We're finally home after a long weekend at Mom's place. We went down there to deliver some computer items to make her "technology life" a little better. By the way, thanks for letting us use your truck, Brian!
While there, we also got into and cleaned out her storage shed. I've had stuff in there since middle school, and it was time to finally clean it out. We freed up half the space in there, and we made room for a gun cabinet my grandfather made. It will be making its way to our house in the future.
One of the best treasures we found was an original Nintendo system, and it still works. I love my 360, but it was awesome to sit down last night and play Super Mario Bros. Yes, it will be hooked up to my TV here along with the 360. You've got to have some nostalgia in your life.
We also visited with my grandmother today. She is 90-years-old, and not doing well at all. Unfortunately, we weren't able to stay long, but I hope we can see her again soon. She's the last grandparent between Amy and I, and it's not looking good.
It was a pretty eventful weekend to say the least. We're all tired, so I'll close for now. Sorry for the sporadic updates. Sometimes life just feels like a routine.
Showing posts with label xbox 360. Show all posts
Showing posts with label xbox 360. Show all posts
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Why I love Microsoft
The title of this post is simple: "Why I love Microsoft (or, Customer service gets it right)."
My cherished Xbox 360 died a couple of days after Christmas. I took it to my in-laws so we could play, then the "Ring of Light" flashed a bright red. I was prepared to break out the shovels and bury it six feet under.
Alas, it would not come to that. I called customer service because I read Microsoft extended the warranty for the machines built in 2005. They've had a high rate of failure, and the date on the back of mine said "December 2005."
The service rep was extremely nice, and I explained the symptoms. He then stepped me through a process that would eventually make me proud to be a Microsoft customer. He told me they would repair it at no cost to me. Sweet!
He told me to look for a box in the mail. A few days later, a box showed up with instructions. I was to place my beloved "time waster" in this box, apply the seal, slap on the pre-printed shipping label and send it to them.
This past Thursday, another box came to the house. I open it, and there she is! My 360 was home! Or... was she? She looked a tad different. My 360 was shipped to them without a faceplate. There was a brand new one staring back at me.
Curious.
I immediately flipped it around and didn't recognize the serial number. I looked at the manufacturing date: July 2006. My jaw dropped.
How could this be? My 360 died, and instead of charging me $150 like everyone else to repair it, they sent me a box (free shipping), told me they'd fix it (for free) and did, in my mind, the unthinkable.
They didn't repair my 360. They sent me a brand spanking new one for nothing... Not one cent. Customer support... Microsoft... treating the customer with the highest respect?
Yep. I've never heard of such a corporation going to these lengths. They usually want some money to take care of problems.
So, I sit here with my new 360 (a lot quieter than the old one, too), and I couldn't be happier with Microsoft. Unlike a lot of people, I've always liked MS products. Now, I can say customer support actually thought of the customer.
Kudos to you, Microsoft.
My cherished Xbox 360 died a couple of days after Christmas. I took it to my in-laws so we could play, then the "Ring of Light" flashed a bright red. I was prepared to break out the shovels and bury it six feet under.
Alas, it would not come to that. I called customer service because I read Microsoft extended the warranty for the machines built in 2005. They've had a high rate of failure, and the date on the back of mine said "December 2005."
The service rep was extremely nice, and I explained the symptoms. He then stepped me through a process that would eventually make me proud to be a Microsoft customer. He told me they would repair it at no cost to me. Sweet!
He told me to look for a box in the mail. A few days later, a box showed up with instructions. I was to place my beloved "time waster" in this box, apply the seal, slap on the pre-printed shipping label and send it to them.
This past Thursday, another box came to the house. I open it, and there she is! My 360 was home! Or... was she? She looked a tad different. My 360 was shipped to them without a faceplate. There was a brand new one staring back at me.
Curious.
I immediately flipped it around and didn't recognize the serial number. I looked at the manufacturing date: July 2006. My jaw dropped.
How could this be? My 360 died, and instead of charging me $150 like everyone else to repair it, they sent me a box (free shipping), told me they'd fix it (for free) and did, in my mind, the unthinkable.
They didn't repair my 360. They sent me a brand spanking new one for nothing... Not one cent. Customer support... Microsoft... treating the customer with the highest respect?
Yep. I've never heard of such a corporation going to these lengths. They usually want some money to take care of problems.
So, I sit here with my new 360 (a lot quieter than the old one, too), and I couldn't be happier with Microsoft. Unlike a lot of people, I've always liked MS products. Now, I can say customer support actually thought of the customer.
Kudos to you, Microsoft.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Can I borrow some money?
The big news of the day seems to be people waiting in line for the new PlayStation 3. Are they crazy for being in line for a couple of days? Not really.
Some of the reports I heard today came from college kids lined up outside the stores. The best part is many of them are not wanting the system for themselves. They're going to resell it on eBay.
Why wait? Because over the last few days, eBay buyers have been bidding upward of $2,500 for these systems. Yep. A $600 system for $2,500.
That's the smart portion of waiting two days in the cold. However, the buyers on eBay are pretty dumb sometimes. Here's where patience pays off.
Remember the Xbox 360 shortage last year? I was certainly one of the many who wanted to get my hands on it. I didn't go on eBay to get mine though. I played it smart.
When my family and friends asked me what I wanted for Christmas last year, I told them cash and Best Buy gift cards. My master plan was in motion. I was going to get the money and basically have someone else pay for my 360.
Fast forward to the beginning of February 2006. It just so happens I did get enough in Christmas gifts to buy my system. I walked into Best Buy one morning while they were still having the shortage, and I asked about the next shipment.
The employee graciously said, "Be here at 10:00 tomorrow morning. We'll have about 10 on the floor." Lo and behold, he was right. I waited outside until the doors opened, and there they were. I picked mine up, and I've been in love ever since.
The morale of the story? These systems come out in November, and there's going to be a shortage right off the bat. I basically got a free 360 for waiting until three months after the debut. Christmas is a beautiful thing (for many more important reasons than just gifts...).
Patience is key if you want one for yourself, but kudos to you guys in line looking to make an insane profit. I hope you walk out with one Friday morning.
To you guys buying one on eBay for that price? Suckers. :-)
Some of the reports I heard today came from college kids lined up outside the stores. The best part is many of them are not wanting the system for themselves. They're going to resell it on eBay.
Why wait? Because over the last few days, eBay buyers have been bidding upward of $2,500 for these systems. Yep. A $600 system for $2,500.
That's the smart portion of waiting two days in the cold. However, the buyers on eBay are pretty dumb sometimes. Here's where patience pays off.
Remember the Xbox 360 shortage last year? I was certainly one of the many who wanted to get my hands on it. I didn't go on eBay to get mine though. I played it smart.
When my family and friends asked me what I wanted for Christmas last year, I told them cash and Best Buy gift cards. My master plan was in motion. I was going to get the money and basically have someone else pay for my 360.
Fast forward to the beginning of February 2006. It just so happens I did get enough in Christmas gifts to buy my system. I walked into Best Buy one morning while they were still having the shortage, and I asked about the next shipment.
The employee graciously said, "Be here at 10:00 tomorrow morning. We'll have about 10 on the floor." Lo and behold, he was right. I waited outside until the doors opened, and there they were. I picked mine up, and I've been in love ever since.
The morale of the story? These systems come out in November, and there's going to be a shortage right off the bat. I basically got a free 360 for waiting until three months after the debut. Christmas is a beautiful thing (for many more important reasons than just gifts...).
Patience is key if you want one for yourself, but kudos to you guys in line looking to make an insane profit. I hope you walk out with one Friday morning.
To you guys buying one on eBay for that price? Suckers. :-)
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