Nintendo has responded to reports claiming that a large number of DS Lite consoles were presenting with cracks on the left hinge of the cover. The company has tried to play down the number of faulty consoles but has accepted to repair DS Lites that have a cracked hinge that is not due to misuse.
The wording of the response seems to suggest that they are willing to repair the units but wish to do so in the most subtle of ways. The official Nintendo comment reads:
In the U.S., the reported number of small cosmetic cracks in the plastic hinge of DS Lite systems represents less than 0.02 percent of the total units sold. This cosmetic issue in no way impacts the gameplay or integrity of the DS Lite. Nintendo stands behind the quality of our products and encourages DS Lite owners to contact our Customer Service Department if they are not happy with the functionality of their systems.
The entire Nintendo statement seems to suggest that the company is concerned that many people that have mistreated their handhelds may try to take advantage of the offer to repair cracked hinges. This issue however, is the direct result of an assembly or manufacturing flaw so our best advice to the Japanese giant is to grin and bear it. According to some MegaGames readers, Nintendo has already agreed to send out a UPS label to inspect the cracked DS Lites. The company has hinted that there may be an issue with the overtightening of the handheld's lid and it will only accept to repair, free of charge, those consoles found to have an overtightened part. According to Nintendo CS the handhelds will be returned in 2-3 weeks with a new 1 year warranty.
Please use the comments section to inform MG readers of your experiences with Nintendo customer service.
