So, I bought a Kobo Touch in June, 2011. It worked fine, aside from the funky firmware glitches we've all suffered through.
A couple days ago, I noticed that it wouldn't charge, and realized that the microUSB port had broken free from the internal circuit board--you could plug a USB cord into it, and while it would firmly lock into the connector, it wobbled very loosely, and I couldn't establish a connection for more than a second.
I contacted Kobo's support folks, and went through the usual song and dance of providing background info.
Well, they tell me that it was beyond the one year warranty. I acknowledged that, but asked if they would at least offer a discounted repair or replacement. They said no.
Then I had this last exchange with them:
So, at this juncture, I'm feeling like it's a risky move to buy Kobo's products anymore. 15 months isn't an acceptable lifespan for a +$100, period.