Amazon Selling Kindle Fire Refurbs For $139

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Amazon Selling Kindle Fire Refurbs For $139

Posted by timothy on Thursday March 29, 2012 @07:22AM from the can't-scan-qr-codes-without-a-camera dept.

Amazon's Kindle Fire has been out long enough to build up a hefty stock of returned units; reader DeviceGuru writes "If you're quick, you might be able to snag a refurbished unit for $139 at Amazon. The company introduced the Fire at the end of 2011 at the loss-leader price point of $199, though it's rumored to cost around $210 to build. So at $139, you'd be getting the Android-powered tablet well below cost. Step one: buy refurbed Kindle Fire. Step two: root it and enjoy!" For this price, I'd be out trying to hog a few of these, if they had GPS and at least one camera. Update: 03/29 19:37 GMT by T : Reader Eldavojohn points out that this was a short-lived opportunity, now past.

52 comments

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Sold out. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-29 07:26 · Score: 5, Funny

Useless post.
1. Re:Sold out. by JoeMerchant · 2012-03-29 07:29 · Score: 2
  
  Confirmed.
2. Re:Sold out. by SomePgmr · 2012-03-29 07:31 · Score: 2
  
  Besides which, it seems like this should've been more of a slickdeals article than a slashdot one.
  I guess I'm just getting old and hypercritical. :)
3. Re:Sold out. by jhoegl · 2012-03-29 07:36 · Score: 1
  
  How can one be hypercritical?
4. Re:Sold out. by Andy+Dodd · 2012-03-29 07:54 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  The fail is strong with this one.
  
  --
  retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
5. Re:Sold out. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-29 08:46 · Score: 0
  
  By doing something that you yourself argue against while in the southern United States.
6. Re:Sold out. by treeves · 2012-03-29 10:46 · Score: 1
  
  By having an effective neutron multiplication factor greater than 1. ...Oh, sorry, that's supercritical.
  
  --
  ...the future crusty old bastards are already drinking the Kool-Aid.
7. Re:Sold out. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-29 11:12 · Score: 0
  
  Erm, that would be hypocritical.
  This is hypercritical...
  http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=define%3A+hypercritical
8. Re:Sold out. by mattack2 · 2012-03-29 12:53 · Score: 1
  
  Plausible.
9. Re:Sold out. by wanzeo · 2012-03-29 17:48 · Score: 1
  
  Careful, last I checked a rooted Kindle Fire had serious issues. Like no sound support at all.
Already gone :) by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-29 07:29 · Score: 0

As of 3:29pm.
1. Re:Already gone :) by booyoh · 2012-03-29 07:33 · Score: 1
  
  You are correct sir. Article got my hopes up for a bit :/
2. Re:Already gone :) by IANAAC · 2012-03-29 08:15 · Score: 1
  
  Always a bad idea to be relying on slashdot for deals. Slashdot isn't exactly known for timely submissions.
  This was posted elsewhere much earlier in the day.
Already gone...... by iamhassi · 2012-03-29 07:29 · Score: 1

Cheapest are $169 used right now

--
my karma will be here long after I'm gone
1. Re:Already gone...... by c0lo · 2012-03-29 08:38 · Score: 1
  
  Try aliexpress - get a brand new android 4 with 1 GB RAM/8GB SD for $145(+H&S). If you don't like droid, boot a linux distro - no need to root it first.
  
  --
  Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
2. Re:Already gone...... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-29 09:26 · Score: 0
  
  Sounds interesting except that I can't find an independent review of this tablet anywhere. Only youtube videos from distributors who are selling them. $30 shipping to the US also cuts into just how much of a bargain this actually is.
3. Re:Already gone...... by c0lo · 2012-03-29 10:19 · Score: 1
  
  Sounds interesting except that I can't find an independent review of this tablet anywhere. Only youtube videos from distributors who are selling them. $30 shipping to the US also cuts into just how much of a bargain this actually is.
  Waiting for mine this Friday, with the order being placed last Tue night (UPS with tracking code).
  In regards with how much a bargain - your choice:
  Kindle Fire - dual core, 7" screen, 512 MB, 14.6 ounces - $199+($4 US domestic)=$203.
  Zenithink - single core, 10" screen, 1GB, 22.6 ounces - $145+($40 UPS - the fastest/most expensive)=$185
  
  --
  Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
4. Re:Already gone...... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-30 01:57 · Score: 0
  
  Buy 3 with 512MB ram and 4GB SD for $75.00 - $25.00 each plus shipping.
  http://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm/543463562-10-2-flytouch-3-android-2-3-tablet-pc-GPS-1GHz-512MB-3G-WIFI-Camera-wholesalers.html
Well..what use? by cayenne8 · 2012-03-29 07:30 · Score: 0

I thought about it...but it has no 3G, 4G or the like capability...no bluetooth...only wifi.
Not sure what it would be that good for.....
I think my rooted nook color is more useful than the kindle fire if it was rooted....nook as external microSD slot..more memory...etc.
Am I missing something here?

--
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
1. Re:Well..what use? by tripleevenfall · 2012-03-29 07:35 · Score: 1, Redundant
  
  I thought about it...but it has no 3G, 4G or the like capability...no bluetooth...only wifi.
  Not sure what it would be that good for.....
  I think my rooted nook color is more useful than the kindle fire if it was rooted....nook as external microSD slot..more memory...etc.
  Am I missing something here?
  "Houston, Tranquility base here. The Kindle Fire has no 3G." *crackle*
2. Re:Well..what use? by hawguy · 2012-03-29 07:38 · Score: 1
  
  I thought about it...but it has no 3G, 4G or the like capability...no bluetooth...only wifi.
  Not sure what it would be that good for.....
  I think my rooted nook color is more useful than the kindle fire if it was rooted....nook as external microSD slot..more memory...etc.
  Am I missing something here?
  The Fire has a dual-core 1GHz CPU (versus single core 800Mhz in the Nook Color). My biggest complaint with my Nook is the slow speed in rendering some web pages. While it does work well with a bluetooth keyboard, I've never been able to get a Bluetooth headset working with my Nook but it's been a while since I've tried. Does it work better with the latest Cyanogenmod?
3. Re:Well..what use? by Kadagan+AU · 2012-03-29 07:54 · Score: 1
  
  You're comparing to the previous gen Nook.. The Nook Tablet has a dual core 1GHz CPU, and 1GB of RAM, while the Kindle Fire only has 512MB of RAM. The Nook Tablet also has a microphone, so you can use skype, and it has a Micro SDHC slot. It also costs $50 more, which may be the approximate value of those add-ons. There's pros and cons for either one of them.
  
  --
  This space for rent, inquire within.
4. Re:Well..what use? by iamhassi · 2012-03-29 08:17 · Score: 1
  
  I thought about it...but it has no 3G, 4G or the like capability...no bluetooth...only wifi.
  Not sure what it would be that good for.....
  You mean, like, nearly every other tablet available?
  
  It's not a phone that you'll be carrying around in your pocket and need to whip out at a moment's notice and look up (IMPORTANT_INFO), tablets are usually used at a) home (wifi) b) work (wifi) c) coffee shops (wifi) d) school (wifi) e) etc (wifi)
  
  Get it? Tablets are essentially laptops with more portability, they're what laptops were to desktops circa 2001
  
  Honestly I don't get the point of 3G in a tablet.... I mean, why? Where do you use a tablet that doesn't have wifi available? Only thing I could think is airports and airplanes, but even there you could share your smartphone's 3G connection over wifi, so again.... why does a tablet need 3G?
  
  --
  my karma will be here long after I'm gone
5. Re:Well..what use? by iamhassi · 2012-03-29 08:27 · Score: 1
  
  You're comparing to the previous gen Nook.. The Nook Tablet has a dual core 1GHz CPU, and 1GB of RAM, while the Kindle Fire only has 512MB of RAM. The Nook Tablet also has a microphone, so you can use skype, and it has a Micro SDHC slot. It also costs $50 more, which may be the approximate value of those add-ons. There's pros and cons for either one of them.
  The lack of additional memory is what kills the Kindle Fire for me. Apple can get away because app creators know memory is limited so they feel pressure to try and keep apps as small as possible, but most Android tablets have SDHC slots capable of 32gb so hey, why not allow a little bloat? And 8gb? What is this, 2008? My 2009 smartphone has more internal memory.
  
  The fact they're trying to sell a 8gb tablet with no memory slot for more than $100 in 2012 is insulting.
  
  But seriously if anyone buys any of these tiny tablets they better get a lot of use out of them because by 2020 we'll be looking at the Nook and Fire the same way we now look at a PalmPilot... 8mb? b&w? IRDA? wow..... how did we live..... O_O
  
  --
  my karma will be here long after I'm gone
6. Re:Well..what use? by mspohr · 2012-03-29 08:28 · Score: 1
  
  I certainly don't want to have to purchase another overpriced data subscription for my tablet when I already have a data plan for my phone that I can tether as a WiFi hotspot. Besides, I only use my tablet at home and work where I already have WiFi. I guess I could take it to the coffee shop and browse the net with the other hipsters but they have WiFi too.
  
  --
  I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
7. Re:Well..what use? by hawguy · 2012-03-29 08:54 · Score: 1
  
  You're comparing to the previous gen Nook.. The Nook Tablet has a dual core 1GHz CPU, and 1GB of RAM, while the Kindle Fire only has 512MB of RAM. The Nook Tablet also has a microphone, so you can use skype, and it has a Micro SDHC slot. It also costs $50 more, which may be the approximate value of those add-ons. There's pros and cons for either one of them.
  No, I'm comparing to the $169 Nook Color, not the $249 Nook Tablet, just like the original poster. He clearly said Nook Color. As did I.
8. Re:Well..what use? by cpu6502 · 2012-03-29 08:58 · Score: 1
  
  >>>Am I missing something here?
  Yes. The Kindle is designed to consume entertainment. Originally it was black-and-white books (since 2007). The fire expands it to movies and TV shows. It is not and never was intended to be a general purpose handheld computer.
  If you really want 3G, you can get it in the kindle, but only the black-and-white versions. Eventually they'll probably release a Kindle Fire 3G but not yet. It's still a young product.
  
  --
  My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
9. Re:Well..what use? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-29 09:01 · Score: 0
  
  Am I missing something here?
  Well, do you?
10. Re:Well..what use? by lister+king+of+smeg · 2012-03-29 09:03 · Score: 1
  
  Well I use one to play baldurs gate using the gemrb Android (open source port of the infinity engine), read rss feeds and watch netflix.
  
  --
  ---Saying gnome 3 is better than windows 8 not so much a compliment as it is damning with light praise.
11. Re:Well..what use? by luther349 · 2012-03-29 12:49 · Score: 1
  
  yea i know all the 3g tablets are locked into a provider i will never use. im really getting sick of that.
12. Re:Well..what use? by Vintowin · 2012-03-30 00:25 · Score: 1
  
  I bought one of these as I read tons of books on my Kindle. I bought it for the ability to surf web so I didn't have to lug my laptop around. It's got apps so my daughter is happy with it. I can stream movies from Amazon on it. I use it daily and as an entertainment device, it is outstanding. Web pages are slow to load, but other than that, it is doing exactly what I bought it for. Battery life could be better, but such is life... I have no need to root it, as I bought it for what it can do, not what it could do.. Seeing as most of the users who buy this use it similar to myself, I'd say it was a great buy!
Nook Color by SJHillman · 2012-03-29 07:39 · Score: 1

The Nook Color sells refurbed for $135 and sites like Overstock frequently have even deeper discounts on them. I own a NC, as does my father and girlfriend. From what I've used of the Fire, the NC is much more user-friendly with the stock interface and is very easy to dual-boot off a microSD card (rooting not required). The only reason I can think to get a Fire over a Kindle is if A) you don't want to dual boot or root it AND B) Amazon has books you want that B&N doesn't.
Personally, I just boot to Cyanogenmod off microSD and read both Nook and Kindle books off their regular Android Market apps.
1. Re:Nook Color by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-29 07:52 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  ... as does my father and girlfriend.
  You father is your girlfriend???? That's really sick, dude.
Returned two so far (new ones). by Kenja · 2012-03-29 07:50 · Score: 4, Interesting

Took three tries before they got me a new Fire that worked correctly, so I'm surprised there is not a higher volume of refurbished units for sale. For the price I cant complain as they shipped me replacement units for free with little or no questions asked.

--

"Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
1. Re:Returned two so far (new ones). by need4mospd · 2012-03-29 08:05 · Score: 1
  
  Even their refurbs are getting sent back. I just set up to send in my refurb yesterday. (paid $169 last week!)
  However, it looks like they're sending me a brand new one to replace it. Instead of being shipped from Warehouse like the refurb, it's showing shipped from Amazon.
  Not sure how I could tell once I got it though...
In other timely news by XxtraLarGe · 2012-03-29 07:50 · Score: 1

HP Touchpads for $99!

--
Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
Ebook reading. by Dyinobal · 2012-03-29 07:57 · Score: 2

I'm a big reader myself and I managed to snag a used Nook Simple Touch for 60 bucks on Ebay which I think is a pretty good deal, given the fact it looks like new. I can't read books on LCDs really, they give me eye strain after about three or four hours of reading.
Beware if you're outside the USA by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-29 08:07 · Score: 0

You're lucky. I got mine as a Christmas present. After a month it showed a issue with the back light. And since I am living in Mexico, it's not worth to return it, even with Amazon paying for the shipping to the USA, see also: Kindle Fire outside the USA: fun while it lasts
Rather early.. by nurb432 · 2012-03-29 08:12 · Score: 1

Seems rather early to have enough returned stock to do this. High rate of return/DoA devices perhaps?

--
---- Booth was a patriot ----
1. Re:Rather early.. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-29 09:17 · Score: 0
  
  My wife's battery refused to recharge after about a week. The replacement has had no problems.
2. Re:Rather early.. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-29 10:56 · Score: 1
  
  Your wife has a battery?
  Or is that the air compressor you use to blow her up?
so by ILongForDarkness · 2012-03-29 08:13 · Score: 1

op: Since it has neither a GPS nor a camera you won't be buying one then right?
Seriously this is like saying a used car is cheaper than a new one. Wow what a concept. Then saying: if this used car had a 500 horsepower engine and gull wings it would be a great deal at this price.
Solid Troll by cod3r_ · 2012-03-29 08:25 · Score: 0

Well done sir.. I bit.
Fire sale? by seven+of+five · 2012-03-29 08:26 · Score: 3, Funny

Nuff said.
Just wait by goombah99 · 2012-03-29 08:50 · Score: 2

No problem, I'm just going to wait for the refurbed refurb returns and buy those for even cheaper.

--
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
Were you lucky enough to miss the sale? by John+Jamieson · 2012-03-29 09:04 · Score: 1

I am betting that at $139 this will very soon be considered overpriced for a locked in tab that does not have GPS or a SD card slot.
Soon we will have the new google Tablet available at 199, and a bunch of others at bargain prices to compete.
This is one "bargain" that most of us will be lucky to miss.
good deal at $200 by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-29 10:32 · Score: 0

No question the iPad is a better product without taking money into account. Dollar for dollar, the kindle blows the iPad away sky high. You can do so much with it. It has Netflix, Hulu, tons of apps, etc. It's a steal at $200. Of course, if you money is no object then the iPad is your best bet.
Better to wait for Google tablet anyway by walterbyrd · 2012-03-29 11:21 · Score: 1

Lots of problems with the Fire: limited storage, no bluetooth, slow web browser, no camera.
139 dollars? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-29 12:19 · Score: 0

Still a gigantic ripoff. Wake me when they're down around 50 bucks. 30 for a black and white...
1. Re:139 dollars? by luther349 · 2012-03-29 12:45 · Score: 1
  
  how bought one that's not locked into the worlds worst 3g provider.
Gone poof by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-29 13:38 · Score: 0

Lowest now is 178$
Shameless plug to sell refurbed hardware by Anonymous Coward · 2012-03-30 01:49 · Score: 1

This is such an obvious, shameless plug by an Amazon supporter wanting to sell off their old refurb hardware Im surprised /. is allowing it to exist. Within minutes of posting the price had already been raised to $169 + shipping and continues to climb. Why not just advertise the kindle fire on the home page. Bah.