Busted Kindle

[fossyant]

Not happy.

My son's Kindle has busted. Looks like the screen cracked whilst he was reading it, pressed next page and it died.

It looks like there is a big problem with them checking Amazon's customer support. It's 20 months old, so out of warranty. Apparently they will replace it for about £50, which isn't too bad as this is the 3G model. Still not happy as it's been looked after.

Anyone else had a problem?

 

[rusky]

What do you mean by a big problem?? As in lots of people have had the same issue?

If that's the case, get them to replace it.

 

[marinyork]

Mine has a slight crack on it on the plastic housing. Similarly I'm not sure where it came from, it has been looked after. By coincidence or not the next time I noticed the crack for a few horrifying minutes I thought it had done the same , but after a reboot it worked fine.

 

[Doseone]

Mine has a slight crack on it on the plastic housing. Similarly I'm not sure where it came from, it has been looked after. By coincidence or not the next time I noticed the crack for a few horrifying minutes I thought it had done the same , but after a reboot it worked fine.

I seem to remember that the crack on the housing is a really common issue with the Kindle (along with the letters wearing off on the keyboard). It was a while back (probably easily a year) when I last checked, but I thought Amazon held their hands up to this and were offering replacements. Might be worth checking, although I don't think it affects its performance.

 

[marinyork]

I seem to remember that the crack on the housing is a really common issue with the Kindle (along with the letters wearing off on the keyboard). It was a while back (probably easily a year) when I last checked, but I thought Amazon held their hands up to this and were offering replacements. Might be worth checking, although I don't think it affects its performance.

It is. With using you can see why, as there is a bit of flexing on the plastic and it coming away from the screen slightly. One never knows how indestructable the main e-ink panel is. The keys wear off, but I think that's a pretty run of the mill problem not to get too excited about. The performance is fine and I'm not looking to replace it. Like a lot of people I expected (wrongly) that by now we'd be hearing about a newer evolution of it rather than the touch. In that sense if mine broke and a newer model came out I'd probably get that and shrug the breakage off. Not that that is relevant to other people as they are fully entitled to keep the same one and hope it works for a long time.

 

[fossyant]

Amazon admitted it's a known fault and can offer me a new one at a reduced rate of £50.

About to write to my credit card about it under Section 75 and not fit for purpose - an e-reader should last more than 18 months.

 

[soulful dog]

The fragility of the screens in all e-readers is an issue. But they don't just crack for no reason. Usually it's because there has been pressure on the screen at some point (carrying the e-reader in a bag with other items which have knocked against it for example) but also dropping it, knocking it off the table etc can cause it to crack. The screen doesn't necessarily break at the time, as your son has just found out. It's had a wee knock at some point previously but nothing noticeable, then the tiniest shock can trigger the crack. A bit like a tiny chip in your car windscreen, nothing to worry about, but then one day, crack!

Even though it's out of warranty Amazon offer you a replacement at a reduced rate..... if you'd bought another ereader, it'd just be your tough luck.

The crack on the housing of the keyboard version of the Kindle is a different thing, it's known defect, but as it doesn't affect it's use, you don't really need to worry. Though if it does bother you, it's worth contacting Kindle support as Amazon may replace it free of charge because it's a defect in that model.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Mine froze solid after months of being dodgy following me dropping it in a car park. I thought £50 was pretty good as a replacement.

 

[lulubel]

My first one had the crack in the housing. It was tiny and you could barely see it, but it was still under warranty, so I got Amazon to replace it, which they did without any problems.

My OH's started refusing to switch on or charge recently, and (since it was out of warranty) they offered her a replacement for £40. She'd already ordered a new "touch" by the time she contacted them, but she's gone for the £40 replacement as well so we have a spare.

She found out there can be a problem with the earlier ones that connect to the official case with the little hinges that fit into holes in the side, which is the type we both had. If you hold it by putting your thumb between the back of the Kindle and the case (which she was doing), the hinges start to pull the back off the Kindle. I was surprised they offered her a discounted replacement, to be honest, because I'd say holding it like that is abuse, when it's fairly obvious it puts strain on the hinges.

 

[fossyant]

Contacted my card company - they took ages to respond then didn't want to know.

Checked again with amazon - will give me 20% off a Kindle Touch - £87 - bugger off. Not buying one of these piles of poop. If I've got to spend that again, I'll get a nexus 7.

Bye bye Amazon - not using you again ! Even the sales support understood what I was saying - 'hang on, I've got to pay another £87 for a device which is known to break - think I'll by a tablet with gorilla glass'. 'I understand' he said !

 

[fossyant]

Biggest waste of £149 I have ever made. It lasted about 18 months carefully looked after and kept in a case.

 

[palinurus]

Not happy.

My son's Kindle has busted. Looks like the screen cracked whilst he was reading it, pressed next page and it died.

It looks like there is a big problem with them checking Amazon's customer support. It's 20 months old, so out of warranty. Apparently they will replace it for about £50, which isn't too bad as this is the 3G model. Still not happy as it's been looked after.

Anyone else had a problem?

I broke my screen- I sat on mine though.

Amazon sorted me out a reconditioned one for £40, also 3G (my original keyboard version was wireless only and two years old).

 

[Davidc]

I have a kobo, so with WH Smith and Waterstones rather than Amazon. Works OK and a bit older than some of the Kindles above, but I'm not impressed with the construction and won't be surprised if it goes the same way. I don't think either type of e reader is robust enough, and the covers and cases are pricey and seem inadequate.

Next time I need an e reader I'll probably buy something Android and put the relevant app on it rather than get something dedicated, and get the advantage of it doing other things as well.

I still prefer paper but ebooks make a lot of sense while traveling or away from home.

 

[gavintc]

My wife has had the Kindle Touch 3G for over a year - loves it and no problems so far.

 

[Thomk]

I also have a cracked case on the 2 bottom corners. I think I will contact Amazon to see what can be done even though it is way out of warranty. I have always found them to be very reasonable, one of the best.