Amazon Kindle 2/DX for Singaporeans!
BUT, there’s A SOLUTION!
- Amazon doesn’t ship Kindle out of the US. Therefore you must register with Vpost first. With Vpost, you can buy products from countries like, US, Europe and Japan.
- Go to Amazon.com, log into or create an account if you do not already have one. Buy the Kindle 2/DX and have Amazon shipped it to your Vpost (USA) **address. I will skip the rest of the procedures between you and Vpost as you can find them at their site.
- Once you receive your Kindle 2 in Singapore, the fun begins!
- Log into your Amazon.com account and buy a Gift Certificate and email the code to yourself.
- You should be able to receive the gift certificate code in your email in a matter of minutes.
- Copy and paste and apply the code to your Amazon account.
- Delete ALL you existing credit card information. Reason being that when you buy a Kindle book, the system will check this information and when it recognises that your credit card is not issused by a US bank, the purchases won’t go through.
- Drum rolls please…..
- Congratulations! You should now be able to buy books for your Kindle 2. Just ensure that the gift certificate has enough credit for what you are purchasing.
- To download your purchased books and sync to your Kindle via USB, go to ‘My Account’, scroll down to ‘Digital Content’ and click on the ‘Manage Your Kindle‘ link.
- Scroll down until you see, ‘Your Orders’. You should be able to see all your purchases. And on the right, there is an drop down menu that says, “Deliver too…”.
- And in that menu, choose the option that says, “Transfer via computer…” or something to that effect.
- Connect your Kindle via USB and drop the newly purchased book(s) into your Documents directory of your Kindle and HAVE FUN READING!
- Hope the above instructions help. If you run into any problems, feel free to ask me via this blog.
*Updated on 2 Jul 09: Thank God, I finally found the original blog where I learned this trick from. Credit must go to NerdGirl! I just tweaked it to people here living in Singapore. 
WARNING! (dtd 10 Jul 09): DO NOT use IE 8 to purchase your Kindle books. A reader, David, had problem purchasing his Kindle books, even with the gift voucher. Until he changed to Google Chrome, the problem was solved!
Update: 10 Jul 09: PDF Conversion: If you want to read pdf books, no problem! Just send your pdf book to yourusername@free.kindle.com. And in a few minutes time, an. azw (Kindle) version will be sent back to you. There’s no need to add Subject or Body heading. But remember the word, “free.” must be added in front of “kindle.com”. Therefore, it should be @free.kindle.com, not @kindle.com.
**Update: 11 Dec 09: Spoke with a Singpost staff and asked her especially with regards to the Amazon Kindle. She told me to ship it to Portland Oregon address instead of the Compton California’s. Reason being Compton is very strict with battery stuff. I’d suspect it’s the state of California that is strict, not Compton itself. So, just ship to the Portland Oregon address.
While it may not be "politically appropriate" nowadays to share one's true belief and philosophy, I have always endeavoured to run my life and my businesses the way I feel is right, although it is not always necessarily popular or "politically appropriate".
got it for my husband and he is so loving it dat he been thanking me for it everyday.. so happy that he loves it! Thanks for all the advices of using vpost and gift certs to buy books.. =D
Hey Gum,
It’s not a bad idea. But the thing is do we have enough users?
Just got My DX. haha, shall we start a Singapore Kindle Group?
Hey Meng,
Thanks for your info! Yes, the screen is simply A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! The first time I saw it, I thought it was a dummy. How could a screen has no backlight and still look so good?!
I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading your from your Kindle!
Got my Kindle 2 today. The screen is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! I’ve purchased 4 books and 1 magazine using gift cards described numerous times by other Kindle users living outside US. Go ahead and try it.
Melvin
My thanks! Miss that part on PDF conversion – apologies.
Rgds-RL
Hey Richard,
Here are my answers to your questions:
1. Conversion of file from pdf to azw (Kindle format) is free. Please see the last paragraph of my post to see how it is done.
2. It does NOT come with a SD card slot. As for me, 1500 books is more than sufficient!
3. Yes. Once you plug your Kindle to your computer, it behaves like a removable hard disk. Therefore, you can add or delete files the way you do with other removable hard disk. (Please note that I’m using a Mac. Although I haven’t tried it on a PC, I think there shouldn’t be any difference.)
Regards,
Melvin Neo
Good Day Melvin
This is a very good site. Good of you for putting this up, it is very useful. As a result your infor here, I am close to getting one K2 for myself.
If you can help me with some further clarifications.
1. Can it read PDF files or must you send the file to Amazon and get it converted for a cost? I have several PDF/DOC files which I like to bring to the Lecture T instead of a stack of paper notes or using my PC.
2. I understand that the K2 (non DX) does not come with a SD card slot. Confirm that pls? (if that is true then ….sigh…)
3. Once you downloaded the Amazon Ebook to your PC, you need to download to the K2. Can you still redo this downloading if the K2 get reset to factory mode (if tha tis possible)
Thanks
Rgds-RL
Hey Saowaluck,
You can try. I think there shouldn’t be any problem. As long as you can download the ebook into your computer, you should be able to upload it into your Kindle.
Hi , I have got problem with my new Kindle DX . it got Amazon blocked my account now !!! I am in Thaialnd – please help ! Can i just set up a new account and try to do it like what you ‘re suggestion ?
Yumi, OOHHly crap !
Hey Shermaine,
It’s normal that your Kindle 2 flickers when it turns to the next page. It has to ‘erase’ the previous page while it ‘refreshes’ to the next. I’ve seen the Sony ebook reader and it behaves the same.
Yes, ‘The Alchemist’ indeed is a great book!
Regards,
Melvin Neo
Is it normal than it the kindle 2 kinds of fickle when it turns to the next page, just wondering if it’s normal or my kindle 2 needs a servicing.
Thank you for any advise given.
and yes I wasn’t very much a reader and started the reading habit again after I chance upon ‘Alchemist’ by Paulo
Hey Clara,
First and foremost, let me congratulate you for having the desire to want to read. It’s a good start! I only started to like reading when I started working at age 20+. ;p Leaders are readers. But not all readers are leaders. I’d like to believe you’re a leader in the making.
Y’know what? I love to read. But I only read books that can expand my circle of influence; i.e., things that I can influence. I hardly read stuff that only expand my circle of concern – things I’m concerned with but can’t influenced; like the weather, other people’s opinion of me. etc. You can tell from this statement that I don’t really read the newspaper. ;p
How to instill a driving determination and discipline to read on? For a start, read books that interest you and books that can help bring you where you want to be. As for me, I don’t read novels. I only read novels that have an underlying moral that inspire me to greatness. One great book I can think of is, “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061122416?ie=UTF8&tag=iamag-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0061122416). It’s a story that inspires the readers to follow their dreams. If you haven’t read it, go for it! This is one book which most people when they started reading it, they won’t want to stop! “The Traveler’s Gift” is another great book too! (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785273220?ie=UTF8&tag=iamag-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0785273220)
Have fun reading! Do drop me a note if you need further advice on what books to read. I wish you success!
Hey Clara,
I think as long as you get rid of ALL information from your account, I believe you should be able to purchase the Kindle. When I say, “ALL”, I mean information that tells the Amazon’s computer system that you live outside USA. I believe you know what I mean. Go ahead and try using my method – ship via vPost for your Kindle as Amazon doesn’t deliver them outside of USA. Then when it arrives, purchase the Kindle books using gift voucher.
Hey as a fellow blogger/reader, can you please give me tips on how not to bore myself to sleep while reading? How to instill a driving determination and discipline to read on?
I mean, book are nothing but great but some of them are just dry as the desert.
I really really want to meet my dad’s expectations, not to mention I am not having a great time in school either. I want to have at least sth to make my parents proud…
I will be eternally grateful for your advice.
Hey there, I am a 14 yr old student.
I had the misfortune of not seeing this blog earlier.
I have had a very upsetting experience with both amazon and ebay.
Obviously, I am a newb and with little knowledge and unbridled pressure from my dad about my LACK of reading (what crap!), I was despo to get one.
The US bank thing caught me totally off guard. I wasted at least 50 dollars in shipping as well as scarred myself in the process.
At least not all hope is lost, I have now 359 dollars (us) in credits, I may consider to follow ur steps and get it done RIGHT!
Do you think they will suspect anything even after that fiasco?
You’re most welcome! Have fun with your Kindle!
Shalom,
Melvin Neo
You are a gem! My husband, father-in-law, and myself just bought 3 Kindle DXs. We were going to return it in frustration because we thought we couldn’t download ebooks because of our location.
Thank God we chanced upon your blog!
I just downloaded my first book!
Thank you once again!
God Bless,
Sue Lynn and Jeng-tek
Kindle is getting the interest from people whom are readers.
I was unaware of the issue till i go to kindleboards to read up….then i realised there was such an issue. But frankly why do people read under sunlight?
Nope. You’re the first to give this feedback.
Yes so true…i wont read under extreme sun light … but anyone in spore feedback this to u before?
Hey Charles,
Thanks for the feedback.
Anyway, whether it’s a Kindle or any other book, it’s not recommended to read under extreme direct sunlight as it will definitely bring harm to our eyes.
Regards,
Melvin Neo
I tested my Kindle 2 under extreme direct Sunlight and i experience the sun fading issue that kindle users are talking about. Well the moment i go back to shades and flip a page the problem disappear.
Well it does not bother me for now as i wont be reading from the kindle 2 under extreme direct sunlight
Super! Another happy Kindle 2 user!
So Far so good after receiving the kindle 2 , loaded books and magazine to read on it.
I think as long as we still can buy Kindle books directly from Amazon via gift vouchers, your fear is unnecessary.
But i fear like Apple 3G phones, the Itune contents are restricted to Applications and i worry in Singapore when Amazon comes to singapore…they might have a restricted list of titles due to publisher restrictions i feel.
What do u think?
Hey Charles,
If that’s true, that’ll be a great piece of news! Thanks.
I look forward it coming to spore in 2010 and we can trade in old kindle and upgrade to singapore kindle linked to our 3G networks
Hahahah, well maybe when people all start looking at me…i might feel more handsome hahahah.
I just called up amazon for help on my account and they pick up the call quick.
Congratulations! I’m sure you’ll enjoy your Kindle 2.
Yes, the E-Ink display is really amazing. Try reading your Kindle in the public and see if people will not turn and give it a second look. ;p
Melvin the kindle 2 arrived on 6 Aug 2009 in the morning by vpostusa but unfortunately i was not home to receive it till 7 Aug 2009 Evening.
I wanted to try Kindle 2 USB networking via my XP pc but cant seems to figure out the right steps despite the guidance from online write up…. i gave up and went to get a TIMES magazine Aug 17 Issue for $0.49 per copy and was able to download and copy to the kindle device.
Anyway it is amazing to read via a Kindle. The E ink Display really feels like paper. I used to wonder why Amazon kindle user is obsessed with kindle and now i know why.
Kindle is the ipod of books, and amazon brought book technology to a new level.
42 with insurance for vpostusa shipping
Hi Faith,
I can’t remember. And even if I do, I can’t tell you exactly because I had other stuff shipped to me on that same shipment. But what I could remember was the GST cost more than the shipping cost!
Maybe others who have bought it recently can help? Anyone kind soul out there to help Faith with her question?
hi there, do u remember the shipping cost by vpost? prob an estimate? many thks!
I use both interchangeably.
Melvin i wanted to know can you charge the kindle 2 by plugging it direct to our singapore main socket? or u use the USB charging ?
I feel the Kindle DX is meant for people whom needs to read books in PDF natively and IT Books. I looking forward to Kindle 3 and i wonder what features will they launch with.
Do u foresee Amazon releasing Kindle in Singapore anytime soon?
Words render very beautifully in Kindle. Unless the publisher sets the picture resolution in the computer books specifically for Kindle, the pictures won’t really render well. It’s acceptable for me though.
My wife still prefers traditional book form. No, I have no intention of getting the DX.
Does anyone uses Kindle2 to read computing books?
These book are in large format unlike novels, do they still render well on the kindle?
I hope once i get hold of the kindle i hope to get my wife interested in the kindle
Is ur wife using the kindle 2? Do u plan getting kindle DX?
So far from those I spoke to – yes.
Generally all the kindle owners are very happy with their kindle?
Not that I know of. I have spoken to a couple of owners though.
Have u met fellow Kindle users in Singapore or is there a Kindle Club in singapore?
Hey Charles, I haven’t done that before.
Just to share further on vpostusa assisting us to do warranty replacement in USA. I further enquired and they gave the below reply.
“Once merchant have confirmed ship your package to our US address, we would appreciate if you could forward us the invoice with heading Replacement Set via email invusa@vpost.com.sg or via fax at 68413982 and will monitor the receiving of your shipment at the vPOSTUSA address.”
Now i can seriously consider getting extended warranty for kindle 2 or electronic devices from USA as now vpostusa can assist to be the shipping address for the faulty device.
Melvin have u ever send any stuff over to USA via UPS or Fedex or Speedpost?
I dont think they can delete it as Amazon does not have real time access to our Kindle 2 via Mobile Network. I wish we can modify to kindle 2 to connect to SINGTEL or STARHUB data network by inserting a Data Sim Card.
My Kindle 2 shipping has been paid and pending delivery from USA via vpostusa. I also purchase additional insurance for my kindle 2. Usually when i buy from overseas via vpostusa i will opt for insurance as i have paid $500 SGD for my item and insurance is only $18.00 vs $500.00.
I hope to get the Kindle 2 by next week.
I just hope Amazon will be like Apple Itune close an eye on the loop hole where people can buy their contents and use overseas.