Budget option to Kindle?

[dex08]

I got a Nook for my birthday back in January and absolutely loved it--until it got wet by accident and died on me. DH hadn't purchased the extended warranty (we never do), so I assumed I'd pay to get it repaired. WRONG! Barnes & Noble doesn't have a repair department for the Nook. Those costumers with an extended warranty get a new device; those without get a $260 paperweight.

Perhaps B & N will decide to create a repair department in the future, but they've lost my business (and anyone else I can talk out of buying a Nook).

So you stopped shopping at B&N because of something that was your own fault? You're the one that got it wet. Your DH is the one that didn't buy the warranty. So now you are mad at B&N for your own mistakes?

Since it's only been about 4 months... did your DH buy it with a CC? Some credit cards provide automatic extended warranties on items purchased with their cards. You may want to look into this. My friend's DH bought her an iPod Touch that one day stopped working and the Apple Store folks said it could not be repaired. She filed a claim with AmEx and about 4 weeks later got a check in the mail for about $450 and she bought a new one.

 

[luvmy3]

So you stopped shopping at B&N because of something that was your own fault? You're the one that got it wet. Your DH is the one that didn't buy the warranty. So now you are mad at B&N for your own mistakes?

Since it's only been about 4 months... did your DH buy it with a CC? Some credit cards provide automatic extended warranties on items purchased with their cards. You may want to look into this. My friend's DH bought her an iPod Touch that one day stopped working and the Apple Store folks said it could not be repaired. She filed a claim with AmEx and about 4 weeks later got a check in the mail for about $450 and she bought a new one.

Getting it wet wouldn't be covered by the warranty, thats why B&N offer the extra protection, its not an actual extension (although it may add more time to the original warranty) its for accidental damage caused by the customer (like getting it wet, dropping, etc). I'm guessing the pp and her dh will now always buy it instead of never

 

[dex08]

Getting it wet wouldn't be covered by the warranty, thats why B&N offer the extra protection, its not an actual extension (although it may add more time to the original warranty) its for accidental damage caused by the customer (like getting it wet, dropping, etc). I'm guessing the pp and her dh will now always buy it instead of never

I know my AmEx does cover for accidental damage like a water spill

 

[luvmy3]

I know my AmEx does cover for accidental damage like a water spill

Really, maybe I should check with my CC company. Or maybe not, I don't want to know if I have purchased all those accidental coverage warranties in the past for nothing
Thanks for the info

 

[skent10]

So you stopped shopping at B&N because of something that was your own fault? You're the one that got it wet. Your DH is the one that didn't buy the warranty. So now you are mad at B&N for your own mistakes?

I absolutely agree that it's my own fault it got wet. And I was absolutely prepaired to pay for the repair The fact that no repair is possible is what made me mad. No one should HAVE to buy an extended warranty--99.9% of those are a ripoff and waste of money. Neither were we warned that the extended warranty was they ONLY way to get a Nook repaired (and it's not a repair, it's a replacement).

Had I lied and just said that I didn't know what happened, it just stopped working, I would have gotten the replacement. But because I was honest with customer service, told them what happened and that it was my fault, I'm SOL.

 

[skent10]

I'm guessing the pp and her dh will now always buy it instead of never

Nope! 99% of warranties are a rip off and waste of money (just ask Dave Ramsey). But I will make sure there is an actual repair deparment before I buy another electronic device.

 

[dex08]

Really, maybe I should check with my CC company. Or maybe not, I don't want to know if I have purchased all those accidental coverage warranties in the past for nothing
Thanks for the info

Well ya know.. I just looked up the AmEx site and they only cover for damage for 90 days from purchase now -- which I swear used to be much longer. But they do extend the included warranty to double the amount of time.

Still a good thing though!

 

[dex08]

Had I lied and just said that I didn't know what happened, it just stopped working, I would have gotten the replacement. But because I was honest with customer service, told them what happened and that it was my fault, I'm SOL.

Actually, they would have most likely caught your lie. They have sensors in electronic devices that can detect whether they have gotten wet. The sensor turns a different color.

Honesty is always the best way to go. I'm sorry that this happened to you but I'm glad you have shared with everyone so that they know to buy the warranty and it cannot be repaired.

 

[luvmy3]

I absolutely agree that it's my own fault it got wet. And I was absolutely prepaired to pay for the repair The fact that no repair is possible is what made me mad. No one should HAVE to buy an extended warranty--99.9% of those are a ripoff and waste of money. Neither were we warned that the extended warranty was they ONLY way to get a Nook repaired (and it's not a repair, it's a replacement).

Had I lied and just said that I didn't know what happened, it just stopped working, I would have gotten the replacement. But because I was honest with customer service, told them what happened and that it was my fault, I'm SOL.

The Nook is a new product and being so the first thing I would find out is what would happen if something went wrong. I'm not sure why you feel it was B&N's responsibility to inform you and not yours as the customer to find out all you can before purchasing the product, especially since there are others like it and its fairly expensive. I also find it ironic that you feel the extended coverage is a waste of money, its like having insurance, its there just in case, its not there to "get your money's worth". If you had purchased it, you would have gotten your replacement for free, or if it could be repaied that would have been free. It definitely wouldn't have been a waste of money for you in this case.

 

[skent10]

But they are not going to be in the business of repairing so the extended warranty is your best bet.

But that's what I don't get. Electronic devices break and need to be repaired. When our Wii broke (most likely from overuse ), we sent it in and got it repaired. When the microwave broke, we got it repaired. The DVD player's been repaired, the computer's been repaired, DH's Blackberry's been repaired ... you get the point. None of those items had extended warranties, so we just paid (and for those who think we were silly, half of those items would have been beyond the extended warranty anyway, and I dare say we paid less in repairs than the cost of buying all the extended warranties would have been in the first place).

If someone is going to make an electronic device, I would expect them to be able to repair it. I would also expect to have to pay for the repair. That's the problem I have with what happened to me--I wasn't looking for a free replacement or to get out of responsibility for my error (in getting the device wet). It would never occur to me that repair service would not available at all and DH wasn't told when he ordered the Nook that the extended warranty would be the only recourse for a broken device. That's my issue.

 

[skent10]

I'm not sure why you feel it was B&N's responsibility to inform you and not yours as the customer to find out all you can before purchasing the product, especially since there are others like it and its fairly expensive.

Well, I guess it was my own fault. I had assumed that a company that makes an electronic device would also be able to repair said electronic device. I learned that lesson the hard way and will make sure before I buy something that I can actually get it fixed if it breaks.

I also find it ironic that you feel the extended coverage is a waste of money, its like having insurance, its there just in case, its not there to "get your money's worth". If you had purchased it, you would have gotten your replacement for free, or if it could be repaied that would have been free. It definitely wouldn't have been a waste of money for you in this case.

I still believe extended warranties are a waste of money. It's called "risk management"--the coverage offered by an extended warranty and the chance of a freak accident that would require its use does not justify its high cost in 99.9% of cases. I apparently stumbled on the 0.1% that would have been justified.

 

[RitaE]

Before you buy you may want to check with your local library's website to see what format(s) they offer books to be checked out electronically. Most libraries offer versions of books that can be read on a Sony eReader but not on Kindles.

There are actually numerous devices which support ADE and will work with the Overdrive system ePub/PDF files. This is the official list but there are even more because so many new eReaders are being released this year.

These devices use the Adobe Reader® Mobile 9 software development kit (SDK) for compatibility with eBook files.

* Aluratek, Inc.
* Astak
* Barnes & Noble
* BeBook (Endless Ideas)
* Bookeen
* COOL-ER
* Elonex
* Hanlin
* IREX Technologies
* Lbook
* Neolux Corporation
* Onyx
* Sony Portable Reader

 

[MrsPete]

I have a Kindle and I love it. But, I'm 47 years old and can afford it. Along with the cost of the device is the cost of the books. Kindle books are a lot less expensive than hard back and paperback, but the bestsellers, etc. do involve a cost. Amazon has several books that are free or less than $1.00, but they appear to me to be mostly romance, historical fiction, bodice ripper type books (which are great when I'm on vacation, but . . .)

If your DD really wants one, you might offer her a gift certificate to Amazon and have her figure out whether it is really worth the cost to her. I know this is a birthday gift, but if you gave her $200 and she didn't want to put out the additional $59 plus, I think you'd know whether it was really worth it to her.

When things are not a gift for our DD15, we have her "invest" 10% of the purchase price. She got new ski boots last month and paid 10% of the cost for the boots. When she is invested in an expense, we figure she has some skin in the game.

I could've written this! I love my Kindle, and I don't think there's anything similar out there. But, as Sandi said, I'm in my 40s, and I can afford it.

One word of warning: Do not buy a Kindle thinking that it'll save you money. It won't. It's wonderful in dozens of other ways -- convenience, storage of books, etc. But it'll never save you a penny.

 

[dex08]

While we are on the topic of Amazon's Kindle, here's a very interesting article from the New York Times regarding Amazon's selling of ebooks

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/technology/internet/18amazon.html?src=twt&twt=nytimestech

 

[mommycrawford]

Anyone familar with the availability of books for 5th graders for the Kindle?

My parents are taking my niece, who is an avid reader, on the DCL Baltic cruise this summer and are worried that she could read as many as 10 books while they are gone. My DN already has a Ipod Touch, so if she could load some books on the Kindle app at a reaosnable cost, that might be the solution. -- Suzanne

I so wish I had this worry!!!

 

[luvmy3]

Well, I guess it was my own fault. I had assumed that a company that makes an electronic device would also be able to repair said electronic device. I learned that lesson the hard way and will make sure before I buy something that I can actually get it fixed if it breaks.





I still believe extended warranties are a waste of money. It's called "risk management"--the coverage offered by an extended warranty and the chance of a freak accident that would require its use does not justify its high cost in 99.9% of cases. I apparently stumbled on the 0.1% that would have been justified.

It stinks and I'm sorry that you had that happen to your Nook. When I was researching my options before I purchased my reader, one of the things I thought about was replacement costs and repair costs, so that factored into my decision. I guess its just because I've had my share of devices that have had problems. I don't normally buy the extra coverage for myself, but I do when I invest a few hundred $ on an electronic device for my kids because I know accidents happen more with them, for me its deinitely worth it in the long run to get that coverage

 

[deerhart]

I have both a kindle and a sony ereader in my house. Love them both.

I disagree that it doesn't save me money because it does. I would buy the books anyways at a higher price and would have to buy more bookshelves to store them.

As for the books you will find free on the kindle, the vast majority of them are classics from Jane Austin, Arthur Conan Doyle, Tolstoy, Bronte etc..

 

[Sandi]

I disagree that it doesn't save me money because it does. I would buy the books anyways at a higher price and would have to buy more bookshelves to store them.

For me, the opposite happened. I live 3 blocks away from an excellent public library and a 20 minute walk from a Big 10 university library. I got over my book buying habit several years ago and relied nearly exclusively on libraries. Now that I have my Kindle, I'm back to buying books. I still love my libraries and don't believe Kindle will take their place, but I sure am not saving money.

 

[Dannielle_1]

For me, the opposite happened. I live 3 blocks away from an excellent public library and a 20 minute walk from a Big 10 university library. I got over my book buying habit several years ago and relied nearly exclusively on libraries. Now that I have my Kindle, I'm back to buying books. I still love my libraries and don't believe Kindle will take their place, but I sure am not saving money.

Like you, I was book buyer for a long time, then DS was born and I "found" the local library and had been very content saving that money I would normally spend on books. Then DH bought me the Kindle for our Anniversary. I have bought quite a few books so far, but the killer...

I had taken a book out of the library a few weeks ago. (I had forgotten my Kindle at home and needed something while DS was in one of his classes, they didn't have the book I was reading on the kindle.) I got the first few chapters read, then I broke down and downloaded it for the kindle. Yep, paid $7.00 for a book I already had home from the library.

I still love the library and its resources, but reading a novel, I can't imagine reading too many more in book format.

 

[Minnie]

I could've written this! I love my Kindle, and I don't think there's anything similar out there. But, as Sandi said, I'm in my 40s, and I can afford it.

One word of warning: Do not buy a Kindle thinking that it'll save you money. It won't. It's wonderful in dozens of other ways -- convenience, storage of books, etc. But it'll never save you a penny.

Me too..... only I'm in my 30s

Love my Kindle2 And yes I agree I spend more now that I have a Kindle.... So easy to buy the next book in the series the minute I'm done with the last rather than waiting until I can get to a book store...

OP - One other thought.... E-readers are fragile compared to even computers. Buy a quality cover and treat it like well glass....