Microsoft ends Xbox 360 RROD "coffin" program, still paying for shipping
By Nilay Patel 
posted Jun 9th 2009 2:32PM
posted Jun 9th 2009 2:32PM
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Would the warranty still be valid if it became damaged in transit, due to being poorly packaged?
Nope and they're probably counting on that to a degree.
good thing I saved back my previous coffin. I'm sure I'll be using it a year from now since all the 360s I've ever owned live for exactly one year.
Why wouldn't you buy the insurance for a couple dollars?
How sad is this? Out of the 20 million 360s' sold. I wonder what percentage of those machine actually lasted its lifetime without suffering the RROD or any such failure. I owned pretty much all Nintendo and Sony consoles and none of them ever crap out on me.
My 360 got the code 6 months after I bought it. Since then, not a single problem. Been about 2 years problem free.
I got mine 2 or 3 weeks after launch and it still runs, no repairs.
Ive had two xboxes die on me and microsoft made the process relatively easy for me to get them fixed. However, i wish i could say the same about Nintendo because my Wii just wouldnt turn on one morning and they refuse to admit it was a manufacturing defect that caused the problem.
They've been making consumers pay for their own shipping and packaging at least back to a year ago when I had to pay to send back my own RROD 360.
My Wii just cost $90 to repair - having to send it back to Nintendo to fix the DVD Drive. My brothers just crapped out as well. Both of our Wii's are a little over a year old.
The goal of this move isn't to save money. They probably won't save that much not sending you a box. The point is that you can ship your dead Xbox360 right after you called instead of having to wait for a box.
Two RRoDs ago - yeah, I know; had three total across two 360s - they were supposed to send a coffin and I waited several days and it never showed. Call 'em back and they suddenly needed my serial # again. Call 'em the next day after I got it and they tell me they could either send a coffin or a printable pre-paid shipping label. WTF didn't you offer that the first time?!?!?
With the latest RRoD, I went to the Xbox.com site instead of calling and they just offered the pre-paid label option. I printed it out and my g/f boxed it up in a box the exact size of the Xbox, but without any padding. They fixed it and sent it back without a comment. Funny thing though, it's suddenly gotten picky about DVDs it plays. Hmmmmm....uh-oh.
My launch 360 never got a RROD, but the disk drive did start scratching disks so I sent it in for a dvd drive replacement. Great service, and the only other problem I have had is the button on the front of the console sometimes doesn't retract the disk tray, but this is only an intermittent problem that I could probably fix myself.
I have 2 360 elites, and I've had to do probably 5 replacements, counting 1 that was DOA.
Compared to my track record with the PS2 (a dead one every 6 mos), this shows about the same longevity. I find it amusing that my Sega Genesis and N64 are still running perfectly after FAR more years of use.
Is this a moving parts vs solid state kind of thing, or just a complexity thing?
Woohoo!! This is actually good!! That means the xbox can be sent in more 'broken' than before because they have to give leiaway for packaging damage. The 'cofin' they sent before didn't even look like it cost much anyways.
This is why I'm a PC gamer.
Yeah? Never had to RMA anything?
Never RMA'd any computer part. By the time a part did die, I was already upgrading it.
In any case, a benefit with PC is the ability to fix it yourself w/o the "warranty issue" in opening up your own PC if it was self-built.
I've already sent my PS3 once and am sending it again after 2 weeks.
Yet to do it with my 360 though, I haven't touched it in a couple months.
That's why I'm a PS3 gamer. Never had a problem + I get better games.
The one silver lining is that the costs MS is incurring over this issue will motivate them to get it right on the next console. No more cost-cutting during hardware development.
"by the time a part did die, I'm replacing it"
errrm yeah, I bet that PC gaming habit cost a lot more than a console gaming habit would, if you're replacing parts frequently enough..
nice! now where did i last see my xbox???
i have only had to pay for one xbox, and my 2006 model worked for about 3 years, now my 2nd one is running perfect.
but i cant tell you how many video cards and ram sticks ive been through, thats why i gave up on pc gaming i got tired of having to upgrade my system just to keep up.
but whatever to each his own, i wasted enough hours playing half life and quake 2 back in the day lol
Same here, have never had a bad part. I also don't replace parts piecemeal. I keep it for a few years and either give it to a family member, or use if for something else.
Exactly. What, 3 years later and this stench lingers like a bad cloud of pig gas hovering over a South Carolina Farm. MS will inevitable hold fast to their typical pattern:
Windows 3.1 = Xbox (the beginning)
Windows 95, ME, Vista = Xbox 360 (first release - bad)
Windows 98, XP, 7 = Xbox 720 (second release - good)
They never get it right the first time or when its rushed. Xbox 720 WILL BE AWESOME, Watch!
@Frankenstein Black
I for one have grown to appreciate your allegorical lists that so often frequent the engadget comments.
PC Gaming made my wallet RROD. However my 360 is still RROD free, but my PS3 does kick the fans on pretty hard halfway through about any BR movie. Its kind of an annoying sound for a BR player to make.
If you have a good PC, you have no need for an Xbox 360. All of its titles are multiplatform/available for PC.
Except for Halo 3, Halo Wars, Halo 3: ODST, and whatever Halo's they're trying to shove down your throat.
I'm a PC gamer too... And I've had to RMA a 750watt Corsair PSU last summer, and an x850pro a long time ago...
I have had PC hardware die on me before but it lasted a lot longer than any of the XBOX consoles people I know have owned. And in some cases the PC hardware dieing was because I made stupid mistakes (like using the heat-sink and fan from a Pentium 166 MMX on a 300MHz Cyrix part, last time I did that and last time I bought anything other than Intel) or because of external factors like lightning or surges.
Nearly every piece of PC hardware I have owned (with a few exceptions like the Cyrix CPU and a really old crappy sound card with a CD-ROM connected via a proprietary connector) has been rock solid.
it's 'dying' jonwil2002, although maybe dieing exist to describe a colouring process, though I think they might use 'dying' there too, I'm unsure.
"Except for Halo 3, Halo Wars, Halo 3: ODST, and whatever Halo's they're trying to shove down your throat."
Isn't that really the only reason most people get an XBOX? And I know when you try to talk about XBOX games, every gamer points to that and says it's the only reason the XBOX is on top (or so they think)...
They haven't for a while.
Yeah, I had done a warranty repair about 7 months ago and they required that I send the xbox in my own packaging. They just emailed the shipping label to me.
Likewise..about 6 months ago I had to pack it myself. They sent a prepaid label and picked it up though. About a year and a half ago, on the first RROD, I got a coffin.
When I returned mine about 3 months ago they gave me the option of sending it in my own box or having them send me the coffin. I did this through their website.
I thought they were letting people keep their pro and sending a new xbox360... should'nt quit binge drinking...
Oh f@ck! I bet MS now will say "Oh, it is damaged in transit, so no free repair for you." This is bull, just bull, especially for a company as big as MS.
This is how most companies do it. Welcome to the real world; enjoy your short stay.
Shipping insurance. Buy it. Don't be cheap.
I just got my xbox back from repairs,I spent less than £5 spent on a box/bubble wrap, don't be cheap.
1) Wrap with aluminum foil
2) Put in a Ziplock bag
3) Label it
4) Ship it out...
5) Go meet the Unibomber for tea.
6) ???????
Over 9000) Profit!
7) Repeat
I can't believe MS didn't retreat from the game industry in shame after the awesome failure that the 360 hardware was.
Actually I'd consider it to be more of a success than anything.
They should just package one in with brand new 360's.
But then they would charge you for it as an extra accessory.
MS has been doing this for a while. My 360 RROD'd about 3 months ago and they made me send it back with my own box. Luckily I still had the original box so I sent it in that. They do say that the customer is responsible for any damage sustained in transit to MS however. I thought it was pretty $h!tty. But I got a working 360 for nothing so I'm happy with it.
Thats strange. When a few of my friends and I went down the shore for Memorial Day one of my friends brought his 360 with him and it RROD'd. By the time we got back home to the city, Microsoft had already delivered his box.
I don't understand why he would've gotten one a few weeks ago and you wouldn't have gotten one a few months ago.
mine just crashed... launch system too... no warranty
you have to be one of the last people left with a launch system. Launch systems are guaranteed to fail.
Mine launch system just died last week, no warranty... Sucks.
For being such loyal customers, you two should go buy another one. Give M$ more money. They certainly deserve it, right?
RMA'd my 360 twice since launch day. First time, they told me to pack it myself. Second time, I got a coffin. Both repairs were completed and back to me in less than a week. At least when I didn't have to wait for the coffin, it saved me a day or two.
In that same time, I've had to exchange three motherboards (EVGA / ASUS / EVGA), a video card (EVGA), a hard drive (Western Digital), and a cell phone (HTC) for manufacturing defects.
For a geek, C'est la vie.
"Both repairs were completed and back to me in less than a week." I'm sure you meant that you got a replacement refurbished xbox within the week.
I find it unlikely that they received, unpackaged, diagnosed, fixed, tested, repackaged, and shipped the exact same xbox back to you.
It's possible, just unlikely.
Just sent mine back for the 2nd time today. I have a launch console, but never got the RRoD. I had some random error the first time (they assured me it wasn't the RRoD problem and made me pay $100) and now it just decided not to recognize discs anymore (another $100).
I feel stupid for giving them so much of my money, but I really do love the console I just wish they could MAKE IT WORK RELIABLY.
Why wouldnt you just buy a brand new unit?
You sent it back TWO TIMES in one day? :S
I bought the arcade unit for $169 at a Dell sale, $20 for a hard drive w/ a 3 month live subscription that sold for over $20 on ebay, amazingly enough. I have the Jasper chipset with the Falcon graphics card. You could have done what I did, minus the hard drive, and sold the controller if you didn't need it, and come out well ahead.
Meh. In Canada, MS didnt send coffins anyway. We had to supply our own boxes. And we liked it!
Lucky for me, after my first RROD they reimbursed me when they extended the RROD warranty. Also luckily, my 2nd RROD was also covered.
That's cause us canadians are tough
In Amish country, our XBox 360s never crap out on us. Then again, we just have a wooden box marked X with the degrees ticked off on the sides. Still beats canada.
Great, so instead of actually fixing the flaws with the console, they instead give you a greater burden of needing to find your own box.
NATAL will bring RROD to the masses. Instead of a red ring show and cryptic error number, a realistic, virtual 12 year old gamer, will scream the n-word over and over, give you the finger and tell you to go fuck your mommy, you pussy.
My launch console RROD'd back in October and they told me to send it back in my own box, which wasn't a big deal. I already thought they stopped sending out these coffins for awhile now but I guess that wasn't the case.
It says a lot for MS that they can continue to produce a product that everyone knows is defective, decide the solution is just to keep doing repairs and yet STILL have a demand for the units. They must get together and laugh sometimes in Redmond.
Over here in the UK, we already had to pack it ourselves, although postage to & from Germany was already paid.
Anyway, I was worried MS were ending the extended RRoD warranty.. my heart skipped a beat!
Yes, I'm sure they're laughing about the billions of dollars this has cost them. Sure is hilarious, especially to the investors.
I'm on my 2nd xbox and after my launch unit crapped out after a year (RROD), I've had 0 issues with this unit, its been perfect since and continues to run perfect everyday. It really is just luck of the draw I guess.
I just had this happen two weeks ago. I had to find a box that would hold my Xbox. I found a box that my wife bought candles in. I sent the Xbox with two candles as packaging protection. I wonder what the tech thought of that?
By the way I got my Xbox back Monday. RROD last night again (Third time) I stand it on edge and have plenty of airflow. Is there something else I can do?
I thought you weren't supposed to stand it up anymore? That blocks one of the main vents
@ crashcarstar
And if you put it on it's side, it blocks the side vent. I've got mine carefully and precisely balanced at a 45 degree angle, to maximise airflow to the bottom and side.
well really, 20-30 % failure rate its not that much so there are going to be 70-80 % having problem with new console unless people dont just take care of their xbox...
good
Has been this way for a year now
lol, poor, unreliable XBOX
350 RULES... I mean look at the cool red light!!
LOL
I just keep the original box.
my 360 red ringed about 6 months ago and i didnt get any "coffin" to ship it back in. I packaged it myself and had to print a shipping label for it. i also received my replacement xbox a few days later so im not complaining as much as i am surprised that there was a coffin to begin with.
Here in New Zealand they never had the coffins so you had to find your own way to package anyway.
What I did find of concern is they provided you with a Freepost number to pay for the postage. The thing is Freepost only provides cover up to NZ$250, well less than the cost of the 360.
They do provide an address for sending it by courier so you can have it insured for more, though you would have to pay for it.
Wow, I had to send in my Xbox in four times. Only once did MS pay for shipping. The other times I did it all myself. Shipping the Xbox isn't cheap.
Wow. I literally just sent mine in a few weeks ago. I guess I got lucky.
i never really minded using my own box.
IN FACT MS made me use my own box in November to fix the rings. as long as they pay shipping is it really a big deal??
i just used a box from the college recycling center (nice it's right next door) and i paid usps a buck to bubble wrap it
they even emailed me a pdf of the rma, so i didn't have to wait much at all maybe 4 days till new one came (sent me a brand new one, which was nice)
http://reallifecomics.com/archive/090528.html this
that is all.
Its Microsoft fault, its only right they handle the problem. Down with bill!
That seems to be their policy aswell, yet so different.
Microsoft Australia required me to package mine over 6 months ago...
They tried to get my friend to buy his own box about a month ago. I told him to ask to speak to a supervisor because it's microsoft's fault. If we let companies get away with things, no matter how small they may seem, it will encourage them to continue these actions against the consumer. Trust me it starts with little things then it grows to something more serious.
mudder F! My 360 Elite (manufactured in oct/2007) just took a dump today. E 74 accompanied by a single red light. Oh well i packed it really good and dropped it off at UPS. Maybe now i can finally by a game for my $400 bluray player. Statistically every person i know who owns a 360 has either had the E 74 code or RROD. If your 360 hasnt died yet, dont worry it will. What pissed me off is that i've been such a 360 fanboy even though i have a ps3 and a wii. I've done nothing but praise MS and their games and even defended the XBL tax.
Sony and Nintendo just scored a few points in my book today. MY ps3 is making a weird noise though when i put in a disc... damn i better check that out soon.
hmm i wonder why they decided to do this though if it dosen't really save them money
My little brother has one that was made in Nov. 2007, will MS still fix it? It's RRoD.
I was one of the boneheads that waited in line all night in Dallas when they came out and I was 48/50. I have used mine almost daily since I bought it and have never had a single problem with it, although now that I have said that I have probably doomed it to die within a week.
Step 1 call Microsoft and get a label.
Step 2 go to a mall and ask any of the 50-150 stores in said mall for a box.
Step 3 spend about $5 for tape and packing bubble.
Unless you live in Notonthemap,WI this shouldn't be an issue.
I'm guessing people would say they got RROD just to get a free box...
I had 2 xbox 360s since launch with no RROD or problems and i play daily. Only reason I upgraded was to go from the 20gb to the elite (bigged hd and hdmi). Most of the people i know that had rrod got if after they let their xbox 360s site for a few days or weeks unused then when they started it up the ring of fire surprised them.
Didn't they bill that as being a 'green' move by not wasting energy and paper sending around cardboard which you can pick up free at any local supermarket and such?
Because they could so nicely have sold it as that and have scored some points that way.
You Xbox 360 people sound like drug junkies when talking about how long your system has been sober for so and so years. Very sad, but the most sad part is that this problem being so massive still continues to be funded by you all.
I had the error 74 happen to me and requested a shipping label, and although I had to pay for the packing, the shipping was free. The best of it was, when I arrived at the UPS store, the guy already knew what packing was needed and took care of it right away. He obviously dealt with a lot of these returns.
Oh rats...my 360 just got the dreaded RROD this past weekend. You try telling my 2 year old she can't watch Blue's Clues on Netflix...this stinks. I bought mine in May of 2007 (manufactured July 06) and I used it about 300 hours total before it died. I got a free box from USPS and turned it inside out...it's nearly a perfect fit but I still opted to wrap the box in bubble wrap and stuff some newspaper on the sides to keep it from moving around.
I don't get it.
They require us to send our own packaging so that we don't have to wait to send it off?
Yet they still have to send a prepaid label anyway..?
Couldn't they just e-mail it to us and we print it off then stick it to our box?