6 week old Xbox 360 has ruined 6 games !! help please

gottabstrong

hi sorry if i am repeating previous queries or if this is in the wrong area ...

my son got an Xbox 360 for his 18th just 6 weeks ago. since then it has ruined 5 of the 6 games he also had as gifts. they all have circular marks and no longer play.

he went into game and was told there was nothing they could do but send it for repair. they also said the games are no responsibility of theirs (2 were brought from Game, the others elsewhere but as they were gifts we do not have the receipts) .

just checking with you all ... surely Game should replace the Xbox and games, whether they were purchased from them or not?!

My son was so desperate to play one of the broken games that he brought a duplicate from Game 2 days ago. What do you know ...? Today it has frozen with the ring marks on again.

Game told him he must have been manhandling the Xbox, but it has not been moved since he received it and is in a normally heated room.

Any advice would be great, as I am planning to go into Game this afternoon to demand replacements for both the console and all the games. I am rubbish at getting snotty, but figure any facts I can quote might help - they also might listen more to a Mum!!

Thanks and sorry if this is an annoying post!!

tourist22

indeed its annoying..sorry

computerwoman

I don't think there is anything game will do, except send the xbox 360 back to M$ for repair, as for the game's, he willingly put them in the machine knowing that it was faulty, the console should be sat on its bottom, with the on/off button facing you, like a book laid down on its side, try saying you'll report them to trading and standard's, say they knowing gave you an xbox 360 that is faulty, that you have already paid good money for the game's, and don't see why you should pay again, say you'll get the newspaper's involved, and the tv news team's, ask to speak to the manager when you first go in to the shop, they usually have a 90 day gaurantee, but game's don't once the seal is broken your stuffed, are any of then 2nd hand, you could try saying you did'nt realise they were 2nd hand and could you swap it for the new version and pay the extra, that could work, also you could ask M$ to re-inburst you for the game's
hope this help's it's alot of money.
cw

gottabstrong

good points , thanks. yes the console always has been placed in the correct position.

i will try and pluck up courage to make a few threats !

thanks again

opportunity_cost

Your son is not alone. Apparently, there's a design fault with the Xbox 360. What's astonishing is that the problem seems to lie with 3 missing foam pads that probably cost just a few pence. See:
MS faces lawsuit over alleged Xbox 360 disc damage
XBox 360 Scratches Game Discs

There's a product called 'Zoozen Disc Protector 360' that is said to prevent the discs from scratching. This UK company is selling them at £9.99 + P&P though I'd be tempted to do a DIY job since it seems you just need to attach a few foam pads to the drive as per the pictures in llamma.com link above.

As for the scratched discs, 'Brasso Metal Polish' can apparently work wonders when it comes to making the discs playable again. See:
CD Repair Kits versus various goops from kitchen & bathroom
Fixing Scratched CDs

Mind you, Game and Microsoft are the ones at fault here and you shouldn't have to spend more of your hard-earned money to correct their mistakes. Print out the articles and take them with you to Game. Demand they fit the foam pads and replace the CDs with new ones since the console they sold you has caused the scratching due to its faulty design. If they won't budge, mention the W word... Watchdog !

gottabstrong

excellent advice and links . shocked by the info on there - didnt realise this was such a universal problem.

will try Game soon , armed with games and console, I will definately take your advice re the 'W word' - if they wont replace the games I will try the brasso tip! My son will be really chuffed.

Top advice. will let you know what happens - thanks

superscaper

opportunity_cost wrote: »

Mind you, Game and Microsoft are the ones at fault here and you shouldn't have to spend more of your hard-earned money to correct their mistakes.

From a consumer point of view the resposibility rests solely with the shop you bought it from, ie Game. If there is a manufacturing problem then that is to be sorted out between Game and MS (I like to use the S key). In terms of replacement then it is all down to Game. But there's no point in repairing the games until you know the 360 won't ruin them again.

atothej

When I had my xbox 360 issues, I contacted a site consumer direct (just google it) It's government funded, and the advisors will be able to look into who is liable for the scratched discs.

If the console and games were brought brand new, and you've got receipts to prove it, then common sense assumes that the console has scratched the discs and therefore are accountable, but I'm sure the guys at consumer direct will be able to help you there.

But as for the console - if the fault has occurred in a reasonable state of time (6 weeks is defo reasonable for something worth £269) then as a consumer, you have the right to assume it was faulty when you purchased it, and are within your rights to either get it fixed, or receive a replacment.

wolfman

You can contact MS, they may resolve the issue quickly. Personally though I'd go to game as your contract of sale lies with the retailer, not the manufacturer.

I'd demand a new Xbox360, don't wait for them to send it back for repair. That's their problem as something they need to take up with the manufacturer. Just say you know your consumer rights, and if the sales person still says no, ask to speak to someone more senior. And if they still say no keep going up until some action gets taken.

Don't sit at home for weeks while they send it back for repair. What you were sold wasn't fit for purpose, and you should get a replacement. It is a known fault as some have mentioned. It may be worth printing off some reports on the internet and taking them with you.

Once you've got a replacement, and two replacement games. Run the Xbox for a while on one game, see if the same occurs. If it doesn't then use the other games.


With regards to some games not being from Game, I'm not sure what I'd do. I don't think Game will accept them back. You many need to go where you bought the other games from and return them their. Or possibly contact MS.

cdbrown

Take it back to Game and ask for a replacement or a refund. Don't accept their offer of it being fixed as you are entitled for your money back or a new working machine. If they send it off to MS you will most likely receive someone else's machine that's been repaired, plus your son will be without a machine for a week or so.

Take a look here about what your rights are (and you have many since it's only 6 weeks old
http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=479165

emmaroids

are you sure your son hasnt moved the 360 while its been running?
this will scratch the disc in the way you described, if he hasnt then it is still under guarantee and should be changed asap.

if its shown that he has moved it while on then im afraid you wont get no joy, its a well known fact that you should not move a 360 while its running, and because it says so in the manual then they will be covered.

rubbish i know but what can ya do?