Now we all know that the Xbox 360 has its share of problems, most notably the RROD (red ring of death). For some people its very existence is a reason to never make a purchase. I can’t blame them really. After all, Microsoft knew the problem existed and decided to push the system out anyway, which is complete and utter horseshit. But there has always been a bit of a contrast provided by various companies to offset this questionable practice. This contrast has taken the form of PRP (product replacement plans). For $50-$80, you can get a 2 year replacement plan to cover any reasonable damage of occurrence to your system.
Unfortunately, 2 years to a retailer has its own definition.
“Caveat Emptor“, “read the fine print“. We’ve all heard these saying at one time or another during the course of our lives. However these words didn’t pop into my mind until I heard “12:01am”. That’s when my PRP for my 360 Elite expired on July 6th of this year. The slip with the plan was dated July 6th, 2009. But apparently one minute past midnight was when it became void – even though there are no Best Buys open at that hour in my area. I felt so relieved that my PRP was still valid when my system crashed, only to be shat upon by the retailer for a technicality based upon a few hours.
Even their employees at the store thought it was bullshit. Two hours I sat in that store while this nice girl (alright, a really hot nice girl covered in ink) spoke on the phone with their corporate office as they refused to give the number for my exchange, helpless to make them see reason. After all that, I sat in my car on the line with some little annoying underling telling me “well, it depends on your definition of a day…” Who are you, Bill Clinton?! How about the definition where I don’t get fucked over by you people?! Can I choose that one?! Seriously folks, how shitty does a company have to be to haggle over a few hours. Think about it. I get “lucky” enough to get my RROD on the last day of my PRP validity, and then BAM!!, slapped in the face by anonymous suits. I know we’re in a recession and that retail sales are way down, but the higher-ups are still doing pretty good, I’m sure. Here I am, barely able to make my bills, I just had a kid and I am stuck with a $400 fucking paperweight because these assholes have a penchant for being sticklers. After dumping literally thousands of dollars on electronics and software in these stores I think the occasional exception wouldn’t kill them. It’s good to know that even in tough times that the fat cats can still bend over the little people.
So now I have to find a box to send my Xbox out in and hope that Microsoft can start doing their jobs for once and fix a system that in reality was broken to begin with. I suppose it’s my fault in a way for buying the damn thing in the first place. I know they could give less than a shit, but if anyone from Best Buy corporate is reading this, I’ll never step foot in a store of yours again. Bite me.
So am I just senselessly rambling here people? Am I alone on this one? If not, then feel free to toss in your two cents. I need more coffee. Shit.
You got boned. Hard.
I never shop at Best Buy anymore, except for emergencies when I need something immediately that only they have in stock. Been screwed over by them on more than one occasion. You’d think I would have learned my lesson the first time…but I’m an eternal optimist.
Purchased I think three replacement plans in the past, and got screwed over on two of them for some technicality somewhere. Needless to say, I feel your pain.
The good news is Microsoft is getting pretty speedy about replacing RROD 360s, a friend of mine has had two in the last year and got them replaced in around a week from the day he shipped it. (Of course, now they’re not sending out coffins anymore, and you have to go through the trouble of finding your own shipping container…)
Good luck.
Sorry to hear what happened to your 360 on the last day of your PRP. What were the odds? Damn! They screwed you over big time, they could have saved you some trouble and at least be understandable about it.
I’ve always had a problem with Best Buy. One was with a shitty Best Buy made MP3 player (Insignia) that my little brother bought. This MP3 played sucked major balls and it couldn’t even handle daily use. As I came in to replace the product, Best Buy employees tried to tell me my plan didn’t cover ‘accidental damage’. The fuck? It wasn’t accidental damage, it was the normal wear-and-tear use that the plan was suppose to cover. I ended up walking away with an exchanged product after I made them feel utterly stupid about how shitty their own products were. Best of luck and hope MS fixes your little RROD box there.
I just bought The Orange Box from Best Buy, and I feel great.
Man. Can’t a store be non-douche-bagy,
Not surprised. If I recall correctly it was the CEO (or someone high up) of Best Buy who said something to the effect of he didn’t need 25% of his customer base because they were bargain hunters or technology geeks who are difficult to satisfy and profit from.
Sorry to hear BJ but at least they didn’t make you lick it once they were done boning you.
The thing that bugs me the most is the fact that there isn’t one Best Buy open at 12:01am. So how the hell are they gonna tell me that’s when it expires?!
It is the horseshit…
Yeah, it’s Best Buy’s fault that you didn’t read up on the warranty plan that you purchased (before or after you paid for it). Two years is two years, whether it is 12:01am or 5pm, you are the on responsible for understanding the terms of the warranty if you want to make use of it. Is it fair? From a consumer’s point of view, probably not, because most people think that companies should bend the rules for their special case. From a legal and business point of view, yes it is. Should they selectively choose who to bend the rules for? Why not bend the rules for everybody? A few hours, a couple days, a week or two… what’s the difference? The There isn’t one. Once your warranty expires, you throw it away, don’t go crying to your local store and then post a hateful blog in a fit of teenage rage about how you got ’screwed’ by a major company.
You paid for something, didn’t use it, and now you are crying over it. Yes, it sucks. So does a lot of life, grow a pair of balls and get over it.
i kinda agree with the comment that you made about, its your fault for buying it in the first place, referring to the crap box. it isnt bestbuys fualt microsoft sucks. when i went to get my xbox 360 bestbuy told me straight up it is the most returned product..and after exchanging it 3 times, i got a ps3 and ditched the little RROD machine. i know you feel it sucks, but the warranty was valid until the expiration date. expired is expired, it isnt the cows fualt milk went bad before you used it, and now when you need it, it smells like a babies diaper. just an analogy. i personally shop at bestbuy most times, though i do get annoyed at their hours, i personally havent had any problems there and i enjoy getting money back in reward zone for buying crap at the same price i would purchase it somewhere else (gamers club- 10 best buy dollars for every 120 spent= 2 games at $60 i get $10 i wouldnt have otherwise). personally that is what keeps me shopping there, though they have lost out on a few hundred due to being closed at 10 and i work till 10:30.