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Microsoft kills Xbox 360 'coffin'

This one is interesting to me, because I had three Xbox 360s repaired last year, and in each case, Microsoft sent out a box so that I could ship them safely. Apparently, they're no longer doing that. From Joystiq:

Microsoft – the manufacturer of the RROD-prone Xbox 360 – has confirmed to Joystiq that it's discontinued its policy of providing a prepaid box with shipping label, more commonly referred to as the "coffin," for all Xbox 360 repairs. As of May 26 the policy was discontinued "in an effort to expedite the repair process." Customers will have the option of receiving an e-label to slap on the box they ship their bricked consoles in, but the days of the "coffin" are now over. A Microsoft spokesperson tell us, "Customers can now ship their consoles themselves using an e-label provided by Microsoft and do not need to wait for an empty box to be shipped to them."

Apparently Microsoft's accountants were getting tired of that budget line item signifying thousands of dollars spent on providing cardboard boxes to the millions of consumers with defective units (often multiple times). We likely should have seen the writing on the wall when we recently contacted Microsoft to find out what recourse customers had if customer service wasn't offering coffins.

And you thought you were on your own with a RROD before. Now you really are.

Comments

 

shark47 said:

Does anyone know if the new XBoxes still suffer from these problems?

June 8, 2009 6:18 PM
 

tayme said:

My old XBox 360 has never had an issue...and it has been used a lot.

--tayme

June 8, 2009 6:56 PM
 

meason said:

two comments

1) Microsoft just added another reason for them to reject warrenty repairs, damaged in shipping due to customer error in packaging

2) Microsoft figures everyone should already have 2-4 boxes each along with the end cap padding for each box.  No need to ship more boxes

June 8, 2009 8:24 PM
 

Microsoft kills Xbox 360 'coffin' - SuperSite Blog said:

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June 8, 2009 8:41 PM
 

Microsoft kills Xbox 360 'coffin' - SuperSite Blog | TechnoSwarm.com said:

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June 8, 2009 9:28 PM
 

adamb1000 said:

So why cant Microsoft offer both options of a shipping being mailed or printing out the label directly?

June 8, 2009 9:31 PM
 

tayme said:

@meason -

two questions

1. Have you ever owned an XBox 360?

2.  Has it ever had a RROD?

If the answer is No to either question - why are you trolling around here?

--tayme

June 8, 2009 9:36 PM
 

meason said:

1) yes, I am on xbox #7 or 8 at this point

#1 RROD

#2 RROD

#3 Noisy Disk Drive grinding louder then jet engine

#4 Dead replacment

#5 Refurb after promised new after BBB Complaint

#6 same as # 5 (sold on Ebay)

#7 Elite purchased with Bestbuy replamcnet so as to never deal with MS again.

good enough?

June 8, 2009 9:51 PM
 

meason said:

as a follow up to the inevitable why do you keep it

1) I love Xbox Live

2) I like the games

3) I hate sony

June 8, 2009 9:55 PM
 

tayme said:

I must have just had good luck, then...I am still on number 1...not a single issue. If that is your experience...then you have the right to be pi$$y about it.

--tayme

June 8, 2009 9:57 PM
 

shark47 said:

Wow, meason. That's the reason I don't get one.

June 8, 2009 10:00 PM
 

meason said:

@Shark47, the problems seem to be solved, at least in the newest one.  many of my units were the results of people not sending me what I was promised as part of the BBB complaint.

June 8, 2009 10:11 PM
 

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June 8, 2009 10:14 PM
 

truffoo0 said:

Shouldn't it be : "Microsoft buries Xbox 360 'coffin' "??

June 8, 2009 10:44 PM
 

subzerohitman721 said:

I purchased my Xbox 360 in May of 2007 and its still functioning with no technical issues. However, I did buy one of those Nyko Intercoolers for my Xbox 360 when I read about the hardware heating issues. The Intercooler I use is one of the redesigned ones and has not negative impact on the console.

Ironically, I've seen one for the Playstation 3. They tend to be popular for PS3's. I've been running my Xbox for long hours of gaming, DVD playback and now media extending from my Windows 7 desktop. So far, its kept up for 2 years and one month of ownership.

I seriously hope the next xbox uses a proven CPU and motherboard design. I'm personally hoping that Microsoft goes with the core2quad's for the next xbox.

June 9, 2009 1:03 AM
 

mdsharpe said:

As far as I know they haven't ever done this in the UK. At least, not every time I've had to send mine back.

June 9, 2009 4:35 AM
 

panache1023 said:

I have only owned 1 XBOX 360.  It's kind of loud, but never had any technical issues.

June 9, 2009 9:34 AM
 

johnpapola said:

Perfect timing for my dead Xbox.  meh.

June 9, 2009 2:15 PM
 

Waethorn said:

"I'm personally hoping that Microsoft goes with the core2quad's for the next xbox."

I'm personally hoping Microsoft goes back to NVIDIA for the next xbox.  Sticking with ATI is likely what caused all the problems.  ATI stuff has always had bad designs for heatsinks and extremly loud fans compared to their NVIDIA counterparts.  ATI has only had the jump on NVIDIA with supporting new versions of DirectX earlier.  Manufacturing hasn't been shrunken as quickly, and cooling requirements are much higher with ATI because of it.

June 9, 2009 3:56 PM
 

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June 21, 2009 4:11 AM
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