Warning for those considering buying a 360

[nugator]

As an owner of almost all consoles going back to the Atari 2600 days, I highly recommend against purchasing a 360 if you are currently on the fence.

I have had more problems with this console and with dealing with Microsoft than with all previous consoles COMBINED. If mine was an isolated experience, you could consider this a sole lunatic on a rant. However, judging by other posters across message boards, the 360 continues to have numerous quality control issues and is not a system where you can safely expect longevity without issues.

My latest problem concerns Microsoft support (I purchased the extended warranty for 2 years). They screwed up my service order (lost is a nicer term) and have delayed the return of my system by at least a week (total duration from initial contact to when I can expect it back is now up to 5 weeks based upon what they told me during my call tonight with a supervisor). They even tried to tell me that I would need to pay for the shipping until I read the service contract to them

My thoughts certainly are clouded by my current anger, but I am giving a thumbs down to the 360 for adult gamers who want to escape hassles with this hobby (and not invite extra ones into their lives).

End of rant.

[extremeskinz]

Re: Warning for those considering buying a 360

I know what you mean but I still don't think that is any reason to avoid buying this system. Get a warranty at Best Buy or buy it at a costco and you won't have these problems. I have one through CC and understand how much of a ***** it is to have to mail the system in. They told me at Circuit City that I could return it at the store for a new one. Nope. Have to wait a week or two for them to send me a gift card once they recieve the 360. EVen after going through all that I still think this system is one of the most exciting gaming sytems ever. It just has some problems that hopefully get worked out. The games that are coming out are well worth the hassle. Just be sure to get a warranty at the right place and you won't go through that ****.

[DXZeke]

Re: Warning for those considering buying a 360

Im sorry to hear that you had a bad expierence with MS's Support staff.
That's not the norm for them. They might not always be the sharpest knives, but usually they are really good with their support staff.... there's a reason that they are rated FAR ABOVE Sony and slightly over Nintendo... I wish that you could have expierenced why.

The good thing is, at least you'll be able to get your system back.

I feel sorry for those that will have problems with the PS3, since it's inevitable. Sony seriously does have HORRIBLE customer service on the whole.
With the PS2, if it was a day out of warrenty they'd say "to bad... 110 to fix it" where as MS was fairly leaniant about it. Heck they gave anyone with a launch system a whole year to serivce it for free. Sony, nor Nintendo has ever done that.


As for as saying that don't buy the 360 because of crappy customer support.
Then don't buy a PS3 due to crappy customer support. Or buy an HP Computer due to crappy support. It sucks to have gone through what you did since I've had that issue with Sony.

The point is, don't let crappy customer service ruin the actual system and fun that you'll have with it. That goes for any of them.

[Skyboxer]

Re: Warning for those considering buying a 360

Our experience with MS service has been awesome. Sorry for your bad luck but the 360 is a great system and should be played by all.

[nugator]

Re: Warning for those considering buying a 360

The point is, don't let crappy customer service ruin the actual system and fun that you'll have with it. That goes for any of them.[/QUOTE]

I agree with you in concept, but for me personally the aggravation unfortunately has surpassed the enjoyment the system provided while it was working. The latter is more my issue, so after cooling down I will evaluate whether I should take a hiatus from gaming.

Thanks for all of the responses and my apologies for taking up your time with a rant... I have been a lurker on this board since the very early days and always appreciate the viewpoints that I find here. Good night

[DXZeke]

Re: Warning for those considering buying a 360

The point is, don't let crappy customer service ruin the actual system and fun that you'll have with it. That goes for any of them.

I agree with you in concept, but for me personally the aggravation unfortunately has surpassed the enjoyment the system provided while it was working. The latter is more my issue, so after cooling down I will evaluate whether I should take a hiatus from gaming.

Thanks for all of the responses and my apologies for taking up your time with a rant... I have been a lurker on this board since the very early days and always appreciate the viewpoints that I find here. Good night [/QUOTE]

I'm glad you didn't get Sony's support staff... and im not trying to pick on them since I really do like their game systems. It's just after working video game retail and seeing firsthand which game companies support staff was good and which wasn't... i started to really feel bad for consumers that bought PS2s and had issues with them months later... mainly they let their idiot kids put the damn system ON THE CARPET and BLOCKED THE FAN and burned their systems up AFTER WE TOLD THEM that would happen. *laughing* At least my staff at EB during my 2003 run didn't suckle. Then we all left for greener pastures and better pay.

I'm going to feel bad for the PS3 guys on this board that have issues and then deal with Sony. That's why my PS3 is getting a store warrenty from EB or Best Buy, when I feel like spending 600 bucks. :wink:


Give it a couple weeks. Read impressions from guys here that get the new releases...
on the flip side you could stick with your PS2 to do casual gaming. At least the Slimline PS2's won't die on your for a couple years.

[sroz39]

Re: Warning for those considering buying a 360

I actually had a bit of a problem with MS after the release of NCAA, which killed one of my 360's. But after X06 and their announcement regarding launch systems (which mine was), I called again and they are sending me a full refund cheque in exchange for my broken 360.

Since I have another 360 anyways, this refund cheque is going to fund a launch-day Wii and games/peripherals.

I too was very disappointed with MS and their customer service with me, mainly because of their stellar rep with the original Xbox. If this were Sony doing this to me, I'd a chalked it up to "been there, done that". Having gone through 5 PS2's for various reasons, I am very intimate with Sony's Customer Service or lack thereof.

[Misfit]

Re: Warning for those considering buying a 360

I feel sorry for those that will have problems with the PS3, since it's inevitable. Sony seriously does have HORRIBLE customer service on the whole.
With the PS2, if it was a day out of warrenty they'd say "to bad... 110 to fix it" where as MS was fairly leaniant about it. Heck they gave anyone with a launch system a whole year to serivce it for free. Sony, nor Nintendo has ever done that.

They fixed my system for free a year after I bought it with no warranty. I've had nothing but good experiences with Sony.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: Warning for those considering buying a 360

Like sroz, I had a problem around the release of NCAA Football, however customer service was excellent and I received a replacement 360 that I have had zero problems with within three days! I literally received the the day after I sent my old one out.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Warning for those considering buying a 360

I agree with the first post, MS customer service sucks. Worst I've ever dealt with. I'm still fighting with them to get my XBL Arcade games back from when my system died...almost 4 months ago! They really know how to turn loyal customers against them.

[pk500]

Re: Warning for those considering buying a 360

The point is, don't let crappy customer service ruin the actual system and fun that you'll have with it. That goes for any of them.

I agree with you in concept, but for me personally the aggravation unfortunately has surpassed the enjoyment the system provided while it was working. The latter is more my issue, so after cooling down I will evaluate whether I should take a hiatus from gaming.

Get a DS Lite. That's what I'm doing after nearly a decade of console gaming.

I never got a 360, so I didn't suffer the same woes as you. But I have become burned out on console gaming, the sequelitis, annual roster updates disguised as "new" sports games and copycat nature of console games, and the excessive price of the hobby with the new generation.

So I sold my Xbox, all games and accessories and am getting a DS Lite. I'm banking that the portability, unique nature of the dual screens, online play and fun, simple games will return the joy of the hobby for me without breaking the bank.

I've done this before, and it worked. I played console games throughout the 80s and then sold my NES in 1990. I got a GameBoy in 1992 and really enjoyed it before returning to consoles in 1997, where I've stayed since then.

Good luck. It's a gaming machine, a toy. Don't let it stress you out to the point where it's obfuscating the important things in life, man.

Take care,
PK

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Warning for those considering buying a 360

Get a DS Lite. That's what I'm doing after nearly a decade of console gaming.

I never got a 360, so I didn't suffer the same woes as you. But I have become burned out on console gaming, the sequelitis, annual roster updates disguised as "new" sports games and copycat nature of console games, and the excessive price of the hobby with the new generation.

So I sold my Xbox, all games and accessories and am getting a DS Lite. I'm banking that the portability, unique nature of the dual screens, online play and fun, simple games will return the joy of the hobby for me without breaking the bank.

I've done this before, and it worked. I played console games throughout the 80s and then sold my NES in 1990. I got a GameBoy in 1992 and really enjoyed it before returning to consoles in 1997, where I've stayed since then.

Good luck. It's a gaming machine, a toy. Don't let it stress you out to the point where it's obfuscating the important things in life, man.

Take care,
PK

PK, as I told you on your blog, you'll be happy. And if you get the urge to play a sports game, hey, there's Madden for you. Wanna play a racing game, there's plenty of those too. Loading times? What are those. The DS is the best machine out there for the money right now. I still play mine almost nightly before going to bed or while watching TV. Clubhouse games hasn't been out of my DS in almost a month.

[DaveDQ]

Re: Warning for those considering buying a 360

Get a DS Lite. That's what I'm doing after nearly a decade of console gaming.

I never got a 360, so I didn't suffer the same woes as you. But I have become burned out on console gaming, the sequelitis, annual roster updates disguised as "new" sports games and copycat nature of console games, and the excessive price of the hobby with the new generation.

So I sold my Xbox, all games and accessories and am getting a DS Lite. I'm banking that the portability, unique nature of the dual screens, online play and fun, simple games will return the joy of the hobby for me without breaking the bank.

I've done this before, and it worked. I played console games throughout the 80s and then sold my NES in 1990. I got a GameBoy in 1992 and really enjoyed it before returning to consoles in 1997, where I've stayed since then.

Good luck. It's a gaming machine, a toy. Don't let it stress you out to the point where it's obfuscating the important things in life, man.

Take care,
PK

Good post, PK

As we approach the release of all 3 major consoles (the 360 already out), I am beginning to see their philosophies more clearly.

Nintendo is doing an excellent job of marketing their products as fun. The PS3 seems to be more on the tech side, and the 360 kinda comes across as having a little bit of it all.

With the many problems the 360 has had (these birthing pains), I think people are sort of tired of it and probably expecting the same from the PS3. Nintendo, on the other hand comes across as a plug and play type mentality that centers around why we hit the power button, to relax and have a good time.

If we had the money in my our budget, I'd get a Wii for the sole purpose of introducing my son to video gaming. And then maybe a little play time for myself .

[fishepa]

Re: Warning for those considering buying a 360

I've had my 360 replaced twice but I never had a problem with their customer service.

[Motown]

Re: Warning for those considering buying a 360

I'll take Quality over Quality service ANY DAY...Until recently, I had a LAUNCH PS2 for 6 yrs...I Expect the same w/ the PS3