Very disappointed!!

[YorkieMom]

I have wanted a Kindle for over a year. Finally last Friday I ordered one. The Graphite K3 and the extra warranty. Then I discovered this wonderful board and the discussions at Amazon. I started reading and found the keys are wearing off threads. OH NO!! I looked at all the pictures to be able to compare when mine got here. Today it finally came. I was so excited. I opened the box and there it was "clay keys." I closed the box and put it on the dining room table and it's still there. What a bubble buster. I'm trying to figure out if I should return it and get the white one or just return it and forget about it.
A question I wanted to ask is if I order a white one and return this one will the extended warranty I paid for transfer to the new one or would I have to get another warranty for the new one and be out that $49.99. I hope I'm making sense here.
Any help will be appreciated. Thank you

[unknown2cherubim]

My experience might not be the same, but I traded in my wifi only K3 for a 3G one.  They canceled my warranty and refunded me the money which I then applied to my new K3.  I'd think they'd do the same for you.  You can call them and make sure though.

[Sandpiper]

Do NOT just forget about it.  Kiindle = it's a very good thing.

[luvshihtzu]

You can cancel the warranty online.  No need to call.  I did it last year.

[leungss]

I suggest you use it for at least 1 week and then decide whether you want to keep it or not. I have the clay key version and I love it.  All of the key prints are intact on my kindle, and I use them a lot, especially the menu , home, 5-way button, they are perfectly intact, good as new.

Don't get the wrong idea that the clay-key version will wear off and the plastic version won't.  In many cases, it's quite the opposite, it all depends on your luck.

[Kindleing]

I have the same keys on my K3-wifi (graphite) and mine show no signs of wear.  Although I'm not a heavy user, I received my Kindle September 13, and have given it a moderate amount of use and have had zero problems with it.  Not everyone has the problems you read about on the forums.

Use it and see what happens - you have 30 days to decide.

Wally

[JetJammer]

I'm a very heavy user, and frequently use my nails to push the 5way, and I've had no issues with the buttons wearing off mine.  I'd at least give it a try, there's really nothing to lose with the 30 day warranty.

[Cloysterpete]

What are these clay keys people keep mentioning and how do you know if you have them?.

[Ann in Arlington]

I can't conceive of rejecting it because of what the keys look like without even using it.  As others have said. . .give it a try!  You have a full 30 days to use it and if you really decide the keys are a deal-breaker then, you can send it back.  They'll refund the full purchase price, plus the warranty, less return shipping charges of $5 - $10.

Of course, different things annoy different people to different degrees.  But I just can not see the keys ever being an issue for me.  It's obvious to me which direction is which on the controller. . .so even if the symbols wear off some -- and, you know, they haven't. -- it's no big deal.

Again, that's me. . . . but I'd say you owe it to yourself to give it a chance before going to the trouble of returning it.

You're welcome here, whatever you decide!  

[history_lover]

What are these clay keys people keep mentioning and how do you know if you have them?.

http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/topic,37393.0.html

If the lettering on your keys isn't wearing off, I wouldn't worry about it.

Equally, I don't understand why someone would refuse to even try a product on the off chance it might have a fault.

[mom2karen]

If the lettering wears off in 6 months Amazon will replace it so it doesn't matter if you have clay keys or not.  Use it and if it becomes a problem deal with it then.

[dimples]

Give it a try Don't forget that you mostly see complaints online, the people who have no problems have no real reason to post about it. For everyone who has a problem there are many more out there without any issue. Give it a shot and enjoy your kindle. Worry about all that other stuff only if you turn out to have problems

[KindleChickie]

Use it until the letters wear off and call Amazon for an exchange.  Problem solved.

[LCEvans]

When I got my K2, I read so much about fading in sunlight and I worried that I'd gotten a defective product. Then I decided that even if my screen faded, I'd keep the Kindle because I rarely read outside. As it turned out, mine was fine and I was worried over nothing. Your keys won't necessarily wear off. Give it a try and see how much fun Kindle is. If you have a problem, Amazon CS is super. Good luck.

Linda

[kisrita]

I have the graphite 3G version with the clay keys too, and no sign of wear.  You have 30 days to decide if you want it, so use it and check for signs of wear. Or, you can send it back, buy one from Target, then you have 90 days to check for wear and decide if you want to keep it.

[StaceyHH]

I honestly can't tell if I have the "clay" keys or the regular plastic. The stamp on my down arrow is a little faded, it'll probably be gone in another couple of months, but I'm sure I'll remember where "down" is. LOL!

Seriously, what the other people said, if it bothers you that much, return it and get the white, but you might think about trying it out first. You can send it back inside your return window without going through warranty service, even if you try it first.

[laurie_lu]

Don't you take the chance of getting a refurbished model if you wait to return it months later??

[Tam]

I also have the so-called clay keys - at least my keys are rather textured instead of the slightly shinier plastic of the rest of the kindle. I use my keys a LOT - going on the internet, browsing the Kindle Store, typing facebook posts - and none of the letters are fading at all.

So just having textured keys does not mean the lettering is doomed to fade - mine are fine and it looks like lots of other people have good keys too - even if they are the dreaded Clay!

[tamborine]

My keys are plastic, and the Home, Menu, Back & 5-way arrows are starting to wear off. But with my luck, I'd exchange it and get another one with the same problem! I know which key is which, so I guess I'll just live with it.

[jaylynn]

I'm having no issues with the keyboard.  I can't imagine not even trying out a much-wanted Kindle because of the possibility of something rather minor.  This might be one of those instances when knowing too much is a bad thing.  I think of all of those people with Kindles out there who don't read message boards who are happily using their Kindles unaware of these issues that in truth of fact affect very few people.  The people I know who have Kndles but who don't frequent KB or Amazon boards have all loved their Kindles, have never had problems with them, and are well, I guess, blissfully ignorant. 

[Meemo]

Much as I love KB (and clearly I spend a LOT of time here) - this is a case of TMI - you're letting Too Much Information get in the way of enjoying something you've been waiting for for over a year.  Pretend you never heard of "clay keys".  Bust out that Kindle.  Download a book.  Enjoy your K3!  

You've got 30 days - enjoy it for 25 and then decide whether you want to make a change.  I haven't read up much on this because I'm sticking with my K2, but I suspect it's like the sun-fading issue with the K2 - there was a bad batch - in this case probably a batch of the paint for marking the keys that was a bit off.  The sooner & more you use it the sooner you'll know whether yours was part of that bad batch.  It's probably just me, but I can't imagine letting something I've been waiting for for so long just languish on a table without even testing it out - it was pathetic how quickly I jumped on my K1 and my K2 after I got them.  

[Ann in Arlington]

Don't you take the chance of getting a refurbished model if you wait to return it months later??

Amazon's policy is that if it fails in the first 30 days you'll get a new one as a replacement -- though it might be marked "R" on the box since it's a replacment and won't necessarily have the plug and Quick Start leaflet in the box.

After 30 days, they may send a refurbished unit instead.  This is normally not a problem as it's been put through it's paces and repackaged as refurbished.  But, logistically, they aren't likely to even HAVE any refurbished units of the K3 for at least 2 to 3 months after release -- which was only August 26.  I think the chances of you getting a refurbished unit on a replacement request before the end of October are slim.

If it concerns you, it's perfectly reasonable to talk about it when you call for replacement and see what they say.

[fairy_dreams]

As the creator of the Clay vs Plastic keys poll, I'm sorry about all the confusion/misconceptions/disappointment!

I have "clay" keys myself, and they have not rubbed off at all. In fact, I like them better now because I think that they have better contrast (much easier to see the letters). And if you look at the poll, there is a good chance that your lettering won't rub off!

Give this K3 a try, and if the letters start disappearing, you can always return it.

[Alice Y. Yeh]

I got my graphite in the first wave and have been giving the keys a fair bit of usage (thank you, Every Word!) The letters are still completely fine, so you might have gotten a dud the first time around.

[KimberlyinMN]

I think I have the clay keys -- no sign of wear and it's been used daily since August 27.

[berfles]

Given the poll results, it's easy to see it's not just isolated to one type of key or another, it's clearly just faulty manufacturing.  Last time I checked, there were about 5 more voted for "clay" than "plastic" when it came to fading, so it comes down to your luck.

[Moosh]

EVERYTHING you buy has a chance of being faulty or defective. No offense, but I think it's a bit silly to return a product just because it might have a problem at some point in the future. No one would ever buy anything!! You'll love your Kindle, get reading!!

[fairy_dreams]

Just to assuage your fears further, here's a post on the Amazon board by SeaLevel:

I had to return my first K3 because of a sticky power button. It had the keys with the shiny finish. My replacement has the "clay" look keys that feel a little rougher. None of the lettering is rubbing off and I actually like the look and feel of the keys on my replacement better. They are easier to read since they don't reflect light in the same way as the others.

Enjoy your K3!

[Cindy416]

I received my graphite K3 on August 26, a day before the release date. I have used mine a lot, have the "clay" keys (as far as I can tell), and there's no sign whatsoever of any lettering or symbols beginning to wear off. I think you should open the box, download some books, and get started reading. As others have said, Amazon's customer service for Kindles is fantastic, and you'll be taken care of well.

Happy reading, and welcome to the Kindle Boards.

[jmiked]

I started reading and found the keys are wearing off threads. OH NO!! I looked at all the pictures to be able to compare when mine got here. Today it finally came. I was so excited. I opened the box and there it was "clay keys."

Mine has those also, with no sign of them wearing off yet. I read at least an hour every day. I think the furor is exaggerated.

Mike

[Skydog]

Hand-wringing and disappointment over a Kindle that hasn't even been used yet?

Good grief.

[Cindy416]

Hand-wringing and disappointment over a Kindle that hasn't even been used yet?

Good grief.

With all due respect to Skydog, I can understand disappointment when you wait and wait to buy something that's not inexpensive (probably wondering after hitting the "buy" button if it was a wise decision to spend a lot of money to read books electronically), only to discover that there seems to be a problem with some of the Kindles' keyboards. Given the fact that most companies don't have the awesome customer service that the Kindle branch of Amazon.com has, it would be natural to hesitate to open the box, thinking you might be stuck with the purchase if it doesn't live up to your expectations. That said, we know how great CS is, and that they will overnight a replacement if a Kindle is defective.

My advice is the same as others' to the OP (and I've already said this in an earlier post): Go ahead and use your Kindle 3. Many of us have had no problem at all with ours. Those who have, have gotten to hang onto the one that's not working exactly as expected while waiting for CS to send another one.

[BooksGalore]

I've had my kindle for an entire month with the "clay" keys.  I've read 5 entire books and 6 partial (I flip around).  I use my fingernails for the keys. 
There is no sign of wear at all on any key.  I suggest you try your kindle heavily for the trial period.  I've had my kindle freeze twice in the beginning, followed the
instructions of customer service, with no problems since then even though I read with sunlight.  So relax, enjoy your new kindle, and call CS if needed.

[BruceS]

I have had no problem with the letters wearing out on my keys, but I can think of a solution if you are worried about it.

Use your digital camera to take a picture of the keyboard that shows all the keys now.

Print a copy of the picture that you can carry around in your purse or pocket.

That way if the letters do start to wear out sometime in the future, you can look at the picture and figure out which keys you need to press anyway.

You could also crop the picture to 800x600 and use it as a screen saver as well.

[Ann in Arlington]

Folks, I'm going to lock this thread as I think all that needs to be said has been said.  The OP hasn't been back since posting her concern so I suspect she did decide to try the Kindle and has been immersed in it ever since. 

Ann
Moderator