Make a profit on your broken 360

by Dustin Burg { Nov 20th 2006 at 10:00PM }

Do you remember Tim's story from back in the day? Tim had some back luck with Chromehounds bricking his 360 to an unplayable lump of technology. So, he had to package it up and send it off to Microsoft ... but for a fee. Tim sent us an update and that he had to pay to get his Xbox 360 working again, stating that he "eventually got it repaired for half the normal price ($65 as opposed to $130)". See, Microsoft has a heart! Since then he's received his 360 and has been satisfied. But to Tim's surprise he received a letter from Microsoft today and attached was a check for $96.75. The letter read:

Upon further review of internal repair data, it has come to our attention that the Xbox 360 console you previously paid to repair is qualified for a free out of warranty repair. Attached is a check to reimburse you for this matter. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Wow, what a nice gesture! But let's do some quick math. Tim paid $65 to repair his Xbox back in the day and today received a check for over $95 ... do a little subtracting and ... that's a $30 profit! Tim, congrats on screwing corporate America over, they deserve it sometimes. Check out Tim's check after the jump.

[Thanks, Tim]

Tags: bricked, broken, xbox 360, Xbox360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

h0tr0d cO @ Nov 20th 2006 10:15PM

Maybe they added the amount paid for shipping.

Ogden2k @ Nov 20th 2006 10:25PM

Why is this site so immature in their writing style? Screwing corp. America? Come on, Microsoft paid more than what this person paid. This site is starting to become pathetic... how old are the writers here? Please, tell me they are all under 18.

JJ @ Nov 20th 2006 11:35PM

take that money and invest it in MS points! that should be enough to get small arms and most of lumines.

Mikeawesome @ Nov 20th 2006 10:54PM

I actually believe it's interest for the time he didn't have the money. However, most likely not.

Ryan Heise @ Nov 20th 2006 10:56PM

At #2:

Agreed.

UptightRichard @ Nov 20th 2006 11:12PM

We're talking video games people. This is not the author's disseration, so relax. If anything, taking a video game website as serious as if it were the New England Journal of Medicine is pathetic.

Wait I have to put on my formal tux before I post right? *virtual bow*

h0tr0d cO @ Nov 21st 2006 12:01AM

Great! I posted the first comment, then turned on my 360 to play some gears. After about 5 minutes it BRICKED and I'm getting 3 red flashing lights, only my console was built 2/24/06 and I don't qualify for the discount...xbox customer service blows!

Pyronite @ Nov 21st 2006 12:03AM

"Why is this site so immature in their writing style? Screwing corp. America?"

Do #2 and #4 always take everything this seriously?

Come on, lighten up a little bit. It's not as if the author of this post is throwing is full communist might into this writing -- it's a joke. If you don't find it funny, that doesn't mean you shouldn't have the intelligence to realize it was meant to be humorous.

Ulyssess @ Nov 21st 2006 12:08AM

lol jezz! wheres the xboxlive zones?? this isnt pro

arawk @ Nov 21st 2006 12:15AM

why wont they do this for me??

TheDude @ Nov 21st 2006 12:16AM

"This site is starting to become pathetic... how old are the writers here? Please, tell me they are all under 18.

Posted at 10:25PM on Nov 20th 2006 by Ogden2k 0 stars"

So don't read it you pompous ass. It's not like you'll be missed or anything.

crym fytr @ Nov 21st 2006 12:22AM

#7 ok , this is not a joke. I was expecting a check for a refund on my 1st bricked 360 (it was a launch console) and then I read this post and got to thinking when would th echeck arrive. It's the week before finals and I'm procrastinating, so I thought I would fire up Gears as well--couldn't get to load previous campaign before I got the 3 red lights. Called the support line--went through all the steps--solid brick. I still love the 360 (bought the HD-DVD and hope the PS3 flops) but this is very disconcerting, i will soon be on my 3rd console since launch--not a record I know--but I'm still not happy about it. After my first one went out I bought the warranty on the 2nd, so I think I'm ok. They highballed the return time at 3 weeks but said it should get to me before that--I certainly hope so!!

yea @ Nov 21st 2006 2:13AM

agreed #2.

The other writers are fine but this new writer Dustin sucks, thats why you see posts like what he put.

Hexx @ Nov 21st 2006 2:59AM

Chromehounds didn't brick his 360... that was the game he was playing when it happenned.

Shinnosuke @ Nov 21st 2006 3:23AM

Well its not a profit actully, taking money in the pass exactly the same amount in the present means a lost: Example
if he pay 63 dll in the past and he recive 63 dlls in the present it means a lost because of present value, but maybe he got the same amount in past value giving that the 63 dll of before is 93 dll of today.

Microsoft is right to give 30 dll more because of dll value

slacker @ Nov 21st 2006 4:07AM

my 360 is a brick too. microsoft has no soul.

$600+ dollars down the drain...

Expired @ Nov 21st 2006 8:48AM

I got mine yesterday for $129.00, too bad I will just be giving it right back to M$.

Chris @ Nov 21st 2006 9:02AM

So, more and more comments where people are claiming the Gears of War bricked their 360. I think this issue needs more press.

My 360 had been running just fine for six months. I played Gears of War for about an hour or so without incident. The next day I attempted to play online co-op with a friend of mine, and BOOM! It crashed, throwing up a checkerboard pattern on the screen. I restarted it a number of times, with the same outcome. Eventually got the the red ring of death.

Of course, the 360 is out of warranty, and Microsoft wants me to pay $168CDN to exchange/repair the unit. This isn't right. Gears of War is published by Microsoft Game Studios, and they are culpable. It's not right for them to sell me (or anyone else) and game that kills the console and then refuse to repair it free of charge.

Interestingly, when a called the customer support line a second time to ask about the possibility of a free repair, the woman I spoke with told me she'd just spoke with another person who claimed their 360 had died at the hands of Gears of War.

And yes, my request for a free repair was denied.

chris @ Nov 21st 2006 9:27AM

they just sent a check like that to my friend

Paul @ Nov 21st 2006 10:21AM

software cannot brick hardware... esp software that EVERYONE else is running without a problem... some factor messed up your box and it wasnt GOW.

Chris @ Nov 21st 2006 10:37AM

Paul, you're wrong. Although software doesn't destroy hardware in a physical sense, it can corrupt data stored in non-volatile memory, which can render the machine unusuable. It happens on a regular basis with firmware updates, whether it's for a computer, a game console or another piece of hardware.

MyMorningJacket @ Nov 21st 2006 10:46AM

My repair cost ~$95, and I just got my check yesterday for $139.90...not bad!

CMM @ Nov 26th 2006 12:40PM

I paid less then $60. for my repair and got back $129. And my 360 went down twice now? Paid for the second time it went down. The time wasted sending it to them and back there should be interest on it! I Bought it on release date I love the system butt not the overheating problem.
Mayby Microsoft saying sorry for the trouble.

Ciaran @ Nov 21st 2006 11:25AM

they were VERY generous after I had to send back our Xbox 360 3 or 4 times...They sent us TWO Xbox 360's! And they both work perfectly ever since!
Brill!
Niice!

Tim @ Nov 21st 2006 11:47AM

#18 I had the EXACT same experience with Gears. Four days of play on a perfect 360 for eight months before getting this game -- and Gears made red brick patterns and crashed a lot. Then, finally, 3 rings of death. I called into MS, told them what happened, and they said "said it back for a free repair. You're not the first." Mine was made in early Feb. 06, so just after the free cut off. Call back and demand a free repair.

KillaB @ Nov 21st 2006 12:12PM

My 360 bricked while playing Blazing Angels, checkerboard screen and all. I believe the issue is one of wear and tear on the inner hardware due to heat output, and not one related to what game you are playing at the time. However, it is highly ironic that so many gamers' 360's have recently locked up on GoW. All the same, it's most likely just bad timing. Oh, and I still haven't received my $96.75 check yet.

Andrew @ Nov 21st 2006 12:11PM

Chris:

Just because A happened and B happened, doesn't mean that A caused B.

Chris @ Nov 21st 2006 12:51PM

Andrew: You're right. There is no current evidence out there proving that Gears of War is responsible for bricking 360s. However, I think there are too many reports of this happening for it to be coincidental, and I think it's worthy of investigation.

If you hold a banquet and 1 in 10 people get sick after eating the food, it's suspicious. You can't say that the food you served is just fine because *most* of the people you served didn't get sick. The people who are barfing all over the place are going to want answers.

UptightRichard @ Nov 21st 2006 1:35PM

Remember not play Xbox in your tub guys. It will brick your 360 and no it's not GOW's fault.

ThaiBruin @ Nov 21st 2006 2:42PM

I paid $69.99 for my repair, and they sent me a check for $139. So I'm quite a happy camper. =)

tcc3 @ Nov 21st 2006 2:46PM

Every time a new game has come out theres been a flood of "Game x bricked my 360."

Im starting to smell Sony shills.

brendan @ Nov 21st 2006 9:15PM

the same thing happened to me today. except my check was for $129! i never paid to have it repaired. i almost did but decided not to because i got a used one for cheap. a week later a box arrived. i sent in my brick, got it back a while ago and now i got a check!

aj @ Nov 21st 2006 7:08PM

YAY i got mine today, I had given up on the rebate, $139.67

Phoenix Heat @ Nov 21st 2006 7:34PM

I got my check for $64.50 as well. Too bad I spent $139.90 to get it fixed. When I called them on it they said I have to write a letter??? What year do they live in, who writes letters? So now I have to send a letter off and who knows when or if I will ever get a reply...

5ftassassin @ Nov 21st 2006 10:37PM

You people are a bunch of idiots if you think the game bricked your console! They extended the warranty on almost all the 360s they sold in the first 6 months I thought. Secondly if you didn't screw it up and it konked out then they will give you the money you paid back. I'm pretty sure that was posted here or Joystiq.

Chris @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:30AM

Did the game brick our consoles? There are no definitive answers yet. Nevertheless, 360s are just up and dying for no apparent reason, and that's really disappointing. I protect all my eletronic equipment like an over-zealous father, and it's highly unlikely anything I did—other than attempting to use the console to play games—could have led to its death.

I've called Microsoft three times and requested a free repair. They have refused each time, stating that I'm out of warranty and therefore I must pay $168 CDN. Which, they add, is non-refundable. I'm encouraged to hear about people receiving money back for their repairs, but it doesn't seem likely that the same courtesy will be extended to me.

Jeffrey Morgan @ Dec 22nd 2006 7:41PM

My 360 just bricked too (no Gears here). It was made in March 06 and it's been just 6 months since I bought it. MS won't fix it for free. How can we let them get away with increasing the price by $60 (for the two year warranty extension) by making a console so prone to critical failure? And how foolish is MS to not fix the console when I'm otherwise on the verge of giving them even more money for an HD-DVD drive and who knows how many more games and accessories, which I won't do until I have a working console?