Accessories Inexpensive Kindle Covers

[GtrsRGr8]

Very Inexpensive, But Effective, Kindle Cover

Greetings.

If you have never "seen" me before, it's because heretofore I've posted only in the "E-book General/Deals, Freebies, and Bargains" forum. But, I had a bit of information that I thought that some of you might be interested in knowing about.

I bought a Kindle (the most basic one--not even Paperwhite) a couple of months ago. Up to that time I had only been using Kindle for PC. Immediately, the issue arose of how to protect the device when I wasn't using it.

Being the frugal person that I am (you may have picked up on that when I said that I bought the most basic Kindle possible. hahah), I didn't want to have to spend a lot of money on a cover. I thought that I would check the local Dollar Tree to see if, ideally, they had a cover for it and, if not, they had something that I could re-purpose. I found a cover for $1 (of course) that is almost perfect for the job.

It appears to be made of neoprene, the same stuff some of the expensive covers are made of, and is spongy. The Kindle (7" ?) fits almost perfectly. At the top, the opening tapers in slightly, helping to keep the Kindle from sliding out. It seems to be well put together. I am very pleased with it. And, it was just $1!!!

Unlike the merchandise liquidator type stores which might have items in one of their stores, but not another, Dollar Tree seems to have a consistent inventory over all of their stores. I feel sure that you can catch this same item at any other Dollar Tree.

Ya'll come see us in the "E-book General/Deals, Freebies, and Bargains" forum sometime.

[bert501]

These little covers are great-I got one for Mom's Christmas Kindle until she could decide which 'real' cover she wanted. Well, it's May and she still loves this little $1 thing!!

[Ian.M]

Unfortunately, eink kindle screens are rather fragile, and the soft covers do little to protect the kindle against uneven external pressure e.g. from other objects in a bag or being carried in a slightly too tight pocket, which can easily break the screen. Soft covers/sleeves etc. are best bought a size larger and used for storage over a proper 'book' style hard cover that does not have to be removed to use the Kindle.

[jbcohen]

I have had my paper white for a year and a half and I have done all the things wrong that you mentioned and I have yet to break the screen once. I have stuffed it into over cramed pockets during the winter. I would never use anything but my soft cover of my current paper white.

Personally I would never advise anyone to use a hard cover since the weight seems to hurt your hands.

[GtrsRGr8]

Originally Posted by Ian.M

Unfortunately, eink kindle screens are rather fragile, and the soft covers do little to protect the kindle against uneven external pressure e.g. from other objects in a bag or being carried in a slightly too tight pocket, which can easily break the screen. Soft covers/sleeves etc. are best bought a size larger and used for storage over a proper 'book' style hard cover that does not have to be removed to use the Kindle.

Originally Posted by jbcohen

I have had my paper white for a year and a half and I have done all the things wrong that you mentioned and I have yet to break the screen once. I have stuffed it into over cramed pockets during the winter. I would never use anything but my soft cover of my current paper white.

Personally I would never advise anyone to use a hard cover since the weight seems to hurt your hands.

Good food for thought from both of you. Thanks.

[Ian.M]

A K3 in an Amazon lighted cover weighs in at some 15.5 oz. Mine's probably a little heavier because I have a thin silicone skin on the K3 as well. That's about 50% heavier than a typical trade paperback and fairly close to the weight of an average hardback. I used to get joint problems from holding a hardback and finishing it in one session, but find using the K3 in its cover less stressful as I don't have physical pages to turn. Also, if you use a cover at all and read on public transport or anyplace else you need to be able to stow it away quickly, one that stays on the kindle is vastly preferable. The one thing I miss from the third party cover I used to use was the convenient pocket inside the cover supposedly for notes etc. which I usually kept my bus or train ticket in!

YMMV.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

Unlike the merchandise liquidator type stores which might have items in one of their stores, but not another, Dollar Tree seems to have a consistent inventory over all of their stores. I feel sure that you can catch this same item at any other Dollar Tree.

I was in a Dollar Tree yesterday and remembered you had written this, but I was unable to find a "Kindle sized case." Do you normally find them in the same area as the cell phone cases? -- it looked like there were some blank spots in that area, but I'm not quite sure what I was looking for. (I've got good cases, you can get the original Kindle cases and M-Edge cases cheaply on eBay or (for a while) on clearance at Staples -- but I was curious what these Dollar Tree ones looked like -- you're good at selling them.)

[GtrsRGr8]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I was in a Dollar Tree yesterday and remembered you had written this, but I was unable to find a "Kindle sized case." Do you normally find them in the same area as the cell phone cases? -- it looked like there were some blank spots in that area, but I'm not quite sure what I was looking for. (I've got good cases, you can get the original Kindle cases and M-Edge cases cheaply on eBay or (for a while) on clearance at Staples -- but I was curious what these Dollar Tree ones looked like -- you're good at selling them.)

I'm sorry to be just now replying--I quit monitoring this thread after a couple of days. I just now checked back to see if there was anything new.

Keep in mind that I could be wrong about all of the Dollar Trees having pretty much the same items.

I found this case around the electronics and electronics-related stuff in Dollar Tree. Let's see . . . there were earphones around there, some CD/DVD jewel cases, headphones . . . that's about all that I can remember right now.

I think that the only color that they had was red; at least, that was by far the most common color. They are basically rectangular, following closely the form of the Kindle. As I mentioned in my initial post the opening at the top tapers in slightly, helping to keep the Kindle from sliding out (this is a fact that makes me think that this item was made with the Kindle in mind).

I'm not very adept at the digital photography thing, but if you would like a photo and posting photos is do-able and allowed on this MR website, let me know (PM or on this thread) and I'll see what I can do.

If I were you, I would ask someone at the store about these, if you do not see them the next time.

I've been in sales so long (most of my adult life, of one kind of sales or another) and I just unconsciously slip into a sales mode when talking about things that I believe in. haha

*****I had just about finished this post when I thought to check Dollar Tree's website. The item is on there. I don't know why I didn't think of checking the website sooner. Anyway, this item is in two places on the webpage that I'm about to give you the URL for and are called "e-reader/tablet sleeve" and "protective e-reader/tablet sleeve." They're only available in black and blue, and unfortunately the minimum quantity that you can order from their website is 4. Go to http://www.dollartree.com/office-sch...3606/index.pro.

[user743]

You cant actually buy anything for a dollar, because you usually need to buy at least 4, 24, 36, or 60, depending on the product.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8

If I were you, I would ask someone at the store about these, if you do not see them the next time.

I went to a different Dollar Tree -- one beside a musical instrument store, where my daughter's violin was being fixed -- and found a couple of the blue ones there. They were in the area I thought they should have been in at the other store. In my opinion the Kindles fit into them too loosely to work as a case on their own but, when I travel, I plan to pack the Kindle (case and all) into this little pouch as extra protection. The Nook Simple Touch actually fits into the pouch about perfectly without a case, but I would prefer to keep it in its case.

I also found them on the website. They also have some bigger cases (pouches) that fit tablets there. I may get one of those for the Nook.

Thanks for bringing these to my attention.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by user743

You cant actually buy anything for a dollar, because you usually need to buy at least 4, 24, 36, or 60, depending on the product.

Not from the website anyhow. In the stores it will be a dollar, plus tax.

[GtrsRGr8]

Hello again, folks.

Meritline has a more deluxe Neoprene Soft Sleeve/Cover/Pouch/Bag/Pouch for the 7" Kindle et al. than the one that I initially posted about, on sale today only for $3.29 (using code MLCX12DN at checkout). http://www.meritline.com/7-inch-neop...q_v=2d3c32ed58.

This one addresses the concern of at least one of you, by having a flap over closure. One other nice feature is that it is reversible so you can enjoy two colors in one sleeve.

Again, remember to use code MLCX12DN at checkout; the price without the code is $4.99.