Smarthouse.com published an article recently, in which they claim that 30% of all XBoxs fail within the first year and have to be sent to repair centers. This number however has started to decline some, but is still ranked higher than either the Wii or the PS3 for hardware failures.
The reported converstations sounded vaguely familiar to Carl’s experience where people had to send their XBoxs in. The only thing is, and Carl make sure you look for this, the repair center doesn’t send you back your own XBox. In many cases, they have been sending back a refurbished one, a second hand replacement. There is the chance that this is actually illegal for M$ to do. From the sound of the article, those who attempt to contact M$ concerning the second hand replacement are given a continual run-around that ensures they never actually get anything done.
So stand strong Carl, and know that you and possibly 30% of the XBox owners all face potential screwing. While part of me takes Sony fanboyish glee over this, I also really don’t want to see that many people get robbed so be aware folks.
A) If you want criticism of Microsoft to be taken seriously, refrain from using “M$”. Really.
B) Isn’t the “30%” just a guesstimation that one Australian retailler made?
C) Even if you are a fanboy, don’t admit to it and expect to be taken seriously.
B) An anonymous Australian retailer, no less.
c) Getting a refurb as a replacement may be illegal in Australia. I very much doubt that’s the case in the US.
Ya, the replace with a refurb practice seems to be quite common here with electronics manufacturers of all kinds.
Wasn’t trying to be serious. I’m just linking to an article that someone else wrote. I am merely a messenger.
I thought it sounded similar to Carl’s situation and wanted to give him a heads up.
So, we can’t shoot the messenger?
Well. as Dave pointed out an anonymous retailer is kinda fishy. Seems to me that writing an article “exposing” something such as this is a good way to generate lots of traffic to your site (whether its factual or not).
I do think that Microsoft hasn’t been forthcoming in their discussions about Xbox 360 issues. But, then again, I think that is par for the course for console manufacturers.
Probably old news by now, but:
“Xbox 360 Repairs Will Cost Microsoft $1B”
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070705/D8Q6NLV80.html
…is there justice?
Anyway, I guess it pays to not be a first adopter (or second, or third, …probably by now I’m on to seventh or eighth).