EU: Company refuses repair Red Ringed 360's: Purposeful flaws + 1.5-2.5k broken/day

[Zenien]

http://www.micromartltd.co.uk/

XBOX 360 - Micromart has now withdrawn from offering a Repair Service for the dreaded 3 Red Lights fault.

"This problem is endemic on the XBox 360 console and the volume has made this repair non-viable."

Other repairs to the XBox 360 are still being supported.

New complaints claim out-of-country repair centres are now being used due to unprecedented demand

Microsoft’s UK repair centre in Havant is now redistributing faulty consoles to foreign repair centres in order to clear an overwhelming backlog and keep up with the 1,500 to 2,500 Xbox 360s arriving at its doors on a daily basis, according to customer reports.


According to Lee Sherman (Gamertag, Toxic Daywalker), who sent us details of his horrible experience, his Xbox 360 had been sent to Prague for repair, which has extended the repair time considerably.

He talks of how three weeks and repeated phone calls yielded no further clues to the status of his repair, with customer service representatives merely telling him that it would be “returned shortly”.

Lee even claims that when he asked to speak to the repair centre direct, he was told this wasn’t possible because they don’t have phones... However, using a directory enquiry service he was able to obtain the number for the repair centre, where he was shocked to learn that his console was actually in Prague, not Havant as Microsoft customer service reps had claimed.

Additionally, the call to the Havant repair centre revealed some other worrying stats: “A shocking statistic we found out though is that between 1,500 to 2,500 consoles get sent to Havant by three UPS lorries per day, to then be shipped to Prague for repair,” Lee told us, going on to add, “[We] phoned up Nora the [customer service] supervisor again, who then admitted my console was in Prague and hadn’t been looked at yet – she seemed amazed that we knew!”

Comments from users on the Xbox.com forum reveal similar woes, and some have also discovered their consoles are indeed in repair centres outside of the UK: “I just spoke to the customer support people because my 360 has been gone since the 8th of June,” says forum user, LordBrown in a post dated 23rd of June. “Apparently because of the backlog in Havant they’re sending 360s to repair centres outside the UK! And that because of this Microsoft are legally allowed an additional ten days to get your 360 back to you.”

From the sounds of things it seems Microsoft is fighting a losing battle on this front, as more and more units flood in for repair. It kind of reminds of that bit in Santa Claus The Movie when all of those defective wooden toys started falling apart…

We connected Microsoft this morning, however we’re still waiting for an official response. We’ll let you know the moment we hear anything.

http://www.360-gamer.com/news.asp?id=1143

 

[StrainedEyes]

Why do you make all these threads?

 

[Zenien]

Of course that's the first reply in this thread, and not about the real issue.

Many = 2.

 

[Mr. Smash'n Bash]

Its because she hates Microsoft.

 

[Addendum]

Many = 2.

Don't let the facts sway you any, sport.

http://forums.superherohype.com/search.php?searchid=2718620

And not counting this one, 13 threads in the Microsoft forum

 

[ProjectPat2280]

And with all the problems, the 360 STILL trumps the PS3, hm, go figure.

 

[Zenien]

That... has nothing to do with this.

You'd figure that people would be angry that Microsoft is selling them poor quality products and profiting off the repairs overall. I mean honestly. It's amazing how much 'turning a blind eye' and good will Microsoft has gotten over this issue the saddest part is many people don't seem to care, unlike last generation when the roles were reversed.

 

[Joker]

Pretty much every console not made by nintendo is an over-priced, poorly made piece of crap. The reason we "turn a blind eye" to MS's console being one, is because we all already f**king know. Just wait a year, you'll start hearing more and more stories such as this about the PS3, just like you did the PS2. The company police in both MS and Sony on breaking of consoles is "fast and often," probably to make up for the amounts of money they lose on the system when sold in the frist place. No one cares because we've all accepted this fact, and maybe it's time you learn to do so as well.

 

[Zenien]

People already knew with the PS2, that didn't stop anyone.

Since PS3 failure rates now are dramatically smaller then the 360 Failure rates were at the same time of its lifespan, I'm going to say the chances of that ratio changing when the PS2 is nearing the point the 360 is at now, is pretty small.

There's no outrage, everyone loves to sweep it under the rug, the PS2 went through hell because of equal or (absurdly) less failure rates.

 

[Mr. Smash'n Bash]

Their dramatically smaller because they've sold less systems, dur.

 

[Joker]

People already knew with the PS2, that didn't stop anyone.

Since PS3 failure rates now are dramatically smaller then the 360 Failure rates were at the same time of its lifespan, I'm going to say the chances of that ratio changing when the PS2 is nearing the point the 360 is at now, is pretty small.

There's no outrage, everyone loves to sweep it under the rug, the PS2 went through hell because of equal or (absurdly) less failure rates.

The people who constantly complained about the PS2 were idiots, and it would seem your entire point is "I'm gonna be an idiot too, that'll show them!" which is real smart

 

[Mr. Smash'n Bash]

She's Canadian, she doesn't know whats she's doing.

 

[Zenien]

The people who constantly complained about the PS2 were idiots, and it would seem your entire point is "I'm gonna be an idiot too, that'll show them!" which is real smart

People ha every right to and should have complained about the PS2 issues back in the day.

Well if you honestly think that people who have reasonable displeasure with the hardware that they paid upwards of 300 dollars for are idiots for complaining whatever. You said constantly complaining which I do not do, but there's a difference between trolling something (constantly saying X console is a piece of **** or whatnot) and bringing legitimate news and exposure to the issue. The people who are idiots are the ones who either constantly troll something uselessly or dismissively say people shouldn't complain when the issue is pretty much ignored or that the people shouldn't complain and wait until the issues are ironed out even though the same issues have been happening since fall 2005.

So basically "you're an idiot. "

 

[EdRyder]

I'm pretty sure American owners consoles ain't going to friggin Prague for a refurb.Most of what Zenien is on about the 360 is true,..Microsoft still wont release the actual numbers but you don't need to be Spock to logically assume it surpassed PS2 failure rates.
"overwhelming backlog and keep up with the 1,500 to 2,500 Xbox 360s arriving at its doors on a daily basis, according to customer reports."
Can you say EXAGGERATION?? between 1500 and 2500???Sounds like "Your Directv will be installed sometime between Wednsday and,... October"...=
"customer reports"?????
How would customers know how many consoles were sent in?,,cmon Zenien

deep down inside Zen wants a 360 too

 

[spidey-dude]

edit : wooops didnt read properly....

does it matter if they are going to prague, aslong as they get fixed

 

[Zenien]

I'm pretty sure American owners consoles ain't going to friggin Prague for a refurb.Most of what Zenien is on about the 360 is true,..Microsoft still wont release the actual numbers but you don't need to be Spock to logically assume it surpassed PS2 failure rates.
"overwhelming backlog and keep up with the 1,500 to 2,500 Xbox 360s arriving at its doors on a daily basis, according to customer reports."
Can you say EXAGGERATION?? between 1500 and 2500???Sounds like "Your Directv will be installed sometime between Wednsday and,... October"...=
"customer reports"?????
How would customers know how many consoles were sent in?,,cmon Zenien

deep down inside Zen wants a 360 too

 

[Avalanche]

Wow. What's with all the moaning that this thread has been created? 6 months ago these types of threads where being posted multiple times a day in the Sony forum, and everyone appeared to be cool with that...

 

[Zenien]

Their dramatically smaller because they've sold less systems, dur.

I can pull up the install rates of each console if you want, but rest easy in the knowledge you are wrong. At this point of the install base of the 360 there were 360's breaking left and right. We're almost a year into the life cycle of the PS3 now and nowhere near the complaints or broken units, a broken PS3 is almost unheard of. Can't say the same about the 360 in a similar timeframe.

 

[Addendum]

I get it now.

This is the gamer version of a Red Sox fan telling a Yankees fan that the Yankees suck because A-Rod went 1-4 against the Orioles and the Yankees pitching staff walked in the game winning run.

 

[Zenien]

No it's because the 360 has crap build quality and Microsoft isn't doing anything about, I wasn't the one who repeatedly tried to bring the PS3 into the conversation when it had nothing to do with this because no one here wants to do anythign but tstick their ehads in the sand or find distractions so the focus isn't on exactly what this is about, Microsoft dropping the ball and then talking advantage of the consumer and the consumers who are saying "drop it harder please" apparently.

 

[Addendum]

It's the same thing. Instead of rooting for a sports team, you root for a video game company

 

[Zenien]

Sigh.

By all means prove me right some more.

 

[Addendum]

I don't have a 360 yet. Simply because the games I want to play on it aren't out.

However, I have space set aside for it, with enough breathing room so it doesn't overheat, in a similar way that I have enough breathing space for my PC so it doesn't overheat.

As for your complaints about Microsoft, name one company in existence today that DOESN'T take advantage of the consumer

 

[Cyrusbales]

My mate's had 2 360's break on him in 18 months.....

 

[Jerry!]

See the thing about a statement like that is the blame is put fully on the 360 when that isn't the case all the time. Did your "mate" have enough room for the 360 to breath?