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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:
iamnotinterestedinyourkids · 01/09/2012 09:07

Mine was falling from a great height

Wilding · 01/09/2012 10:56

I always turn mine off when not reading, don't normally let them 'sleep' unless I fall asleep whilst reading!

Out of my previous Kindles, I think three had faulty screens (suddenly developed lines & the like although the screens looked undamaged), two froze and my last one switched off and refused to switch on again. I am taking the utmost care of my current one as I'm not sure how willing Amazon would be to replace it yet again...

honeydragon · 01/09/2012 13:55

Well Amazon have got back to me after me chasing them and now offered 50% off - they can go and whistle.

iggi777 · 01/09/2012 16:57

Does that show they know they are in the wrong? I think it does!

Sallyingforth · 01/09/2012 17:05

I had one of the very first keyboard Kindles and it's still going strong.
Apart from once having to give it a hard reset it has never let me down. .
I never bother to switch it off, just fold the cover closed and let it do its thing.
I reckon I've had my money's worth out of it and will cheerfully buy another if/when it fails.

Kayano · 01/09/2012 18:02

You can turn them off?!

How?

SwedishEdith · 01/09/2012 18:19

I've never managed to work out how you turn it off eitherConfused

diddl · 01/09/2012 19:03

I´ve got the Kindle4-turn it off by holding the on/off button until the screen goes blank.

Needs to be off like that when on an aeroplane.

Original poster
geraldine62 · 01/09/2012 19:06

That's interesting Honeydragon - have you rejected their offer yet?

OP posts:
IloveJudgeJudy · 01/09/2012 19:08

My Kindle 4, bought for me for Christmas last year, had the screen of death about a month ago. I had no problems replacing it. Amazon sent me out a new one immediately. I am a bit worried that this will happen again, though, when I had complete confidence in it before. I hope it won't happen, though, as I've spent quite a lot of money on books. I really love my Kindle and use it a lot.

The other thing is, I didn't lose any content, but I'm having to download it a book at a time from my archive onto my new Kindle. Is there any quicker way of doing this, does anyone know?

Kayano · 01/09/2012 19:12

Thanks diddl

Sallyingforth · 01/09/2012 19:32

Kayano - you flip the power switch for a couple of seconds, the same way you turn it on. If you don't do that it turns itself off after several minutes.

But you know that surely?

honeydragon · 01/09/2012 19:34

Yes. No response to my rejection. So I called to find out how long it would take. Spoke to very sweet customer service lady who agreed with my points about their kindle support teams bullshit do waiting to hear what they say.

Carpediem2007 · 01/09/2012 21:24

DH had to speak to them over the phone to get his 13-14 months old kindle replaced - and he had to get a bit crossed too (I think he mention
ned using our home insurance legal cover and discussing the poor amazon service on public forum too). DH is usually very laid back so he surprised me there ! He got an email the next day saying his new kindle was on its way, so we are waiting to see if he gets it early next week :-)

MadBanners · 01/09/2012 21:56

Oh Trazzletoes, I would have happily sent it back if they were replacing it, but the fact that they were demanding i send it back, to keep the 20% discount on my new one, and were telling me this after i bought it, whilst stating it was in the terms and conditions of the warranty, which was 12 months, and my broke kindle was 18 months old and hence out of the warranty period, well that just pissed me off.

It is now a very expensive coaster since I refused to send it back and kept my 20% discount.

Should have kept on at them and got the damn thing replaced for free, wonder if it is too late!

honeydragon · 01/09/2012 21:58

Mad which model is it?

Trazzletoes · 01/09/2012 21:58

Banners fair point. I can absolutely see where you are coming from!

MadBanners · 01/09/2012 22:45

It was the kindle keyboard...

honeydragon · 02/09/2012 08:10

Sent you a pm MadBanners

angelinterceptor · 02/09/2012 09:22

Mmm this is interesting I think I might try complaining on twitter as the big companies never like that.
My keyboard kindle broke last month and I am still devastated.

honeydragon · 02/09/2012 09:54

If any of you have a mo can you nip over here please?

CoteDAzur · 02/09/2012 09:56

Keyboard models seem to be the worst culprit here.

Has anyone lost their newer model non-keyboard Kindle to an untimely death?

diddl · 02/09/2012 10:43

Does anyone else have to recharge more often that they thought that they would?

glastocat · 02/09/2012 10:52

The Sony ebooks are better. I bought my son a kindle, he is on his fourth as the first three failed. I bought myself a Sony, it's my second, the first lasted three years until I dropped it.

Sallyingforth · 02/09/2012 11:51

diddl
I recharge mine about every two weeks. It's had a lot of use.
Amazon say they last 'up to' four weeks, but I've never had any rechargeable device that lasts as long as the maker claims.