When your Xbox 360 breaks, you’re faced with a few possible solutions: calling a repair center, calling the warranty service, and weeping for hours while gently rocking back and forth in the fetal position. Calling the warranty service is inexpensive and less pathetic than the other two options, but it can be kind of a pain sometimes to deal with customer service reps and get your Xbox 360 back in a timely manner. Here are a few tips for calling the Xbox 360 warranty repair service to help you get your Xbox back quickly and without too much of a hassle.
1. Play dumb. You may know exactly what went wrong with your Xbox 360, and why it failed, but don’t tell the warranty repair service. They only need to know the symptoms, not why or how it happened. If you’ve got a claim that might be your fault, all the more reason to shut up–it’s remarkably easy to get your Xbox 360 repaired, but if Microsoft thinks that it’s your fault, you can say goodbye to your warranty and hello to high, high repair costs. Even if you’re sure that it’s not your fault that the Xbox 360 broke, just tell them the symptoms–nothing more.
2. Be kind to the representative on the phone. Remember that the person you talk to on the phone will have all the power in the world to get your warranty order expedited or slowed down–likely, they won’t do either, but don’t give them a reason to get angry. They’re just doing their jobs, after all. Be polite and courteous, even if they sound like the dumbest person on earth. If you do get snippy and sarcastic, add a few weeks to your repair time.
3. Ship your Xbox 360 in as soon as possible. This is the only part of the repair service that you’ve got any real control over, so as soon as you get the materials from Microsoft, be sure to send your Xbox in and get it taken care of. The people at the repair center will also be looking at when it’s shipped–if it takes a long time, they’ll assume that you’re not in any special hurry.
4. Be patient, then persistent. You should expect a week or two of waiting before your Xbox 360 is repaired or replaced and sent back to you–but if two weeks pass and you still haven’t heard any news, call Microsoft regularly, once every few days, to check on its status (and in the process make them aware of the time that you’ve waited). Never get angry on the phone, it can’t help anything, but speak calmly and logically to the representative and they may be able to rush your warranty repair if it’s been taking too long. It’s hard to go without your Xbox 360, but remember to resist the urge to be cruel or sarcastic on the phone.
Do you have any other tips for using the Xbox 360 warranty program? Post in our comments section below.
