Which Video Game Company is Best at Repairs? Nintendo vs Microsoft vs Sony

AG: We’ve all had that time at some point when our console or hand held throws a tantrum and refuses to turn out, hold itself together or run the software to its best ability.
So, what happens when this occurs? Well, of course you send it into the manufacturer to get a repair… or do you? Our inquest into the support and repair options provided by the big three gaming companies — Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony — prove that you may want to avoid doing that, and you may be better off heading to a third party.

[Snookies12]

Sony is DEFINITELY not... They will just send you a replacement system instead of fixing the one you sent in... -_- Had that happen with two PSP's actually. I could tell they were different systems as well.

[iamnsuperman]

Is that such a bad thing???? I remembered one my first PS3 started to freeze on a game. I was worried so I called up Sony who sent a guy round with a pink box. Put mine in took the replacement out (for free because of it being in warranty). Happened in a few days. That is good service.

[Snookies12]

Yes... IT IS a bad thing for me... I had a special edition KH PSP which they swapped for a Gran Turismo one. I like GT don't get me wrong, but I didn't want that one, so it is a big deal for some people. I sent it in to get "fixed" not swapped out.

[iamnsuperman]

@Snookies12. Well that sucks. I assumed you complained because I would have. I am surprised they did that

[Soldierone]

Depends. When my Original PS3 was breaking I was scared of it. My friend did it, had an original like me, got back a newer model and could no longer play PS2 games. Same when the slims released, people were getting slims back for a while.

I forget if it were a controller or console, but my friend sent his in when he went back to HK, they sent him back a white version.

[Eddie20101]

I have never had to have any of My Sony or Nintendo things repaired, but I have had two Xbox 360's break, both were sent in for repair and both times I was sent referbished 360's.

[glennco]

i was about to be on my third ps2 when i decided to get an xbox instead. one in warranty and the next time out of warranty so i bought an xbox. that xbox lasted 1 month and the hdd died so i took it back and got another which lasted me about 18 months. ps2 both times it was the dvd drive, xbox was hdd and then dvd.

all companies suck when it comes to repairs because they don't repair it straight away, they give you a refurb.

[darkride66]

Microsoft does the exact same thing as far as I know. I'm on my 4th 360, and each one was a completely different serial number. The 4th console they sent me was older than the one it replaced. It's no wonder if you had one rrod, you probably had multiple rrod's because MS never fixed the problem, they just sent you someone else's refurbished console that probably already rrod'd once already.

I don't know about turn around time, but since I've been a 360 owner I've been without a console for close to 4 months before I simply gave up gaming on the damn thing. And I'm not even going to get into the nightmare I experienced of repair fees, missing refunds of repair fees, hours spent on the phone, being put on hold and hung up on multiple times, fights to even get them to take a faulty console back that they had just sent me as a replacement. Ugh.

I'm sure others have similar stories of Nintendo and Sony as well, but I never have. Microsoft, hands down put me through the worst customer service experience I've ever been subject to.

[ALLWRONG]

True, MS does swap consoles when they come in for repair. They all do it because it gets the replacement out faster and customers are happy. MS and Nintendo are a little faster because of the restrictions Sony has on accounts. When you get your PS3 back you end up having to call Sony support again.

[frostyhat123]

I have to disagree, microsft repair has been brilliant for me.

[frostyhat123]

Same here my 120 gig ps3 broke after a year and half, and Sony wanted me to pay $100. Gah it made me so mad!

[allyc4t]

When my Xbox got an RROD, I called MS and they sent me a shipping box within a few days. After I mailed my broken Xbox out, I got a new one within a week. I was really surprised how quick and easy this was, and best of all, it was free.

[nukeitall]

MS really stepped up their customer service. Surprise about Nintendo though, I always hear good things about them.

[Skateboard]

I've never had a electronic dud

[one2thr]

Lucky enough, me niether :)
I hope I did just jynxed myself :(

[Skateboard]

I'm still on my 80 gig MGS4 bundle PS3. She is a big bitch.

[DivineAssault]

idk.. My PS3 60GB never messed up to say.. nor ps2 or ps1.. My 360 20GB RRD, my black elite RRD, this new slim model still good.. I must say that they did make the repairs free of charge & gave me a month of xbl for the trouble.. Good customer service.. None of my nintendo systems messed up either.. Hell, i still have my NES

[one2thr]

Still got my PS3 phatty running strong, but my first and only xbox experience was my last... Because it fried itself as soon as my dad turned it on... So I 've hated xbox ever since then, whereas my mom through my PS2 with Need for Speed most wanted down a flight of stairs, because I didnt hear her calling me(zoned out lol) i got curious picked it up off the floor and it worked, i only had to place the lid back into the joint and then i kept playin... Since then I stayed even more loyal to the playstation brand... And oh yeah an Air port security guard also dropped my phatty on tthe conveyor belt... That pissed me off to the fullest!! }:<(

[Tuxedo_Mask]

My NES broke when I was a kid, but luckily my dad was able to fix it. Haven't had a problem with it since.

[one2thr]

Funny story: my older brother tried to clean off our nes in the bath tub when we were a lot younger, but my dad stopped him lol

[r21]

that one year warranty thing for sony products, is that for all regions or just the US?

[mamotte]

The one that don't need to repair anything, Nintendo.

[cstyle]

Probably MS since they probably had to do it the most. Never had a 360 to go out on me though. Had to replace my first PS3 60 gig once though.

[TheGreatIndonesia]

cool story bro!

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

lol u own a ps3?

[cstyle]

sure do... I call it my blu-ray player though..lol

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

***"I call it my blu-ray player though"***

Oh, that explains it. You had me scratching my head for a while there.

[Hicken]

I think he means to say he has a blu ray player, but thinks it's a PS3. That's why he hates all the games and Sony: they don't work in his "PS3."

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

LMAO!

[Th3 Chr0nic]

One thing they all have in common.....

None of them repair their own products. When you think you are shipping your console to MS,Sony, or Nintendo you are really sending it to a repair facility that is contracted by one of the big 3. This is also the case with laptops and pretty much all electronics.

You ship your console or laptop, if they have a backlog they will just verify your problem(maybe) and add it to the pile of to be repaired units, and then ship you a fully repaired tested cleaned up system. this enables them to have that quick turn around when they have backlog.

also worth noting that most consoles arent even manufactured by MS, sony or nintendo. they are designed and engineered by them but the actual manfacturing is also contracted out. most notably to flextronics, who also do TONS of repairs too lol.
IF you ever ship a device to Memphis, TN to be repaired then it is most likely going to flextronics. texas also has lot of repair centers

[omarzy]

no problems with wii, ps3, 360, ds, or psp, ever!

[Shnazzyone]

Back in 2001 I bought a virtual boy off ebay. The stand got a hairline crack and fell apart. Called nintendo and they replaced it for free. One time I called because my nunchuck wasn't working well and I thought it was a short. They sent me a new nunchuck. I later found out it was because the nunchuck port was dirty. in 2004 nintendo sent me a full replacement kit for 3 n64 controllers for a system I got 2nd hand, no questions asked.

When it comes to nintendo. They always shine in my mind as the kings of customer service.

[h311rais3r]

While the 360 screwed up a lot they do replace a broken one free of charge within a week so it's great customer service.

[kma2k]

When my 40gb ps3 stopped reading discs i called up sony & after talkin to a CSR who was either talking out his rear or really didnt know anything about what he was talking about, i was actually told "since my system was older, it cant handle playing newer gamess" lmao but anyways i talked to a "manager" & they agreed to fix it for free for me. The first one they sent out YLOD on me in 5 weeks, so i sent that one back & still use that one dailey, its been over 2 years now.