Of Hinge Cracks... (Now with Hori Question!)

maximumzero

Okay Safari spazzed on me just there, gimme a moment to write out this message.

Basically I was playing my DS today, when I said "What the hell, lemme see if there's a crack." Sure enough, crack on the left hinge. I really think this is a design flaw and no matter what Lite you have, regardless of age, it'll happen.

So, it doesn't bother me yet, so my only question is whether or not anyone has seen this thing expand beyond being cosmetic? I have a replacement plan on my DS so it's easy and cheap enough for me to swap it out for a new one, but I don't want to go through the hassle of ordering new screen protectors and the like...not to mention the pain of putting them on properly.

So, how exaggerating can/will this thing get?

Jast

You know at first, where all the post had was ,"Iwas,", I thought that was the entireity of your post and that Iwas was some kind of video game character or something. I googled it and I got a bunch of random results so I was like, "What the heck is this guy trying to say?!" For some reason, the post was hilarious to me though. It's like one of those things that's so random and makes no sense that's it hilarious. For example, one of my friends popping up from behind a desk and saying nuclear. I just have a weird sense of humor.

gobassgo

I have a crack on my DS hinge.
Nothing happened for a while, but now my top screen is totally busted. I'm not sure if the two are related or not, but just an observation.

Brodo Faggins

I had a hinge crack, ignored it for a couple of weeks, until one day, it straight up broke, dislodging the top screen from the unit entirely.

Replace it.

maximumzero

Brodo Faggins wrote: »

I had a hinge crack, ignored it for a couple of weeks, until one day, it straight up broke, dislodging the top screen from the unit entirely.

Replace it.

Arg. Kay.

I'll have to order me some Hori screen protectors first though, because hell if they're not going on as soon as the thing comes out the box.

Speed Racer

I have dropped my DS on hard surfaces more times than I would like, and both the screens and the hinges are A-OK.

Daedalus

maximumzero wrote: »

Okay Safari spazzed on me just there, gimme a moment to write out this message.

Basically I was playing my DS today, when I said "What the hell, lemme see if there's a crack." Sure enough, crack on the left hinge. I really think this is a design flaw and no matter what Lite you have, regardless of age, it'll happen.

No, it pretty much only happened to launch Lites. They've fixed it since then (mostly).

Pheezer

I think the deal is, with launch Lites it's pretty much going to happen. More recently it's a freak occurance, because I've had mine for months with no trouble.

Think about it, they spend a significant amount of money replacing a DS Lite. They aren't making enough profit per unit to cover the cost of a second unit plus shipping. Clearly, as they have not abandoned their product support (which is and always has been exemplary), they would have to do something about the problem to mitigate losses and remain profitable.

maximumzero

The Warlock wrote: »

maximumzero wrote: »

Okay Safari spazzed on me just there, gimme a moment to write out this message.

Basically I was playing my DS today, when I said "What the hell, lemme see if there's a crack." Sure enough, crack on the left hinge. I really think this is a design flaw and no matter what Lite you have, regardless of age, it'll happen.

No, it pretty much only happened to launch Lites. They've fixed it since then (mostly).

Well, it comes down to this. I bought a Launch DS, it developed the crack. Sent it back to Nintendo and they sent me a new one. On this second one I bought a replacement plan through my place of business, CompUSA. When Slot-2 went out on that model, I swapped it out for a third one, and now this third one has a crack as well.

So, nope, not limited to just the launch units.

Pheezer

You might be cursed though, because I've never heard of anyone having that much trouble with a Nintendo product. Or any product that isn't produced by Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet or a subsidiary of those three, actually.

KimFidler

Jast wrote: »

You know at first, where all the post had was ,"Iwas,", I thought that was the entireity of your post and that Iwas was some kind of video game character or something. I googled it and I got a bunch of random results so I was like, "What the heck is this guy trying to say?!" For some reason, the post was hilarious to me though. It's like one of those things that's so random and makes no sense that's it hilarious. For example, one of my friends popping up from behind a desk and saying nuclear. I just have a weird sense of humor.

Hands down. This is the post of the day.

Menace

Does Nintendo replace launch Lites for free still or am I too late?

I have a hinge crack on one side, and the base cracked up to the R button on the other side

And just recently the R button fell right off

mystic_knight

Mine cracked when I sent it into Nintendo to fix my R button. It wasn't a big deal until my screen started going blank. I'm waiting on a label to send it in again right now.

contraband

You can send yours to Nintendo for a fixin'? What? Mine's cracked too, it's a launch DS... Link!

gneGne

What's the procedure? You call them > tell your story > they send you a box to mail them your DS > send you back a brand spankin' new one ?

Stormwatcher

Anyone ever seen The Crack on a black DSLite? I have one since they launched the black model in the US, and it's perfect, so far.

redfenix

gneGne wrote: »

What's the procedure? You call them > tell your story > they send you a box to mail them your DS > send you back a brand spankin' new one ?

bruin

The hinge has been cracked on my Lite for like, eight months or something, and it hasn't caused any non-cosmetic problems. I definitely should have gotten it replace before the warranty was up, but whatever. I'm hopeful it wont get worse if it's been the same for so long.

ZackSchilling

redfenix wrote: »

gneGne wrote: »

What's the procedure? You call them > tell your story > they send you a box to mail them your DS > send you back a brand spankin' new one ?

You don't even need to call. There is a web form that is sufficient. Calling gives you a chance to talk to some jackass who will try to deny the crack claim even though Nintendo officially stated it will be replacing these units. They don't send you a box, but they do send pre-paid shipping labels by mail. These take a while to get for some reason.

Just for the record, I had the hinge crack for over 6 months and it never moved past the cosmetic stage. I did, however, use the crack as justification to get my scratched, insensitive touch-screen replaced.

(Then I scratched the new one, somehow, within a week when using my finger to draw a seal in Dawn of Sorrow. Motherfucker. Moral of the story, get a manicure before playing DS. It was a jagged nail that did it.)

Stormwatcher

ZackSchilling wrote: »

redfenix wrote: »

gneGne wrote: »

What's the procedure? You call them > tell your story > they send you a box to mail them your DS > send you back a brand spankin' new one ?

You don't even need to call. There is a web form that is sufficient. Calling gives you a chance to talk to some jackass who will try to deny the crack claim even though Nintendo officially stated it will be replacing these units. They don't send you a box, but they do send pre-paid shipping labels by mail. These take a while to get for some reason.

Just for the record, I had the hinge crack for over 6 months and it never moved past the cosmetic stage. I did, however, use the crack as justification to get my scratched, insensitive touch-screen replaced.

(Then I scratched the new one, somehow, within a week when using my finger to draw a seal in Dawn of Sorrow. Motherfucker. Moral of the story, get a manicure before playing DS. It was a jagged nail that did it.)

and THAT^, children, is the reason why you should ALWAYS put screen protectors on you DS.

contraband

Where is the link to the online form? I found this, but it's only a phone number.

Reaverbot

Stormwatcher wrote: »

Anyone ever seen The Crack on a black DSLite? I have one since they launched the black model in the US, and it's perfect, so far.

I got mine at that same time and there's no cracks on it either and it's already been dropped twice.

SirUltimos

FUCK!

You just encouraged me to check to see if there's a hinge crack on mine. Sure enough, there it is.

Zephyr

i don't see a crack on mine but i've only had it for about 2 months.

i'm scared

Brodo Faggins

Everyone that is still under warranty, go register at nintendo.com; if you ever do get the hinge crack, it'll be a much more painless process.

bruin

SirUltimos wrote: »

FUCK!

You just encouraged me to check to see if there's a hinge crack on mine. Sure enough, there it is.

This happens at least once every hinge crack thread.

Lukin

I have one, and I don't really care about it. If it breaks, it breaks. It'll give me an excuse to get one of those cool combo red/black DS Lites they're releasing in Canada.

SirToasty

My DS Lite is perfect. It has no very noticeable scratches even without screen protectors.

I think I'm gonna name it.

What should I name it?

SpikedFreak

Jinxed.

maximumzero

What's gonna bug me most is getting ahold of another set of the Hori screen protectors. The only place I've seen them in a brick and mortar store has been Rhino, and they're not around unfortunately.

Buying them online is a test in patience....you mean I'm going to pay $7 shipping on a $6 product that's a couple of ounces?

Right.

picc

After several months, I had a hinge crack on a near-launch white lite. It didn't bother me until the plastic covering the cracked hinge broke off. It exposed some wire in the hinge area but I lived with it. When the top screen started going white because of some bad connection, I had it replaced. It still had a couple months warranty. I called and as always their customer service was polite and efficient. The lady on the phone even corrected some quirks in my Nintendo website account. Of course she gave me the .01% defect rate line but they covered it anyway. As stated earlier in the thread, they send you a prepaid UPS label, you box it up and send it to them. I live on the east coast, and they have a new NY service branch so it got there pretty quickly. I'm still waiting on the return but they give plenty of tracking info so I'm not worried. I've been using my launch DS phat in the meantime.

Kato

I have a Blue, Fat DS. Hinge is cracked on that bad boy too...but I doubt I could get it replaced

irn

My launch ds hinge cracked a few weeks ago... it was a hairline crack until I started messing with it and eventually the plastic came off completley and exposed the whole metal hinge underneath... no noticeable difference to the screen but I took it back to BB (2 yr warranty) and got an exchange. They almost tried to get out of exchanging the DS lite because it didn't affect the screen but they eventually gave in.

maximumzero

I'm trying to avoid buying the screen filters online if possible. I found one screen protector + flexible stylus in EB that I thought was the official Nintendo one someone mentioned but more investigation led me to discover that it was actually the Pelican brand, but instead I came across the the DS Filter Plus in Target.



Has anyone used this thing? I assume it's the same screen filters that Hori sells separately, with a few extras for the body? I just wanted to confirm that they're the same things before I went out and bought a possibly inferior product.

And yes I know the ones on my current DS are reusable, but in all honesty I'm not confident enough in removing them and reapplying them to a new DS that it's gonna look right. It depressed me enough knowing that the current application on my current DS perfectly centered and straight...ain't gonna happen with my new one.

I did decide however that I won't be replacing my DS until something more drastic happens as far as it falling apart, however. But I did want to go ahead and get the protectors ahead of time in preparation.

bruin

I can't imagine they'd use different screen protectors for that package. It's an assumption I guess, but I think you'd be safe picking those up.

Bionic Monkey

The Warlock wrote: »

maximumzero wrote: »

Okay Safari spazzed on me just there, gimme a moment to write out this message.

Basically I was playing my DS today, when I said "What the hell, lemme see if there's a crack." Sure enough, crack on the left hinge. I really think this is a design flaw and no matter what Lite you have, regardless of age, it'll happen.

No, it pretty much only happened to launch Lites. They've fixed it since then (mostly).

Wrong. Hinge cracks happen to all Lites, all colors, from all regions.

maximumzero

Bionic Monkey wrote: »

The Warlock wrote: »

maximumzero wrote: »

Okay Safari spazzed on me just there, gimme a moment to write out this message.

Basically I was playing my DS today, when I said "What the hell, lemme see if there's a crack." Sure enough, crack on the left hinge. I really think this is a design flaw and no matter what Lite you have, regardless of age, it'll happen.

No, it pretty much only happened to launch Lites. They've fixed it since then (mostly).

Wrong. Hinge cracks happen to all Lites, all colors, from all regions.

This is what makes me not in a hurry to get a new DS, because that one will get the crack in time as well, and I'm gonna replace that, and so on and so on.

I love product replacement plans. Best $12.50 ever.

Bionic Monkey

So, my launch Lite had a crack in it that I replaced last August or September. Then the replacement unit they send me develops a crack too, but at that point, I can't be bothered to get it fixed. This thread reminded me the extended warranty on the replacement unit was about to expire, so I went ahead and set up a repair. Thanks PA.

Bionic Monkey

maximumzero wrote: »

Bionic Monkey wrote: »

The Warlock wrote: »

maximumzero wrote: »

Okay Safari spazzed on me just there, gimme a moment to write out this message.

Basically I was playing my DS today, when I said "What the hell, lemme see if there's a crack." Sure enough, crack on the left hinge. I really think this is a design flaw and no matter what Lite you have, regardless of age, it'll happen.

No, it pretty much only happened to launch Lites. They've fixed it since then (mostly).

Wrong. Hinge cracks happen to all Lites, all colors, from all regions.

This is what makes me not in a hurry to get a new DS, because that one will get the crack in time as well, and I'm gonna replace that, and so on and so on.

I love product replacement plans. Best $12.50 ever.

Yeah, my wife imported a Pink DS a few months before they were available over here, and it's developed a crack as well. It's under warranty, but I'm not really sure if Nintendo would honor the warranty for an imported Japanese system.

I suppose it couldn't hurt to ask though.

mystic_knight

I sent my DS off yesterday to get it fixed. I'm hoping it gets back before I go back to school.

FCD

Given the amount of DS Lite hinge problems I'm reading about here, do you think it would be prudent to just wait until Nintendo releases their backwards-compatible successor to the DS? It seems like the easier way to go, from my point of view.