As many of you know, I purchased my 360 the best part of a year into the products lifespan - back in August 2007 - the 26th to be precise. That was just over 9 months ago, and I bought it in what was then the Virgin Megastore in Southampton, for a cool £250 with a copy of Bioshock. I was made up - there was already talk of the 3 year warranty extension and I figured if anything went wrong with it in the first year, I'd just take it back to the shop and get it swapped out. Right?
Well I finally got proper RROD last week - Friday 6th June, and thought I'd just stroll into Zavvi, as it is now called, and get it replaced. Oh no. No way. I was firstly quothe a line about how they only cover faults in the first 28 days, and that after that the console would have to go back to the manufacturer. I gave them my understanding about the Sale of Goods act 1979, which, summed up, says the buyer has a right to expect things to last a certain time and be of a certain quality based on their price. I was then referred, by the Zavvi manager, to the online 'contact us' procedure on the zavvi website. I sent a large missive to them last week, outlining the details of my complaint, and such gems as the manager telling me that 'there's a really large problem with the 360', something that I mentioned might have been nice to be informed of when it was sold to me.
He also told me I'd have to give back the whole thing - 360, hard drive, all accessories, if I wanted to return it to the store. I could probably live without my gamesaves, and my profile is all on Live anyway, but I don't see why I should go through this.
The end result of my wranglings with Zavvi are that I really feel the onus has been left, wrongly, on me to get my faulty goods sorted out, something I have been able to do painlessly via the very kind loan of munchk's spare 360 (I have your HDD, too, I meant to say!) UPS came to collect my packed-up 360 yesterday, Wednesday 11th June, and you can track its' progress here, using the tracking number 1z5w33f99163119786
I was told zavvi's complaints department aimed to reply within two working days, and so far I have heard nothing at all, four working days having already passed since my complaint was lodged. I'm, frankly, never shopping there again, but that is by the by.
I know, "get a blog".
That sucks, they couldn't have done less.
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth, tag the post.
If the tags get picked up by specific google searches, the post will get read.
If a person decided not to buy from chavvy zavvi because of it, you made a difference.
Yes, when I am in the market for my PS3 I guess I know where I am *not* getting it, at least... and that goes for software shopping, which in fairness I don't do there anyway. Kerry was with me on the Saturday I was in the shop, and after my discussion with the manager, said "Can I have my CD's now?", "Yes", said I, "but we'll get them somewhere else, in case they break", much to the brief facial consternation of the manager.
ReplyDeleteWhat are these tags you speak of? meta ones, or some special blog ones I don't know about?
If you edit your post again you can add tags at the bottom in Posting Options (I think, it's somewhere down there anyway.)
ReplyDeleteI don't typically buy in real stores any more and I don't think I'd consider looking in Zavvi even if I did. Definitely wouldn't now.
FWIW the much maligned GAME have replaced two of mine within one year, neither due to RROD. Thumbs up to the GAME section of Debenhams, Southsea. Good work fellas.
I beleive it was me who advised Simps to go to a B+M to make exchanges easier when the thing broke. Oops.
Tags are called "Labels for this post"
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of crap (from Zavvi that is).
ReplyDeleteI worry about mine, no problems yet but I live in fear! ;(
"Zavvi"....What a b@11@*%s name!!
Yes not only is my article the creme de la creme of google search results, but I *still* haven't heard back from them having filled in their online contact form. Time for me to search for a complaints form.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, my xbox was collected on Wednesday 11th, it was in Germany by Friday 13th (I know!) and has already been turned around and is allegedly on its way back to me.
Let's wait and see how that turns out.
Do zavvi check whether or not everything is in the box when you return it to zavvi instore ?, because ive got the same problem you had, and i dont want to give my hard drive back because ive got over £30 of rock band downloaded songs. :(
ReplyDeleteDo zavvi check whether or not everything is in the box when you return it to zavvi instore ?, because ive got the same problem you had, and i dont want to give my hard drive back because ive got over £30 of rock band downloaded songs. :(
ReplyDeleteGame don't, so zavvi may not. Leave your hard drive at home and if zavvi check, tell them to take the new machines drive off and send it back. Game didn't check my 360 and so I got a free 20gb hard drive. I took it out of the plastic casing and bought an external USB enclosure from amazon for six quid.
ReplyDeleteruutackses, when did you buy your xbox 360? and im guessing you bought it from GAME?
ReplyDeleteruutackses, when did you buy your xbox 360? and im guessing you bought it from GAME?
ReplyDeleteO_oo_O - the whole point of the story is that Zavvi won't take it back in-store. The hard-drive is a moot point - you'll have to send it back to MS (who at least definitely will let you keep your hard drive.)
ReplyDelete'pon reflection I think I should add that I would still try Zavvi. Store managers frequently interpret rules in different ways from one branch to another.
ReplyDeleteI'd simply call first and explain to save you a potentially fruitless visit.
Mine was bought from Game in July 2007. It died and was replaced, no questions asked, in December 2007.
ReplyDeleteI agree with 'beta -- give them a call and ask if they'll do a straight swap.