Refurb 360's at EB.

[Amaron]

I haven't gotten a 360 yet but with Mass Effect coming out I went to look at EB to see what they were down to now.  Much to my surprise they are selling Refurbs for $190.  My first instinct of course was: oh sure refurb 360 that sounds like a great idea /sarcasm.   After thinking it over a second though with the expectation of even new ones bricking I had the thought that buying a refurb ahead of time and just waiting for it to brick then pushing it through all the warranty crap might end up being the same thing anyways.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?  I'm probably not thinking of something as per usual.

Edit: I actually called them and apparently they refurb it themselves and thus it voids the MS warranty.  So I'd have to buy the EBgames warranty for 40 bucks for a year.   That'd mean being able to drop it off instead of shipping it in though so it's still tempting.

[Yegolev]

If you know what you are getting into, I don't have any advice.  Personally, I would not do it, but then I wouldn't buy a 360 from someplace without a service plan in the first place, like Target or Wal*Mart.

[Amaron]

If you know what you are getting into, I don't have any advice.  Personally, I would not do it, but then I wouldn't buy a 360 from someplace without a service plan in the first place, like Target or Wal*Mart.

Right I was always planning to get a service plan but I'd have to buy the service plan for a new one too.

[schild]

File buying a refurb 360 under "Things Dumber than Swimming in Lava."

[Yegolev]

I probably should have said I would not buy one from EB.  I already hold my breath the whole time I am in EB, so I am not aware of what sort of replacement plan they have.  I'd guess "shitty" but I might just be excessively bitter.

I bought my first Xbox as a refurb from EB.  I was on my second Xbox about a year later, and that new one worked eleven times better than the refurb.  The refurb is likely in a trailer in Jacksonville, FL, right now.

[Bunk]

My buddy asked about a refurb at EB up here. She looked at him, supressed a giggle, and told him $50 under the standard price. He also asked about trade in value for a regular XBox. She choked back her laughter this time, and then offered him $15.

[Amaron]

File buying a refurb 360 under "Things Dumber than Swimming in Lava."

Yea that was my first thought as well but is it really any different than buying a new one then ending up with a refurb anyways?  The 3 year RRoD still applies to these things as well.

I already hold my breath the whole time I am in EB, so I am not aware of what sort of replacement plan they have.  I'd guess "shitty" but I might just be excessively bitter.

It's a 1 year "bring it in and get another one" swap thing.  There are about 15 ebgames/gamestops within 20 miles of me so even if I hate EB that part of it sounds fine.

[HaemishM]

Isn't the $190 refurb model also JUST the core, with no hard drive?

I'm a cheapass motherfucker, and I don't think even I would be brave enough to buy a refurbed core model 360.

[Amaron]

Isn't the $190 refurb model also JUST the core, with no hard drive?

I'm a cheapass motherfucker, and I don't think even I would be brave enough to buy a refurbed core model 360.

Yea it's just the core but I can get a used 360 HD I don't really care about any of the other non core stuff.  It's basically 100 dollars savings no matter what.  If I make sure the seals are intact and the box is unregistered (ie just return it if they aren't) then as soon as it redrings I can send it to microsoft for the same kind of refurb anyone else gets.

After thinking about it though theres still only 2 games on the 360 I really care about so I probably still won't bother since Mass Effect may hit PC anyways.   I'd probably be better off renting the stuff actually.

[NiX]

I know up here they stopped doing the drop and swap warranty. You might want to check to see if it changed in the states too. EB is running a pirate ship y'know. And they're not really good at plundering. Also, from experience as an EB employee.. buying a refurb is like intentionally sleeping with 30 prostitutes all of which have a different STD.

[Morfiend]

If your low enough on money where buying a EB refurb sounds like a good idea, you should probably not buy one, and get a second job instead.

[Amaron]

If your low enough on money where buying a EB refurb sounds like a good idea, you should probably not buy one, and get a second job instead.

I make plenty of money to buy an elite or whatever.  It's more of a thing against paying for consoles in general.  I despise consoles and wish they would vanish from the face of the earth and thus stop holding my rpgs hostage.  Usually I just wait till they are super cheap and buy the games used.  Microsoft in it's evil villainy is holding my Bioware stuff hostage though so I have moments of weakness where I consider buying the 360.

[Rasix]

All Bioware RPGs eventually make it to the PC.  Just know, I'll be playing it before you do. 

[Amaron]

All Bioware RPGs eventually make it to the PC.  Just know, I'll be playing it before you do. 

Well at least I won't have to play it in craptastic 720p when I do play it :P.

[Rasix]

720P is ugly now?   

It's a Bioware game anyhow.  Did they all of the sudden become the kings of eye candy?

[Amaron]

720P is ugly now?   

It's a Bioware game anyhow.  Did they all of the sudden become the kings of eye candy?

Hey it was the only cheapshot I could really take on that one!  720p isn't ugly true but I do still prefer monitor resolutions.   Granted as you say it's a pretty weak cheapshot.

[NiX]

I really haven't heard of 360's bricking as much as they use to. If someone else can say they do, I may just be wrong.

[Amaron]

I really haven't heard of 360's bricking as much as they use to. If someone else can say they do, I may just be wrong.

Didn't they start putting the refurb stuff in some of the new units?

[Margalis]

My adventure with refurb system was awful. I got a 360 - it didn't work. I got a second one and the controller it came with was not the standard, it was some goofy other controller that sucked.

[Big Gulp]

I make plenty of money to buy an elite or whatever. 

Then your first step should be to get an HDTV, because I couldn't even imagine playing a 360 in SD.  You might as well just stick with the PS2 if you're going that route.

And that's what makes the core so shitty...  No component or HDMI out?  What's the goddamn point?

[schild]

Of course the core has Component out, you just have to buy the cable. The new cores have HDMI out.

[Yegolev]

Even the PS2 looks better on a HD with component.

[Big Gulp]

Of course the core has Component out, you just have to buy the cable. The new cores have HDMI out.

Really?  Huh, I thought it was just standard A/V cables.

Well, in that case if you're willing to pony up for the service plan and trust EB then knock yourself out.  Personally, though, I'd probably buy a new core and pick up the HD you've got a line on.

I know that MS supports their shit (it just takes a month to get a repaired box back) without charging you.  You don't really have that assurance with EB.

[NiX]

I know that MS supports their shit (it just takes a month to get a repaired box back) without charging you.  You don't really have that assurance with EB.

Really? Up here it takes 2 weeks. Max.

[Big Gulp]

Really? Up here it takes 2 weeks. Max.

Where do your boxes get sent to?  Does Canada have seperate repair facilities?  I'd assumed that all North American 360's got sent down to McAllen, TX.

[squirrel]

I've sent my 2 xboxen back to Ontario - that's way east from where I am in Vancouver, but I've always gotten a new box back:

[Amaron]

Well, in that case if you're willing to pony up for the service plan and trust EB then knock yourself out.  Personally, though, I'd probably buy a new core and pick up the HD you've got a line on.

I know that MS supports their shit (it just takes a month to get a repaired box back) without charging you.  You don't really have that assurance with EB.

I have a 42 inch HD dunno why you thought I didn't have one.  Did you mean the HD cable maybe?  I don't really trust the EB service plan since I don't doubt they just put the damn things back on the shelf when someone asks for a replacement.   I have a lot of EB's within driving range though.    On further reading some of these refurbs are not really refurbs at all though which means their factory seals are still intact.   If you pop off the face plate and check to see if the unit is unregistered on their website you can send it to MS directly the moment it red rings.  If it is registered just return it right away.

This won't protect you if it's past the 1 year point and has a non red rings problem though.   I don't think I'm not going to get one though, since I hear there are plenty of optical drive problems running around in addition to the red ring stuff.

[Tannhauser]

Goddam Big Gulp,we have similar musical tastes.  WW is the shiznit.

Oh and I'm still on my 2nd Xbroken, er xbox.

[Strazos]

You could get a Used 360, as opposed to a refurb. Don't have to deal with the voiding of warranties and such.

Personally, I'll just wait until the Falcon chipset and the release of games I actually wish to own (GoW Notwithstanding, played already at a friend's).

[NiX]

Amaron - Seriously, it's not worth the hassle of EB to get either a refurb or a used 360. Just buy it new. If you could look into the future and deal with the lackeys at the store today, you'd buy a new one.

[Miasma]

If you're just buying it for mass effect and hate consoles like you say you do I imagine they still rent systems.  Of course maybe they don't, I haven't been inside a rental place in years.

[Amaron]

Amaron - Seriously, it's not worth the hassle of EB

Well as I said I'm not going to buy one basically.  What's with everyone hating on all EB's though?  Most of them suck but there are good ones.  If I go to the one in the yuppie plaza where all the rich people shop I get pretty good service.  Just don't go to the stupid ones that are pure console stores/mall shops.

[Big Gulp]

Did you mean the HD cable maybe?

Nope, I meant hard drive.  I should probably have been more explicit in a thread where we're throwing around multiple "HD" terms.   

[HaemishM]

What's with everyone hating on all EB's though? 

Since Gamestop bought them, they've turned to complete shit compared to their previous level of... well, everything. Service, variety of stock, etc. They've continued to pump bullets into the dying body of PC games by almost completely eliminating PC games from the shelves, not to mention face-fucking me with pre-order sales pitches every time I want to purchase something.

[funcro]

If you buy a used or refurb Xbox 360 through EB, do they gave you any sort of assurance that it hasn't been banned on Live?