hmm kindle build quality

ywen · 04-10-2011, 05:50 PM

I just bought a kindle 3 from target.. maybe i'm just super sensitive to these things so I want to get an idea from other K3 owners..

the back plastic panel, on the right side, next to the page buttons is not entirely solid feeling like the left side. Everytime I gently squeeze it(such as when advancing a page), the back surface caves in a bit and makes a tiny squeaking sound.

Not a big deal, but it's noticeable as part of the reading experience. I would like to have one that feels solid all around. .but I would feel kind of self conscious to take this back to target for just this issue alone..

Perhaps when fitted with a case, the squeak and surface movement will be mitigated...

Anyone else experience these build quality variances with the K3?

kranu · 04-10-2011, 08:18 PM

Every once and a while, my Kindle makes a small creeek if you squeeze it too hard. It does not bother me though, so I have not contacted Amazon about it.

vaughnmr · 04-10-2011, 08:18 PM

Nope.

wvcherrybomb · 04-10-2011, 10:33 PM

I just took my K3 out of it's case and gave it a good squeeze test all the way around. It is very solid. No squeeks, no soft spots, nothing but solidness.

I've tried all the page turn buttons on both sides and none of them cause any, even slight, movement of the backing.

I would absolutely return it and get another. If it bothers you now, it will bother you later. You may have just gotten a dud one where there was supposed to be a support piece there or something.

In the past, others have said they could hear things shaking around inside their Kindles. Maybe some pieces that were meant for support had come loose.

Anyway, take it back and get what you paid for.

JeremyR · 04-11-2011, 12:08 AM

The top of mine is a little loose and it squeaks if I press on it. The corners are fine, as is most of the top left, but right where it says "amazonkindle", the "zonkindle" part is loose (and a little further, over to where the p key would be)

bZkindle · 04-11-2011, 12:49 AM

the kindle 3 is not very solidly built compared to the k2, IMHO.
still, it's solid enough and if that squeaking doesn't bother you, well, then no big deal.
otherwise, call amazon. I'm sure you'll be able to return/exchange it.

silasgreenback · 04-11-2011, 01:50 AM

I took the first K3 I had back because the plastic was raised up a little on one side of the screen. If I pressed on it, the adhesive that held it in place would loosen again and make a sound like bubble gum on a shoe when it raised back up. It drove me nuts.

I got that one from Target too. They were out of stock and I got a cash refund with no problems or restocking fees.

astromark · 04-11-2011, 04:12 AM

I had this problem. It drove me nuts in bed where I could hear the creaking. (Of the Kindle!) After a while I also had something come loose inside.

I called Amazon and had a new one sent out which was much better. The first one didn't seem to be put together very well, but the second one is.

ywen · 04-11-2011, 09:24 AM

Hmm I wonder whether I can take it back to Target or call up amazon... I feel bad about opening another Kindle from Target because the packaging has that "tear open" rip line, what if it's put together even worse than the one i have now? ...

FF2 · 04-11-2011, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ywen

Hmm I wonder whether I can take it back to Target or call up amazon... I feel bad about opening another Kindle from Target because the packaging has that "tear open" rip line, what if it's put together even worse than the one i have now? ...

That really is not your problem. It is a problem with their quality control and they need to know about it - return it to Target and try another one.

ywen · 04-11-2011, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FF2

That really is not your problem. It is a problem with their quality control and they need to know about it - return it to Target and try another one.

Right.. I just wanted to get an idea of the accepted norm of build quality for the K3.. looks like some people have units that feel completely solid so it would seem the one I have is not the expected norm.

abookreader · 04-11-2011, 10:25 AM

I've never put my Kindle through a squeeze test so I had to take it out and check it - feels solid to me.

I remember there used to be some complaints about loose and loud page turn buttons.

Barty · 04-11-2011, 11:21 AM

I had one whose screen wasn't properly glued to the bevel so it squeaked when I pressed the page buttons. I returned it because I figured it would only get worse, plus it was unnerving.

I agree that the K2 felt more solidly built probably thanks to the metal back. It also cost like $100 more. Oh well, quality ain't cheap.

RainingLemur · 04-11-2011, 02:13 PM

To me, the build quality is fine. It doesn't feel like it's going to fall apart at any given page turn, and if someone tries to pick my wallet, I feel confident that I could use it as a crime deterrent (planting a corner right between the eyes, frisbee style).

jasonjkay · 04-11-2011, 02:40 PM

Never noticed any problems like that, my only problem was when I dropped it and the top right hand corner became unclipped. I just squeezed it back together and still no problems.

04-10-2011, 05:50 PM	#1
ywen Member Posts: 14 Karma: 126 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: kindle 3 3g	hmm kindle build quality I just bought a kindle 3 from target.. maybe i'm just super sensitive to these things so I want to get an idea from other K3 owners.. the back plastic panel, on the right side, next to the page buttons is not entirely solid feeling like the left side. Everytime I gently squeeze it(such as when advancing a page), the back surface caves in a bit and makes a tiny squeaking sound. Not a big deal, but it's noticeable as part of the reading experience. I would like to have one that feels solid all around. .but I would feel kind of self conscious to take this back to target for just this issue alone.. Perhaps when fitted with a case, the squeak and surface movement will be mitigated... Anyone else experience these build quality variances with the K3? Last edited by ywen; 04-10-2011 at 05:52 PM.

04-10-2011, 08:18 PM	#2
kranu I <3 my Kindle Posts: 528 Karma: 51332 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: United States Device: Kindle 3G + WiFi	Every once and a while, my Kindle makes a small creeek if you squeeze it too hard. It does not bother me though, so I have not contacted Amazon about it. Last edited by kranu; 04-10-2011 at 10:34 PM.

04-10-2011, 10:33 PM	#4
wvcherrybomb Sharp Shootin' Grandma Posts: 847 Karma: 1123940 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sunny Florida Device: Kindle 3, Kindle Fire, Literati (has been adopted by my daughter)	I just took my K3 out of it's case and gave it a good squeeze test all the way around. It is very solid. No squeeks, no soft spots, nothing but solidness. I've tried all the page turn buttons on both sides and none of them cause any, even slight, movement of the backing. I would absolutely return it and get another. If it bothers you now, it will bother you later. You may have just gotten a dud one where there was supposed to be a support piece there or something. In the past, others have said they could hear things shaking around inside their Kindles. Maybe some pieces that were meant for support had come loose. Anyway, take it back and get what you paid for. Last edited by wvcherrybomb; 04-11-2011 at 04:19 PM. Reason: Ambien

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04-10-2011, 08:18 PM	#3
vaughnmr Ebook Reader Posts: 605 Karma: 3205128 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Texas Device: Kindle 3, HTC Evo, HTC View	Nope.

04-11-2011, 12:08 AM	#5
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	The top of mine is a little loose and it squeaks if I press on it. The corners are fine, as is most of the top left, but right where it says "amazonkindle", the "zonkindle" part is loose (and a little further, over to where the p key would be)

04-11-2011, 12:49 AM	#6
bZkindle Fanatic Posts: 510 Karma: 1025024 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Canada City, Soviet Canuckistan Device: k2, k3G, kindle DXG, Sony T-1, iPad, iPhone, stone tablet	the kindle 3 is not very solidly built compared to the k2, IMHO. still, it's solid enough and if that squeaking doesn't bother you, well, then no big deal. otherwise, call amazon. I'm sure you'll be able to return/exchange it.

04-11-2011, 01:50 AM	#7
silasgreenback New Leaf Turner Posts: 260 Karma: 1026664 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hadestown Device: Kobo Glo	I took the first K3 I had back because the plastic was raised up a little on one side of the screen. If I pressed on it, the adhesive that held it in place would loosen again and make a sound like bubble gum on a shoe when it raised back up. It drove me nuts. I got that one from Target too. They were out of stock and I got a cash refund with no problems or restocking fees.

04-11-2011, 04:12 AM	#8
astromark Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle 3	I had this problem. It drove me nuts in bed where I could hear the creaking. (Of the Kindle!) After a while I also had something come loose inside. I called Amazon and had a new one sent out which was much better. The first one didn't seem to be put together very well, but the second one is.

04-11-2011, 09:24 AM	#9
ywen Member Posts: 14 Karma: 126 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: kindle 3 3g	Hmm I wonder whether I can take it back to Target or call up amazon... I feel bad about opening another Kindle from Target because the packaging has that "tear open" rip line, what if it's put together even worse than the one i have now? ...

04-11-2011, 10:25 AM	#12
abookreader Wizard Posts: 1,516 Karma: 2567610 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindles - Keyboard, Fire, 2-US, iPhone, iPAD	I've never put my Kindle through a squeeze test so I had to take it out and check it - feels solid to me. I remember there used to be some complaints about loose and loud page turn buttons.

04-11-2011, 11:21 AM	#13
Barty doofus Posts: 2,521 Karma: 13088847 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kindle Voyage	I had one whose screen wasn't properly glued to the bevel so it squeaked when I pressed the page buttons. I returned it because I figured it would only get worse, plus it was unnerving. I agree that the K2 felt more solidly built probably thanks to the metal back. It also cost like $100 more. Oh well, quality ain't cheap.

04-11-2011, 02:13 PM	#14
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	To me, the build quality is fine. It doesn't feel like it's going to fall apart at any given page turn, and if someone tries to pick my wallet, I feel confident that I could use it as a crime deterrent (planting a corner right between the eyes, frisbee style).

04-11-2011, 02:40 PM	#15
jasonjkay Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Kindle	Never noticed any problems like that, my only problem was when I dropped it and the top right hand corner became unclipped. I just squeezed it back together and still no problems.

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