Quality of Microsoft repairs: refurbs and new consoles?

SiD the Turtle · 7 Oct 2007 at 20:00

A straw poll if you will, I'm about to send Xbox number two off to MS. The first one died in the first year so it went back to [competitor] so this is the first one MS are getting their hands on.

I hear now and then that some people are getting new ones as replacements. Others are getting refurbs. Those people that have had to return their consoles, what did you get in return? If you got yours or another refurb, what condition was it in as mine - apart from the 3RLOD - is immaculate.

dannyjo22 · 7 Oct 2007 at 20:38

I've had 3 immaculate refurbs back. My mate just sent hos off and got a brand new console instead.

wannabedamned · 7 Oct 2007 at 20:41

My friend has had 3 returned, first 2 were refurbs, but in perfect condition. latest is a new one, and is going strong.

roboffer · 7 Oct 2007 at 20:55

I returned mine last month, got mine back repaired in under two weeks.

SiD the Turtle · 7 Oct 2007 at 21:11

Question: If they were immaculate refurbs how can you tell?

Nexus · 7 Oct 2007 at 21:22

Manafacture date I assume?

I sent my console I purchased a year ago, to MS in August. They sent me a replacement which had a manafacture date of around November last year (Refurb?)

The DVD drive on it died with less than a weeks use. They sent me a new one with a manafacture date of just a few weeks ago. However it has a problem also! You have to switch it on twice as first time you turn it on it gives you one red ring and an E74 error. Switch it off and on and it works fine. If it wasnt for Halo 3 I would have sent that one straight back too.

Kipper67 · 7 Oct 2007 at 21:24

SiD the Turtle said:
Question: If they were immaculate refurbs how can you tell?

Different serial no on the back?

Any got mine back last week repaired - new motherboard and drive - so it was the same condition as when it was sent.

SiD the Turtle · 7 Oct 2007 at 21:39

Ah, luckily I wrote down the serial number and manufacturer date before I sealed it in the box

NokkonWud · 7 Oct 2007 at 21:45

It will likely be your own as they are getting quicker turnarounds, if not you'll get a solid refurb.

SiD the Turtle · 20 Oct 2007 at 18:14

Update for anyone that's interested:

I just phoned Xbox support for an update and it's sitting in the warehouse waiting to be picked up by UPS. Yay more Halo for me!

Buffman · 20 Oct 2007 at 18:34

Thanks for making this thread, mine broke recently (it was from jan 06) and I was wondering what kind of box I'd get back.

Psyk · 20 Oct 2007 at 19:36

I got a refurb and it wasn't quite in perfect condition. The flap on the front where the USB ports are is loose. It's a minor point so I didn't really care, but still it would have been nice to have something as if it was new.

Tunney · 21 Oct 2007 at 00:42

Got a refurb the first time I sent mine back. The refurb turned out to have a dodgy DVD drive, so I sent it back. Just got the same console returned but the note attached says that they're replaced... the motherboard! We'll see how it goes when I fire it up tomorrow.

Darryn · 21 Oct 2007 at 00:45

Ive just had a refurb back, I know this because the front USB flap is held closed with Blue-Tac... I was quite annoyed by this, but, im more interested in playing PGR4 and Sega Rally to bother trying to get it sent back and replaced with another Refurb or New one... As long as this one keeps working im happyish.

fish99 · 21 Oct 2007 at 00:50

Sent mine off twice and both times got my own console back repaired. First time it took 2 weeks, second time (recently) 1 week. 2nd time I got the new GPU heatsink. No problems since.

Yas786 · 21 Oct 2007 at 01:03

Had my old premium sent back and repaired, i would say the quality of thier repairs is spot on...mine came back more quieter with a new dvd drive, which was much more quieter than the one in it before.

Traded it in the other day for an elite system which im pretty happy with.

tsinc80697 · 21 Oct 2007 at 11:42

got my console back yesterday, was a refurb built before the one that broke was!
Something rattles around inside the case as well if you shake it, sounds like a small screw is lodged somewhere :/

geordie10 · 21 Oct 2007 at 20:19

tsinc80697 said:
got my console back yesterday, was a refurb built before the one that broke was!
Something rattles around inside the case as well if you shake it, sounds like a small screw is lodged somewhere :/

The rattle you are getting is the ball bearing switch which is there to tell the console which way the console is being used either vertical or horizontal.
Its nothing to worry about.

Alrik · 21 Oct 2007 at 20:38

tsinc80697 said:
got my console back yesterday, was a refurb built before the one that broke was!

Does it really matter when it was built? They re-use what they can and replace all the broken bits with new ones. My original was built March 2006 and the refurb I got back was a November 2005 and it runs a lot cooler and quieter then my original ever did.

In most cases they just re-use the shells of the 360's and replace all the insides with new parts, which means it will still have the sticker on the bottom with the date it was originally manufactured.

Mooron455 · 21 Oct 2007 at 22:09

Mine died a little while back, the motherboard was screwed and the disc drive was faulty just to add to it. I sent it back and within 5 days of waiting it came back, i'd say thats pretty good to be honest, they replaced the motherboard and disc drive and it was definetly mine because theres a scratch over the "o" in the xbox 360 indentation. Its now working great by the way, no problems at all, yet...