Best E-readers.com

Kindle Warranty: Is It Worth the Money?

By Ben Richter, July 22, 2010

The Kindle 2 comes with a manufacturer’s 1 year warranty. The warranty covers replacement/ repair/ refund of device if the device or the battery fails within the covered period.

Amazon also offers a 2-year extended warranty for the Kindle 2. It offers more coverage than the original warranty but you have to purchase it for $65. The 2-year extended warranty is being offered to new Kindle owners and to those who have purchased the Kindle within 30 days. If you choose not to get the warranty upon purchase, you can call Customer Service to add it and be covered within a month of purchase.

The warranty covers: 

1. Accidental damage and drops (device may either be replaced for free or for $180)
2. Damage from spills
3. Device or battery failure during to normal operation of device within coverage period

4. Damage from lightning or power surges

The extended warranty provides your Kindle 2 years of comprehensive protection. You get a full replacement should your device fail during normal operation. However, you can claim for battery failure during the second year of coverage only once. The warranty requires that you ship the damaged Kindle 2 to the service center. Amazon pays for shipping both ways.

The warranty does not cover:

1. Flash flood 

2. Accidents
3. Neglect
4. Abuse
5. Fire
6. Misuse (e.g. using your Kindle to as boat) 
7. Repair/ alterations
8. Theft

Is the Kindle Warranty Worth its Price?

From our point of view – yes, but we also went through forums to see how other Kindle owners feel about it. Not surprisingly, for every actual user who says it is worth the price, there’s another who says it’s just a waste of money. Let’s hear the pros and cons from actual users. 

Why it’s worth the money:

1. It gives Kindle owners a peace of mind.

- “I figured that if I do drop it, sit on it, spill soda on it or the dog eats it, I am covered.” – NavyDad6, Mobile Read 
- “It’s worth it to me. I tend to break things.” – Hogleg, Mobile Read

 
- “Things like laptops and Kindles are much more prone to damage as they are portable… There are no parts for a Kindle so if its out of warranty you buy a new one.” – Ervserver, MobileRead

2. It offers more coverage than the original warranty.

- “The original Amazon warranty does not protect against drops, spills, adventurous two year olds, etc…., where as this one does. So if you’re clumsy, or seem to have bad luck with electronic devices, the $65 dollars is probably worth the cost.” – P. Arnaboldi, Amazon

3. It offers fast replacement of defective Kindles.

- “When I called to use the warranty, it took less than 10 minutes on the phone. I had my new kindle on THE NEXT DAY! The service rep was polite and professional. Absolutely no hassles!” – R. Edwards “Mr. Ed Tennessee”, Amazon

- If it wasn’t for the warranty, I could have been stuck with a defective screen. Amazon was very good about getting a replacement out. I received the replacement promptly and have been very happy every since. – Mark A. Visel, Amazon 

Why it’s not worth the price:

1. Warranty is too expensive.

- “It costs $65 which is about the industry standard 25% of purchase price – BUT – usually you really do get 2 extra full years of coverage PLUS the manufacturer’s warranty. So this thing is way over priced.” – Robert B. Hamilton, Amazon
- “If they included loss or theft I could see justifying it. But, when you consider that you are paying almost 26% of the cost of the device that might break, you have definitely lost money as opposed to possibly.” – K. Kimes, Amazon 

 
2. Warranty is not available to non-US customers.

- “This Contract Does Not Cover: A. Any equipment located outside the United States.” – John M. Pattenden, Amazon
 
3. Warranty is available to original purchasers only.
 
- “Called to order this warranty and was told the Kindle was not eligible because it was a gift and I was not the original purchaser.” – Oldie but Goodie, Amazon

4. The ”2-year extended warranty” phrase is misleading.

- “This is advertised as a 2 year extended warranty but it is NOT!!! It is actually a 1 year extension to the 1 year the manufacture already gives you. This is a crappy trick and I feel it is a dishonest practice!!!”  – Michael R. Swango, Amazon
-  “You are not buying a two year extended warranty but a one year extended warranty. Amazon’s warranty on the Kindle is for one year and for 65 dollars you are extending it for an additional year.” – Danny, Amazon  

There are also naysayers on the Mobile Read forum. However, most of those who think the Kindle warranty is not worth the money seem to be misinformed about the terms and conditions of the warranty.

- “You may want to check on this. If it is an “extended warranty” it generally only covers what the standard warranty will cover which is manufactures defects. So, spilling soda on it is not such a defect. – Pilotbob
- I never buy extended warranties and every consumer advocate I know of, similarly warns people they are a rip off, especially with consumer electronics. – Spec2

Closing thought

Of 139 customer user reviews on Amazon, 74 gave the Kindle 2 extended warranty 5 stars, 23 gave it a 4 stars. Only 12 gave it 3 stars, 7 gave 2 stars, and 23 gave it 1 star. The average rating is 4 stars. That speaks pretty much for itself what actual Kindle owners think of the Kindle 2 extended warranty.