Your experience with hairline cracks on Kindle Keyboard

Illyria · 06-30-2013, 08:31 AM

Hi everyone,

I know that hairline cracks on the casing of the Kindle Keyboard are a common issue and up until recently I have been spared from that problem. However, now both of my KK's have each developed a crack on one of the lower corners.

The first one is almost two years old and had been my only reader for a long time, taken everywhere. I have gotten so much use out of it that I suppose it's understandable if it shows the first signs of age now. If I'm not imagining it, the battery is also beginning to weaken a bit.

However, the second one has barely been used at all, never taken out of the apartment, and always been kept very safe. I bought it as a backup after the Paperwhite was released because it continues to be my absolute favorite ereader. But it too has now one of those cracks. It is still within the one year warranty period but shortly after I bought it, amazon.de stopped selling this model, so an exchange is impossible as well.

Now, I'm not really that bothered by the cracks, as there are not that noticeable but I am worried that they will get worse over time. Which is why I would be grateful if you could tell me if that has been the case, if you have a KK with hairline cracks as well.

HarryT · 06-30-2013, 08:33 AM

They won't get worse, and they are purely cosmetic. They won't affect the use of the device in any way.

Josieb1 · 06-30-2013, 10:27 AM

What you could get is a case with a frame that the Kindle slips into, like this. Then the cracks are protected, and you won't see them.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Luxury-Lea...-/330773448904

Atunah · 06-30-2013, 01:16 PM

I bought my Kindle Keyboard in August of 2010. Right when it came out. It got that crack on the right bottom bezel about 6-7 months into ownership. I watched it for a while and it didn't get longer. But it bugged me to look at it.
I didn't want to go through the trouble with exchange.

So I got a matte black wood skin from decal girl and stuck it on. I wanted something t be as close to the original color as possible as I was afraid, I wouldn't be able to stick it on straight. Then that would have bugged me.

My KK has been fine every since. Not a problem. I don't think the crack got any bigger, but I don't know for sure as I can't see it anymore.

I do know it did not extent to the edge as there is no skin on there and I can't see it.

So more than 2 years with the "crack" and no issues.

Illyria · 06-30-2013, 01:24 PM

Great, thank you! It's good to know that most likely there won't be any problem in the future.

ucfgrad93 · 06-30-2013, 08:17 PM

Got one on my Kindle Keyboard, but it doesn't affect my ability to use it at all.

just_jeepin · 06-30-2013, 09:34 PM

Amazon used to replace them, but I've heard that they won't replace them anymore. They replaced mine and my wife's both but they were under a year old.

Josieb1 · 07-01-2013, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by just_jeepin

Amazon used to replace them, but I've heard that they won't replace them anymore. They replaced mine and my wife's both but they were under a year old.

They should only have replaced them under a year old anyway, I think they were lenient then, but now not so much.

My only recommendation for anyone buying a Kindle is to take out the warranty.

HarryT · 07-01-2013, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josieb1

They should only have replaced them under a year old anyway, I think they were lenient then, but now not so much.

My only recommendation for anyone buying a Kindle is to take out the warranty.

The problem only affects the K3. I don't think that's being sold any longer, is it? It's certainly not available at Amazon UK.

jmilica · 07-01-2013, 01:36 PM

Both of my K3s also have cracks - I would have never noticed them had I not read about the problem here on the forum. One is 2010, one is 2011, and the cracks are there for a bit over half a year (that I know of). Still there, neither bigger nor smaller.
So I think you should not be worried. And maybe buy the suggested covers if that will make you feel more at ease.

hn333 · 07-02-2013, 08:22 PM

Does having a case prevent cracks? Because I have a K3 for over two years now and it has no cracks what so ever.

Blossom · 07-02-2013, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hn333

Does having a case prevent cracks? Because I have a K3 for over two years now and it has no cracks what so ever.

Same here but I keep mine in a official lighted case.

EatPrayRead · 07-03-2013, 12:18 AM

I've had my Kindle 3 since they were first released in 2010, and it developed a hairline crack in late 2011 - roughly a year after I first purchased it. I've put my Kindle through hell and back since purchasing it (always keeping it in the official lighted case); I've dropped it in airports, sat on it a couple of times, had other bags thrown carelessly on top of my bag - containing the Kindle - during lectures, and I've used it for almost half of my total reading. The crack has not grown in any way between then and now, and my Kindle is still going strong.

jmilica · 07-03-2013, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hn333

Does having a case prevent cracks? Because I have a K3 for over two years now and it has no cracks what so ever.

I don't think so. My both kindles are in official lighted case but they still developed cracks. Out of these two, one was always with me wherever I went, the other (husband's) was all the time at home, not carried around unless we traveled.
I don't think it has anything to do with how careful you are about it. At least that has been my experience. Probably, it's just that some will develop cracks, some will not.

06-30-2013, 08:31 AM	#1
Illyria Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 525196 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Germany Device: KK, K5, K7, KPW3	Your experience with hairline cracks on Kindle Keyboard Hi everyone, I know that hairline cracks on the casing of the Kindle Keyboard are a common issue and up until recently I have been spared from that problem. However, now both of my KK's have each developed a crack on one of the lower corners. The first one is almost two years old and had been my only reader for a long time, taken everywhere. I have gotten so much use out of it that I suppose it's understandable if it shows the first signs of age now. If I'm not imagining it, the battery is also beginning to weaken a bit. However, the second one has barely been used at all, never taken out of the apartment, and always been kept very safe. I bought it as a backup after the Paperwhite was released because it continues to be my absolute favorite ereader. But it too has now one of those cracks. It is still within the one year warranty period but shortly after I bought it, amazon.de stopped selling this model, so an exchange is impossible as well. Now, I'm not really that bothered by the cracks, as there are not that noticeable but I am worried that they will get worse over time. Which is why I would be grateful if you could tell me if that has been the case, if you have a KK with hairline cracks as well.

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06-30-2013, 08:33 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	They won't get worse, and they are purely cosmetic. They won't affect the use of the device in any way.

06-30-2013, 10:27 AM	#3
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,013 Karma: 18018738 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kobo Forma, Libra2, Clara 2e, Kindle PW SE & Kindle 2022	What you could get is a case with a frame that the Kindle slips into, like this. Then the cracks are protected, and you won't see them. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Luxury-Lea...-/330773448904

06-30-2013, 01:16 PM	#4
Atunah Wizard Posts: 1,817 Karma: 23400001 Join Date: May 2012 Location: USA Device: K1/K3/BasicK Voyage/Oasis1/Oasis3	I bought my Kindle Keyboard in August of 2010. Right when it came out. It got that crack on the right bottom bezel about 6-7 months into ownership. I watched it for a while and it didn't get longer. But it bugged me to look at it. I didn't want to go through the trouble with exchange. So I got a matte black wood skin from decal girl and stuck it on. I wanted something t be as close to the original color as possible as I was afraid, I wouldn't be able to stick it on straight. Then that would have bugged me. My KK has been fine every since. Not a problem. I don't think the crack got any bigger, but I don't know for sure as I can't see it anymore. I do know it did not extent to the edge as there is no skin on there and I can't see it. So more than 2 years with the "crack" and no issues.

06-30-2013, 01:24 PM	#5
Illyria Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 525196 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Germany Device: KK, K5, K7, KPW3	Great, thank you! It's good to know that most likely there won't be any problem in the future.

06-30-2013, 08:17 PM	#6
ucfgrad93 Wizard Posts: 2,360 Karma: 9026681 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Colorado Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2nd Gen	Got one on my Kindle Keyboard, but it doesn't affect my ability to use it at all.

06-30-2013, 09:34 PM	#7
just_jeepin Addict Posts: 297 Karma: 1010848 Join Date: Oct 2005 Device: Kobo Libra 2	Amazon used to replace them, but I've heard that they won't replace them anymore. They replaced mine and my wife's both but they were under a year old.

07-01-2013, 01:36 PM	#10
jmilica Banned Posts: 335 Karma: 1545924 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: India Device: Kindle KB, Kindle PW	Both of my K3s also have cracks - I would have never noticed them had I not read about the problem here on the forum. One is 2010, one is 2011, and the cracks are there for a bit over half a year (that I know of). Still there, neither bigger nor smaller. So I think you should not be worried. And maybe buy the suggested covers if that will make you feel more at ease.

07-02-2013, 08:22 PM	#11
hn333 Addict Posts: 255 Karma: 316188 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: Kindle, Kindle Fire	Does having a case prevent cracks? Because I have a K3 for over two years now and it has no cracks what so ever.

07-03-2013, 12:18 AM	#13
EatPrayRead Nameless Being	I've had my Kindle 3 since they were first released in 2010, and it developed a hairline crack in late 2011 - roughly a year after I first purchased it. I've put my Kindle through hell and back since purchasing it (always keeping it in the official lighted case); I've dropped it in airports, sat on it a couple of times, had other bags thrown carelessly on top of my bag - containing the Kindle - during lectures, and I've used it for almost half of my total reading. The crack has not grown in any way between then and now, and my Kindle is still going strong.

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