Well I didn't see this posted anywhere... and it is pretty big news. I did post it in the broken 360 thread, but here you go!
"Open Letter From Peter Moore
To our Xbox Community:
You’ve spoken, and we’ve heard you. Good service and a good customer experience are areas of the business that we care deeply about. And frankly, we’ve not been doing a good enough job.
Some of you have expressed frustration with the customer experiences you have had with Xbox 360; frustration with having to return your console for service after receiving the general hardware error message on the console.
The majority of customers who own Xbox 360 consoles have had a terrific experience from their first day, and continue to, day in and day out. But when anyone questions the reliability of our product, or our commitment to our customers, it’s something I take very seriously.
We have been following this issue closely, and with on-going testing have identified several factors that can cause a general hardware failure indicated by three flashing red lights on the console. To address this issue, and as part of our ongoing work, we have already made certain improvements to the console.
We are also implementing some important policy changes intended to keep you in the game, worry-free.
As of today, all Xbox 360 consoles are covered by an enhanced warranty program to address specifically the general hardware failures indicated by the three flashing red lights on the console. This applies to new and previously-sold consoles. While we will still have a general one year console warranty (two years in some countries), we are announcing today a three-year warranty that covers any console that displays a three flashing red lights error message. If a customer has an issue indicated by the three flashing red lights, Microsoft will repair the console free of charge -- including shipping -- for three years from the console’s purchase date. We will also retroactively reimburse any of you who paid for repairs related to problems indicated by this error message in the past. In doing so, Microsoft stands behind its products and takes responsibility to ensure that every Xbox 360 console owner continues to have a fantastic gaming experience.
If we have let any of you down in the experience you have had with your Xbox 360, we sincerely apologize. We are taking responsibility and are making these changes to ensure that every Xbox 360 owner continues to have a great experience.
This will take a few days to roll out globally, and I appreciate your continued patience as we launch this program. I’ve posted an FAQ that should address some additional questions, and we’ll update it over the next few days.
I want to thank you, on behalf of all us at Microsoft, for your loyalty. "
Posts
This is fantastic news.
edit: source?
Wait...that was their plan..DAMNIT!
Really though, if this is as good as it sounds, it's really great! Three years against overheating is nothing to sneeze at. Also if they implemented a warranty this strong, they probably really did fix the issue in future consoles.
PSN/XBL: dragoniemx
Battle.net: Fireflash#1425
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Also, it's pretty cool to see it as a letter from Peter Moore, rather than a press release. That's class right there. :^:
I'M A TWITTER SHITTER
one year for every red light! (up to a maximum of three)
front page of Xbox.com
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/petermooreletter.htm
This is definitly fantastic news. I think they have nailed down the failure issue and they will be issuing upgrade patches to failed consoles. Thats the only thing I can think of that would cause them to go through with this.
Forsake, Warlock of Stonemaul
Nice move on Microsoft's part. The retroactive reimbursement of repair costs is very classy.
Oh mother fucking YES!!
Now if only we can get confirmation that the hardware has ACTUALLY been fixed.
this is great news, gives me a little over a year to abuse my current 360.
360 Gamertag: Baronskatenbass Steam: BaronVonSnakPak HgL: AnsonLuap
And it's also the only move they had. There was either do nothing and die or take a hit and live.
I don't have any rings, but I don't know where my receipt is. Or maybe if something goes wrong I could get Circuit City to print out a new one since I used a credit card?
0431-6094-6446-7088
I'd print a new receipt up.
or you could go into your bank statement and show them that
probably. Each 360 has a system serial number, which gets scanned when they are sold. There is probably some way they can tell when you bought it.
Next time I'm at Circuit City, I'll get them to print me a new receipt to hang on the fridge. It can hang out with my Phantom Hourglass preorder (and Blue Dragon if I can scrape together the funds).
Seriously though, that's really awesome
Actually, this is probably a "get-it-out-of-your-system" tactic like the way Nintendo pulled off the revelation of the Wii's name a week before E3. The Intertron exploded with "more like the Nintendo Pee-Pee, lolz," and had time to die down. By the time E3 came around, everyone was ready to concentrate on the games.
The thinking here might be to soften the hardware issue griping in the same way to get us to concentrate on the games.
If you dont have a receipt or other proof of purchase, it goes by the Date of MFG on your console (on the back above teh serial number).