Another Gamer Screwed by Microsoft
February 28, 2008
Once upon a time there was a boy who loved video games. This boy bought an Xbox 360. Two years later it broke. The boy had no choice but to send it in for repairs. It was then that Microsoft decided to screw him over. A very big bend on over so we can give you the royal treatment sort of screwing. This is his story.
A passionate gamer by the name of Nathaniel purchased an Xbox 360 at launch. After working reliably for over two years, his faithful console companion finally kicked the bucket. It was then that he faced a major quandary. Should he send it in for repairs or attempt to fix it himself? The obvious answer would be send it in for repairs but Nathaniel’s 360 was not like yours and mine. Oh no, it was special. “Was” being the key word.
Nathaniel’s Xbox 360 was his trusty traveling companion. Throughout their joint adventures, Nathaniel acquired several signatures from notable members of the gaming community, all collected directly upon his console with permanent marker. Signatures from several members of the Rooster Teeth Productions staff shared space with signatures from members of the Xbox 360 team and also staff from Bungie Studios. He even had custom artwork by Rooster Teeth Comics artist and Halo fan artist Luke McKay on it.
This console adorned with things representing very special memories held great sentimental value to Nathaniel as you can imagine. Not even taking into account that it had monetary value as well, it was simply a console that he adored. That is why shipping it off to the repair center was not the easiest choice to make. But between that and trying to repair it himself, it was the better option. Taking it apart would have voided the warranty so if his attempts at fixing it had been unsuccessful, he would have been screwed. Unfortunately he still got screwed, but he didn’t know that would happen at this point.
Obviously concerned about his prized console’s case, he called Xbox support to discuss the possibility of getting a different 360 sent back to him and the importance that he get the same exact console and case back. He was assured his console would get repaired and they would ship the same console back to him. They gave him a reference number for the call and that was that.
Nathaniel carefully packaged his beloved 360 into the coffin, including this letter :
To whom it may concern:
Enclosed in this package you will find one Xbox 360 console, serial number 610537654806. I pre-ordered this machine months before the Xbox 360 launched, and I’ve been a proud owner ever since it arrived. Although the original warranty for my machine has expired some time ago, I still keep the sales receipt and original retail box.
I have taken this unit along with me on some of my travels over the past two years, and during that time I have acquired a number of signatures from notable members of the gaming community.
Among those signatures are several members of the Rooster Teeth Productions staff, certain members of the Xbox 360 team, and some of the staff from Bungie Studios. Those signatures are also joined by custom artwork by Rooster Teeth Comics artist and Halo fan artist Luke McKay. This console represents some special memories—of which I am quite fond—from the past two years of my life. As you can imagine, this particular unit has a great deal of sentimental value to me and is quite possibly of reasonable monetary value as well.
I am well aware that in many cases new replacement units have been returned to those who have sent their consoles for repairs. I would be displeased if this were to happen to me. When I put in the service request for my unit, the agent that took my call assured me that the same unit I have sent to you would be shipped back to me. If you must send a different unit back, please put my original case on the replacement unit. Having put the above information forward, it is logical to conclude that I would be most disappointed should I receive a different console with a plain white case in return.
Please take care in handling the case, as despite the fact that the ink is permanent and has had plenty of time to set, the possibility yet remains that it may be smudged.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
So he called beforehand and was told he would receive his exact console back. He also included a letter just to cover all his bases. I bet you think you know what happens next. If you were to guess that Microsoft sent him a different plain white console back, you would be wrong.
They sent him his Xbox 360 back. The front serial number and the back serial number match up exactly. So what is the problem then? Someone at the repair center took the time to clean his console case. Despite the fact that the repairs that needed to be done were inside the console, someone wiped down the outside of the case. Wiped it down so well in fact that all of the signatures and artwork are completely gone. All that is left are some smudges and the unmistakable purple-ish hue of diluted permanent ink.
Permanent marker does not rub off that easily. Someone put a lot of work into making sure they erased all of the rich history that was built up on that console. There were not scribbles all over it, there were signatures. And pictures. Is there any way you could see a picture of Master Chief and think it wasn’t there on purpose? I am at a loss to understand how an employee looked at that console and thought it would be a good idea to scrub off everything on it.
Despite the fact that Nathaniel called beforehand and got assurances that everything would be ok, despite the fact that he included a very detailed and clear letter with his console, despite the fact that it was no fault of his own that his console broke in the first place, Nathaniel is just another gamer to get screwed over by Microsoft in a rather unique way. My brain simply can’t understand how an error of this magnitude happened. I do hope they take the time to make this right. But what are the chances of that, right?
02.29.08 - AM UPDATE
Nathaniel wanted to share his story for this reason (his words) :
It is a cautionary tale to those 360 owners sending a console out for warranty repair.
He doesn’t want people to make the same mistake that he did. In retrospect does he realize he shouldn’t have sent off his console? Absolutely. However when you call their customer service number, share your story with all of the details, and are assured that your console will be returned to you safe and sound, you should be able to believe that. There was a communication breakdown somewhere along the way that resulted in a tangible loss. It’s unfortunate, and lessons were learned.
I agreed to carry the story because Nathaniel wants to discuss this with Microsoft, but all of his correspondence has continued to go unanswered. Last time I checked in with him, he still had not heard back from them. Not everybody wants to sue and receive some sort of compensation. Sometimes all it takes to feel like a valued customer is an acknowledgment of a mistake and a simple apology.
02.29.08 - PM UPDATE
Microsoft has responded to Nathaniel personally. They are looking into the issue and working to correct the situation.
My only official response to commenters can be found at comment #476.
Entry Filed under: Halo Heaven, Original Must Reads, Video Games, Xbox. .
1.
Fearsome Visage | February 28, 2008 at 4:32 am
I am completely lost for words. To think that somebody would do this even though it is clear that the signatures and artwork have extreme sentimental value. Its nothing short of an outrage. This wasn’t even console but it makes so angry they have done this. Screw you microsoft, screw you.
2.
CzarCastic | February 28, 2008 at 4:44 am
It seems to me that permanent marker does not just rub off that easily, no matter how much work you put into it. I think that some jackass Microsoft repair monkey put a little bit of black ink on a new case, just to make it appear that the old signatures were rubbed off. I would bet money that whoever did that took the signed case and has it at home. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see that case on eBay, knowing the intelligence level of the Microsoft repair center employees first-hand.
3.
ResilientMonkey | February 28, 2008 at 4:49 am
Dude, Microsoft owes that young man BIG TIME!
4.
PreGameLobby - You think &hellip | February 28, 2008 at 5:25 am
[...] You think you’ve been screwed by MS? You haven’t. You need to read this. I don’t have time to post it in its entirety here because I’m running out the door, so I’m going to link you to Hawty’s blog. Please, read the whole thing to fully understand the magnitude of what a dick move this was on MS’s part. Prepare to be shocked. [...]
5.
setters | February 28, 2008 at 5:43 am
excuse my language but holy f***ing sh*t!!
resilientmonkey has said it already but microsoft really owe nathaniel!! f**k!!
My heart truly goes out to him as well…wow, sorry about that Nathaniel
6.
ausqb | February 28, 2008 at 5:52 am
I can’t even begin to imagine how he must’ve felt when he pulled it out of the box. I don’t know how they [MS] can let something like this happen and not reimburse him. Of course, as has been mentioned in the article, it is far from just being a monetary matter, and I would expect no less than than a very generous helping of games, accessories and other merchandise. If I were MS, I would also pay for him to visit Bungie Studios for like a week and get more signatures and mementos than any 360 casing can fit.
7.
Tyrone Hawk | February 28, 2008 at 7:07 am
Angel, I’m out of words. This is what normally happens when you a have a long list of departments in a company that really start suffering from the typical “left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing” approach. Just by reading your post made me shiver. Even if his repaired console works out like a classic Xbox (without any problems until Xbox N1000 appears on the horizon and we’re on Halo 10), nothing, and I mean NOTHING, will replace the cost that the console had beforehand.
8.
-S- | February 28, 2008 at 7:34 am
This is officially the worst thing I’ve ever heard. Negligence in the act of replacing his original console would’ve been one thing (and possibly could have been fixed), but the fact that an employee went through this following thought process deeply disturbs me -
“Hmm, an Xbox 360 thats been sent in to be repaired. Huh, it has SIGNATURES and ARTWORK all over it. Hmm, oh its permanent marker…as if someone wanted it to BE like this, PERMANENTLY. Looks like I’m gonna need the rubbing alcohol if I’m gonna have to give it the old cleaning procedure” ?!?!
I demand that the community continues be vocal about this atrocity. Angel runs a very well respected blog that is visited by a very strong, very numerous “banded together” gaming community. Hopefully, eventually someone at Bungie will read/hear of this, and will be just as outraged as we are. You can’t put a price on things that have sentimental value. This is just an abomination. There aren’t enough words to describe how angry I would be if this happened to me.
9.
jayman007 | February 28, 2008 at 8:33 am
OMG. That is fucking horrible! Microsoft owes him a trip around the world, meeting with all those original signatures and many more. This will be the biggest internet PR hit that Microsoft will have faced yet. Whoever took he case is screwed, there is no way he could sell it now.
10.
GutsyToaster | February 28, 2008 at 8:45 am
Posted on http://www.xbox.com
11.
ZZoMBiE13 | February 28, 2008 at 9:41 am
Oh my God!
That is HORRIBLE!
12.
snorkle256 | February 28, 2008 at 9:45 am
My heart dropped while reading this.
13.
Ray | February 28, 2008 at 9:58 am
I simply can’t believe this!
A) The person from Microshit he talked to was just telling him what he wanted to hear.
B) I fully agree with the first comment… someone has the case to his Xbox on theirs now.
C) I wouldn’t be surprised if Bungie gave him Recon armor for his troubles, at the very least. They are one of the most amazing game developers in the world, and and very passionate about their fans.
D) If I had the money… I would fly him to Redmond, to get some answers and compensation myself.
Nathaniel, man… I feel for you.
I am a huge fan of the Halo series and Xbox as a whole. I own the Legendary edition, a Halo 3 controller, and yet I don’t have my own Xbox 360 due to the price.
Don’t think for a moment that community awareness won’t get this problem recognized by the right people… this will not go unnoticed!
-Ray
14.
Fishd | February 28, 2008 at 9:59 am
You know… knowing a little about how that side of the industry works, I can totally see how… despite the letter, the comments in the call and the phone calls to the service desk… that he would receive a totally different console in return.
The repair jocks would get the call reference, pretty much ignore the comments in the call log, they drop the letter and it wouldn’t get passed on to whoever does the repair… they’d then fire up the box and say “Oh yeah… it’s component X again”…. stick the box on the pile and ship a new one.
However, if someone has actually seen the case… then deliberately ERASED it… that’s plain heartless. Bet this tech also destroys the christmas cards his/her kids make for them every year as well, eh?
15.
Socket29 | February 28, 2008 at 10:11 am
I almost started crying.
16.
Socket29 | February 28, 2008 at 10:13 am
Oh, I’m going to put a mark on my console (RRoD). I’m still waiting for the box, but I’ll ship it with the mark and see if it comes back the same.
17.
mister bubblesz | February 28, 2008 at 10:48 am
THAT SUCKS ! microsoft owes him signatures and drawings ! and memories that cant be replaced. id flip out. hell id probably sue.
18.
the light show | February 28, 2008 at 10:59 am
this is a truly sad story for any gamer. i can not imagine how that feels. i am sure there are very few who have gone through that caliber of sentimental loss (video game wise). i hope that there will some type of compensation for this tragedy. however, i do not think that anything can replace what has been lost…
19.
mendicantbias00 | February 28, 2008 at 11:02 am
I sent a link to this post to the Webmaster at Bungie, hopefully this gets passed along to the right people. I told them that I wasnt sending them the link so that they could compensate him, but that they needed to know what an atrocity happened to an obviously huge fan.
20.
Cayote | February 28, 2008 at 11:07 am
I cried. However my box remains white. I do not decorate it, and now I know why. That sucks!
21.
Ragingterror | February 28, 2008 at 11:15 am
Screwee here.
Thank you all for your support in this matter. As you have probably already guessed, I am in the process of sending the word out on this one.
I’ve already sent a personal message to Larry Hyrd (Major Nelson) of the XBox 360 team. If I receive no response, this will be going to every major gaming blog that is willing to post it.
Any help that I can get from fellow members of the gaming community will be appreciated.
Personal thanks go out to my buddy Laird, an original signer of the console and the one who forwarded the information from me to this blog.
22.
Ragingterror | February 28, 2008 at 11:18 am
One more thing:
“D) If I had the money… I would fly him to Redmond, to get some answers and compensation myself.”
Don’t worry about it. I live in Vancouver, WA, which is about a 3 and a half hour drive away. If you want to pay for my gas, though…
23.
Will | February 28, 2008 at 12:00 pm
I’m going to take some flak for this, but I don’t care…
Nathan, go check with Merriam-Webster, because you can find sympathy firmly between shit and syphilis in the dictionary. Seriously, how could you be so monumentally stupid as to send an item like that off to Redmond to be repaired? If anything, it should have just been shelved and you should’ve bought a new one. If it were that precious, you never would have parted with it even if it were RRODed.
What Microsoft did may be wrong, but you were just as wrong for parting with such a unique keepsake.
24.
mendicantbias00 | February 28, 2008 at 12:08 pm
To be fair, if I were in the situation Nathan was in, I would have to either send it in for repair, or not have one because I can’t afford to purchase a brand new 360, even the Core version. That is a lot of money throw around b/c the original 360’s were forced into the market too fast. As I see it this is Microsoft’s mistake twice over.
1. For placing a faulty device on store shelves before properly testing it.
2. For the reasons in this blog.
Btw, I am not trying to start a fight or a “Posting War”, just adding my two cents.
25.
tornado | February 28, 2008 at 12:12 pm
oh damn! my heart hurts.
26.
jb84 | February 28, 2008 at 12:35 pm
That does really suck and I’m sorry to hear it. But the important thing is that you got to meet those people.
Think of it this way. It would suck if a family album of pictures was destroyed, but what made those pictures special is your relationship with those people, not the pictures themselves.
27.
Ragingterror | February 28, 2008 at 12:41 pm
“Think of it this way. It would suck if a family album of pictures was destroyed, but what made those pictures special is your relationship with those people, not the pictures themselves.”
Quoted for truth.
Nevertheless, wouldn’t you be upset if you learned that said album had been destroyed at the hands of a negligent party?
28.
trigger119 | February 28, 2008 at 1:18 pm
WOW….that SUCKS!!!
: (
29.
Arbiter419 | February 28, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Dude,
That is genuine crap. Really, You can’t just make the “mistake” of erasing history. It just doesnt happen.
Some M$ n00b, probably not even knowing what Red vs. Blue is, Totally destroyed a unique peice of art, one of which is irreplaceable.
Sorry man.
30.
Slothboy | February 28, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Sweet merciful crap! Hopefully the people who signed this thing originally will hear about it and send this guy some new artwork/signatures to replace it. That’s the only thing that would ever make the pain stop.
And I thought it was bad that it took three months to get my premium content to work after repair. This puts my problems into perspective.
31.
JeSteR 343 | February 28, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Wow. I really hope this guys gets some kind of reimbursement for this. And, Thanks Hawty McBloggy, for posting the story. At least here it will get some of the attention it deserves.
32.
MasterCheifn | February 28, 2008 at 1:52 pm
This was obiously a malicous attack on an innocent fan. It was someone with too much time on their hands and too much hate in their heart. The fact that there was a note along with the system makes it even more worrying. What other explinaton for this outrage is there? Make’s me think twice about supporting MS, even more so now that Bungie became independent.
33.
-S- | February 28, 2008 at 1:53 pm
“Seriously, how could you be so monumentally stupid as to send an item like that off to Redmond to be repaired? If anything, it should have just been shelved and you should’ve bought a new one. If it were that precious, you never would have parted with it even if it were RRODed.”
Come on Will, that’s not right - it’s an extremely touchy situation. I don’t know about you, but I have bills to pay, and maybe the situation is the same for Nathaniel: we all just don’t have $350+ lying around to spend on a brand spanking new 360…otherwise it wouldn’t have been such a hard decision for him to make. It’s not like its his fault for assuming it would all go to pan…
because he was TOLD by someone at Microsoft that it WOULD go down that way. That’s not right, and someone seriously needs to be held accountable.
We can’t just say “Oh, we figured that something like this would happen, you’re stupid for not expecting the same” or “I can’t believe you would just send your prized possession off like that, didnt you think this would happen?” That’s absurd - we can’t be afraid to speak out and complain when something big like this happens…Just because they’re “Big Scary Microsoft” and it’d be ‘impossible for the little guy to file a complaint’ doesn’t mean they should be allowed to get away with a slip up as major as this one…or any at all for that matter.
I hope this keeps snowballing…I seriously demand some kind of compensation or justice for this guy. The bottom line is that what Microsoft did was wrong, and blatantly did something against the wishes of a PAYING customer, when they said they wouldn’t. Nuff said.
34.
bs angel | February 28, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I’m not a fan of the “blame the victim” game. For me the bottom line is that he was told his console would be returned safely to him. And it wasn’t.
This story continues to shock me for the simple reason of the effort that went into erasing everything on it. It didn’t take one simple pass of a wipe to do this damage. Someone intently scrubbed it until it was as clean as it would get. If this were mine, I would be beyond heartbroken.
35.
mendicantbias00 | February 28, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Even if there is come sort of compensation from Microsoft, its never ever going to be the same. When memories are attached to something like that its hard to just let them go because “you should have known better.”
I feel really bad for him. My g/f got me a halo 3 edition xbox, and I would hate for it to break because who is to say that they will send me a halo edition back for compensation…mine isnt signed but it still has sentimental value attached to it.
I think if enough people see this, that something will be done to correct it.
36.
Stumpy | February 28, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I got my 360 for halo 3 only. microsoft would be nothing without Bungie. Im on my 4th xbox!!!!!! I hope im costing them by sending it back so often.
37.
Dhya | February 28, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Although you have a point, Will - he should have known what he was getting into with M$ - he did try to make sure of what was going to happen to his Xbox. He got assurances, wrote a letter, did what he could to try to make sure that it would be okay. I think, regardless of who is at fault or whatever here, we can all agree that this is a very unfortunate situation and that it would be wonderful if M$ found a way to rectify the situation some how.
A thought - do M$ often keep rubbing alcohol lying around for this exact purpose?
Another thought - wouldn’t the rubbing alcohol have damaged the plastic in some way? Perhaps an indicator that the case still exists, just in the hands of some vicious, thieving employee?
38.
Spartan DC-17 | February 28, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Wow, all I can say is what cruelty,I don’t believe anyone would do that on accident.I hope Ragingterror, that you get some compensation or get a chance to visit those places again get those signatures back perhaps. Video game console or not what a heartless person to wipe off something with clear sentimental value.
39.
Laird | February 28, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Thanks Angel for doing this story up, I am glad it is getting the attention it deserves.
40.
RighteousTyrant | February 28, 2008 at 2:21 pm
That’s what happens when you outsource to Mexico…the tech working on it probably looked at the letter, mumbled “No habla Engles,” and went about his routine.
BTW, permanent marker comes off very easily with alcohol.
41.
Corewave | February 28, 2008 at 2:22 pm
42.
geekadelphia | February 28, 2008 at 2:23 pm
That’s just absolutely horrible. The poor guy.
43.
Bolognafire | February 28, 2008 at 2:23 pm
How cruel. I hope you are able to get the word out about this. Hyrd has always seemed very understanding so I think you can count on his support. You’ve got the whole community behind you here. We would all feel just as devastated.
44.
x Kyrpt x | February 28, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I made a topic on bungie.net. Just clicky my name. Now my comment:
Wow. Microsoft sucks.
45.
Xor1an | February 28, 2008 at 2:26 pm
That is terrible, and I sympathize… but I have to say I too would have been reluctant to send such a cherished item of great sentimental value in for repair like that. The person on the phone was telling you what you wanted to hear because that’s their job. They may have actually believed it, but they had no control over what actually happened.
I’m not trying to blame the victim, but I think there’s an important lesson we can all learn here about what we can expect from big companies. They optimize for the most common case, and usually don’t respond in a sensitive and intelligent way to things outside the norm.
If it were me and I couldn’t have afforded to buy a new replacement 360, I probably would have tried to get another used one and swap cases. If that can be done without voiding the warranty (and maybe that’s not possible), I’d send mine in for repair with the plain case from the other one, swap cases back when it came back, and then re-sell the other one. (All highly theoretical and not really useful at this point of course, but it’s how I tend to think about circumventing the system.)
46.
x Kyrpt x | February 28, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I made a topic on bungie. Click my name to check it out.
And wow. Microsoft blows. Why would they intentionally wipe it as clean as possible even with a note right in front of their noses. This is worrying.
47.
Ragingterror | February 28, 2008 at 2:31 pm
“If it were me and I couldn’t have afforded to buy a new replacement 360, I probably would have tried to get another used one and swap cases. If that can be done without voiding the warranty (and maybe that’s not possible), I’d send mine in for repair with the plain case from the other one, swap cases back when it came back, and then re-sell the other one. (All highly theoretical and not really useful at this point of course, but it’s how I tend to think about circumventing the system.)
At first, I considered doing that, but there are two problems:
1. I don’t have much money to spare right now.
2. Removing the case breaks a taped seal covering part of the seam between two halves of the case. Breaking that seal voids the warranty, and I don’t know of a way to get around that.
48.
Smurfa | February 28, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I can not help to laugh. Not in contentment, but in frustration. It seems that Microsoft follow the rule: “All publicity is good publicity.” Unfortunately for them, they are wrong. Ever since the Ring of Death issue began, Microsoft have more or less neglected their customers in one way or another. Consoles have been on repair for months for some persons, some persons have had their console reurned only to discover that it was still broken and now this happens.
This is much unfortunate and I feel sorry for Nathaniel. There are no words for describing this issue. One have to be quite, how shall I say, stupid not to understand that when there are lots of autographs and a well painted image on the case, it is because that person wants it to be there. The repair center are supposed to repair technical errors INSIDE the console, not wipe it clean on the OUTSIDE where there are no electronics at all. I really do hope Microsoft change attitude towards its cstomers or they might face even more distrust than now. And I also hope they compencate him greatly.
49.
bs angel | February 28, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Opening the case at all voids the warranty.
I understand the wisdom behind those words, and I know they are true. However, that is a cop out. Just because the company is big does not mean they should get away with things like that. Yes, we have come to expect that because communication obviously falls apart somewhere along the line. BUT, it is still inexcusable. Period.
50.
Some Guy | February 28, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Hi guys,
Im one of the people that works at MS for console repair.
(im a lacky but I can shed some light on this)
Keep in mind that the console repair facility for north america is in mexcio, by a 3rd party company, under administration by microsoft. Very few people there speak english so the letter would have just been disregarded when the consoles are unboxed.
Standard procedure is for the consoles to udnergo a cleaning and removal of any stickers or anything on the console before and after the repair process (otherwise it might get back dirty and people would complain about that). Thats what happened here. It got scrubbed with rubbing alcohol twice before leaving.
Nobody took vengance against the console to purposley scrub it off, this incident inst the fault of MS. Its just std procedure to make sure the consoles are returned to the customer in like new condition.
Sucks that it happened to this console though
51.
pittofdoom117 | February 28, 2008 at 2:35 pm
I’d die if that happened to me. This guy should sue for the combined value of the signitures and pictures, and the console itself.
52.
Ultra Dolphin | February 28, 2008 at 2:37 pm
WOW, all I can say is wow. How could they do that to you? My condolences go out to you Nathaniel.
53.
TheDonWan | February 28, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Hey my signature is on that box!!!
54.
Ragingterror | February 28, 2008 at 2:45 pm
“Hey my signature is on that box!!!”
You mean was? If I remember correctly, you were at CanWest last year, yes?
55.
Final S | February 28, 2008 at 2:45 pm
The problem you here is the fact you sent the XBOX in and didn’t write the letter in like 10 different languages. When have you called 4MY-XBOX and gotten someone that speaks PERFECT english. Most of them don’t have a clue how to do anything besides read off cards.
At least you took picture before, to provide them with evidence and such. They MIGHT attempt something……………
56.
TheDonWan | February 28, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Well, it WAS on that box.
57.
S@ndm@n | February 28, 2008 at 2:46 pm
That is absolutely unbelievable. There is no excuse for negligence and incompetence of this caliber. It should have been immediately obvious to even the most Noob-ish Microserf that that Xbox was not just a piece of hardware, but a piece of gaming history.
They owe him big time.
58.
Some Guy | February 28, 2008 at 2:48 pm
lol do you people not read comments before posting?
59.
SealthLegacy91 | February 28, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I would be so f***ing pissed! I can’t believe they’d be so inconsiderate and dumb enough to do something like that.
60.
SealthLegacy91 | February 28, 2008 at 2:54 pm
hmmm, “Some guy” huh? STFU!!!! Just like big comp.s to lay the blame on someone else. And YOUR just a NOBODY!
61.
lukems | February 28, 2008 at 3:00 pm
This is really unfortunate. I’m sure there’s something we can do. BS Angel, shoot me a note.
62.
Tangero | February 28, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Man, that is a sad story. I wonder if Luke is willing to do another sketch.
63.
Phil McCrevass | February 28, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Hi,
I work for Microsoft in the repair department. I see all sorts of Xbox 360. Every fired I select a system for a ‘Special’ repair. I walk through the whole shipping departments till I find one that catches my eye. Once selected I take it back to my cave and ponder what to do with it. First I fix it. Then the mischief starts. Sometimes I write little messages for people on the inside of the system. Onetime I put part of my Cold Cut Combo in the case(Was so stuffed). We play that game every Friday. I personally remember yours. Me and my Cohorts labored over yours. We tilled the dirt cleaning your. If you open the case we left you a special message.
Cheers,
Phil McCrevass
64.
mendicantbias00 | February 28, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Look at that!!!!
Bungie to the rescue!
You guys rock, thats what a game company should be like!
65.
-S- | February 28, 2008 at 3:08 pm
“I understand the wisdom behind those words, and I know they are true. However, that is a cop out. Just because the company is big does not mean they should get away with things like that.”
This is 100% correct - we can’t just shrug it off and say “eh, its Microsoft…its to be expected and what can we do about it? nothing” Bull friggin Crap. BULL.
and ‘Some Guy’ - yes, the procedure you mentioned sounds about right, but come on, seriously. its absolutely MS’ fault that this happened - someone assured the customer that something incredibly important to him would be secured, otherwise he wouldn’t have sent it in in the first place. This is simply just inexcusable no matter how you look at it. Wouldn’t someone who performs the task of the “Wipedown process” take 1 look at the console and say “hmmm…maybe I should check with someone before I do this”. Absolute Fail.
I DEMAND we get more attention on this issue.
I Demand Lous Wu!
I Demand Frank O’Connor!!!!!!
I Demand the guy with the Freaky mask from V for Vendetta!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is ri-god-damned-diculous, and something needs to be done.
66.
Kev | February 28, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Nice sentiments, Will….do you also blame rape victims because their skirts were too short?
67.
Sebasman2 | February 28, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I say sue the bastards. They have no right to erase that. Some sick son of a bitch probably took Comet and sandpaper to the case. I say that MS should financially compensate the guy with the cost of round-trip airline tickets to all those places, then a few thousand for anguish….
68.
Xor1an | February 28, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Like I said: they optimize for the most common case. It’s much more common that someone would have a dirty case than that they would have a case customized with autographs and artwork.
I’m not trying to say this is reasonable or good or even excusable behavior, but it is understandable. A business in a modern capitalist society has to remove as much extraneous cost as possible if it wants to stay competitive. Standardization is one way they do that. It’s much more important to them that they keep costs down than that they make exceptions and treat each case individually.
Try writing a detailed business plan with profit/loss estimates and cash flow projections. It won’t take long until you see what I mean.
69.
Jim | February 28, 2008 at 3:20 pm
That’s disgusting.
70.
Xor1an | February 28, 2008 at 3:25 pm
FWIW, Bungie is not Microsoft and not even that big as corporate entities go. I never had any doubt they would step in once they got word of this. They can’t replace what’s been lost, but I’m sure they’ll do something awesome. It’s much easier for smaller operations to have compassion.
71.
PlayStation 3 | February 28, 2008 at 3:27 pm
It wasn’t Microsoft that did this. It was me!!!!!!!!!
72.
gaymer | February 28, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I read this entire thing and almost cried… thank god nothing of that magnitude happened to me or people would die
73.
EmpressCortana | February 28, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Hopefully Roosterteeth and Bungie will take pity on him and sign it again or do a special faceplate for him.
74.
OmegaShadow | February 28, 2008 at 4:16 pm
dude. lol.. u probally drew that stuff on it, then u bought a new 360 because that broke, but i bet u never sended the old 1 to Microsoft.
75.
don | February 28, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Please every1 send this article to Major Nelson over xbox live. If enough people send it something could happen
76.
Acclamator | February 28, 2008 at 4:35 pm
wow, this story is just i cant believe it. its horrible
the story is on digg.com
its attached to my name
GO DIGG IT AND GET THE WORD OUT
77.
Twilight Ronin | February 28, 2008 at 4:49 pm
It’s already been said, multiple times. But that is just horrible! They better at least have some sort of compensation for this… Though, I know if this happened to me, I would want the original back.
78.
Geoff | February 28, 2008 at 4:56 pm
That’s really bad, sorry to hear about it.
79.
Top Posts « WordPre&hellip | February 28, 2008 at 5:00 pm
[...] Another Gamer Screwed by Microsoft Once upon a time there was a boy who loved video games. This boy bought an Xbox 360. Two years later it broke. The boy […] [...]
80.
(6) | February 28, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Damn, that’s awful. I hope he will get new signatures !
81.
tanaka | February 28, 2008 at 5:08 pm
and you know they tea-baged it as well
82.
WallaWalla777 | February 28, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Well, I feel very bad for you man. I would be devastated if something like that happened to me. Its good to see that Luke picked up on it and that Bungie will probably do something.
83.
verysadrightnow | February 28, 2008 at 5:32 pm
That is f***ing messed up. I would sue for descration of personal property.
84.
wesley | February 28, 2008 at 5:42 pm
fooking ‘ell. that’s inexcusable, i think (as it’s already been suggested) one of the MS repairs employees made off with the case. though more than likely for their own collection than for any other purpose.
still try forwarding it on to http://consumerist.com/ see if they can step in and help with this. MS tends to respond if enough negative attention is turned their way.
85.
Some Girl | February 28, 2008 at 5:49 pm
You know, you’re all ready to point fingers and blame Microsoft, but really what they did isn’t OH SO TERRIBLE. As the Microsoft employee pointed out, the people doing the repairs don’t speak English, and on top of that, they don’t have time to question their procedure, they just do it, so the console got cleaned. I’m not saying it doesn’t suck, and while I agree that he shouldn’t have parted with it in the first place, its not like Microsoft purposely screwed him over! Its standard to clean something before wanting to repair it. I used to work at GameStop, and let me tell you, some of those consoles are just FOUL when they come in. Its likely an assembly line type thing that they do for unboxing & reboxing. Yes, it sucks, but its not the end of the world.
86.
Some Girl | February 28, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Also, Nathaniel, I feel for you, I REALLY do. My luggage was lost on my way to PAX last year and there were important items in there. But honestly, Microsoft did nothing wrong here. :/ Sorry & good luck getting more sigs.
87.
Unbreakable | February 28, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Man, thats terrible. Please keep us updated on what happens.
88.
ColinSSX | February 28, 2008 at 6:05 pm
WHAT THE FUCK!!! This is the problem with having foreigners working at Microsoft, THEY DON’T SPEAK ENGLISH! “Duh, this Xbox has marker all over it, I better clean it.” They owe him double the money he payed for the repair back because of this!
89.
Shdwsnipa | February 28, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Jesus fucking shitballs… that’s a good several grand out the window.
Good thing I’m:
A: A PC gamer and
B: Too worthless to be able to get 1337 autographs like that.
Best of luck to you. If necessary, call for /b/lackup.
90.
vgtech | February 28, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Wow. That’s a shame. O_o At first I thought Nathaniel’s 360 got the RROD (Red Rings Of Doom). But, it turns out Microsoft wiped off all the signatures, despite being told not to.
What a shame. :\
91.
Randy Stewart | February 28, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Hellooooo….people…wake up. I can’t believe you all banter about, oblivious to the fact that this “IS” the America we live in today. Compliments of the liberals that think the government should take care of them and nobody should be responsible for themselves.
There is no such thing as ethics any more….dead issue.
I feel sorry for the poor chap, but not understanding the world around you is not anyones fault but your own, and plays right into the hands of the way the liberals want you to be. Take responsibility for yourself and quit whinning.
92.
fabeo2 | February 28, 2008 at 6:19 pm
wow that kid drew a lot of shit on it
93.
mid90smatt | February 28, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Worst thing eva…I agree with the guy who said someone intentionally stole it. Sad times indeed.
94.
Digipatd | February 28, 2008 at 6:41 pm
That maniac was jealous of his 360!
95.
B | February 28, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Could have hit it with some clear spray sealer / urethane before you shipped it off kiddo.
96.
ImperfectMyth | February 28, 2008 at 6:45 pm
OMFG!!! I would be majorly PISSED!!! NO!!! PISSED ISNT EVEN THE RIGHT WORD FOR IT!!!!! MY GOD!!!! Microsoft really has just fucked up alot in the past few years. If they didn’t have the XBOX 360, I would never even THINK about them again. HOLY SHIT!!!
97.
Will | February 28, 2008 at 6:48 pm
“Nice sentiments, Will….do you also blame rape victims because their skirts were too short?”
As I said, I’d draw flak and didn’t care, but that was an amazing leap. But such is the status quo on the anonymous internet.
Microsoft can not bear the brunt of the blame for this. I understand that you may not have $350 laying around to purchase a new 360, but sacrifices could be made, and money saved, and a new one purchased in short order without parting with the beloved keepsake. Furthermore, a used system, or a core system could have been purchased, rather than a new one, and the hard drive simply swapped out.
There were easy solutions to be made without parting with the original 360, but you had to be willing to make them and make the sacrifices necessary. As I said, I may have no sympathy for this situation, but but what was done still isn’t right. By the same token, it also isn’t right to play the sympathy card to the masses of the internet and expect compensation for the event.
At least your 360 is working.
98.
GrimRune 21 | February 28, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Maaaaann……that sucks in so many ways. My most sincerest condolences.
*hugs*
99.
WC Snaks | February 28, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Wow. What an epic failure Microsuck has become. I’m sorry for your loss, man.
100.
Anonymous | February 28, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Did you not think to remove the cover before hand?
101.
Ragingterror | February 28, 2008 at 7:31 pm
“Did you not think to remove the cover before hand?”
Voids the warranty.
102.
Grim | February 28, 2008 at 7:46 pm
wow. im speachless. that sucks sooooooooo bad. omg i think i would go psycho on m$n. thats just totaly $h%y
103.
Miles | February 28, 2008 at 7:46 pm
i want to introduce you to one of humanity’s oldest invention its called PAPER, people use paper to write stuff on it like signatures
consoles aren’t for writing signatures microsoft repaired the console and even sent the same one(normally they don’t do that on request) that’s their work and they did it
did you really think your console would receive special treatment, the person that cleaned your console probably cleaned another 100 that day,
Everyone complains about the way MS reps treat you , well do you have any idea how MS treats them HINT: a lot worse
they don’t owe you nothing for erasing the writing , next time you want a sig, remember “PAPER”
104.
MERLIN | February 28, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Man, Nathaniel, that’s horrible, my heart goes out to you man.
105.
Masterofgrunts | February 28, 2008 at 8:12 pm
I’m sorry, but whoever erased all of those signatures could not possibly be a human being. There is no person alive who is truely that evil. Either (A: Microsoft has Hitler-Bots that do the matinance on them or (B: The person seriously didn’t give a crap about what was on the case.
But hey, you have the pictures to prove the stuff was on there. Aleast that can be your memory…
106.
Rai | February 28, 2008 at 8:38 pm
I don’t have a 360 so I would never know how it feels. but dam…microsoft employees either don’t know how to read or listen or they just don’t care.
107.
Anonymous | February 28, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Will, you are in the wrong. Yes, he should have known better. That isn’t the point.
The point is, a hardware failure that was THE COMPANY’S fault is the reason the thing needed repaired. At no fault of his, his xbox broke. The company representatives told him his xbox would be taken special care of, and that he should not worry. He took extra steps to inform them of the special nature of the xbox case (Beyond the fact that any idiot could see the case had some special signatures on it, artwork nonwithstanding) and they ERASED IT. They didn’t mess up and ship him the wrong xbox, they MALICIOUSLY rubbed it out with alcohol. This, i guarantee you, is not routine cleaning procedure.
Microsoft completely and totally screwed up on this one. Its like handing a trusted friend a glass ball, telling them to make sure to hold it carefully. They say they will, and promise its safety. the second you move to place it in their hand, they move theirs and it drops and shatters. Sure, the glass ball was valuable, but they had their hands there, and you had reasonable belief that it would be safe. Just as the trusted friend was in the wrong, so is microsoft.
108.
Morpheus | February 28, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Wow. That’s unbelievable. If that had happened to me, I would’ve walked into the Microsoft Corporation building with a blank mind and something that would end up on the news.
109.
shaz | February 28, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Man that is disgusting if i was you i would sue them.They fcuked us over with RROD and now some sad shit goes and do this to him.THAT WAS WRONG.
110.
Dude984 | February 28, 2008 at 8:59 pm
wow…it seems like Microsoft actually took the time needed to preserve and adhere to the requests of this guy by giving him the exact same console back…
but somewhere along the way…someone was an asshole.
I wouldn’g go ahead and blame Microsoft over this deal, but whoever did this should definately be fired for acting so unprofessional to this accumilation of history.
We may never know what really happened, but still…whoever is responsible should roll over and die for the obvious ache and pain they have caused. This is just sad. For once Microsoft seemed to genuinely do something really nice and well intended, only to have some jackass come along and mess everything up. I’m pissed…
Best wishes…
111.
paul | February 28, 2008 at 9:04 pm
I am sorry to say guys but I truely think that this kid set this all up himself so he would have a case to get something free from microsoft. He takes a before shot for what reason? I think this kid is a fraud and that he wiped it off himself.
112.
Mintz | February 28, 2008 at 9:08 pm
How could an employee sit there, scrubbing furiously, thinking he was doing the right thing?? That’s very malicious. I don’t blame Microsoft; I blame a seriously-screwed-up individual.
113.
AL | February 28, 2008 at 9:10 pm
LOL… MSoft, way to go.. bravo bravo. You wiped it clean… great job.. nice work.. [/sarcasm]
114.
Dustin | February 28, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Sue. Seriously, that is complete B.S. They destroyed YOUR property and ruined any potential resell value (not that you would resell it). So yeah, e-mail Mr. Gates and demand compensation. I would suggest an elite with signatures from everyone you previously had on your 360.
115.
Barbara | February 28, 2008 at 9:16 pm
I’m reading this while on hold with MS repair for my 5th broken Xbox 360. Simply amazing.
116.
idan | February 28, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I just hope my Xbox 360 will last until the release of the new GTA… I cant depend on it anymore, its my 4th console. Microsoft is simply amazing. They have retards for workers
117.
What Happens When A Uniqu&hellip | February 28, 2008 at 9:25 pm
[...] Seriously, that’s heartbreaking. Let that be a warning to all you people out there with consoles that are unique in some way. You can read the full story in gut-wrenching detail over at Hawty McBloggy. [...]
118.
Laird | February 28, 2008 at 9:35 pm
111. paul | February 28, 2008 at 9:04 pm
This isn’t a scam, he isn’t a kid, he is a practical nurse and a good person. I saw Nathan get most of these signatures in person at several of the events he attend to get them. Infact I even signed the 360 myself at his request.
119.
Blake | February 28, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Wow, that’s really rude. But, he did get it back right, and his letter didn’t mention anything about cleaning, just about smudging. Loophole. Anyways, I guess it was because the person there didn’t like it or something.
120.
Mohammad Hassan | February 28, 2008 at 9:37 pm
My dearest sympathies with you man. I mean i am completely baffled as of why would that someone do that? It was supposed to be someone else’s property and he had no right to do that. Trlu sad to hear that.
121.
Parah. Microsoft parah. -&hellip | February 28, 2008 at 9:39 pm
[...] Parah. Microsoft parah. - Today, 11:39 Gw dapet dari RSS tadi, terus gw baca, terus akhirnya gw putuskan untuk ngepost disini tanpa bermaksud menyinggung pihak manapun.. Gw enggak sedang flaming, cuma ngerasa kasihan sama nasib anak ini. Kalo gw jadi dia bisa gw **&*&* tuh M$. Read it for yourself. Sorry bahasa inggris. Another Gamer Screwed by Microsoft Hawty McBloggy Invites You to Play [...]
122.
Blake | February 28, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Oh, and did you read some of the things ON the case? If you worked at Microsoft, wouldn’t you erased SOME(Not all) of the signatures that are negative towards the very system the company is working to fix?
123.
Marcus | February 28, 2008 at 9:46 pm
This shit aint right
124.
Ragingterror | February 28, 2008 at 9:46 pm
“This isn’t a scam, he isn’t a kid, he is a practical nurse and a good person. I saw Nathan get most of these signatures in person at several of the events he attend to get them. In fact I even signed the 360 myself at his request.”
Actually, I’m a Registered Nurse, but that’s beside the point. This man speaks the truth.
125.
LKane | February 28, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Time to sue! Time for Microsoft to lose another 1.35 billion dollars :p
126.
artisfordouches | February 28, 2008 at 10:06 pm
seriously, if you think the stuff on this xbox was art you are a tard… if someone sent back my product and it had something written on it about being shitty id clean it off too…. kudos to microsoft… dont be tools….
127.
grimsanto | February 28, 2008 at 10:11 pm
To be honest I would have never said anything that prized back to microsoft or any company for that matter. Still it does suck.
128.
BBJynne | February 28, 2008 at 10:28 pm
grr, yet another reason MS sucks
129.
psn jdawg_1 | February 28, 2008 at 10:41 pm
What you need to do is contact Microsoft again and tell them you want them to contact all of the people and more to sign and get more artwork done to your new xbox, check and see if it has a hdmi on it too. like someone said you may have been tricked. Thats the only way I would feel satisfied bulls84t you not , if they don’t cooperate, threaten to sue them since you do have the letter as evidence and most likely the conversatioin was recorded. Thats bull. I love my ps3 can’t wait till metal gear. So Microsoft pay s50 mil for Andreas and Vice City (old game) whhhhhaaat.
130.
graboid9 | February 28, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Do you think the average mexican factory worker knows or cares who rooster teeth are? I don’t think so. It goes down an assembly line and probably one guy cleans every box that comes in…thats his only job is to clean the outside. Day and night cleaning boxes. He most likely doesn’t know how to not clean one, because if a dirty one got out he would be fired and his family would starve.
I guess I’m the devils advocate here. The people saying sue microsoft are idiots.The signatures have no monetary value just sentimental. Did he go to all these events for just signatures or did he go to have a good time, meet people and play games? It sucks and i feel a little sorry for him, but the fact is something so precious to him should never have left his possession no matter how much he was assured it would be fine.
131.
Marco | February 28, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Let me tell you, all those signatures are hilarious and the artwork, magnificent. Now back on the article, horror, mayhem, whatever you want, but Microsoft screwed up big time. Not only did they erase signatures, no, they obliterated wonderful memories. Boy, you better get a refund or sue them, because this is crap.
Oh, seems that some people complain about the fact that the Xbox had some “insults” written on it. Well, yeah, but hey, it’s a joke. I mean, if they meant it serious they wouldn’t have signed the 360 or wouldn’t even have designed any game for it.
132.
SidearmS | February 28, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Hawty, I am just stunned. This is like you sending your system back with your pink Halo custom faceplate on it and getting one back with a Forza 2 plate instead.
Ok, maybe not THE SAME, but this is the only thing I can think off the top of my head that would compare.
XBox 360 - Halo makes us do bad things…
133.
Richdad | February 28, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Cant say any thing abt this, but artwork thing is gone is no big deal it would have happen with any of the product and I am not gonna say its said its overreaction.
I think its easy to sue anyone in your country.
134.
picaflor | February 28, 2008 at 11:14 pm
I’m inclined to wonder whether the cleansing of the case was with malicious intent.
There truly is no reason to believe that the markings on the console constituted any sort of teenage graffitos, and inferring from the quality of the work, it is obvious that the markings are truly special.
Is it possible that someone at Microsoft perpetrated an act of vandalism?
135.
yepness | February 28, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Lol, funniest shit I’ve read all day.
136.
Count3D | February 28, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Like many who have commented, I am extremely disappointed by MS’ apparent negligence in customer care in this situation. This is a pathetic shining humdinger of a cock-up on their part. My sympathy is with Nathan.
137.
MH | February 28, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Dude, after you get reimburstments from MS, just get a ps3. You will never have to worry about any RROD or shoddy customer service. I can guarentee that.
138.
ano | February 29, 2008 at 12:05 am
Although I do think that MS wronged the ‘gamer’. However, what did you expect sending that valuable in. People can assure anything, but in reality the people assuring you this have no control over other departments or let alone the guy that did this.
I symphatize with you and wish this did not happen. I concur that you did your best to get assured. However, you sort of asked for it when sending that thing in. You should have just bought another one…. was it worth the $350+tax (in US) saved?
139.
Mark Wilson | February 29, 2008 at 12:10 am
This is freaking unbelievable.
140.
Bordz | February 29, 2008 at 12:11 am
umm people dont ralise that paint thiners will take it right off with out much effort and ususlaly if done correctly it wont damage the dried paint on the console. none the less microsoft you are selfish bastards with the second worst customer service ever (the first being telstra where the people at the call centre get angry at you)
141.
JohnEMT24 | February 29, 2008 at 12:19 am
First off you have my sympathies Nathan. As a firefighter, I have seen lots of people lose somthing treasured in a fire. Fires that are normally accidents. I remember a fire I pulled up on and a woman asked that we try and find a picture of her husband whom was serving in Iraq at the time. We found the picture, slightly burnt, and gave it to her. Its not the item itself, but the meaning we give to it. That 360 was one of those items. I hope the right people see this and maybe you can get the signatures, artwork, or even both redone on there. It may not be the orginal, which looked great, but you might geta little more too. Halo has one of the larger communities in the world. Maybe as big as trekkies or even star wars or bigger. But hold out hope, and pack this Tablu Rasa, or clean slate, with you and regain its former glory.
142.
necrozen | February 29, 2008 at 12:23 am
Wow man. Sorry to hear all this. I don’t have a 360 yet, I was waiting it out to see it if would get cheaper. Luckily, now the wait is over as I’ve decided not to get one.
It wasn’t just the poor service that convinced me, it was all the xbox fans on this site blaming YOU, as if you did something wrong. I was only getting one for Xbox live, but if that’s what the community is like, wow…
I mean I had heard stories that the fans were as cold as the company they worshiped, but this really puts it into perspective.
I’m sorry this happened. I hope MS shows they care for once and hooks you up.
143.
Scott Thong | February 29, 2008 at 12:25 am
MS, being a huge bereaucracy, is bound to do what was described above.
The poor, hapless technician who has to the repairs probably has 100 pages of documents that he must stirctly adhere to - including ‘Casing of repaired XBox must be rhoroughly cleaned or no stock options for you.’
What’s a low-level employee to do? Ask his manager and get smacked around? His daily meals VS some kid’s drawings… No contest.
“Sorry kid, but I wanna afford my own XBox some day after I buy my freedom from Gates Slavers Inc.’
144.
ColinSSX | February 29, 2008 at 12:53 am
This is why outsourcing is a bad idea.
145.
Chryton | February 29, 2008 at 12:55 am
Yeah, that was most definitely stolen or replaced. If you look at the picture that shows the MC on it, its the same side as the picture of the “after” photo, and there is NO WAY the smudge near the front of the console is from he original because there was NO INK there in the first place.
I would have to say, this is almost as low as Sony saying “We don’t care what the customers think.”
146.
WAT? | February 29, 2008 at 12:58 am
That’s pretty lol’able.
147.
Tomas | February 29, 2008 at 1:30 am
I would murder anyone who did this to me, im seriuos, people will die if it was me the guy that got through this.
148.
Fearless | February 29, 2008 at 1:50 am
While this is an incredibly Bull situation i do find it amusing that MS is getting blame for it.
Do you think that they decided to wipe it clean? I highly doubt it.
It would have been some disgrunt worker who felt like making someone else have a bad day.
149.
Robert Santellan | February 29, 2008 at 2:24 am
Wow…I really don’t know what to say. You have to be pretty dumb to have a note and see obvious signs of artwork and sigs on a console and just wipe ot all away. M$ owes this guy big time.
150.
jash | February 29, 2008 at 2:34 am
man that’s the worst thing i’ve ever herd. I am truly sorry for your loss. ms owes you
151.
aaaa | February 29, 2008 at 3:17 am
evil MS sons of bitches !!!
152.
frickendevil | February 29, 2008 at 3:20 am
111. paul | February 28, 2008 at 9:04 pm
He possibly could have taken a before shot just in case (maybe) they sent him a complete new model? And he would have some proof if they did? I do kinda remember reading something that may have indicated he was worried that might happen.
153.
Jake B | February 29, 2008 at 3:29 am
Did you know that its a 100% proven fact that Microsoft is gay as f—?
I feel bad for you man. I mean, they wanted to be dousches about it, so I guess they decided to take your letter quite literally. My friend took in his Xbox 360 with a drawing of a dinosaur and when he got it back the drawing was still there. Not only that, he put in a note that said, “PLEASE REMOVE THE DRAWING” in capitalized letters in about size 72. He even called Microsoft about it!
… This all happened before the PS3 launch, so obviously (over horrible service, and horrible treatment ending with Microsoft yelling at my friend) I bought a PS3. Not a Wii. If I wanted a Wii, I would have put wings on my PS2 (or better yet give it Red Bull).
154.
Tom Kirby-Green | February 29, 2008 at 3:32 am
I’ve owned 3 Xbox 360 since launch (I was there at pre-order time). Two of ‘em failued with RROD. Last week I sold my Xbox 360 Elite and now gaming with my PlayStation 3 (which I also got at launch and was (a) worked perfectly and silently ever since and (b) is now beginning to have games and content that to be honest the ‘360 couldn’t reproduce to the same level). Microsoft make great operating systems and development tool and completely crap gaming hardware. Never again.
155.
OmegaHunter | February 29, 2008 at 3:42 am
I have to wonder why so many here are acting as if Microsoft as a whole is somehow responsible for screwing this guy over. People have accused Microsoft of having an evil, horrible customer service that was out to screw this guy for no apparent reason. I’m no huge fan of Microsoft but I find it ridiculous that people are calling for him to sue them over this. The person that cleaned the outside might not have ever seen the note; who know how many people handle any one console that comes in and who knows how many filthy consoles the guy that wiped it down probably deals with in any given day. I bet he cleans a lot not just this one.
I work at a GameStop and you wouldn’t believe the stupid crap people put on their consoles. They write shit on it, put skins on crooked, put stickers on there, draw dumb stuff. That doesn’t count the systems covered in dirt, sticky stuff, spiderwebs, dog puke, various food and drink, unidentifiable gray crap, etc. Ignoring the drawing do you think this guy read all the signatures let alone knew who those people were? At a glance it looks less like autographs and more like a yearbook. I assumed at first looking at it it was a group of friends that had written on it.
Something else to think about. Several people have said that it’s Microsoft’s fault since their system failed him. And while I do find the red ring problem ridiculous and can’t believe they would let something with such a huge problem out they did extend the warranty to 3 years to cover it. This has cost them reportedly millions of dollars to fix. Now I’m not saying this shows some great benevolence on the part of MS since it was such a big problem to begin with but most companies don’t triple the duration of their warranties and fix the problem with no questions asked even for widespread failures like this. He says he preordered the system months in advance. He had it for 2 years. Had MS not extended the warranty he’d be buying himself a new system.
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This just sucks. - Gamers&hellip | February 29, 2008 at 3:48 am
[...] loyal fan of his 360, click the link to continue reading up on what happened to the poor fellow. Another Gamer Screwed by Microsoft Hawty McBloggy Invites You to Play __________________ Proud PS1/2/3/P owner. Proud PC owner. Proud DS owner and Wii fan. 360 is a [...]
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M$ | February 29, 2008 at 3:50 am
sue sue sue!
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badcastd | February 29, 2008 at 3:56 am
I’m sure it’s standard procedure to clean the boxes. If not, people would complain for that very reason. “Oh, why is there this black smudge still on my Xbox? Dammit, I hate Microsoft”. Based on that, there’s a risk of sending sometihng like this is. And how many companies will warrant the little comments? Especially one like Microsoft.
Permanent marker is very easy to clean off. Rubbing alcohol and a little effort. Bet there’s much more efficient ways than household items. Especiallyi n a major repair factory.
Everyone has lost something sentimental in their life. This is not the first person to get screwed in life. Compensation isn’t worth jack, unless there is a hidden motive behind. Deal with it, and learn from the mistake. Keep sentimental things safe next time, by not sending it in if it is worth more than the value of a new Xbox 360.
I am not sympathetic to this story. It’s ridiculous how many people are so stupid and quick to point the finger.
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timestoby | February 29, 2008 at 4:01 am
but still people are still buying these dying machines.ive had two that died and now im sayn goodbye to xbots and sayn hello to ps3rs.at least its got the latest hd format
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KillerScene | February 29, 2008 at 4:41 am
Similar thing happened to me here in europe. Called M$ to book a repair for my 360, explained in great detail that my console was a JPN / NTSC version and could they please have it noted that it mustn’t be replaced by a PAL version. “Ok, not a problem” they say.
Before boxing the unit I wrote “NTSC CONSOLE, please DO NOT replace with a PAL unit” in black marker pen onto a sheet of A4 paper, and stuck it to the side of the console with sellotape.
Now, you’d think that with prior warning over the phone, AND a huge, unmissable warning stuck to it that someone would take notice. Apparently not, because it was replaced by a UK / PAL console, rendering 3/4 of my software collection completely useless, just before Christmas, thus giving me no chance to put it right before mid January.
Called M$ to complain, and got the following response: ” Well, what do you want ME to do about it?” No apology, no compensation, nothing. Worst of all, since my problem was 2 red lights (overheating) and not 3, I had to pay £65.00 ($130.00) for the privilege!! Ooh, the nerve!
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Steve | February 29, 2008 at 5:12 am
I will say that this stinks. I will also say that I would NEVER send an Xbox like that in for repair. If it was that important to me, I would have just left it broke and bought a new one. There are retards in this world and I would expect they would screw something like this up.
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BattleMaster25 | February 29, 2008 at 5:13 am
If that was me, i would be on the phone with my lawyer first thing the next chance i had, becuase that, to me, is easily worth quite a few bucks. I have several transformer toys signed by their respective voice actors, and if someone ever stole them or damaged them, you can garuanty there would be swift and decise repercussions that i would befell upon them!
That kid better sue them, because that is absolutely absurd what they did to him, and thats why things like that i would never send in to microsoft, i mean, my god, it takes them 2 freaking hours just to figure out and solve a simple software problem when ever i call them for tech support. I highly, highly doubt they are much more capable of fixing and returning an xbox and returning it the exact same way you sent it in, barring the hardware fix!
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Funnydale | February 29, 2008 at 5:24 am
Wow, reading most of these comments, I now know why gamers have such a horrible reputation of being called “Man-Children” in the mainstream press.
Not that I don’t feel sorry for this guy — I actually do — but most of these responses are idiotic.
1) Ignore everyone who is suggesting that you sue — a judge will laugh you out of court faster than your next 360 will Red-Ring.
2) People who say that his artwork was “stolen” are also morons. The person working at the Xbox repair center in Mexico probably makes 3 dollars an hour — his/her only concern is to follow procedures so he doesn’t lose his/her low-paying job and watch his/her kids starve.
3) If you want to bitch at anyone, target Microsoft for building a console that has a 50% (or more) defect rate. I’m on my 3rd 360 and I’m having hell trying to get all my downloaded content reauthorized. All I know is that I’m not spending another dime on DRM crap on the Xbox Live Marketplace; I’m also not going to spend another dime on any future Microsoft product.
If you want to send a real message to Microsoft: stop buying their products. Only then will they change.
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Simon | February 29, 2008 at 5:41 am
Microsoft are scum.
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Al7eredBeasT | February 29, 2008 at 5:41 am
I’m lost for words. I can’t begin to imagine what that must have felt like when you got your console back. Someone at Microsoft knows whos hands this console passed through between it leaving your doorstep and it arriving back home, and if I was Microsoft i’d do a thorough investigation into who did it, and fire them. At the very least they should offer to pay for transport to Redmond for a Bungie visit.
I really do hope you get some form of compensation for this outrage. Microsoft have really screwed up.
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hector sorto | February 29, 2008 at 5:55 am
Well, it is pretty clean
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Universe_JDJ’s Blog&hellip | February 29, 2008 at 5:58 am
[...] read more | digg story [...]
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Edgar | February 29, 2008 at 6:02 am
Maybe the employee that was responsible for the repairs can’t read in English and just followed the standard procedure? Even if there were some interesting graphics on it. Shame.
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zoggynog | February 29, 2008 at 6:06 am
Wow.
Totally uncalled for. I am an admitted Nintendo fan boy, but I gotta say I’ve been on the fence about buying a 360 (for Rock Band).
Good thing Rock Band was announced for the Wii. Guess I’ll be waiting until later this year.
Let’s hope Halo goes multi-platform now that Bungie technically can choose to do so.
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AC | February 29, 2008 at 6:07 am
“Don’t blame on Malice what you can attribute to stupidity…”
- famous quote
I don’t believe that a Microsoft employee just decided to clean this for no reason. Here’s the deal:
Microsoft outsources this. Microsoft includes a list of instructions for the outsourced vendor to follow. The repair person probably hands the fixed box over onto a conveyor belt. Basically someone who does not read English handled this, OR there was a conflict between the note and business rules (guess which always wins?)
I like to think that even the lowest EMPLOYEE in a company cares about doing a good job. But when the job is outsourced, people handling the task are NOT ever going to think outside the box. Whenever something like this happens, the fault CLEARLY lies with the company manager who wrote up the REQUIREMENTS of the outside repair shop. Then the manager insulates themselves from them… profit!
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Lalala | February 29, 2008 at 6:09 am
Wah. It wasn’t worth much before and it wouldn’t be worth much later. Little kids get worked up by the silliest things.
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Web Design Forum - Xbox 'cleaned' by Microsoft | February