# Amazon is making a fortune off Kindle Accessories **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 10, 2012, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381 "2012-02-10T04:37:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381/21 "2012-02-10T12:03:39Z")
> [@Baboonanza](#): > > You guys need one of these: > [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ex-Pro-USB-Mains-Charger-Charge/dp/B001SGXGGA/ref=pd\_cp\_ce\_2](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ex-Pro-USB-Mains-Charger-Charge/dp/B001SGXGGA/ref=pd_cp_ce_2)(expect probably US version) > Basically a mains adapter for usb charging devices. Don’t all thank me at once! That’s exactly the kind of charger that came with my US-bought Kindle 3, except with US plug thingies of course. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381/22 "2012-02-10T12:33:51Z")
I’ve got [this case](http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Leather-Updated-Design-Keyboard/dp/B004JXVOD6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1328876586&sr=8-7) for my Kindle 3 (Well, “Kindle Keyboard” now). Hard-sided leather case, with a neat little metal latch system that attaches the Kindle to the spine of the case, with an elastic strap to hold it shut. Very handy. Costs $29.99. It looks like [this one](http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Kindle-Touch-Leather-Cover/dp/B004SD22PQ/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1328876883&sr=1-3) is the version for the Touch. A bit more expensive, but then, my Kindle cost something like $180 or $190 when I bought it. I forget. If you only need something to protect the Kindle while you travel around, then you could always go for a neoprene sleeve like [this one](http://www.amazon.com/BUILT-Kindle-Neoprene-Sleeve-Formula/dp/B005I6DIFU/ref=sr_1_1?s=fiona-hardware&ie=UTF8&qid=1328877156&sr=1-1), for about $20, or maybe even [this one](http://www.amazon.com/Compass-Sleeve-Pocket-Neoprene-Amazon/dp/B006W64TQW/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1328877134&sr=1-2) for about $4. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381/23 "2012-02-10T12:36:08Z")
As far as USB to AC chargers go, our household is swimming in the damned things. Last time I stopped counting, we had four or five of them. Only ever use two of them. My wife uses one to charge her iPhone, I use one to charge my iPod Touch. If I didn’t keep my computer on all the time anyways, I’d probably use it to charge my Kindle the one time every month or so that it needs it. You can find them pretty cheaply online if you aren’t picky about the brand. USB devices all use the same voltage to charge, IIRC, so it shouldn’t matter.\* \*Someone bullshit-check me on this if I’m wrong, before I inadvertently set my iPod on fire one night. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381/24 "2012-02-10T13:32:36Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > USB devices all use the same voltage to charge, IIRC, so it shouldn’t matter.\* > > \*Someone bullshit-check me on this if I’m wrong, before I inadvertently set my iPod on fire one night. Yes - USB is a clearly-defined standard - so as long as the chargers are properly complying with it\*, they should be fully interchangeable. \*I’d trust that they are compliant in the case of any genuine example of a known brand. If it’s a no-name thing from eBay Hong Kong… maybe… probably… ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381/25 "2012-02-10T13:38:43Z")
So why didn’t you get Grandma to make you a cover in two hours instead of buying it and bitching on the internet? Maybe she can also make you a Kindle after she is done. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381/26 "2012-02-10T13:58:05Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Even worse, the box that the Kindle Touch comes in doesn’t have room for the charger. So now you have to carry two things around when you travel. The box and the charger. You carry your kindle around in the box? ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381/27 "2012-02-10T14:13:27Z")
Meh. As others have said, branded stuff costs more. Always has, always will. A cursory glance at Amazon’s listing for “usb ac adapter” shows non-branded/brands I don’t recognize going for around $3. Belkin, which I am familiar with, has one for $20. A Kodak one is $14. Besides, damn near everything uses either a mini or micro USB any more; most people have a wall charger from some other device that will fit the Kindle if it’s really such a huge deal to let something charge during the evening while you’re futzing around. Timbuk2 shit is also always expensive. It’s typically well-made and wears like cast iron, but it’s gonna cost ya. Worthwhile for something you’re going to be toting around constantly, not so much for something you’re going to use once a month or so. As for your Grandma, I’ll tell you the same thing I always told people who trotted out that line when looking at my purses: Put her in the car and take her to the fabric store. Making something to the same standards is going to cost more and be more of a PITA than you think. I make purses and such myself, and when it came to getting a case for my Fire, I found it well worth my time and money to just spring the $11 for a zippered sleeve with an outside zippered pocket for my cables/stylus. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381/28 "2012-02-10T14:26:14Z")
Why would you even need a USB for a Kindle? It’s all wireless now, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381/29 "2012-02-10T14:28:29Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Amazon is mining gold with this Kindle Stuff. First they release the Kindle Touch **without** a power adapter. What’s up with that? Besides pure greed? $14.99 or your Kindle is totally useless after the initial charge goes down. The power adapter had always been included with previous versions of the Kindle. It’s certainly not useless; you can still charge it via USB. And yeah, when I bought my Kindle 3, it came with a power adapter—but it also cost significantly more than what they’re charging nowadays for the Kindle Touch. And I bought a perfectly good case on ebay for around 10 or 15 bucks. It’s not greed; it’s just good business sense. It’s a standard strategy: sell the basic product as cheap as possible, to appeal to price-conscious buyers who don’t want or need or can’t afford the extras, then make money on accessories for those who don’t watch their pennies as closely or who think the add-ons are worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381/30 "2012-02-10T14:29:21Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Why would you even need a USB for a Kindle? It’s all wireless now, isn’t it? To charge it. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381/31 "2012-02-10T14:34:36Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > To charge it. Why wouldn’t you just use the power adapter? Mine came with one. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381/32 "2012-02-10T14:35:30Z")
I bought a leather case for $18 from Amazon for my KTouch . The brand is Splash Safari and its really nice. I bought the adapter (Kindle branded) for $5 on sale. I have a much harder time finding a reasonably priced case for my ipod. And who keeps the box their kindle came in!? Much less carries it around in the box all the time? That’s what the cover is for. > [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Why wouldn’t you just use the power adapter? Mine came with one. Stay with us here; the newer kindles do not come with a power adapter. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381/33 "2012-02-10T14:37:25Z")
> [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > EDIT: Where do I go for some charity fucking? [http://www](http://www). fuckforforest. com _Warning: Extremely NSFW. Hippies doing what hippies do to raise money for environmental issues._ ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381/34 "2012-02-10T14:37:53Z")
I just got one that did, though… ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381/35 "2012-02-10T14:43:42Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Why would you even need a USB for a Kindle? It’s all wireless now, isn’t it? The USB cable charges it, and there are still a fair number of people out there who don’t have a wireless network set up in their home. They need a way to transfer content to the device. > [@](#): > > I just got one that did, though… What kind? I bought a Kindle Touch just last week (it is awesome) and all it came with was a USB cable. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381/36 "2012-02-10T14:50:16Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Why wouldn’t you just use the power adapter? Mine came with one. The whole point of this thread is that the new Kindle Touches don’t come with one and that it’s rather expensive to by a [Kindle branded AC adapter](http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Power-Adapter-included-Touch/dp/B005DOK8NW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1328885493&sr=1-1) separately. From [here](http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Touch-Wi-Fi-Ink-Display/dp/B005890G8Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328885355&sr=8-1): “Included in the Box: Kindle wireless e-reader, USB 2.0 cable, Quick Start Guide. Power adapter sold separately.” ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381/37 "2012-02-10T14:51:44Z")
> [@Terraplane](#): > > The USB cable charges it, and there are still a fair number of people out there who don’t have a wireless network set up in their home. They need a way to transfer content to the device. > > What kind? I bought a Kindle Touch just last week (it is awesome) and all it came with was a USB cable. Not sure…it was a gift, and I can’t really tell what it was. Though I don’t think it was a Kindle. Not everyone having wireless does make sense, you’re right. I guess I was just confused about why [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) would even sell a USB if there’s already a charger, but I shouldn’t assume that wireless is ubiquitous. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381/38 "2012-02-10T14:55:57Z")
Hmm. Both Kindle Fires I’ve had the pleasure of opening (the one I got as a gift straight from Amazon, and the one I purchased from Staples for my sister as a gift) came with USB adaptor/chargers that are plug into the wall. In order to transfer easily from my PC to my Kindle, I did purchase an extra USB - to - mini-USB cord, about $10 I believe, and I got a cover for $10 from [Overstock.com](http://Overstock.com) that hasn’t arrived yet. Doesn’t seem all that exhorbitant, but I agree if the other versions aren’t coming with chargers, that’s a bit of a pain. I think the only other accessory I’ll purchase is a set of ear buds, as the sound from the speaker is rather tinny. Okay, and I _may_ get a screen protector since the fingerprints are annoying. It’s a great little product, though. This is the first tablet / touch pad type thingy I’ve ever owned (I don’t have a smart phone yet – yes, I’m way behind the times) and I’m still delighting in the whole use-your-fingers-to-zoom-in gimmick. Plus turning pages with my finger is awesome. Finally played the infamous Angry Birds game, which doesn’t have anything on Peggle IMHO. The best part of the Kindle is impulse purchasing of books. I was watching _Memento_ for the first time, then went to read the SDMB thread about it, where someone mentioned _The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat_, and I remembered “oh yeah, I’ve always wanted to read that.” One minute and $8 later, I _was_ reading it. Nifty. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381/39 "2012-02-10T16:19:48Z")
These problems shot right past white people and skipped to albino. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381/40 "2012-02-10T16:28:46Z")
Nevermind the money they are making off Kindle accessories, just think how much they are making off Apple accessories! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-is-making-a-fortune-off-kindle-accessories/612381.md?page=3)