Fix your own Kindle?

[kisserofsinners]

I've just combined our pile of 3 broken Kindles for one working unit!!! W00T!

It got me thinking about making a freelance gig out of fixing these things. Biggest issues is the screens are ridiculous expensive. Cheapest i found was $40 each. This kills any profit if the resale price point is $50.

Has anyone seen a better price out there?

[capital]

I've heard Amazon is quite generous about sending out refurbished Kindles to owners of broken devices, even out of warranty. That may complicate your business plan as well, and Amazon has a goal of making Kindles ever-cheaper. If you want to get into electronics repair, high-end Apple products are probably a better place to look-- people would generally prefer to avoid spending $700 for an iPhone out-of-contract.

[Snow White]

Sad how easily the damn things break, huh?  The browser on the Kindle Fire recently died and emails load slowly...I suspect it is on it's last legs.

[strider3700]

I wouldn't be shocked to see the ad versions of the kindle free with purchase of a certain number of ebooks within the next few years.   Those things and how slick buying a book on them is, is  like having a crack dealer in your bedroom taunting you all night to book junkies. 

[kisserofsinners]

I've heard Amazon is quite generous about sending out refurbished Kindles to owners of broken devices, even out of warranty. That may complicate your business plan as well, and Amazon has a goal of making Kindles ever-cheaper. If you want to get into electronics repair, high-end Apple products are probably a better place to look-- people would generally prefer to avoid spending $700 for an iPhone out-of-contract.

I have noted the replacement thing. It's a shame i didn't realize it before i fixed this one.

As far as Apple, their certification process is a huge upfront cost and i don't know that i'm willing to deal. I *am* looking into what it would look like to be contracted with a company.

Thanks

[capital]

Sad how easily the damn things break, huh?  The browser on the Kindle Fire recently died and emails load slowly...I suspect it is on it's last legs.

That sounds more like a software problem. It's probably worth doing a factory reset (which deletes all the data and hopefully reinstalls the system software).

[offroad]

cost $100 to replace my IPHONE 4 main button, as the old one just plain failed.  worth it, as I checked with apple and my insurance (cellphone insurance) and would need to pay a $200 deductable to use the insurance. 

point is an apple device repair business is a good business.  worth the investment.

[Snow White]

Ehgee, that is a good suggestion and I will try that next. Thanks!

[chucklesmcgee]

Sad how easily the damn things break, huh?  The browser on the Kindle Fire recently died and emails load slowly...I suspect it is on it's last legs.

That sounds more like a software problem. It's probably worth doing a factory reset (which deletes all the data and hopefully reinstalls the system software).

Yeah, it's a software or firmware problem! Should be fixed with an easy reset.

[eyePod]

I've heard Amazon is quite generous about sending out refurbished Kindles to owners of broken devices, even out of warranty. That may complicate your business plan as well, and Amazon has a goal of making Kindles ever-cheaper. If you want to get into electronics repair, high-end Apple products are probably a better place to look-- people would generally prefer to avoid spending $700 for an iPhone out-of-contract.

They USED to do this.  No longer works.  My wife did that recently and they just said (paraphrasing) "You're shit out of luck."

[capital]

cost $100 to replace my IPHONE 4 main button, as the old one just plain failed.  worth it, as I checked with apple and my insurance (cellphone insurance) and would need to pay a $200 deductable to use the insurance. 

point is an apple device repair business is a good business.  worth the investment.

iPhone home button: $3
Knowing how to install it: $97

[kisserofsinners]

cost $100 to replace my IPHONE 4 main button, as the old one just plain failed.  worth it, as I checked with apple and my insurance (cellphone insurance) and would need to pay a $200 deductable to use the insurance. 

point is an apple device repair business is a good business.  worth the investment.

iPhone home button: $3
Knowing how to install it: $97

The iphone stuff is fully more interesting as a business model. Three's already a couple kids who do it in my area though, so the market is pretty saturated.