You can no longer get advertisements removed from the ad-supported Kindle models simply by asking the customer support team. For many years, this was how many got their ads removed for free. The customer support agents would be kind enough to do this, something that otherwise costs $20 if you went through the official channels. However, it now seems Amazon has formulated a clear policy in this regard so that the only way to get the ads removed would be by paying the required $20 fee.
Buyers are often lured into buying Kindle models with ads shown on the lock screen. Many detested the idea of going through an extra screen to get to where they were reading while others seemed not too perturbed with the ads being the first thing they see when turning the Kindle on. In any case, they always have the option to remove the ads by paying an additional $20. Things used to be fine so far as politely asking the Amazon customer support agents to remove the ads seemed to work so far.
There have been far too many viral videos on social channels like TikTok, YouTube or Reddit, each elaborating on ways to get the ads removed by calling the support staff. It seems Amazon has taken cognizance of the videos and plugged the gaps to prevent buyers from misusing the system. Also, it is perhaps impossible for second-hand Kindles where the devices are shipped to a region where Amazon is not officially present.
Meanwhile, the steps to get the ads removed are simple. Start by going to the Manage Your Content and Devices page at Amazon. Thereafter, click on the Devices tab which will show the devices you own. Select the Kindle device you want to remove the ads from and click on the ‘Remove Offers’ button. Complete the process by paying the $20 fee.
Amazon happens to be the only e-reader manufacturer to offer an ad-supported model where advertisements get splashed on the lock screen after you have turned the device off. The trade-off here is that you get to save $20 over the list price. This aligns perfectly with Amazon’s strategy of making available the e-readers at the lowest possible sale price, often at a loss, and making money from the sale of content. It can be via outright sale of e-books and audiobooks or from selling subscriptions to Kindle Unlimited or Audible programs.