Microsoft review: a david and goliath story! 71

I have a Xbox 360 and was reading on the complaints which are vicious I am surprised microsoft has continued doing so well with the sale of this gaming console. My problem is why is does microsoft charge additional fee's to utilize netflix on the game when the other gaming systems doesn't. I'm highly irritated I already pay for netflix. Is this suppose to be microsofts plan to piss customers off or is it just me. It appears that the problems with Wii are less invassive with hard ware and the fact you can log into your netflix acct with out additional gouging charges.

After purchasing a XBOX 360 ( the newer S version) I started having problems with the power brick losing power and displaying a red light ( according to the folks at the retailer the internal breaker was going off). Needless to say the retailer didnt have any to swap out and recommended that I contact Microsoft. I did so and the support rep informed me that I would have to send in the brick so they can send me a new one. i was hesitant, seeing that I had only been using this unit for less than a month, but I was ready to to do so. Right before getting off the phone I inquired about some options that would minimize my downtime, I was told that they could send me a new brick and a box as well in order to ship the old one back ( hey I figured I just shelled out some money to get the console it didn't make sense that I pay more to get it fixed...kinda like going in for a warranty repair on your vehicle and them charging you money to drive it to the dealership...but I digress) Being satisfied with my encounter I resigned myself to waiting... Well five business days go by and still nothing. Thinking to myself that the ice storm we had may have slowed down the shipment i waited another day or two. Well then I followed up via the website (ref# [protected] in case you're curious) and promptly received a call that they were still waiting for my power brick. Thinking to myself that I could call and they could look up my transcript from the previous support rep and get all this cleared up in a juf. Well I couldn't be further from what was to happen, the first rep decided to not only put me on hold X3 ( politely I may add) then he begins to spout policy like it was cannonical scripture. I informed him that I was aware of the return process in place but I was also informed of there ability to replace the broken item as well ( which I was promised). Not being satisfied with the answer I informed him that this is not a personal attack but I wanted to escalate this issue to his manager. I was informed that he was in a meeting and would return my call within the next 2-4 hours. Well surprisingly enough a gentleman named "Micheal" who was alleging to be a manager basically told me that that is the process in which they do things. When pressed about the sending power bricks to users I was told that as of January they no longer did such things ( convenient huh...thats what I told him.) He then proceeded to tell me that he could investigate by reviewing the transcript, "if they are available" it but it would take longer and I might as well just send it in... In other words "tuff [censored]". At this point it was no longer about getting what was promised to me it was about customer service. Hey I dont live in a glass house I have been involved with Tech support and been around a lot of call centers so my initial expectations were low. But this was a true slap in the face and I feel I owe it to all the people out there to realize that no matter how they spin the idea of having great support the only thing they are interested in is the all mighty dollar ( no surprise there huh?). So I told Micheal that rather than sending one in I was going to purchase a another unit ( I know thats what they want me to do...but I have too much invested in games ...for now at least ) and asked him to escalate it further. We'll see if they will bother calling. Unit then I have a few hours to burn, Google to use and I can cut and paste this.) caveat emptor...

I bought a new xbox in november of 2007. I have sent it back to get fixed and was sent a replacement xbox. Last couple months I have been getting 3 flashing red lights, then tonight I come home to E80 "system error" and that it will cost 119.99 to get fix because I am out of warranty. I asked why mine keeps breaking I was told other people have had theirs since day one and it is still working and therefore, its due to way I was handling the machine.

in nov i bought the 360 for my 12 year old for xmas on dec 6 i lost my 16 year old daughter in a car wreck so i gave my son his present early almost from the start the red ring occured i called and thay said send it back obout a month later here came a new one i was pleased a few months ago it started cutting rings in the disk and teck support told me it had to be dropped or moved because their machines cannot i repeat cannot malfunction without this occuring a machine that cannot malfunction so now im lying in 54 years noone with any sence had ever called me that to my face so0 im alittle mad make it right microsoft of have an enemy for life

I spoke with a customer service rep supervisor named MARY. She told me they couldn't give out last names. But she was RUDE!

They cannot tell me where, when, how, or why my package has NOT been shipped yet. They tell me it was shipped on the 31st of July, then they said the 2nd of August. Now, they won't tell me if it has or has not been shipped. This is August 6th.

She told me it was MY responsibility to find out where it was. HELLO! Ya'll shipped it to ME! She was rude, tasteless and hung up on me at the end of conversation because she said I got loud with her. She was RIGHT! But I didn't get UGLY, I just wanted to know where it is! But I STILL DO NOT KNOW!

I bought the xbox 360 in 2007, I have had nothing but problems. I have had to send it back, I have had to call numerous times. Now when downloading the mandatory update I have a bricked xbox, and because it is out of warranty and they want me to pay 120 dollars to get it fixed. I have been promised 3 calls, once from a manager and 2 times from tech team and I have yet to receive a call back.

I purchased my first xbox on the uk launch date. For 6 months everything was fine, then the screen froze. I sent it back and they replaced it within a week. 3 months later the same happened again, and again, and again. On one occasion i received a console that wouldnt even turn on! And now on my 5th xbox360 the same has happened. But this time they have had it for 3 weeks. And i cant seem to get through to anyone who knows where it is. Not sure what to do. Would prefer my money back than have to go through all this again.

My sons xbox which is not even 1 year old is broken. He has had 3 red lights appear and when i called the helpline they told me the problem was the power pack. 2 weeks later i received the wrong power pack . I phoned to complain and was told they would send the right one, at which time i asked the advisor if she knew exactly what part i was referring to as i did not want the same mistake made, she went for advice and then told me yes she was sending the right part... Lo and behold this time due to the postal strike it was at least 3 weeks later and they sent me a plug and not a power pack. I then called again to complain and asked to speak to a supervisor, who i was informed you cannot be put straight through to, and would call me back within 48 hours. After speaking to the supervisor and expressing my disgust at the service and the length of time it has taken, i was offered a complimentary gift, which i have since received, but still no power pack. I then called again on thursday 1 november and spoke to an adivsor but this time i wanted to be put straight through to the supervisor. Once again i had to wait for the supervisor to call me back. 120 hours later and i have still not heard form the supervisor. I am breaking point as my son has not been able to play his xbox for more than 2 months and i am paying for xbox live and cannot use it. My son is having difficulty understanding that something can take so long.

Yours

very unhappy mother who cannot get any joy
Angela Curtis

I ordered my xbox 360 on march 30, 2007. The expected delivery dates between June 7 and June 21. It still hasn't arrived. I know that the address is correct because I did receive another package ordered on the same day not a week later. This is over 300 dollars that I don't have anything for. I either need to get my money back soon or need my xbox 360. I'm very disappointed with Amazon, with whom I have been doing business with for the past 3 years.

Yesterday my Xbox 360 Started to flash red around the power button. I tried to check power supply and everything, finally I looked on the internet and found out that in fact my system just plain failed due to a manufacturer error. My system is 3 years old and now out of warranty... the thing that really angers me is that how can a company make such a crappy product that is self-destructs just after your warranty is up? They are making huge money on having people repurchase systems.

I either have to pay over $100 for a repair, purchase a shoddy "guide" online to fix it in under 1 hour... yeah right, or purchase an entirely new system. My response is to sell all my 360 games and go straight PS3... since I've had that longer and it's working great still.

I just had to voice my disappointment as I've never been so disappointed in a product so much in my life.

wtf.Sending in my xbox 360 for the ( hold on ran out of toes and fingers) for the sixth time and at this point its ridiculous.This time its not the 3 red rings(big surprise had it three times already) and it's not disc read error(2 times).This is a new one.This time its (drum role please) NO DISPLAY! that's right sound but no picture.So naturally I think it has to be either the cable or the t.v it can't be the system right?WRONG!Brought new cables.
Check. Tried it on a t.v.Check.Tried a different device on the same channel.Check.So the last thing to do is call the dreaded 800 number.After 15 minutes of talking to rep who doesn't know right from left they finally decided that it has to be sent in from repairs.Not surprised.You think after 3 years they would get ### right.Boy was i mistaken.I don't know why I expected better from microcrap .

I have bought 2 xbox 360's in one year and have had them both get system errors. Its getting a little ridiculous, i like the xbox 360 but this is driving me nuts my first xbox when in buggered up i didn't know you could send it away to get fix so i ditched it. Then i was told just before getting my 2nd xbox 360 that all those errors have been fixed so i went out a got a new one and then it buggered up today. So i rang Microsoft and they are sending me out the information about sending it away but i have 30 days from today to send it off and have it get to sydney. I am honestly thinking of totally boycotting Microsoft all together because i have spent at least $5000 to $6000 dollars on 2 xbox 360's games hardware etc. I do have alot of other microsoft stuff in my home like my computer but as of next month im am getting a mac and totally boycotting Mircosoft.

Thank you for reading

I am complaint becuz the xbox 360 does not have Internet it should have Internet so when u go to a hotel or somthing that needs you to get on the Internet to except the terms and using conditions

we have contacted Microsoft several times about a recurring charge on my bank account for 7.99 and nothing has been done to stop the charges. We have not even owned the machine for about 6 months now.

I bought Microsoft points and for some reason they took my last 800 i had left talking about how i bought a whack ### arcade game then try to talk to like im stupid man i hate 360 it not like im crying over some 800 points it like wtf i paid for them so how yall going to take dem i paid 25$ dollar

Hi id like to make a complaint since there has been an update on the game advanced warfare to get the gun m1 irons the game keeps freezing while playing and when I'm trying to change my guns or in a lobby loads of my friends are having the same problem it needs sorting thanks

my xbox video keeps freezing same problem from last time I tried
playing a movie on it but the still haven't fixed it all the way. freezes xbox and forces you to turn it off.

Charges have appeared on my Visa account. I need to know who has made these charges. They were for $49.00 two times. Can you help me find out who? I have a username but no password.

They took my $25.00 for application fee and i never received a thing from them and i cant no long enter their web site. sincerly
KD

My son Anthony ordered an XBox 360 on 8/10/2008 and has yet to receive it, he has an order number which is [protected]

After Microsoft replaced/repaired? first xbox free of charge, just inside of one year it lasted 10 days before same problem, now told i have to pay to ship and repair. Not happy as this cost is about the same as a second hand unit, pissed off and will look at ps3 now.

there are inter milan strips for avatar and there is not ac milan strips

I think the complaint is that the xbox doesn't have a browser so he can't accept the terms and conditions/costs when using an internet connection in a hotel room. I'm not sure if this will work, but there is a way to get an internet browser for your xbox, link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0-_UxsrZ6U

I'm with you on this. I don't think they should charge to use netflix. What they should do is have just netflix be free and if you want to watch it with friends or do special things then you should pay.

I had to send my xbox in to be repaired because it wouldnt play any fable 3 game i tried 4 different games i hadnt had the system a month. So i called support spent about a hour and a half going through the steps to see what was wrong well they ended up saying i needed to send it in to be repaired well they get it and send it right back saying it had been tampered with! but they didnt send my xbox back that i sent in. The one i got back wont even come up on my tv.

red rings - very common. went through the same thing. sent in for repair - they sent me another machine. nothing but problems since.

PS3 !

OK, they won't charge you if you didn't buy anything from the Marketplace. If your not stupid (contrary to how your grammar is), you would have known that. Do you have any brother's or sisters? They might have bought something accidentally (or even purposefully). Your parents could have too. Either way, if your not crying over 800 points (as you stated), stop posting things to this website. Your bad grammar is taking up valuable server space.

Same story here. Purchased new in 07 worked for a year, took it back to best buy in 08, they sent me a refurbised model, and this year it crashed again, took it back to best buy and they told me I had to send it to microsoft, got it back three weeks later stating that I had tampered with it. What a bunch of sh.. I have spent hours now on the phone to no avail. I have never been this upset about a purchase. I cant believe that they wont stand by the warranty that they gave us.

The "red ring of death" is a huge manufacturing flaw, but it's also incredibly common and well-known about with the public. It was pretty much discovered as soon as it came out. Always make sure to check user complaints before purchasing something so expensive. Sorry it happened to you.

It isn't for the online services is it? Because to get all that content it does cost money.

We also are having problems and horrible service from Microsoft and the x box 360 we have a total of 3 systems for the house since we have a lot of gamers.. Along with a bunch of games no less then 30 each person.. My sons Xbox went out and was still under warnty they have sent us 3 diffrent systems and none of them are worth a damn! And no matter what you say to the ppl on the phone they continue on with their pre ordained speach! Its like they do not even hear you! Well I want a job bench testing all the x boxes that come in cause where else can you make big money and not have to do any work? I would just think that a company that was once a great leader would have better costomer service.. and way more pride in thier product! but I guess I am along with all these other folks wrong! So my family and all my friends and on line buddies will be selling our crap boxes and getting ps3.. If you cant beat them join them they say! and all microsoft products will be taken out of our house.. they have gotton enough of our money! hope they choke on it!

This is [censor]ing [censor] I sent mine in as well and then two weeks later I get it back they give it back to me telling me I tampered the xbox and that its warranty is now voided [censor] microsoft those [censor]ing rats I will never buy a god damned xbox ever again their rotten company can burn.

I bought my xbox 360 about four years ago. I have had no problems until a year ago. The disc drive stoped opening so I sent it in for repair. Well i received a refurbished xbox and now a few days ago i got the Red rings of death. I call to get it repaired and they tell me that it has been tampered with. They cannot not tell me why its been tampered. I talked to one of the highest up people and nonone can give me a straight answer. I was even told that the intercooler can cause it to be tampered! I have not tampered my xbox! Does anyone know what I should do? Who can i complain to?

Add one more to the boat. I sent it in November last year when my elite RROD on me. Fixed it and sent it back. Now almost perfectly one year later. It RROD's again in November. Now they have it to where you register and send it in thru their online system. Last year was going thru steps with a rep and then them sending me a box to send them the xbox. The new MW2 system comes out as my xbox is gone to get fixed and I figure what they hay. I'll buy the new one and sell the elite when it gets back. I get it back with a - i'm sorry but it's been tampered with. I don't know how but now I have 2 serial numbers on my elite so it is said to be tampered with. I have never opened it up, let alone take off the face plate. After long disputes and being on hold for weeks on since i got it back. Nick who i spoke to today in the resolution department is saying they investigated to overturn the tamper flag on my elite only to find out that it couldn't be overturned. So tough luck. But here is the sticky thing. No notes could be furnished on what was done to my xbox last year! So how was it investigated? Either way I am Livid more because I take off the face plate and guess what. The warranty sticker is in tact. As is the serial # sticker. No edges coming up or wrinkles anywhere. But that serial # is different from the one on the outer layer shell on the back and on the hard drive when it powers on. Hmmmm. What does good ole Nick say when I see the sticker isn't messed with - well those can be bought on Ebay. So I tell him oh great so Microsoft will not fix an xbox when its sticker is messed with - but when something else is wrong they can give the excuse that you have the option of buying the sticker on Ebay so you could have put it back on yourself after opening and closing the xbox. Of course he didn't say yes to this but he still was saying "YOUR XBOX HAS BEEN TAMPERED WITH AND OUR REPAIR FACILITY WILL NOT ACCEPT YOUR XBOX" I brought up legal action and getting a lawyer and he got defensive. Watched what he said but at one point wouldn't want to answer any more questions about when the investigation to overturn the tamper flag was started, who did it and so on. He just said you may continue with legal action thru a lawyer but I have already given you when we received your xbox and when it was returned. No other dates were given to me. He finished with " Do you have anymore questions" I answered with yes but none you want to answer and ended the call with Mr. Defensive - I will not help you Nick from the resolution center. Livid is how I feel after being shanked for being a loyal customer and by that I mean not tampering with the xbox only for it to come back to me - TAMPERED. Now with this new MW2 version elite you can be sure I will make sure serial #'s match before and after it gets fixed it thru these years it fails and will be taking photos. As for the matter at hand I am not sure where I can or what I can do to not pay for my un-tampered xbox deemed tampered by microsoft to get it fixed with out digging into my pocket for money. If anyone could help out please email me at fgarcia509@yahoo.com - thanks,

I have just this week had the same ishue, I have an 360 elite, I have had it for about 2 years and I got the red ring. So I get in touch and send it off to them, So about an hour ago I got it back with the same note as you saying that it had been tampered with, when it clearly hasent. So I go online after been told by a superviser that it is been investigated, and read that if the microsoft sticker under the face plate is danmaged or removed then they class it as tampered with. So I check my 360 I take the face plate off and low and behold the sticker is still in place, which tells me that they havent even had it open, to check it. So what are they playing a game or something. Its soding rediculous that we pay all this money for these things, only for these ploblums to happen and then be called tamperers when you sendd it off to be repaired cus of there shoddy consoles breaking.

Most definitely agreed! I'm absolutely appalled at this service by Microsoft. There was me thinking that they were such a good company for providing free-repairs for the problem, even after the first fix, now I get this.

My story:

We've had our present Xbox 360 for a while now, getting it shortly after the 360 was released. Lone behold - within a year we experienced the oh-so common Red Ring of Death. Frustrated enough as is, I got on the phone to Microsoft support, arranged a repair and sent it away. Three weeks later, we received the same console back, 'repaired' and working. Happy days.

The console worked for around a year, upon which it started providing the exact same symptoms - RRoD #2. I went through the exact same lines as before, sent off the Xbox - all fine and well.

Earlier today, I've received the Xbox back, including a letter stating that we've "tampered" with the console! Now, I have some minor technical knowledge, I'm about to go into a Computer Science course at Uni', but I wouldn't be stupid-enough, or even know where to start on trying to modify the internals of a console! I'm incredibly frustrated, and the only linkage that I can see is from THEM fixing it the first time round! Are they accusing their customers of tampering for the fact that they 'repaired' the console previously?

I'm very shocked at Microsoft's 'quality' of service, and most-definitely won't be purchasing another Xbox 360 if they won't repair it. Playstation 3 or 4 it seems.

I have two (second gen and Elite). No problems with either one.

I'm going thru the same nightmare. I found Bill Gates email address (bgates@microsoft. com) on line and told him to look at the complaintsboard website to see what's going on with the Xbox. I'm sure I won't get a reply.

stupid ###in microsoft, i have gone through the exact same ###, gone through 5 games and had to buy them again because the xbox had been sracthing them.. i want a new xbox or atleast new games to replace the ones damaged.. ### microsoft!

I have the same problem, RROD, just got the letter in the mail today with the un-repaired box. Not only is it unrepaired, I SWEAR it's not even the same XBox. I take care of my belongings, and this Xbox actually has a food like substance on it, PLUS you can see the difference in panel colors! It also has black finger marks on it. One of the little clips is floating around inside the grate. It's as if someone took the guts out and replaced the inside components so the same serial number would be on it. I called customer service, and they said they're going to have someone call me back in 3-10 days. I'm LIVID! I have spent a fortune with Microsoft over the years, and I'm seriously considering just going to PS and getting a MAC if they don't fix this.