[mgmueller]

I didn't want to order from the US, since costs for shipment and taxes are way too high for such low priced gadgets.
But I found a vendor in Amazon Germany.
Since I've got about 300 B&N eBooks and already have the Nook Simple Touch (not my favorite reader, but okay), it seemed to be a no-brainer.
Oh my, have I been wrong...

First of all, the box has not been sealed and the reader didn't have the plastic film most have for protection. Seems to me like a return unit. Probably again one of those "I've ordered 5 readers, test them all and keep none" constant-returners....
But okay, that's the merchant, nothing to do with B&N or Nook.

It looks and feels extremely cheap. But then again: It's $ 119 in the US. What kind of quality can you expect for such a low price?
I hate this trend! I'd rather have a reader for, let's say, $ 300 (as was common only 3 years ago) that's worth its price and a joy to hold and use, than a bargain unit, that's not even worth the low price it costs and is a constant nuisance...
But okay, I've decided for it and knew the quality of the Nook Simple Touch (which seems slightly better, but not great either).

But then my showstopper:
2 display flaws.
a.) A permanently black pixel in the lower left border. Annoying, but on its own might be still acceptable.
b.) I don't know how to best describe it: With the light on, about 3cm from the lower left border, the backlight shines through the display. This "gap" is maybe 4mm long.
Okay, this can happen with all manufacturers/brands. I've read a lot such complaints. Many have been frustrated about Paperwhite 1 on some tablets. But I've been lucky so far.

I'll give it back, of course.
And I don't know yet, whether I actually would like to have a replacement unit.
On one hand, I'd like to make use of my 300 B&N books and I really like the backlit readers. On the other hand, it's so flimsy and cheap and then I even had a defective unit...

EDIT:
By confidence I saw, that the merchant I bought from resides only 15 minutes from my home.
So I've visited their store.
We've checked 11 Nook GlowLight. 6 did have similar defects as mine, all did have gaps of ca. 4mm. 2 did have slightly smaller gaps. Only 3 had been without visible flaws. I took one of those, I simply wanted to have a backlit Nook and didn't want to go through the hassle of ordering again.
I have no idea, whether those quality issues are a typical representation. Or a bad batch. Or a clever buying scheme of that specific merchant. Still, quite bothersome...

Edit #2:
I have to give it back anyway.
There's no flaw on this exchange unit hardware-wise.
But I can't use it.
The UK reader exclusively is bound to B&N UK.
I've registered via my US account, but still I only see 36 of my roundabout 300 books.
B&N support confirms.
I don't get it.
The hardware, not even having 3G, obviously is the same globally.
Why can't you just register it to the respective accounts? Total nonsense, the way it is now.
Honestly, I won't shed too many tears, should they disappear from the market. Acting that foolish and short-sighted...