Amazon Amazon.com, Kindle Flimsy, ill made Kindle broke in a week - Amazon offered to replace...FOR $65.00! Internet, Internet

There is no ripoff here. Electronic devices portable or not, are not made to be dropped from any distance. They are delicate pieces of equipment-that's why carrying cases are made to protect them. If you dropped a drinking glass from 12" and it broke, would it be the glass makers fault? Amazon made the right call here. They cannot be responsible for consumer damage, even accidental damage.

I don't see the ripoff, either, and whether you could really afford it is irrelevant. If anything, I think Amazon went out of it's way to appease you even though you were responsible for breaking the device. Portable does not equal unbreakable. There really isn't a huge markup on electronics so I am betting they are selling you a new one at their cost. Why not do it right this time and invest the extra savings in a protective cover? Kudos to Amazon. And, no, I don't work for them.

Likening the Kindle device to a glass is a ridiculous analogy. the point is that this device obviously will not then hold up to being jostled while being carried say, in a purse or computer bag for example. My husband's NOOK has passed the test of being carried with him everywhere including on the console in his truck, knocked off the desk by our cat, etc. I ve been accused if being a 'tech junkie' possessing all types of portable electronics including cell phones, laptop, printers etc. I ve never seen anyting like this except for my son s android phone which he dropped in the drive way! Btw, that was from about 3 feet to stone so completely expected. Thankfully, Amazon has now agreed to replace the unit as they also agree the screen should not have broken from such a short fall. I will be purchasing the protection plan, obtaining a case for the unit, but it will not leave the drawer of my night table unless I am reading and I certainly will not carry it with me anywhere...kind of defeats the purpose of a portable device but so be it.

I'm not taking any sides here but it has been my experience that it makes a great deal of difference how a device lands and, of course, what it falls on.

My daughter-in-law and I both have IPod Touch devices.  I have dropped mine and knocked it off tables quite a few times and surprisingly it's still fine.  She, on the other hand dropped hers in the first couple of weeks she had it.  It dropped about a foot or two but landed on it's corner on a hardwood floor.  It cracked the screen.  It is not guaranteed for that and she just uses it with a cracked screen. She did not have a protective cover and neither do I.  I think I'm on borrowed time and intend to get one.

I doubt if the Kindle is any more fragile than any device with a glass screen.  The advice to get a protective case or cover is good. 

First, I am happy that Amazon decided to make this right and send a new Kindle.  Customer service called me yesterday and advised the information I received about the $65.00 charge was incorrect and that the damage was covered under the product warranty.

Second - I am not stupid nor am I unreasonable! I surely KNOW portable does not  = unbreakable. (...see the comment about my son's cell phone...) However, since the Kindle is marketed  as a portable device with a 'take it with you anywhere' type of sales pitch, the product should at least meet a minimum standard of durability - which it did not, and Amazon agreed.  I take care of my electronics.What either of you who think this was unreasonable understands is just how mild a fall it was. It could have been less than 12 inches and certainly the force was very small. For all I knew, the screen could have been defective. (it actually did land on the corner of the unit and then fell flat and I'm not sure if that was the problem as per the consumer comment below).  When I chatted with customer service, if they had been HONEST instead of  pulling a bait and switch with the fee, when I asked  about returning the broken unit, I would have been disatisfied and very disappointed, but would have saved to buy the NOOK instead (btw, more features no advertisements, touch screen and an adapter for $20 more -just saying)

Third, perhaps Amazon sacrificed some of the durability with a lighter, thinner design.  Whatever the cause, if this happened to me, it surely has happened to someonee else.  ...and yes, AFFORDABILITY DID MATTER in that my husband could have purchased a competitor's product for less money (i.e. Sony) but he chose the Amazon product based on their advertisements as offering the best features at a cost he decided he could manage - it matters if the product did not live up to reasonable expectations of the average consumer and set by Amazon's marketing.

Finally, ...getting a cover and protection plan.  It goes a long way that AMAZON MADE THIS RIGHT however, it does not change my opinion about the construction of this product and I will not be taking the unit with me anywhere on the road.

Thank you, Amazon and Happy New Year everyone.