What to do now ...

[lePobz]

So, as seen in the other thread, my 360 is fried. It was a launch machine, and ... well, it's finally suffered the fate of most of the other launch machines.

The question is, what do I do now? I'm mad about Forza Motorsport, and it's out in May. I really need a 360 before the end of May. BUT... the Zephyr 360 is most likely out this Summer ... should I wait? or buy a new premium console now?

The other thing is, I can get a 60gb PS3 for ?399 inc. VAT ... that's cheap, but I can't play Forza 2 on a PS3, and at the end of the day, Sony can SMFB. Although, being a bit of a gadget freak, I do have an urge to buy a PS3.

What should I do?

 

[Dekstar]

Cant you wait and buy a 360 when you get Forza? They will be a bit cheaper by then.

 

[CptStern]

send the 360 in for repair? all 360s prior to a certain date are covered by an extended warrenty

 

[Ennui]

I'd get a PS3 and Motorstorm and forget about Forza

 

[lePobz]

send the 360 in for repair? all 360s prior to a certain date are covered by an extended warrenty

That used to be the case, but now it isn't. According to the indian at M$ tech support in Bangladesh, it's not covered by any warranty (despite being a launch machine) - so I have to pay to get it repaired. The cost of repair being almost the price of a new console. This is only a core machine (I bought all the extras seprately) so i'm after a premium now anyway.

Looks like this poll is getting me no closer to an idea of what to do... all 25 percent!

 

[CptStern]

just look at which system offers the most games you want now and in the future and buy that

 

[lePobz]

That's the thing ... I don't want a PS3, it's not offering anything over the 360 ... the 360 has exclusive titles I want, the only titles on the PS3 that I want are coming out on the 360 anyway. I've just got a foul taste in my mouth from xbox support and hardware. I definately want a 360 but I dont want anything to go wrong with it. I guess on the bright side i'll have a years warranty on a new one.

I so badly want the revised version though, the Zephyr - it has HDMI and the cool-running CPU (no, not a Jamaican bobsleigh team) - but there's no way this will be out before Forza 2 in May.

 

[TCfromBN]

That's the thing ... I don't want a PS3, it's not offering anything over the 360 ... the 360 has exclusive titles I want, the only titles on the PS3 that I want are coming out on the 360 anyway.

There. You just answered your own question.

 

[CptStern]

I so badly want the revised version though, the Zephyr - it has HDMI and the cool-running CPU (no, not a Jamaican bobsleigh team) - but there's no way this will be out before Forza 2 in May.

but you're paying a premium to be an early adopter again ..it's a limited run, the new version is likely to become the premium version; the core will most likely be phased out

 

[lePobz]

There. You just answered your own question.

Logic doesn't come between a gadgeteer and his gadgets, though. The urge for a PS3 is still there, just because its new and shiny.

 

[SAJ]

Where do you live Pobz? Because, if you live in the UK you are covered by the sale of goods act. Meaning you will be entitled to your money back, regardless of the limited warrenty offered by Microsoft.

You did keep your receipt, didn't you?

 

[lePobz]

Yeah i've got my receipt, but I rang up Dixons (now currys.digital) at white rose (where i bought it) and they just said its not covered under any warranty and since its a new fault that developed outside of warranty its gonna cost to repair.

 

[lePobz]

Delivery estimate: 29 Mar 2007
1 "Xbox 360 Console (Includes: Xbox 360, 20GB hard drive, wireless controller, ethernet cable, HD AV cable and headset)"
Video Game; �269.96

Sold by: Amazon.co.uk

Well, that's that. Thanks for the recommendations, but like some of you said ... I can't wait for Zephyr if I want to play Forza2 when it comes out, the only option was to buy a new one ... and since I wanted a premium ...

...On the plus side, my PS3 craving has gone away. Probably something to do with the big black hole thats just appeared in my bank account

 

[Krynn72]

What kind of PC you got?

 

[lePobz]

A crap one. Used to be good, but tired of paying lots of money to keep up in the rat race. That's why my gaming has gone to consoles and my PC is used for chatting/films/music/intarweb.

 

[Griz]

Where do you live Pobz? Because, if you live in the UK you are covered by the sale of goods act. Meaning you will be entitled to your money back, regardless of the limited warrenty offered by Microsoft.

You did keep your receipt, didn't you?

I think Saj is right - the Sale of Goods Act says something along the lines of a product has to be fit-for-purpose and of a reasonable quality. And UK case law generally has shown in favour of electrical goods being required to last a number of years to be considered reasonable quality, which in the case of your Xbox 360, which has lasted only around 2 years, it could be argued that it was never made to a suitable quality standard.

Personally, i would've contacted the Citizen's Advice Bureau or Trading Standards to get their opinion on your legal stance.

 

[lePobz]

I spoke to Microsoft, they said I had to pay for repairs. I spoke to the place where I got it, they said I had to pay for repairs. Anyway i've sold it to my mate so he can deal with it now.

 

[Evo]

And did you tell your mate in was borked o0

 

[dream431ca]

Other

Don't waste your money on a console..upgrade your PC!! But don't get the elite X360, your putting your money to waste. You might as well by a PS3 instead of that. A patch is coming out where all of the PS2 games and maybe PS1 games will be upgraded to 720p and 1080i and will have new textures and anti-alising...a lot of people are talking about that right now...but wait until forza 2 comes out to by a new X360.

 

[lePobz]

And did you tell your mate in was borked o0

Dude... what sort of monster do you think I am?

He's a smartarse so he's going to have a stab at fixing it himself.

 

[SAJ]

Well, its academic now that you've sold it, but you really should know your rights. An expensive games console should reasonably be expected to last beyond fifteen months without going wrong, thats the law (in theory).

Shops will try and tell you otherwise or they will tell you to take it up with the manufacturer, but the contract is between you and the seller only. All warrenties and guarantees are in addition to your statutory rights , not instead of them.

‘Satisfactory quality’ is further defined by section 14(2B) of the 1979 Act, so that the quality of goods ‘includes their state and condition and the following (among others) are in appropriate cases aspects of the quality of goods –


(a) fitness for all purposes for which goods of the kind in question are commonly supplied,

(b) appearance and finish,

(c) freedom from minor defects,

(d) safety, and

(e) durability’.

Sale of Goods Act Quick Facts

Subject: Sale of Goods Act, Faulty Goods.

Relevant or Related Legislation: Sale of Goods Act 1979. Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982. Sale and Supply of Goods Act 1994. The Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002.

Key Facts:

• Wherever goods are bought they must "conform to contract". This means they must be as described, fit for purpose and of satisfactory quality (i.e. not inherently faulty at the time of sale).

• Goods are of satisfactory quality if they reach the standard that a reasonable person would regard as satisfactory, taking into account the price and any description.

• Aspects of quality include fitness for purpose, freedom from minor defects, appearance and finish, durability and safety.

• It is the seller, not the manufacturer, who is responsible if goods do not conform to contract.

• If goods do not conform to contract at the time of sale, purchasers can request their money back "within a reasonable time". (This is not defined and will depend on circumstances)

• For up to six years after purchase (five years from discovery in Scotland) purchasers can demand damages (which a court would equate to the cost of a repair or replacement).

• A purchaser who is a consumer, i.e. is not buying in the course of a business, can alternatively request a repair or replacement.

• If repair and replacement are not possible or too costly, then the consumer can seek a partial refund, if they have had some benefit from the good, or a full refund if the fault/s have meant they have enjoyed no benefit

http://www.dti.gov.uk/consumers/fact-sheets/page38311_print.html

see also;
http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/RightsAndResponsibilities/DG_10015892
http://money.guardian.co.uk/experts/legal/story/0,,1787459,00.html
http://www.br0wn.co.uk/lawofshopping/
http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/cgi-bin/calitem.cgi?file=ADV0054-1111.txt

ps; If you decide to take action you seven days from receipt of goods to cancel your Amazon order

 

[lePobz]

I know all my rights and the legal bollox, but to be honest i couldnt give a toss. Even if M$ fix it, i'll only end up with the same core console. The hassle of sorting it out isnt worth the cost of a decent premium system anyway. I wanted a premium system at launch, but all that was available was that core system (and I was bloody lucky to get that). At least now i'll be happy with a premium and my mate will be happy with a core if he gets it fixed.

 

[SAJ]

I know all my rights and the legal bollox, but to be honest i couldnt give a toss. Even if M$ fix it, i'll only end up with the same core console. The hassle of sorting it out isnt worth the cost of a decent premium system anyway. I wanted a premium system at launch, but all that was available was that core system (and I was bloody lucky to get that).

No, thats ok you're welcome mate.

If you were aware of your rights I doubt you would have let yourself be fobbed off so easily in the first place.

 

[lePobz]

I don't doubt I could have got a free repair if i'd been a twat to the customer service indians and been put through to a manager. I don't want the same console back, and I don't want to mess about with sending it away for repair either. It's got a really noisy DVD drive anyway - as soon as you load a game, it sounds like an industrial fan. The drives in later models were replaced with much quieter ones.

Thanks for the info though, maybe you should start a sticky'ed thread for others that want to exercise their rights.

 

[Evo]

Dude... what sort of monster do you think I am?

He's a smartarse so he's going to have a stab at fixing it himself.

An evil genius called Monsieur Le Pobz?

 

[Sebastian]

I would hold off on buying either a zephyr or a premium console. from what I understand, once the limited edition zephyr consoles sell out, they will release the 120 gb hard drive as part of the premium console for $399.00. Either that or just buy a core console and salvage what you can off your current 360. (hard drive, controllers, ect.)

 

[BabyHeadCrab]

Wait for PS3, never thought I'd say this.. ever.. but I actually had the chance to play it, and fl0w / Resistance are just solid as hell..

 

[lePobz]

Oh balls, they've just confirmed the Elite and its on sale at the end of April (in the states) ... the PAL version won't be till june/july or even later, though.