360 Issues thread

[egparadigm]

My understanding was that the contract is with the retailer. If you return it in the first six months, they have to prove it is not faulty. If you return it in the latter six months, you have to prove it is faulty.

I returned my one to HMV last year, and they were so happy to do so, they didn't even want to see my receipt.

[Montario]

yep, wandered into currys today, walked out with a brand new unit, no hassles at all. Guess there is an advantage actually buying something from a normal retailer after all. They did ask me if I wanted to extend the guarantee tho, to which i replied that i'd probably be seeing them again before the years out...

[egparadigm]

Oh dear, my 360's just gone to a pixelated screen with all funny colours on it. I restarted and it was OK. What was other people's experiences with the funny picture? If I recall correctly, they generally went into melt down soon after.

Also of note: the machine bleeped just as it went to the funny screen.

Here's a pic:

[fahrenheit]

^ Not good news I'm afraid

Regarding returning the failed units for repair, always go to the retailer. As individuals we have very little sway with MS to put pressure on them to tidy up their act, but if everyone returns to the retailer with their grievences, then the retailer can say "we aren't happy with this number of returns."

Not only would we have a greater understanding of failure rate by having 3rd-parties collating the data for us, but if things are as bad as we think they are, some retailers might flatout refuse to sell the product if the onus to deal with it is transferred to them (and it is).

MS' greatest deception has been to get us to bypass the retailer and go direct to them. And it has left us blind in the process.

[PhilG]

MS' greatest deception has been to get us to bypass the retailer and go direct to them. And it has left us blind in the process.

Sadly though this is exactly what the majority of retailers want because they don't have the hassle of sorting it out. Hence why so many people in the UK are unaware of their consumer rights, and why it seems to have become the norm for retailers to ride roughshod over those rights as though they don't exist.

The guy at Play.com I spoke to today actually had the audacity to say that they were acting within the law to supersede my consumer rights with their Terms and Conditions. When the staff are fed that type of bull**** by their employer and spout it every day it's unsurprising that customers just do what they're told.

I'm ringing Play.com in the morning and asking for a replacement and shall be insisting they do so as per the Sale of Goods Act. I imagine they'll just refuse and I'll have to get Trading Standards involved if I want to pursue that avenue.

[anephric]

Be aware that Play are completely within their rights, if they're feeling arsey, to just return the console to MS themselves and give you back a refurb, as the same Sale of Goods Act says that a retailer can offer you a repair before offering a replacement. I'm pretty sure the customer can't insist on one or the other.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again boyee: I can't believe there's not a class action brewing against MS with this amount of returns going on, especially since they officially admitted manufacturing problems (in the US at least).

[PhilG]

Be aware that Play are completely within their rights, if they're feeling arsey, to just return the console to MS themselves and give you back a refurb, as the same Sale of Goods Act says that a retailer can offer you a repair before offering a replacement. I'm pretty sure the customer can't insist on one or the other.

I rang them this morning and they've agreed to the replacement. They've asked me to send everything back (including the HDD, but I've not got any downloads I'll miss anyway).
It *should* fingers crossed be a new unit as the guy I spoke to said that they couldn't just send the console because they're not allowed (internally I guess) to send out unsealed goods. The speed of turnaround should be a good indicator as to whether it's a refurb as well.

[anephric]

Good stuff.

[egparadigm]

I am led to believe that my console has a terminal case, after the light display I was treated to on Saturday. If this is the case, what course of action should I take?

I could try returning it to HMV. I bought my console in January 06 and returned it as faulty in July, after receiving the 3 red lights. I have a receipt to that effect. Where does my warranty begin - January or July? If it is January, does anyone have any experience of getting an out-of-warranty replacement from HMV?

I might be able to blag a repair from microsoft, as I have a second serial number. Is this preferable to using an internet repair service, which offers increased cooling, etc. Or, are refurb units a ticking time bomb, so to speak?

[Keith]

If you have a receipt for July (which you should have if it was a replacement) then your warranty will be until July as well. Just take it to HMV I reckon.

[egparadigm]

To clarify: I have a receipt which states a return and replacement in July 06 - thereby implying that the purchase was at an earlier date, if that makes any difference.

[Keith]

Shouldn't make any difference at all as far as I'm aware - it was replaced, because it was faulty, with a new console. Your new console can't have a shorter warranty just because of that! It might be worth phoning ahead, but I can't see how they can refuse you myself.

[fahrenheit]

Is this preferable to using an internet repair service, which offers increased cooling, etc. Or, are refurb units a ticking time bomb, so to speak?

If I was to ever land up with a refurb, I'd sell it and use the proceeds to buy a new one.

Refurbs are more likely to re-fail simply because the solder is weaker than on a new unit. The reflow process brings with it alot of impurities (like oxygen) and so the solder joints don't have the integrity of a factory new unit. If its so easy for a new unit to fail, then what chance does a refurb have really?

I think the combination of refurbs, plus subjecting the console to the same conditions that lead to the initial failure is why we see so many people on the multiple failure train.

[Fastware]

I think the combination of refurbs, plus subjecting the console to the same conditions that lead to the initial failure is why we see so many people on the multiple failure train.

Yes, I think this is a major factor to the multiple fail rates people are having. The refurbs just dont have the quality needed to stop the overheating problem.

[Riskbreaker]

Looks like 360 no.3 is on the way out for me. Not due to overheating this time but because the DVD is on the way out It started making some really dodgy noises during Forza tonight, and now the drive slows to a crawl whilst loading the FMV at the start of the game. It's been playing up for a while now so I guess it was only a matter of time.

Since, I'm going to buy a new one from a store anyway, because MS support seem to be a bunch of incompetent cowboys. Does anyone if it's possible to buy a replacement drive and swap it out? If so, does anyone know what make and model the 360 DVD drives are.