When a 360 fails and is replaced under Microsoft warranty, do they generally fix and return, replace with refurbished, or replace with a new system?

Mine failed 2 weeks ago - something related to a failed cooling fan I'm guessing. I called, described the screeching noise I heard while it was sitting there streaming music from my PC and the subsequent intermittant red rings on bootup. Thereafter, it would often boot fine. In fact, if it booted, everything would work fine roughly until the time that the fans would normally kick into turbo - then it would crash. I described all this and the woman on the phone said it must be a hardware failure and that they'd replace it.

I was sent a box to return the 360 in, dropped it off at Purolator yesterday, today I got an email from MS saying that my system had been shipped. Have to admit thats pretty good turn around time. But it seems unlikely to me that they fixed it in that time - more likely that they just replaced it as the woman on the phone indicated would happen.

Based on the service experience so far I have no reason to suspect I'll receive anything other than a system in good shape. Still it would be disappointing if they replaced it with a flakey refurbished model. I'm curious about other people's post-repair experience.

I don't think they ever actually repair and return your unit to you.

IF they actually repair them at all (big if --I suspect that they do some minor testing and simply send returns as replacement, without any repairs), they don't send the same console back to the original owner.

I've returned three console and received three different replacements.

I have sent back four consoles for repair and have got back a different refurbished unit every time.

refurbished.

bad part is that I could see dust in the refurbished console. it has been used a lot.

When a 360 fails and is replaced under Microsoft warranty, do they generally fix and return, replace with refurbished, or replace with a new system?

Mine failed 2 weeks ago. I called, described the screeching noise I heard while it was sitting there streaming music from my PC and the subsequent intermittant red rings on bootup. Thereafter, thought it would often boot fine. In fact, if it booted, everything would work fine roughly until the time that the fans would normally kick into turbo - then it would crash. I described all this and the woman on the phone said it must be a hardware failure and that they'd replace it.

I was sent a box to return the 360 in, dropped it off at Purolator yesterday, today I got an email from MS saying that my system had been shipped. Have to admit thats pretty good turn around time. But it seems unlikely to me that they fixed it in that time - more likely that they just replaced it as the woman on the phone indicated would happen.

Based on the service experience so far I have no reason to suspect I'll receive anything other than a system in good shape. Still it would be disappointing if they replaced it with a flakey refurbished model. I'm curious about other people's post-repair experience.

The easiest way to know is checking the serial # of the console that is sent back to you.

Refurb, always.

The only way you don't get a refurb from a manufacturer when you send back a product is if they are out of refurbs. Considering the rate of dead 360s, I doubt finding consoles to fix is a problem for them, so you can guarantee you will be getting refurbs.

MS said about a month back that they're going to try to be repairing consoles and sending the same console back to its owner in the future. So hopefully the days where you'll be getting someone else's worn out console will be over soon.

I sent mine in. Got the same one or one with the same serial #. Didn't work after 1/2 hr maybe and hour= 3 rings

I don't think they ever actually repair and return your unit to you.About a month ago, I sent in my unit to get fixed, and lo and behold I got my very same machine back. At one time, I think they just sent out any old refurb; nowadays I believe MS has actually updated their warranty to reflect that you'll always receive your own unit back from this point forward.

A friend of mine got his back twice, still had a DVD ROM drive problem (once the actual
problem was discovered)... ended up replaced with a refurb. Pretty much all manufacturers
replace in-warranty equipment with refurbs.

My 360 was repaired when it was sent in a few months ago. Had the same serial number and born-on date. I thought I read somewhere that part of MS's warranty change was trying to repair consoles instead of replacing the bad units with refurbs. Personally I like this approach as long as they can complete the repairs in a timely manner. I baby my stuff so I like the idea of getting my unit back.

So, for those of you that received refurbs, you aren't able to play xbla games offline?

I'm no expert on the issue, but my understanding is that you can no longer play your purchased xbla games offline since the games were tied to your previous console. I've read that once you change your machine, you can never play your xbla games offline again. And, of course, that only becomes an issue when you don't have an internet connection (e.g. internet outage, hotel, bring your xbox to friend's house, etc).

I'm also not well versed in the realm of licenses, but isn't this some kind of restriction or rescinding of our rights in the license? Aren't we paying for a particular service (xbla games offline or online), and having a part of that service taken away?

So, for those of you that received refurbs, you aren't able to play xbla games offline?

I'm no expert on the issue, but my understanding is that you can no longer play your purchased xbla games offline since the games were tied to your previous console. I've read that once you change your machine, you can never play your xbla games offline again. And, of course, that only becomes an issue when you don't have an internet connection (e.g. internet outage, hotel, bring your xbox to friend's house, etc).

I'm also not well versed in the realm of licenses, but isn't this some kind of restriction or rescinding of our rights in the license? Aren't we paying for a particular service (xbla games offline or online), and having a part of that service taken away?

That's probably one of the big reasons they are supposedly going to repair all future returns.

I got the same one back. Still makes a funny buzz from the drive at start up though. Kind of worries me.

I got the same one back I sent in.

I got the same unit back.

The turn around time since they received it and shipped back was so fast (1 day) I'm assuming they were able to know exactly what the issue was based upon the way I described when I was getting the 3 Red Lights of Death.

Since I got it back have had no problems :cool:

Well I'm not quite sure we are in the same boat here. If you live in Canada, I believe different rules apply. I live in St. Paul, Quebec. Only reason I say different rules may apply is that my 3 red rings of death occured on January 30th. Called MS, asked how long I'd be without my 360, and the lady said that since I live in Canada, they would simply replace the console. They sent a box, and 6 days later I received a Brand spanking new unit. If it was a refurb, than I'd be shocked. The born on Date was December 16th, and the console looked completely untouched. The paper inside said that to speed up my turnaround time, they were replacing my console with a new one.

Refurbished junkers!

i just got a very clean refurb back from MS this week, the person on the phone said that they would do their best to send me back my original.

i ended up getting a letter with mine saying that the regretted that they could not repair it in a timely fashion (error code 0102) and that they had supplied me with a replacement unit and that they would change my warranty and registration over to the new unit. they also gave me a 1 month live card too.

i just got a very clean refurb back from MS this week, the person on the phone said that they would do their best to send me back my original.

i ended up getting a letter with mine saying that the regretted that they could not repair it in a timely fashion (error code 0102) and that they had supplied me with a replacement unit and that they would change my warranty and registration over to the new unit. they also gave me a 1 month live card too.


Trust me, they do it in their best interest not yours..