Kindle Keyboard Holiday Sellouts Begin

Update: 12/8/11 I just noticed some new shipping info on the Kindle pages at Amazon : Ordering for Christmas? To ensure delivery by December 24, choose Two-Day Shipping at checkout.


The holiday sellout of Kindles has begun at Amazon, with the $99 Special Offers Kindle Keyboard being the first to disappear this year. This means the least expensive Kindle with a Keyboard is now $139, unless you grab one of the refurbished units (while they last), although you might still find these at some local stores. I keep seeing rumors that the Keyboard versions are being run out of stock and will drop off the catalog, but nothing from Amazon has confirmed that. It is more likely that they have simply sold out of stock and rather than have a bunch of pre-orders that can't be filled by Christmas, they elected to remove the buy button from the model in question. The KindleDX is also still available (but back to full price), but you really have to search for it, as it doesn't appear on the Kindle Family banner any longer.

For those who are considering picking up a Kindle for a gift, I'm going to list the models and their status below, with any refurbished ones linked in, if available. Remember, you can opt in to Special Offers with an eInk model, and then opt out again, at no charge (as many times as you want); if you purchase a Special Offers version up front, though, you do have to pay the discounted difference in price the first time you opt out of the Offers (but can then switch back and forth at will with these, as well). Not all refurbished units are heavily discounted, but two are, so I've bolded them, below. Also, some of these appear to be more limited in stock, as they are showing a message that orders are prioritized on a first-come-first-served basis in the US (I've marked these with an asterisk), although that may just be some text left over from when you could pre-order these models..

• Kindle Keyboard, Wi-Fi, includes Special Offers out of stock; refurbished $89.99
• Kindle Keyboard, Wi-Fi $139
• Kindle Keyboard, 3G+Wi-Fi, includes Special Offers $139; refurbished $129.99
• Kindle Keyboard, 3G+Wi-Fi $189; refurbished $129.99
• Kindle DX, 3G+Wi-Fi $379; refurbished $244.99
• Kindle, Wi-Fi, includes Special Offers $79
• Kindle, Wi-Fi $109
• Kindle, Touch, Wi-Fi, includes Special Offers $99 (*)
• Kindle, Touch, Wi-Fi $139 (*)
• Kindle, Touch, 3G+Wi-Fi, includes Special Offers $149 (*)
• Kindle, Touch, 3G+Wi-Fi $189 (*)
• Kindle Fire, (Wi-Fi only) $199 (*)

(*) Order now. Orders are prioritized on a first come, first served basis. U.S. only

Free Book (EPUB/nook) - The Unfinished Gift

The Unfinished Gift ($6.99 Kindle), by Dan Walsh, is free from Barnes & Noble and Sony, but not on Kindle. Be sure to report the lower price to Amazon, as these freebies from Christian publisher Revell often only last for a day or two.

Book Description
Patrick Collins is seven years old, and on his Christmas list are only three items. He wants the army to find his father. He wants to leave his grandfather's house. And, for reasons even he doesn't understand, he wants the soldier that's tucked away in his grandfather's attic.

Set at Christmastime in 1943, The Unfinished Gift tells in an engaging, simple style the story of a family, and reminds us of the surprising things that affect powerful change in our hearts--like a young boy's prayers, a shoebox full of love letters, and even an old wooden soldier, long forgotten. This nostalgic story of forgiveness will engage readers everywhere.

Get the free ebook from Barnes & Noble.
Get the free ebook from ChristianBook.
Get the free ebook from Sony.

Free Book (Kindle) - The Frog Whisperer

The Frog Whisperer: A 3-Step Approach to Finding Lasting Love, by Jane Atkinson, is free in the Kindle store.

Book Description
Are you ready to find your perfect mate? There's no question, finding true, lasting love, can be difficult.

The Frog Whisperer is designed to help you find love with a simple, 3 step approach. It's not about controlling the frogs (people that you date) it's about the "vibe" that you are putting out to prospective partners.

When you take the steps to get clear on what you want, and be the most confident (and happy) version of yourself, you will be on your way to finding that perfect person.

Ready, Set, Leap!

Save 10% on Clothing, Shoes & Accessories (KSO)

This offer is for those with a Kindle with Special Offers (including any Kindle Touch or Kindle Keyboard that opts in to Special Offers).

Save an additional 10% on Clothing, Shoes & Accessories at 6pm.com

Click on offer, then click on the link on the offer page to receive an email with the promotion code. Sign-up for this offer expires on December 10.

You'll get an email (right away), a link to the 6pm.com website and a promotion code to enter at checkout. Once you have the promotional code, you have until January 10, 2012. to complete your purchase. Like previous offers, this one requires you to use the full checkout process in order to enter your promotional code. Also, like all Amazon sales that use promotional codes, if you have a gift card balance, you must use it for the payment (if there is not a sufficient balance, then you can pick which credit card or other payment to use).

Limit one offer per customer and per device.

6pm.com is a sort of subsidiary of Amazon, in that it was acquired by Zappos.com in 2007 and, in turn, Zappos was purchased by Amazon in 2009. It looks like the 10% discount works on an entire order, including their clearance items, so you might be able to find a few good deals, if you poke around.

Buy a Mystery / Thriller Title for $1 (KSO)

This offer is for those with a Kindle with Special Offers (including any Kindle Touch or Kindle Keyboard that opts in to Special Offers).

Buy 1 of 100 Mysteries & Thrillers for $1

To take advantage of this offer:

1. First, turn on your Kindle with Special Offers, click Menu, then View Special Offers.
2. Find the offer: Buy 1 of 100 Mysteries & Thrillers for $1. Click on it, then on the link to Email Me This Offer.
3. You will get an email from Amazon with your promotional code, right away.
4. Once you have the promotion code (and have selected your book; see below), click this link, then on the button labeled Enter Your Code, at any time up to the expiration date of January 7, 2012.
5. Enter your code and follow the directions.
6. Choose any of these books and you'll pay only $1.

You'll have a promotion code on your account that will apply to the FIRST book you buy (from the list) after that. Note that even if the book is free, you'll pay a dollar, so be careful which one you pick after you enter the code -- make sure you don't grabbing a low cost title by accident, which can happen if you apply the code right away, before you are ready to buy the book. Current prices range from $2.99 to $9.99. You should save the code and not enter it until you are ready to buy a book.

To recap: you must claim the offer by December 10 and must do so from your Kindle with Special Offers. You'll get a promotion code via email and you have until January 7, 2012 to enter and redeem the code. Once you enter it, it will work on the next book on the list that you purchase.

Some of the titles on this one have appeared on several previous offers, but there are also a few new titles thrown in, so you should be able to find (at least) one you want to use the coupon on. I know that I see several series and authors that I have been reading, so once again will have to sample and make a touch decision.