DSLite: Nintendo makes the best system out of the cheapest crap.

Puffa469

Puffa469

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I love the Nintendo DS, specifically the DSLite. I have owned three of them.

#1 - Launch DSLite. Hinge cracked, then started shutting off after playing for more than 30 seconds. Ninty sent me a new one.

# 2 - DSLite replacement from Nintendo. Hinge cracked, about a month ago the LEFT shoulder button stopped working. Can still be used for games that don't require the Left shoulder button.

# 3 - DSLite Pokemon Edition with Dialga & Palkia on the top cover. I picked this up on sale a while ago and kept it sealed. When the left button stopped on my 2nd DSL, I opened this one up. This was about 2 weeks ago.

So this weekend I'm playing my "new" DSLite and I go to close the lid, and I hear a horrible *CRACK* noise. I open the DS back up to see wtf happened and the lid is all loose. The hinge had cracked, but not in the normal way that DS hinges crack.

This is hard to explain, but when the DS is fully closed, the hinge on the right side pops up out of the DS so it's not flush, like the position it would be in if the lid was open about 45 degrees. And as a result of this crack, the lid now flaps in the breeze with no resistance, and only stays in the fully open position, the position you never use because it's too open.

Now I have to tilt the DS up and down to look at each screen.

I was able to fix this by eventually getting the DS to close with the broken hinge flush, and then crazy gluing the hinge. It didn't work the first time, so I did it again with ALOT more glue.

Now the DS opens to kinda the correct position, but it doesn't 'feel' right when I open and close it, and this fix seems like it could break at any moment. I was leaving the DS open yesterday whenever I got up to do something and would normally close it. I try to open and close it slowly and carefully now.

I could call Nintendo about this latest issue, but I doubt they would send me the Pokemon edition as a replacement as I think they were limited and haven't been around for a while.


I love the DS, but damn if they arent made out of the cheapest, shittiest plastic on earth.

How many DS's do I need to buy until I get one that works right and does'nt crack? I'm looking at a possible purchase of my third DSl (fourth system overall).

Hell at this point I'd pay $300 for a DSLite if Nintendo would make one out of decent materials.

2 Effin weeks I've had this DS and it broke.... >(

/end rant
 
Stop frickin' throwing it down the stairs like a Slinky, and you wouldn't have that problem! :)

My original DS did start making an annoying clicking sound whenever closing it, but I sold it before it finally gave way. My DS Lite (which I've had for 2+ years) has never had an issue, and I do travel with it quite a bit.
 
My over 3 year old Lite hasn't seen this problem yet and I've been abusing it for a year now holding it on one side rapidly closing/opening it and throwing it. Maybe I just got lucky. Still looks mint :). Either way, hope Nintendo makes some decent hinges in the 3DS.
 
I like the original DS the most. The DSLite looks nicer, but the regular feels better. I'll have to try the DSi and the DSiXL. I haven't heard any quality complaints from my friends though.
 
While I have not experienced a crack my touchscreen did get fucked up only after about a year and 7 months of having my DS Lite. It's sad because I have a launch GBC, GB, Pokemon DS Lite and Launch DS. My launch DS's hinge cracked (out of normal use) and my Lite's touchscreen went shit. My GBC and GBA are like day they were bought new.
 
Kids don't treat their toys with respect anymore.


I've had my Dslite for 5+ years and it's going strong. No hinge crack, lcds in perfect order.
 
[quote name='javeryh']My hinge is cracked but it doesn't affect anything. It's the only DS I've owned (it's a Lite).[/QUOTE]

Every DS I've had has had that 'normal' hinge crack. That one seems purely cosmetic.

This crack effed the entire DS.




So I called Nintendo. They said they can fix it or replace it with another Pokemon LE DS.

So here's what they offered and what I talked them into.

First Offer: $70 repair + $10 s&h = $80 - I only paid $99 for this Pokemon bundle new.

Second Offer: $50 +$10 s&h = $60 - No thanks.

Third Offer: Free repair, free s&h

I accepted the third offer.


BTW, get this... Hinge cracks are NOT covered by the DS warranty. That's rich.


I think I may put up a poll to see what percentage of people have hinge cracks in their DS. Has to be way over 50% at least.
 
[quote name='Puffa469']Every DS I've had has had that 'normal' hinge crack. That one seems purely cosmetic.

This crack effed the entire DS.




So I called Nintendo. They said they can fix it or replace it with another Pokemon LE DS.

So here's what they offered and what I talked them into.

First Offer: $70 repair + $10 s&h = $80 - I only paid $99 for this Pokemon bundle new.

Second Offer: $50 +$10 s&h = $60 - No thanks.

Third Offer: Free repair, free s&h

I accepted the third offer.


BTW, get this... Hinge cracks are NOT covered by the DS warranty. That's rich.


I think I may put up a poll to see what percentage of people have hinge cracks in their DS. Has to be way over 50% at least.[/QUOTE]

How did you get them to accept the free repair? My hinge screwed up on my LE Pokemon DS Lite recently and it's starting to get worse and worse, and I'd LOVE to get it repaired for free.
 
[quote name='drtomoe123']How did you get them to accept the free repair? My hinge screwed up on my LE Pokemon DS Lite recently and it's starting to get worse and worse, and I'd LOVE to get it repaired for free.[/QUOTE]


Call them. The rep on the phone said that hinge cracks were very uncommon. Then he implied that my hinge 'didn't just crack itself, it must have been dropped'. I begged to differ in a firm but non aggressive way.

I explained that the repair prices were outrageous, I'd had the unit 2 weeks and it broke in a way that affects the functionality of the unit. I told him a new DS can be purchased for $99 on sale, $120 shipped on Amazon.

He put me on hold each time to speak to his 'manager'. Then came back with the next offer.

It helps to have phone skills. I do client service for a living so this kinda social engineering comes with territory.

But Nintendo is known for having friendly and fair customer service. They must not want to piss off Angry moms with kids screaming because their DS doesn't work. For those same reasons I understand that the rep assumed I dropped my DS to break it
 
Have the original DS (bought used from ebay) that I've had for nearly 5 years now. Holds up and plays just fine. It even can stand up to a 4 and 2 year old 'playing' it.
 
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