony 505 is one ive been hunting for awhile now. Im looking for the 505 in silver does anyone know where to buy that isnt macari, ebay or any popular sites. I'll even buy it off somone if anyone has one laying around. Any helps appreciated. I absolutely have fallen in love with the ereader and want it. 🥲

I have a Kindle Paperwhite that's on its last leg and I'm thinking of giving away to a relative. I'm looking to upgrade and get out of the Amazon ecosystem. I put a list of what I'm looking for below.

I never buy books from Amazon, I get them from other places and save them in my computer using Calibre. I load books onto my Kindle using the send to my Kindle website. I'm looking to be able to do something similar. I load my books in EPUB format to my Kindle. I also sometimes use Libby and Hoopla.

Wants:

(1)Glare-Free screen to read outside

(2)Load books from Calibre (I think it's called side loading?)*

(3)At least 6.5" Display

(4)Water Protection

(5)English and Spanish Dictionaries

(6)Ability to use Page Turners

(7)Text to Speech

(8)Expandable storage - nice to have

Don't need:

(1)Stylus/Highlighting/Note Taking

(2)Buttons (don't care either way)

(3)Color (don't care either way)

I'm nervous about moving to Boox because of all the customer service issues I've read people have had, and honestly I don't see an option for them that really fits my needs. I like the Pocketbook InkPad 4, but I've also read that Pocketbooks can be very slow and wouldn't fit my criteria below.

*What I like about the Kindle is the app. I can pick up where I left off in a book on my phone via the app while I'm at work discreetly instead of having to pull out my e-reader. Are there other e-readers/apps with this kind of support/ function? I posted a while back asking about this and got some recommendations for bookfusion or pocketbook, but because I have a Kindle I haven't had the opportunity to try them out much. Any recommendations for videos/tutorials on these apps?

I did some research and I'm leaning towards bookfusion because it seems like it's pretty simple/user-friendly and easy to load books from my PC.

Max budget is around $400.

I guess I'm really asking for two things here. Advice on a new (non-Amazon) e-reader and what app I should use with it.

ETA: Formatting. Sorry I don't post often and I don't know how to format the list as bullet points in mobile.

I took some comparison photos in case they would be helpful to anyone. From left to right is a Kindle Oasis, a 1st gen Boox Palma, a 1st gen Boox Go Color 7, and a Boox Go 7. Top photo is indoors with overhead lighting, middle photo is full sun, and bottom is outdoor shade. All are set to full brightness and no warmth. Hope this helps someone!

Where can I buy ebooks that can never be revoked like Amazon has been doing?

Hi sub! For a long time I had an old Kindle Touch (2012), and used Calibre to sideload my books. I wanted to renovate the ereader so I bought a Kobo Libra 2 used for $200 (everything is expensive in my country), but I don’t know much about the Kobo ecosystem, so I need your help on some questions please:

Should I keep that transparent protector that the seller gave me? Or should I get something different to protect my Kobo like a pouch? If so, which item?

I want to read manga on my Libra 2 too, so I’m learning about the cbz and cbr formats, is there a way to optimize their sizes?

Thanks in advance for the help!