Own a 3rd generation Kindle? Read this and check yours!

TheBigCheese · 15 Feb 2012 at 17:13

Hi guys

I've got a 3rd generation Kindle - the newish one with the keyboard.

I've had it since 2010 and it's a fantastic little machine.

I was using it the other day (after not using it for a while as I've got a new tablet) and noticed a crack in the casing on the right side at 45 degrees from the lower right of the screen.

I've just been checking online and this seems to be a massive and known about fault...if you have a 3rd generation Kindle and it's in it's warranty please check yours carefully for any signs of fatigue.

Now my issue is it seems mine is out of warranty as I've had it over a year (I thought all electrical products had a two year warranty in the UK now?) so I'm expecting a battle to get this swapped as it's a known fault.

Check yours...I'm going to have to contact Amazon and see what they say...any consumer legal eagles think I've got a leg to stand on?

TheBigCheese · 15 Feb 2012 at 17:18

Efour2 said:
The horror, the horror!

Thank you for your helpful and insightful reply, your contribution really enhances the forum.

As has been noted elsewhere in the forum, it's obviously the half term holiday.

TheBigCheese · 15 Feb 2012 at 17:18

Double post

TheBigCheese · 16 Feb 2012 at 16:54

Well it's all good.

I've spoken to them and they are couriering a replacement out to me tomorrow. I don't know if it will be a refurb or new (it will be the same keyboard version) so I suspect a refurb.

Brilliant Amazon again, they didn't even quibble, just put it through. Because it was out of warranty they had to do it a strange way, crediting my account with £40 and then taking that off again but it's all worked out.

Knip - I'll try and get a picture posted later of the crack.

TheBigCheese · 20 Feb 2012 at 21:15

Thought I'd update the thread as knip asked for a picture of the crack.

Here it is...apologies for the poor quality, feeling too lazy to get off my chair and get the proper camera so here's a phone shot.

There is a small crack developing in exactly the same place on the left side.

My advice to you all is to check your Kindles, any sign of the crack get them swapped as soon as you can, it doesn't cost you anything, Amazon even pay for the return and it could save you problems later. The crack grew very quickly on mine and though it wasn't causing immediate problems it could do later on.

TheBigCheese · 21 Feb 2012 at 11:07

Skull said:
I have the exact same crack - just chatted with customer service online, they said since I'm out of warranty they can send me a replacement for £40 plus delivery costs. No thanks!

Hmmm, that's not good! Before I contacted them I looked round the net for other instances of the problem - see this Google search.

Loads of others have reported the problem on dedicated Kindle forums and on Amazons own forums. You should call them back and mention it seems to be a design fault and many other people are experiencing the same thing.

One thing I should note, when I spoke to the CS guy he said he couldn't put it through without the £40 charge, so he gifted me £40 credit and then took it from that...perfect way of dealing with the problem.

Hope you get it sorted!

BloodyL said:
Just checked ma's kindle and it is there, a very subtle and tiny hairline fracture.
Ma isn't bothered about it, it doesn't appear to affect the device in any way, isn't going to be any kind of threat to the lifetime of the device so we've left it be.
Thanks for the heads up though.

No worries.

TheBigCheese · 21 Feb 2012 at 11:20

Roadkillv1 said:
as i work for a large electronics high street retailer, i can say that it is a fault with that one, and we get people bringing them back now and then with that exact issue it is only common with that particular generation. instore we just swap it for another within first year, after that not sure what amazon's stance is on it really.

Ah ha, good to know, thanks for letting us know!

simulatorman said:
Nice. Did they send a refurb?

I would have thought it would be a refurb but this looks absolutely brand new, even the power switch sticks slightly as it hasn't been worn in! :eek:

Andrew Moore said:
UK law stipulates a reasonable life span for electrical goods (ie 5-6 years) on items such as this so use that line along with CAB and watchdog.. itll get replaced.

That was my thoughts as well, when you are spending £110 (at the time) for a device just for reading you expect to last a good long time, I really don't understand the trolling in this thread.

Hope it's helped some people though!

TheBigCheese · 21 Feb 2012 at 12:05

Capn' $qu!ff said:
This is why I still prefer soft or hard back books!

I thought I preferred books as well...until I got a Kindle! It was one of those things where I had read a lot about it but never seen one until I ordered it, haven't looked back since, I vastly prefer them to books now (though I would never get rid of my book collection!).

Eriedor said:
Mine has two hairline cracks in both bottom corners, may return it, but don't want to be without kindle

You don't need to be without it, contact them, explain the problem and they will send you out a new one. Transfer all the stuff from your old Kindle onto it, register it and start reading.

They will send you a printout for the return labels (put it in the new Kindle box) and a link to a courier company and you pick a time that's convenient for the cracked version to be picked up, you have 30 days to send it back.

Superb service!