Buy 20 360's, abuse the consumerist!

[DJ_Izumi]

http://consumerist.com/5386325/guy-orders-20-xboxes-microsoft-wont-give-him-right-power-brick-for-just-one#c

Jon ordered 20 Xbox 360s and was happy with all of them, except for the one that came with a mis-matched power brick adapter. He called Microsoft customer service but says he was stonewalled, dealing with a rep who was either quite misinformed, lazy, lying, or some combination of the three.

He writes:

My name is Jon. I work for an anime convention and we just ordered 20 refurbished Xbox 360s. One of them was shipped with the wrong power brick (brick had three prongs, cord has two holes — every other console we received had two prongs on the brick and two holes on the cord). I thought that Microsoft's customer support would be understanding. They were not.

The first person I talked to did not understand that I just wanted the power brick replaced, so I got on the horn with Louis, her supervisor. I explained the situation that I wanted the power brick for this one console replaced, so I and the thousands of people who come to our convention have a playable console. I told him the other nineteen consoles were fine. He told me I had to register all of the consoles. Since I did not technically own the console I told him I was not comfortable registering something I did not own. I told him it was his company's responsibility to send out the correct materials of product they refurbish. He told me they do not refurbish consoles. I know this is a lie, as 1) I used to work for MS and know they do, and 2) I had a friend who was just laid off from refurbishing consoles at Microsoft.

He then continued to be rude and would not let me speak to his supervisor. This man continued to be unreasonable, and I eventually told him I would be informing your site and ended the call before I went off the deep end.

Is it too much to just own up to your mistakes? Anyways, I appreciate the help.

There's some problems with this guy's story.  Firstly, as far as I know, Microsoft doesn't sell refurbs, they only repair and redistribute refurbs to people who have sent their units in for repairs.  So he probably got all of these from a third party who did the refurbishment themselves, voiding any Microsoft warrenty's in the process.  This third party obviously screwed up the order.  Yet he is still trying to through responsibility onto Microsoft?

Finally, the 360 bricks that only use two prongs use standard C17 plugs which can be interchanged with C13's (You know, the powercords for your PC, monitor and lots of other things?).  The bricks that use three prongs use C15 plugs (C13's with an extra keying).  All of these cords you can readily get at most stores for $5-15, maybe better, maybe worse, depending on where you shop.  So not only is he nagging Microsoft for a cord that they don't owe him, but he could just go to an electronics store and get a C15 replacement.  After buying twenty 360's, I presume one should have the budget to get one stupid cord.

Ugh.

[SavannahLion]

Finally, the 360 bricks that only use two prongs use standard C17 plugs which can be interchanged with C13's (You know, the powercords for your PC, monitor and lots of other things?).  The bricks that use three prongs use C15 plugs (C13's with an extra keying). 

Just in case someone needs help to visualize the shapes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEC_connector

[Kevin Mullins]

but he could just go to an electronics store and get a C15 replacement.  After buying twenty 360's, I presume one should have the budget to get one stupid cord.

That's like saying it's ok for someone to sell you a car with only three wheels.
Heck, if you can afford to buy the car, then you should be able to spring for another wheel.
 (which obviously should have already came with the car, because without it the car is useless)  

EDIT: Just wanted to clarify that I was not poking at ya DJ_Izumi..... just that someone should make it right without the consumer having to spend more on their own. Even if it's only a $3.00 cord. (happens all too often already)
Heck, even I probably have two dozen of them laying around, but if I bought something that required one I would expect it from the seller, not to have to come up with one on my own.

[DJ_Izumi]

That's like saying it's ok for someone to sell you a car with only three wheels.
Heck, if you can afford to buy the car, then you should be able to spring for another wheel.
 (which obviously should have already came with the car, because without it the car is useless)  

Yes but if you buy a used car with three tires from a used car dealer, is it GM or Ford's job to ship you a free tire because a third party that sold it to you didn't include it?  No, cause you didn't buy it from Ford or GM or some other company, you got it used.  Take your problem to the guy that sold it to you used.

[Kevin Mullins]

Take your problem to the guy that sold it to you used.

Yeah, that's kinda what I meant by the "someone" statement, as I really don't know the whole who does what when it comes to refurbished units.
But yes, "whoever" they bought them from should make it right even if it's just a simple cord.