The launch of the very first color Kindle is not going so well. Amazon's Colorsoft began shipping on October 30, but shipments were paused after some customers complained about a yellow bar at the bottom of the screen and discoloration around the edges. Amazon is working on a solution and offering a replacement or refund.
That's where another problem comes into play. Leading up to the launch, Amazon ran a promotion advertising that its customers could trade in their old Kindle for a 20 percent discount on the Colorsoft. And some of those customers are now returning their new Colorsoft due to the yellow bar defect, leaving them without an e-reader at all. Amazon has not yet provided concrete information on when the solution will be ready for the Colorsoft and when shipping will resume. It's a mess.
It started with an advertisement for a temporary discount on the Colorsoft through Amazon's trade-in program. If the device qualified, you had to answer a few questions about its condition and then ship it. Once Amazon grades it, the trade-in value will appear in the form of an Amazon gift card. In addition to the trade-in credit, Amazon also offered an extra 20 percent discount on the Colorsoft.
Customers who decided to take advantage of the program sent in their older Kindles under the assumption that the Colorsoft would replace their current e-reader. Due to the unexpected display issues, this did not go according to plan. They took their complaints to Reddit and reviews on the Colorsoft product page on Amazon, which has a 2.5/5 star rating.
It's worth noting that not everyone has encountered the display issue (I didn't notice it in my Colorsoft review unit), but if you do, you'll need to contact Amazon customer service for a refund or replacement. But this is where things get sticky. If you opt for a refund and have taken advantage of the discount, you will only get back the exact amount you paid. Since the 20 percent off coupon is no longer valid, you will now have to pay full price for the Colorsoft when Amazon starts shipping it again. If you choose to wait for a replacement, it is estimated that you will have to wait three to five weeks before receiving the replacement model.
