The Microsoft Customer Service Horror Show

Kotaku has heard of some truly terrible experiences with customer service, but nothing comes close to Speaker Ender's from achieve360points.com. If you are not familiar with it, achieve360points.com is a website that lists the various achievements that can be garnered by playing various Xbox games and they do an excellent job. Not only that, but these are true, dyed in the wool Xbox fans who are giving the system a ton of free advertisement with their website and have sung Xbox's praises from here to the end of the internet.

Speaker Ender has posted an article on said website detailing his excruciatingly frustrating experiences with MS customer service through 1-800-4MY-XBOX.

[Itachi]

some people never learn

you should listen to your president

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

LOL

[CRIMS0N_W0LF]

What a retard...

[stunt213]

Wow i cant believe that idiot still wants 360 after 3 of them died on him and get treated like sh!t from their customer service. He is a truly xbox fan.

[Mu5afir]

There is a reason they are called "Xbots". They are emotionless / brainless drones that will support the "mother ship" (Xbox / Microsoft) until the end.

[jaja1434]

Right they are the dumb ones? Say you have 6 PS3 games and for whatever reason the thing dies 3 times, however unlikely that is, your saying you would just say screw it return all 6 games that you love and throw away the PS3. Yea the ones trying to get their 360 repaired for free are the dumb ones here...

[TheExecutive]

jaja... i guess the smart one is the one that doesnt buy a broken product in the first place.

[KingME]

How does one single person’s problem and point of view become news for the masses? One could argue that there are others that have had problems with their Xbox also. My counter argument would be, you are right, and there are 25 - 50 story posted on this site to support that. So why do we post another one every time solitary person that has another problem? I honestly believe that the person that posted this is a PS3 fanboy, and had this been a Sony issue, he in particular would not have posted it. IMO.

You know what; I'm not going to get too into this crap, bottom line. I think this guy is either pissed off because of a bad outcome with MS CS and now he is really exaggerating his story. Or he is the biggest moron on the planet for continuing to buy stuff while having problems. Not to mention his note taking is too detailed, there's no way he starting taking notes form the first time he called MS CS (he would have no reason to.) I just don't buy it. His information is hype well beyond belief.

Also, I can't even imagine spending 25,000 point in online content. He is also quoting what he paid as if when he got screwed by MS, all of the stuff he bought magically disappeared out of his house. The controllers, do you still have them? Then shut up. Do you still have the retail games you bought? Then shut up. Bottom line, your Xbox is broken (399.99) and you’re pissed wait for it to come back, and STFU just like the others do.

If you don't want a 360 anymore, sell it and get a PS3. But, please DON’T come back and tell us your story of how you had to sell your 360 we really "DGAF". I wish I knew his gamer tag; I’d go online and make him think his ISP is screwing him; because his keeps getting his ARSE kicked.

[CyberSentinel]

Is with DRM not RRoD. Heres the fix, log into your Live account so your wife and kids can play the Arcade games. You can setup Xbox to auto-log into this account everytime its turned on. Problem solved. Does it suck that you can't play games offline? Yes it does. But digital rights management is needed so that developers who spend 10's to sometimes 100's of thousands of dollars can be compensated for their hard work.

Otherwise everyone would just transfer games on memory cards and "SHARE" them.

p.s. Nice try Kotaku, but the Sentinel is no lemming.

[Wii60_FTW]

what can we say. at least the 360 has a 3 year warranty...oh...and games. owned.

[synetic]

Wii60_FTW sure but when the console is reparing it takes 3 weeks ( 3 weeks that you dont play games ) and about games ... use your brain DUDE ps3 is a year younger

and wait we dont have to pay 50 dollars a year ^^ killzone 2 will be 1024 i not 640p like halo 3 >__< call of duty 4 will better for ps3 ( confirmed by the developers ) STFU now

[djt23]

lol lol that is really funny too me

[marionz]

this horror show/story is a combonation of a cr@p site (kotaku) and a fanboy poster (dirtysouf)

is this news? NO

[marinelife9]

That is the reason I will not buy one until they get all of that stuff sorted out. Who cares if they will fix it for free if I have to go through all those headaches to get it done.

[Nameless]

News4Gamers ? More like Idiots&Opinions4Gamers

[Squeely]

What's the matter Ted? Can't handle the truth?

[PimpHandHappy]

yea btw Bush 43 is a fool

but anyone that still backs a product after all those issues is a bigger fool!

[SpeakerEnder]

I wrote the original article, and I'd like to consider myself not to be a fool. Nor a fanboy.

The fact is, I spent most of last generation playing PS2, and and GameCube for the Mario, Zelda, and Metroids. I had more PS2's break (4) than I have had Xbox 360's break (3). It's a good thing I didn't give up on the PS2, it ended up being a superior game console.

As long as their are videogame consoles, there will be defective units. I've been around long enough to accept that this is just the way it is.

[HeartlesskizZ]

Their costumer support is not the best, they put me on hold when I called for disk scratching. after that they said we are not responsible....
I never let my 360 fall or get stuff on top of it so I dont see how was that not their fall. well Im thinking on getting the elite but I also hear that it got some problems to...anyone know what problems?

[PimpHandHappy]

i cant wait to hear all these 360ppl tell us this is fake. He didnt have a RROD issue and he didnt lose all that money. Im starting to think buying a 360 for a few good games really isnt worth it.

[DEADEND]

Dude I own one it's no big deal trust me, you have all these 360 fanboys telling you it's a bad idea to own a PS3 when in fact it's the best investment I ever made in a console. The PS3 is the most reliable console out there in the market, hell I bought one because my 360 broke down on me. Your best bet it to get a 360 when they become reliable that's my advise to you. And if think I'm lieing about owning a 360 look at my profile my gamertag is right there for viewing, there's no reason for me to lie to you. Both consoles are good but it's a safer investment to get a PS3, with great exclusives just around the corner it's a safe bet if you ask me(MGS4, KILLZONE 2, FFXIII & VERSUS, LBP , AND GT5).

[SpeakerEnder]

Original author here. I would ABSOLUTELY say that owning an Xbox 360 is worth it. I have just had a bad run of luck. I really didn't intend for this story to get so much publicity and for it to be used as a fanboy battleground, or I would have definitely phrased some things differently.

[SECRETzSQUIRREL]

You know whats sad and disturbing that some of these Xbots Like this Fool posting "SpeakerEnder" who just joined N4G 55 minutes ago lol is pretending to be the original SpeakerEnder at achieve360points.com
Just to prove my point, did you notice what this Faker just said in his post, here i will quote it:
" I really didn't intend for this story to get so much publicity and for it to be used as a fanboy battleground, or I would have definitely phrased some things differently."
The real SpeakerEnder runs the website were the story is and could easily edit his own post. He would not say a statement like above the fact is he would just do it. Just goes to show you how stupid some xbots can be.. lol

The best these Xbots can do is attempt to lie and make the 360 appear wonderfull. Ya see they have to stoop to these levels because its well known that the 360 is total junk and 1800-my-Xrock is useless.
So stop all this pretending and lieing, Just Face the facts already the 360 lost the console war, everybody knows the 360 is going the way of dreamcast and it will be just a bad memory in 2 years time.

[SpeakerEnder]

If you want to be sure it's me, go ahead and send me an Xbox Live message (gamertag: Speaker Ender) and I'll confirm it. I might not get back to you right away, since I only have access to Xbox.com since my 360 is being replaced, but I will verify my identity to anyone who wishes.

You are confused, I do not run www.achieve360points.com. I am a moderator in their forums and was asked by Monster 2 of 2, one of the admins, if I could write the story for the website. I had never been to this site before Sabuc from a360p told me that it was posted here.

Yes, I registered today--but only because I was amazed at how people were twisting my words--which they had obviously not even read. This is my first day on this site, and I know that I do not know how things usually work around here, but I just wanted to tell my side of the story, rather than let the fanboys (on either side) tell it for me.

Hope that clears things up.

[Duke Nukem]

Is a fact 360 is not for the long run but sure has the best games "right now".

[jaja1434]

SO by that logic you should buy a 360 "now" and when the PS3 has their Library out and about you should get the PS3 then with the added boon that it will cheaper by then.

[HeavyweightInTheGame]

I find them very hard to work with. One thing I will admit though is that the repair service is great. My 360 RROD on me a few weeks back and got it back within two weeks. They are great with handling the repairs, but they need more help on their customer service reps.

[PimpHandHappy]

for the 360 to become reliable and also for a price cut. Im thinking by the middle of 08 i can get the Elite for 300 bucks and by then they will have a real nice list of 360only games i will want to play.

I dont want PGR just because i like my racer to be more sim the arcade. I would get Forza b4 PGR but with GT prolouge and GT5 coming in the end of next year i wont need any other racer. Mass Effect is one game i really want to sit and play for weeks. Im sure when i get my 360 for 300bucks i can get that game for 30!

peace

ADD ON: King Me

I dont know how old this unit was but i have a friend with a launch 360 and it has never broke on him. He didnt even think there was a problem with the units even thou my other friend has gone through 2.

Im not hating on the 360. It makes good games. But i spent the big money on my PS3 and its a gem of a entertainment hub. I have had this thing on for massive hours and still no issues. If anyone will get a busted PS3 it will be me because i use it for everything.

[KingME]

how old was the 360 that this guy spoke of, was it one of the launch versions. I am hearing a lot less about 360 made in 2007 actually breaking. Perhaps it is time for you to jump in.

A friend of mine has already had his PS3 screw up on him. The touch sensitive power button on the unit is not working. He had to use his controller or his BD remote to turn it on. He really didn't see it as a big deal, he just too it back to walmart and exchange it after 90 days. Go figure, I think some of these cases and people being overly whiny. The way I see if is SH!T breaks, there's no way around it.

[hurricane22]

kingme is a f*cking tool. he's trying to negate the validity of this article while simultaneously claiming that "sh!t breaks". is that it? is that all you've got? of course sh!t breaks... dip sh!t. it's the frequency with which they break that makes all the difference. i guaranty you that my ps3 will break within the next 15-20 years just as i can guarante that your xbox will not survive past 2 more years. haha sucker... Bill Gates just nutted in your mouth.

[SpeakerEnder]

The first Xbox 360 that died was a launch console which I purchased at the Zero Hour event at Best Buy in Lancaster, CA. The second and third consoles were refurbished replacements, and I did not write down the manufacture date.

I do know that you are correct however and that the defects that lead to so many RRoD's has been corrected in NEW units, but the units sent out as replacements are always refurbished.

I mean, what would you do with all those broken Xbox 360's that have shown up in the mail if you were Microsoft? You can't just throw them away...

[KingME]

Hey man, thanks for clarifying your piece, although there is some confusion as to where you bought your 1st console,because in the original story you said "I bought Xbox 360 #1 on launch day, 2005, from Best Buy with a 2 year product replacement plan. I did not have a single problem for well over a year, but then it died in March of 2007." Then above @8.3 you said "The first Xbox 360 that died was a launch console which I purchased at the Zero Hour event in Lancaster, CA." But, it doesn't matter. My box is doing fine and if it breaks within three years, MS will fix or replace it. Whatever.

@hurricane22 - BOY, I got your f*ckin tool hanging and most of the time while it hanging your momma is dangling from it. It you wanna come on here and call someone out, then you picked the right person you ignorant @$$ retarded fool! I guess you can also call "it" a "DipSh!t" (Depending on which way she's facing.)

Nothing annoys me more than when some Jerk off (like YOU), gets on this site and feels that its okay to make a direct personal attack on someone. I guess they are suppose to be afraid and just take it.

hurricane22, KISS MY ARSE, you arogant PS3 playing IDIODIC F*ckin' LOSER!

[Vavoom]

Man, you were a little harsh even though hurricane was being a KNOB.
But, I agree with you 100 percent. The dude just jumped in out of nowhere and starting slandering....haha go figure.

You know being that he is a PS3 fanboy (pretty obvious) he could have just read it and moved on being that it was a 360 news thread. But instead he and many like him, decided to pounce in and start bashing. (Although some of the 360 guys does the same thing in PS3 threads.)

Anyway, yeah it is annoying and I feel ya man.

[jackfatal]

u r right to attack back to him!! but u have no right at all to mention his mother!! what the hell in the world did his mother got to do with u or what have she done that u say all these things to her??

he kept it personal between u and him so dont go off topic and mention his family members or something like that!!

360 is the most unreliable console i ever heard of thats a fact!!
whether it has the best games in the world or not thats another topic!!

[KingME]

You are 100 percent correct, and I apologize to all offended by my little tirade. People talks so much smack on this site that sometimes it build up and possibly get's the best of you. I agree I was out of line. Also, where I'm from, once you make a personal attack on someone, personal is personal, whether it you, or anyone in your family.

But again, I was out of line and I apologize. I need to just read the news on this site either smile or shake my head and move on. Thanks for your input.

[WafflesID]

Where did all these PS3 fanboys come from?

THIS IS 360 NEWS. WHY ARE YOU EVEN IN HERE?! WHY?

Nothing better to do but to read about a console you obviously hate with every ounce of your being?

God you people are freaking retarded.

WE KNOW you don't like the 360 already. BELIEVE ME WE KNOW. Stop trying to remind us every 5 freaking minutes.

This is a horrible situation for him, and maybe something CONSTRUCTIVE can be done about sharing this info. If a high profile 360 fansite has this kind of experience maybe someone higher up in MS will see it. Who knows. But for all you lame ass PS3 fanboys to flood in here and take over this thread with your assinine bullshit doesn't help ANYONE and sure as hell doesn't do any good.

[Mu5afir]

So, tell us what would be good WafflesID. Promoting a system after it died on you, you lost the money you invested. You received terrible customer service, and you received no compensation for the time you had to stay on the phone or being able to play your system.

By the way, this topic is on the front page.

[DEADEND]

That's why I bought a PS3 and I've been really happy ever since.

[WafflesID]

So you take this one EXTREME example of bad service that is far from the norm and you use that as the basis for your opinion. Brilliant.

Not everyone has this kind of experience. It happens, but hell, it can happen with ANY company. I've had it happen with me and Abit. Doesn't mean everyone else has a bad experience with abit.

We don't need your fanboy bullshit here. It's ruining this site. You lame asses can take some genuinely good news articles and just ruin them by turning them into "MY CONSOLE IS BETTER THANYOUR CONSOPLE" crap.

and BTW. It's only on the front page because of you damn fanboys flocking in here and flooding it with pro-ps3 propaganda.

"Published: 13 hours ago | Article | Xbox 360"

Wow that sure looks like Xbox 360 only to me. Why do you even CARE about anything that has to do with the 360 like this whether or not it is on the front page? You really that stupid that you think there is going to be the latest PS3 bioshock rumor hidden in there so you have to click on it?

[ElementX]

My MS customer support calls have been a pleasant experience. I didn't have my calls outsourced to India and the representatives were courteous to me.

[secret]

But the point is that you called and developed a long-term relationship with your new MS repair hotline friend.

In contrast, hardly any PS3 owners call anyone at the Sony PS3 customer service hotline. Sony probably doesn't even need a repair hotline but a praise hotline. The only articles on the PS3 quality is that it's good.

I'm glad you shedded some light on the reality of the RROD issue, whether you realize it or not.

[THESWAT]

microsoft got freakin mexicans in their workplaces, and i though american didnt want anymore mexicans in their country

[ElementX]

So I guess you never go to any restaurants?

[TheExecutive]

well, i am pretty sure mexicans can speak and write better english than you...

[rabidvibes]

why the racist comment?

and sony makes great products just like the ps2.... if it wasn't so easy to hack I wouldn't of replaced that system 3 times....

I will get a ps3 so Im no hater, I can't wait till they get good games, but the xbox 3 yr warranty is great what other console or electronic comes with that?

[BrassMonkey]

lol thats very true...

[Enigma_2099]

Ah yes... it's a comin...

[DEADEND]

I got my 360 in Nov 06 it's just turning a year old so there's your answer, like I said I only bought a PS3 only after it broke down on me. And I've been happy ever since.

To KingMe: The PS3 is the most reliable system out there and it's been proven, only less then 1% failer rate.

[Mikey_Gee]

My first console was back to me in 7 days TOTAL.

But it arrived with a bad DVD drive and back it went (none of this cost me a $ of course). But that time around the service place (Teleplan in Canada at the time) F'd up big and it was gone 6 weeks.

But for my trouble I was given a FREE copy of GEARS OF WAR, a wireless controller and 3 months of XBL ..... ALL FREE .... did not cost me a penny.

I love my 360 and the many many hours XBL gives me. I have to many games and gadgets for it to turn my back on it. BUT ... I also look very forward to adding a PS3 to my console collection this Christmas.

BRING ON KILLZONE ......... :-)

And PLEASE PLEASE have all the online features XBL has when you push out the next firmware. PSN right now is not what "I" want it to be. But his firmware may change all that.

FOR THOSE OUT OF WARRANTY ON THE 360 ... CHECK THIS SITE OUT ... "FANTASTIC GUYS FROM WHAT I HERE"

http://xb360reflow.com/xbox...

[bohemian 23]

Sega cd was the greatest console known to mankind!

[teto83]

Custumer service isn`t only a Microsoft problem,the fact is that all of the mayor corporations have a terrible records when it comes to costumer service.
Refuse to live in fear xbox fans...buy a PS3.

[Mikey_Gee]

.... only hours and hours every night of game bliss.

At least I am open minded enough to buy a PS3 at Christmas to enjoy it AS WELL. But I assure you, my 360 is not going ANYWHERE !!

[SpenserTracy]

12 million 360 sold? More like 5-6 million and one million giveaways to companies. Replacements 5-6 million replacing every defective unit two to three times. Nice way to say you sold more than you did. MS are destroying the gaming community. A boycott is at hand.

[Mikey_Gee]

.. you forgot to take your meds today !!!

[MrWegman]

I can relate... this past week I called Microsoft 6 times- each time I was promised someone would call me back about my case (each time took about an hour and I talked to a different supervisor each time). I was given a time frame of when someone was suppose to call me- no phone call each time. I still am without an xbox 360- it died Aug. 11th (<-- that was my third one that died since launch). My case number has so many notes attached to it, but no one in a higher position has called me back. Each time a supervisor adds his or her notes. I filled out a BBB complaint- I really don't know what else I can do.

I also purchased Microsoft's extended warranty- a waste of $60 because it does nothing for me- their service contract states that if your console can not be repaired then you would receive a replacement with the latest features- they are unwilling to honor this.... I love the 360- when it is working. My HD DVD drive is worthless right now-:(

[mikeslemonade]

I've seen worst stories than this. Like the guy who had 11 broken 360s.

[boodybandit]

I own 3 units though. I have been on a good run though. I haven't had any problems in nearly a year. It does kind of suck that I had to go through that and I always wonder when the next one will fail. A couple went bad on updates and I get nervous every time a new update comes out.

Why do / did I put up with it?
The games.

No I sure as heck wasn't happy about it. Actually I think it's freaking pathetic but what can you do if you want to play the games made a for a specific system and not found on another?

Oh btw, MS's repair department is horrible. Anyone that says anything different either has incredible luck or only had to go through one repair. I had 3 returned to me that needed to go back immediately because of defective disc drives or loosened inputs. But in MS's defense (hard to believe I can defend them after having that many problems) that was with in the first few months after the system launched.

[dfcm2003]

STOP BUYING THE XBOX 360!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!! LOL, Why even bother with a company like this? O the Games? Well that just shows that MS has purchased you, with a few games, you are their puppets. You want keep buying their stuff, so enjoy.

If you have gone through any of these problems and you are still a xbox supporter, then you deserve everything you are getting. sorry

[WafflesID]

you damned moron. Why else do you buy a console? THE GAMES. thats the ONLY reason.

Unless it's the PS3, then you actually have a legit reason to buy it and have no intention whatsoever to buy a single game for it ever. Which does say a lot for the PS3.

And NEITHER of my 360s (and none of my friend's 360s) have had problems. There are a LOT of failures, no doubt, but not every damned one of them like you retards keep trying to make it out to be.

[HarryEtTubMan]

I've gotten 2 RROD

[ALMIGHTYPS3]

Repair service?I didn't know one exsisted!>Ps3 owner.

nuff said...

[SpeakerEnder]

...and I am amazed to see how many words have been put into my mouth.

I wrote the article not because I wanted to talk about how horrible the Xbox 360 is--it's still my favorite next-gen console, and I own all three. I wrote this simply to get input on where I could go from here for a resolution. I believe that my Service Request has been lost in the system.

I am NOT a victim of an evil soulless corporation, I am a victim of tremendously bad luck, a combination of unfortunate circumstances (having exchanged one console through Best Buy, and one through MS, having multiple seperate profiles in use in my family, etc.), and having the problem strike right as Microsoft was in the middle of changing their policies (extending warranties) which created confusion.

As for being an "Xbot," I actually am an adult and have been through more than one console launch--and realize that s#$% happens to nearly console maker other than Nintendo. I have had a Dreamcast die, a Game Gears die, a 3D0 die, a Playstation die spectacularly (caught on fire!), a Colecovision that was broken out of the box, and worst of all, 4 PS2's die in a 3 month period. It's just a fact of life when you are an early adopter for new consoles.

To tell you the truth, I'm actually impressed that Microsoft is even exchanging the 360's free of charge nearly 2 years after I bought it. I had to return all 4 PS2's to Best Buy and threaten to do a chargeback on my credit card if they wouldn't take it back.

But this isn't about which console maker sucks more--they all have problems. I wrote this article to tell how the combination of restrictive DRM's and a defective console can break downloadable content--or at least severely limit it.

I'm sorry that this seems to have been a fanboy baiting story, but when all is said and done, I hope that this story will not discourage anyone from buying an Xbox 360. I have been without a working 360 for a couple weeks now, and let me tell you, Lair and Resistance cannot ever take the place of Halo 3 or the Orange Box.

Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to get my say in--especially since it's obvious that few people actually read what I said, and those of you who did looked to pull my comments out of context to fuel your fanboy flame machines. :)

APPARENTLY, I CANNOT POST ANYMORE, SO IF YOU WANT TO VERIFY MY IDENTITY, SEND A XBOX LIVE MESSAGE TO "SPEAKER ENDER" AND I WILL RESPOND. It may not be right away since I can only get my messages from Xbox.com while my Xbox 360 is being repaired, but I will reply. Or, you can send me a PM at achieve360points.com.

I have no idea why anyone would want to fake being me, but you are welcome to believe what you will. It would be nice if you actually tried to contact me though, BEFORE you decide to call me a liar.

Oh, and I registered only an hour ago because I'd never even heard of this site until a member on my forum told me the article had been linked to here and I decided to register so that I could comment. So, YES, I registered only to comment on this story.

Cheers!

[SECRETzSQUIRREL]

Give it up faker we all know that your pretending to be the writer of this story and who is just another retarded Xboter who created this name/user on N4g less then 1 hour ago( look at his profile..lol) trying to make yet another blow to the 360 seem better then what it actualy is. Get a life loser. The entire world knows the 360 is the only gaming console in history to have a 33% failure rate. Its total junk, a waste of money, people are getting screwed left and right with buying online content (myself included). Just face it the 360 is a sinking ship. Anyone who buys a 360 now after knowing the facts about failure rates, the loyal 360 fans getting ripped off and ignored etc.. is a total Tard and deserves to have there money taken away.

Again to prove this Poster on N4g is a total fake and Xbot fanboy lieing to everyone here is what he said above.
N4G SpeakerEnder stated above: "8.3 - @KingMe The first Xbox 360 that died was a launch console which I purchased at the Zero Hour event in Lancaster, CA. The second and third consoles were refurbished replacements, and I did not write down the manufacture date."

Now a statment from the original Story "I bought Xbox 360 #1 on launch day, 2005, from Best Buy with a 2 year product replacement plan."

LOL this fanboy is BUSTED!

[WafflesID]

squirrel...you are an idiot.

It's him.

And whoever AGREED with that moron is also an idiot.

A simple email proved it. you retarded paranoid fanboys.

[WafflesID]

HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY disagree? I guarantee it is him. I emailed him using his email address posted on achieve360.com and asked him.

God damn this place is going down the crapper. Congrats people.

[Jdoki]

Considering that MS has come out and said that up to a point, every 360 sold had a defect it's not enough that they extend the warranty - that may sort out the hardware problem, but it's not fixing the restrictive DRM.

The DRM issue is a fundamental problem they need to address.

I'm on my 3rd 360, and it's really annoying as I have no idea what Marketplace content I bought on the 1st or 2nd console (I now keep track of what I'm buying on my 3rd) - it just gets more and more frustrating every time the 360 dies.

It's not a massive issue as I just need to keep logged in to Live. But it has been problem for me a couple of times, and is very annoying that other people who use my console can not play the full game (I'm kinda protective of my leaderboard scores :) )

Part of the problem (outside of restrictive DRM) is that the Customer Support people are not trained in this area, and many do not even understand the problem. MS obviously have little or no processes in place to deal with problem - a problem that is going to be more and more common as people have their old 360's die on them.

[nobizlikesnowbiz]

Heres a reader response from OXM.

"Three red lights? I actually have a story about my Xbox360 performing over and above expectations. To make my story short and to the point, let's say a very angry woman threw my console three stories into the dry Missouri grass. The faceplate broke off and I was initially depressed that the ride was over. However, upon plugging it in and reattaching the faceplate, it worked. The system even remembered the place in the movie we had been watching earlier. Clearly the engineering is a work of art, as the Xbox is still working strong. Try throwing the PS3 three stories and see what happens. Or a woman..."

Not that I agree in his point of the system's engineering being a work of art, or the PS3 comment. But I believe this is a valid point that the 360 is a stronger console than many believe.