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Original poster

Kindle rage

143 replies

geraldine62 · 30/08/2012 20:48

Got a kindle last summer to take on holiday. When I got back the screen broke (it wasn't damaged or anything, just wouldn't switch on one day). I phoned Amazon and they sent me a replacement - great.

I've been using it on and off all year and I just took it on holiday again - once again the screen went. I phoned Amazon and because it is now just out of warranty they can't replace it for me, just offer a discount on another one. The warranty is a year from the purchase of the first kindle rather than the replacement which means this kindle has lasted less than a year.

Is it reasonable to expect something like this to last more than a year? And would I be stupid to buy another one, even at a discount price, when it's pretty likely to break again?

OP posts:
iggi777 · 31/08/2012 16:02

Under the sale of goods act, would your complaint be against Amazon, or the place you bought it (eg Tesco;John Lewis)?

Original poster
geraldine62 · 31/08/2012 16:10

Cote - I had an old keyboard model.

iggi - I bought mine from Amazon so I'm not sure of the answer to that. Trading standards has a website and a good helpline here - they told me to write giving them 14 days to respond, then write again before going to small claims.

OP posts:
Arabellasmella · 31/08/2012 16:13

Old. With keyboard and 3G.

CoteDAzur · 31/08/2012 16:38

Mine is the one without the keyboard (not Touch or Fire, though) so hopeful that it won't have these issues. Seriously worried about losing my beloved Kindle now. I don't know if I'd survive Sad

Dogsmom · 31/08/2012 16:42

If you've got a smartphone you can download the Kindle app, it's free and you can transfer your books onto it.

giraffesCantGoBackToSchool · 31/08/2012 16:45

but you have had it for less than a year?? Hmm I do not know of any other products than break on mass like kindles!

Mind has crazy screen of death, need to phone them! Got it for Christmas so am within my year.

BlameItOnTheBogey · 31/08/2012 17:56

Mine were also keyboard 3G models. I got the screen of death on both after just over a year.

angelinterceptor · 31/08/2012 19:26

Mine which died is also the keyboard 3G model, had it about 18 months. Shall we all club together and fight the mighty power of Amazon?

Original poster
geraldine62 · 31/08/2012 20:20

Yes, let's all go for it and take them to small claims and see what happens.

OP posts:
honeydragon · 31/08/2012 20:34

Geraldine.... They've not got back to me yet, but for a punt of £35 to take them to court if risk it.

IslaValargeone · 31/08/2012 20:37

I'm not really au fait with Kindles, are the 'books' expensive to buy on it?

Latonia · 31/08/2012 20:43

I was contemplating buying a Kindle but there were a lot of reviews on Amazon complaining of them dying just after the one year warranty and Amazon being unhelpful, ie 20% off a new one. It put me off a bit but you can apparently buy an extended 3 year warranty which I'll go for if I do decide to get one.

With the wifi connection, do you need wifi at home? If so I'll go for one with 3g.

NormaStanleyFletcher · 31/08/2012 20:43

Mine is the 3G keyboard. It is fine. If it refuses to turn off or on or change page then charging it up always sorts it

AstronomyDomine · 31/08/2012 20:51

I've had my kindle 3 (keyboard and Wi-Fi only) for 18 months. It's been on holiday with me in the baking Egypt sun and multiple trips to Germany with work during that time. I use it EVERY day and have had to do a long reboot twice. It works fine, I love it.

CaroleService · 31/08/2012 20:52

This happened to my dh's keyboard 3G model too, a couple of months outside the warranty period. They offered only a discount on a replacement - not sure whether it came with a waranty. We spent a year using iPad and iPhone to read on, and then I cracked and bought the new cheapie one which at least has a full year's warranty. If it fails within 2 years that's it for me.

HermioneE · 31/08/2012 20:52

OMG, I knew I should buy a backup Kindle.

I'm horrified to see so many people have problems!! Part of the Kindle selling point was their reliability, they are (compared with iphones etc) comparatively such simple devices, I thought part of the point was they are less likely to die quickly. Feeling disillusioned.

Isla - ebooks have VAT charged on them (even though they're the same books as normal books) but so far major sellers like Amazon and Waterstones have mostly been pricing ebooks competitively anyway, meaning they make less profit rather than customers have to pay more. How long that will last, who knows. There are a lot of classics for free and a lot of self-published books available very cheaply. Have a compare on Amazon's website :)

NormaStanleyFletcher · 31/08/2012 21:23

Honestly - I have had mine 2 years with no problems

Carpediem2007 · 31/08/2012 22:59

DH just had his kindle replaced by amazon. It is over a year old and he refused to pay 80% to buy a new one as initially offered (he was told he could buy a new one with 20% off). He explained that under the 'sale of good act' the item should either be replaced or refunded as the good should be in good order and last more than 13 months, apparently electrical goods should reasonably last about 5 years.

He said that he was told to try and reset it first to check that this was working: you slide the switch button on his model (on mine you hold the switch button for a longer time) but this did not solve the kindle problem. He threatened to use legal advice from our insurance and amazon eventually agreed to replace it with a new one. A bit stressful but he eventually got resolution :-)

Original poster
geraldine62 · 01/09/2012 07:17

Ooh that's good to know, thanks carpediem. I've sent a similar email re sale of goods act so fingers crossed.

OP posts:
Wilding · 01/09/2012 07:29

I'm really surprised that you didn't get a new warranty for the new Kindle - how can that be right when it's a totally new item? FWIW, I'm on my 6th Kindle and have had every single one replaced free of charge (although they were a bit sniffy about it last time). I just don't think they're very sturdy although I do take care of mine. This has been going on for a couple of years and they have given me a new year's warranty every time I've had a new Kindle, thank goodness.

Trazzletoes · 01/09/2012 07:35

Btw, apparently if you constantly leave them plugged in to those Amazon cases with the light in the corner they are more likely to break. My 1st one broke this time last year within warranty. The second one went in January, more than a year after I initially got one, but they still replaced it and yes, you have to send yours back if under warranty, otherwise they charge you for the full Kindle price. Assume this is to make sure you haven't just dropped it in the sea and are trying to get a free replacement.

knitknack · 01/09/2012 07:36

Get an iPad - the kindle app is brilliant plus you can mumsnet too.

(Plus, you can read a book and interrupt yourself to google things about the book - instant research! It's really enhanced my life :) )

CoteDAzur · 01/09/2012 08:54

I have an iPad but don't really want to read from a backlit screen.

I also have the Kindle app on my phone and laptop. Still prefer to read on the Kindle.

CoteDAzur · 01/09/2012 08:58

Those of you whose Kindles have died - Were you in the habit of turning them off regularly, or just leaving them to "sleep"? Wondering if that has anything to do with it.

Original poster
geraldine62 · 01/09/2012 09:02

I was told that the warranty is only for the first kindle you buy. I don't have a case for it so that's not the issue. Good to hear that others have got replacements after the warranty period, although the terrible customer service I'm getting is making me think I might go for a refund instead and try a Kobo!

OP posts: