iRiver Story HD is extremely fragile

I got a iRiver Story HD ebook reader from Target store (US$109 incl. tax) three weeks ago. It was a pretty neat machine and I enjoyed reading papers on it, I even bought a softcase to protect it from scratches.

Last week, after lunch, I connected the unit to my computer for file transfer, I saw this:

Since I was reading a paper on the iRiver Story HD right before lunch, and I just left it on my table, I was shocked to see the screen looked like this. I tried resetting it, although I was quite sure this won't help, and yes, it didn't work.

So I contacted iRiver support for warranty claim. Yet, the iRiver support asked me to return the unit to Target. I doubted if Target would accept a return of a broken machine, so I followed up with the iRiver support, and after emailing like 8 times, I finally got their reply as follow:

Dear iriver customer, 

Thank you for contacting iriver customer support.   

Yes, Target should be able to provide you with an exchange unit as long as you abide by their return policy.  For further information on Target’s return policy, please contact them.  The limited 1-year manufacture warranty covers everything except for display damages due to personal usage.  Even though you may not have dropped the device, any form of light impact may have caused the internal crack of the screen.  If you would like, we can provide you with proof showing the point of impact on the display if you send in your unit to us through an RMA process.  We can tell by looking at the screen whether the screen was damaged due to personal usage or not.  In your case, looking at the picture you provided (without opening up the unit at our repair center), it has enough damage to conclude that it was due to personal usage.  

If you have any further questions or concerns, please email us back at any time.   

Thanks & Regards,  

Customer & Tech Support 

XXXXX XXX 

iriver Inc.

From this final email,

1. I believe it is impossible to abide to any store's return policy with a broken unit (Please let me know which store accept return of a broken unit);
2. iRiver admitted their iRiver Story HD is so fragile that "any form of light impact" can crack the screen. Despite I cannot think of what kind of light impact may have happened during the short period I was away for lunch (with no one else inside my room). Hmm, may be a gigantic fly landed on my machine and caused the light impact.