Posted on August 16th, 2007 | 1 Comment »
It’s been nearly two weeks since I sent my console off, without any word from Microsoft on the status of the repair. No emails telling me they’ve received my console, no updates on estimated repair dates, nothing. No updates, until today…
Today, Purolator showed up unexpectedly with a package for me. A big white box with my name on it. I knew it was my Xbox, but I was amazed to see it repaired so quickly. I promptly took the elevator back to my floor, and was ready to hook up my xbox, for the first time in months. As I opened the box, I noticied a little note inside, it read as follows:
Dear Xbox Enthusiast:
An inspection of your console has revealed that tampering or attempted tampering of the console has occurred. The warranty is voided as a result of these actions. In addition, Microsoft is unable to offer repair services for a tampered Xbox console. Therefore, the console is being returned to you as-is, not repaired. If you were charged, you charges will be refunded by check.
If you have further questions, please contact the Xbox call center. 1-800-4MY-XBOX.
Sincerely,
Xbox Repair Service
I know that i’d mention the “tampered console” on the phone with them multiple times when i’d phoned initally about the repair. I guess it’s back to square one.
Posted on August 2nd, 2007 | No Comments »
It took slightly longer than 3-5 business days to receive my package from Microsoft. My initial phone call was on July 23rd, and I got it 7-8 business days later, on August 1st. The package was simple enough; A box, some foam braces, a plastic bag, a shipping label, some tape, and directions. I packaged everything up, and sent it on it’s way today, August 2nd. Microsoft initially quoted me 10-15 business days turn around, after they receive my console. Time will tell.
Posted on July 30th, 2007 | 7 Comments »
I’ve just started what I fear to be a long journey. Like so many other Xbox 360 owners out there, my console ended up with the dreaded three red lights of death. I know Microsoft has recently updated their warranty on all of the existing Xbox 360 consoles, but I fear mine will be a special case.
I initally purchased my Xbox in February of 2006, and I’ve had no problems with it at all. The console sat through hundreds of hours of Oblivion, Gears of War, Guitar Hero II, and countless other games. That is, until one night in June 2007.
A friend of mine was over to watch some TV and have a few beers on an average summer night. After watching TV for three or four hours, we decided we should play some Guitar Hero. I guess that was my first mistake.I turned on my Xbox, and everything seemed to be working normally. I launched Guitar Hero, and everything was still working normally. Then I was greeted with a screen telling me there was a new patch available for the game. “Great” I figure. Maybe they’ve fixed something in the game, or possibly added a new feature. I unsuspectingly agree to apply the patch, and wait for my console to restart. This didn’t seem to disable my console, as it started up again, and I had launched Guitar Hero in no time.
I decided to get a little adventurous and pick Free Bird from the song list, and start playing.I managed to get about 30 seconds into the song before it completely locked up. I’ve seen my console lock up a few times in the past, so I wasn’t concerned. I waited 20-30 seconds, but nothing happened, so I hit the power button, and waited to restart the game. I never got to. The console refused to start up again, and just gave me the flashing 3 lights. I tinkered for a while, removed my harddrive, etc, but I couldn’t get it to work.
The next morning, I phoned Xbox support to ask about the problem. They ran me through the potential fixes, and then told me my xbox was at the point of no return. I’d have to replace it if I wanted to continue to use it. I was fine with that option, until I’d realized that I was 3 months out of warranty, and the fix would cost me $170 dollars. I declined their repair on the phone, and said i’d try to fix it myself. And so I did.
Since I had no warranty left, I had no problem opening the console to try and solve the problem.I had minimal success with various methods i’d found online in getting the issue fixed. In fact, no method seemed to give me more than an hour of playtime before my console died. I decided that I was done with Microsoft products, and would have no more dealings with them. That is, until…
Microsoft extended the warranty on all Xbox 360 consoles from 12 to 36 months. Now, my 3-red-light Xbox could have been returned, and I would have happily accepted a new Xbox in the mail. After all, I should have had to pay to replace a $600 piece of hardware 15 months after I bought it (my reasoning is, I still have a functional NES from 1988, so why should something built in 2006 break so quickly.)
I thought I could phone Microsoft and get my issue resolved, just maybe, since I reported the issue on my own, before trying to repair the console. It was, technically, out of warranty when I’d made those phone calls, I should have been free to open the case. This however, did not seem to be the case.
I phoned Microsoft again this past Monday, to ask about getting a replacement unit. Everything was fine until I’d mentioned that I had attempted to resolve the issue on my own. It took several conversations with several agents before they acknowledged that my console could be fixed under the new extended warranty. I was told that I would receive a courier box in the mail within 3-5 business days, and that my console should be returned to me within 15 business days.
Unfortunately, I didn’t receive notification that the shipping box had been sent out to me until 5 business days after my initial call. In any case, i’m now embarking on what could be a very long journey with Microsoft, attempting to get my console replaced. Hopefully the only news I place here about it, is good news.