Posted May 13, 2007 at 02:05AM by Ian C. Listed in: News, Off Topic Tags: Microsoft, Major Nelson, customer service
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Customer Support - Image 1 


It can be recalled that some time ago there was a supposed hacking of XBL, but it turned out to be just a problem where people's private information was "conned" from Xbox customer support via "social engineering." Boy was Major Nelson pissed with that one. Here's the latest customer support "issue."

The story - as The Consumerist reports it - is that some guy named Richard ran into problems with his old Xbox 360. He was under the impression that it was OK for him to have a technician look at his Xbox 360 because he though that it was out of warranty. Technician fails. Richard turns to Xbox 360 customer support for help. He says:

"I tried to explain that I was had a computer professional see if it was repairable."


They say they can't help him since the Xbox 360 was tampered with already. Richard asks for a supervisor. He gets told the same thing. Richard gets angry, then, he gets told off. Here's Richard's account:

"Is there anything else I can help you with... and by the way I am laughing at you."

I responded, "you are what?"

And he enunciated, "I am laughing at YOU."


Here's all what we can gather from this situation: First, the guy in trouble was really in trouble since he really, SHOULDN'T have had his Xbox 360 tampered with and expect customer support to go fix it for him without reservation - they have policies against that. It's common knowledge that they're done with you once you've broken that sticker seal (whatever console you've got). Second, the CSR, or "the supervisor" - if it really was the supervisor - shouldn't have insulted the customer. Yes, it's even if they're asking for the impossible, and even if they're uppity and all that, there's still something wrong with insulting a customer.

To be fair to Microsoft Customer service, there have been reports of them doing amazing things before. Which makes this recent incident of customer support rudeness seem out of place. For example, they went so far as to delay a police investigation so that they can protect your private information. Perhaps this recent "I am laughing at you" incident is an isolated case? Perhaps some trainees (who pretended to be the supervisor) fault.

Given that we've only got the claims of The Consumerist's source to go by, the certainty of this incident is doubtful, as mentioned, Xbox Customer support does have a history of doing well at times.

Regardless of its authenticity, the point of this story is a) even if the customer is annoying or out of line, customer support folks shouldn't give "service with a sneer." (which might not even be the case since all we've got to go with is Richard's claims) and more importantly b) DO NOT tamper with your Xbox 360 and expect customer service to take care of it for you without reservation.


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24 Comments


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   by yeah (Unregistered) - 2007-05-13
 » hahahah

hahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahaha

   by lol (Unregistered) - 2007-05-13
 » hihi

I am also laughing at ALL xbox360 users


   Re: qwe (Unregistered) - 2007-05-13
 » You laugh yer thats all you can do as your system has no games

Laugh all you want but those 12 million owners have all the best games and a huge list of AAA titles on the way, while your 2.5 million and now flopping in Japan console has nothing, whos really laughing I wonder?..

   Re: GW2 (Unregistered) - 2007-05-13
 » idiot

he never said he was a ps3 owner. how do you know he doesnt have a wii.

   Re: jayhawker09 (Unregistered) - 2007-05-13
 » becuase..

those things are just so damn hard to find! ;)
   by AoxomamoxoA - 2007-05-13
 » Lies and Trolls

This story is false and has already been proven as so. He was angry at MS for not fixing his console for free after it was out of warranty, and thus he went onto Xbox.coms message boards and made up a story about how they made fun of him, then later reneged.

As for the comment about laughing at all 360 users, why? Is it because you have insecurities about the console of your choice perhaps? I own all three of the next gen consoles and believe me, there isnt anything to laugh about against 360. You come here just to diss on the ps3 competition? Get a life and stop being a troll already


   Re: Victor B. (QJ. NET Staff) - 2007-05-13
 » Do you have a link?

Do you have a link? We're trying to verify your statement now.

As far as we can tell, Consumerist hasn't retracted theirs, and we're doing our best to address your comment.

   Re: AoxomamoxoA - 2007-05-13
 » Originality?

@ Victor:
It was on the Xbox.com forums under the Technical Issues threads. I posted in *Richards (his gamertag that he posted with was Sublime1985 if you guys wanna try sending him a message for confirmation)* thread, which would have also put the thread under my My Forums folder in my member account, but it appears the mods or MS deleted the thread completely as it is not in my My Forums anymore nor is it on any of the Technical Issues pages. But he did admit to his story being false, sorry I couldnt provide you guys with a link. If there is a way that I am overlooking Id be happy to try any suggestions you might have.

@ Noin:
Sorry, but the truth cant always be original. Speaking of originality, how many times have I heard the term xbot? Microsofts Customer Service is actually pretty good. Being a person who tries to purchase every console I have owned an Xbox last gen as well, and had to call Customer Support once or twice. Not only are the courteous and helpful, but if there ever comes a day when I need to send a console in for repair (knock on wood) I know it will be fast and free with Microsoft. So while I appreciate the immature name calling and humorous hypocritical statements you so eloquently posted, it only further proved my previous point about the insecurities youre struggling with. But thats ok, I dont expect people like you to see the error of your way any time soon.

   Re: Advertising -


   Re: Gyulus (Unregistered) - 2007-05-15
 » Lies and Trolls

Sublime 1985 is not me. I am posting responses on The Consumerists Website and have been helped quite a bit by the responses.
The story is not False, It did happen, and that is why it hasn't been retracted. I have been careful to not use my Gamertag anywhere where I might become harrassed by anyone while on live.
I own a Wii... that was somewhere in this post.
I hope that "Jose" was at least reprimanded for his horrible way he handled the whole conversation, but especially the "I am Laughing at you..." bit.

Richard
   by Devise (Unregistered) - 2007-05-13
 » ...

There always 2 sides to every story, and this guy was probably an ass. It's common knowledge once you have broken that seal that MS wont repair it. I'm laughing at him too, loser.

   by rtyrty (Unregistered) - 2007-05-13
 » No proof = No news

I have dealt with their customer support and it was as good if not better than I could of expected, Sony and Nintendo would also tell him where to get off if he broke their seal to, pretty sad when this trivia is classed as a story because unless the call was recorded and date timed anyone can make up any old ***** they want, but why is it put up as news?..

   by Dr. Professor (Unregistered) - 2007-05-13
 » ...

"I tried to explain that I was had a computer professional see if it was repairable."

I am laughing at ENGLISH.

   by Dom (Unregistered) - 2007-05-13
 » lol

Sony and Nintendo both give you service even if you broke your seal....


   Re: Fausto (Unregistered) - 2007-05-15
 » They probably do

But you will probably have to pay for it ;) Don't break the seal.
   by Computer and/ or Video Game Addicts = Trash (Unregistered) - 2007-05-13
 » Computer and/ or Video Game Addicts = Trash

Don’t read this informal essay because garbage like you is not worth it. Are you still reading? Can you understand the words coming out of my mouth? You worthless guys just never listen to others. I feel sorry for you, moreover I feel sad and pathetic for your moms and dads. Your parents work every day so you folks can go to schools and buy school supplies and eat lunch meals.

On the other hand, you guys live day by day as if you are garbage. You kids will disagree with me; you will say you are not trash. Of course, you can’t even realise what you really are because right now you are the trash itself – you have become garbage so many years ago – the moment you have played games more than enough like 10 or 20 years ago. You have passed the stage where you can be cured – you are incurable since many years ago.

You just have some virtual lives and crappy real lives, and both are worthless, stupid, pathetic, and sad. There’re many kind of addictions: smoking, drugs, computer and/or video games, gambling, porn addiction, alcoholic, and so forth. All of the above are harmful in many ways on people. Things like drug are extensively bad for your physical being; some others like games are bad for your mental self.

I read this statistic (report) which said that about 20% of all human beings are good and hard working people with at least university education; about 60% of all mankind is decent and moderate people; then here, about 20% of all human beings (people like you and your gaming friends) on the planet are pure garbage (criminals, robbers, etc).

If you play game(s) 3 days or more every week, and more than 1 hour on any one day, then you are classified as a game addict and this is a truth, a flat fact; no arguing on this matter, period. How can I be so sure about this issue? My relative is a doctor (psychiatrist, therapist) at a general hospital who works extensively for mental health department (substance abuse program). She told me the guidelines to distinguish a game addict.

Like I said, you haven’t even realized that you are a game addict, have you. Isn’t playing games enough for you, guys? Merely wasting away your lives by playing games isn’t enough? So, you need to waste at least a few more hours every single day to visit several game related websites to watch and read game videos, game screenshots, and game news articles which are all about games? YOU ARE GARBAGE, PERIOD. It was very hard to find such worthless people (like you) during my university years because it was a selected institution; however, during my old high school years, I have seen hundreds of trashy ppl around me (because ANYONE can attend high school).

I have to give this very simple example to make your bone-heads understand. Those minorities who have university degrees, have jobs like doctors, lawyers, engineers, architectures, etc; then they earn somewhere between $100 and $600 per hour (yes, every single hour). Moreover, they only have to work 5 days a week, 7 hours per day (35 hours per week; they earn $50,000 per month - 25 times more than $2,000). They can enjoy the rest and live like real humans.

But, you earn $7 per hour as bus drivers, store clerks, cleaners, etc because your highest education is high school (uneducated people like you love to go to the malls to hang out; the malls are full of clerks, mind you). You have to work 7 days a week, 12 hours every day (84 hours per week – that’s almost 3 times more than...; you earn only $2,000 per month). You almost don’t have any free time; you live like animals, dogs, and slaves.

You will earn $14 per hour when you become 35 years old or so due to your work experience. Then, look around you and see other younger clerks nearby. Those younger employees only receive $7 per hour; I’m sure you will feel satisfied and proud of yourselves. What a good way to achieve your self-esteem! If it’s harsh to talk about lives only on money then you want to talk about the qualities of lives now? Don’t make me laugh. Just don’t guys.


   Re: AoxomamoxoA - 2007-05-13
 » youre not ready for judgement

will the mods please put a perm-ban on this joker already? every month hes back with the same played out soapbox act.

   Re: Fullofit (Unregistered) - 2007-05-13
 » Your full of it.

$55K/month!? Your full of it buddie. Post a link to ONE job that pays $55/K month. And I'm not talking about CEO positions for SeaLand or Burrlington Northern Railroad either. Go ***** OFF you unemployed piece of *****!

   Re: Advertising -


   Re: IodineX (Unregistered) - 2007-05-13
 » Haha!

You actually took the time to write all of that/copy and paste something you have written before onto here...Wow...

   Re: jayhawke09 (Unregistered) - 2007-05-13
 » buddy

you really think 20% of humans have a college degree?? youre a *****in retard if you seriously think that. i dont think 20% of america even has that. and sorry, grads on average do not make 50k a month, its probably more like 50k a year. and anyway, who's the real loser here? you obviously had nothing better to do with youre time than this essay
   by jim bob (Unregistered) - 2007-05-13
 » doubt it...

he's probably just mad. when i had to send in my 360 they were sickeningly nice.

   by anon (Unregistered) - 2007-05-13
 » what?

what? How is playing computer, video games any diffrent from going to the movies or reading a book? it's all diffrent forms of entertainment? So I suppose if I watch more than an hour of tv a week I'm garbage, or if I read the bible or any other book for an hour a week I'm garbage too. whatever go back to YOUR trashcan you zellot.

   by Shatterdome - 2007-05-13
 » I think he deserved it...

Anyone with half a brain knows that you void your warranty when you open any product, even if by a "computer professional".

I've worked in customer service, and these types of people that think they can get their way by yelling and screaming and constantly making threats....yeah, I yelled at them too...and commonly didn't fix their concerns and hung up on the....I wouldn't have even let them talk to a supervisor.

Companies can not give leeway for ANYONE, no matter WHAT....there are policies and procedures for everything...and when you break that seal...you are screwed...no matter how hard you yell or how much you think you are right.....

He should have owned up to the responsibility...and *gasp* admitted HE mad a mistake, and pay the $130 to get it fixed......but, how could one of *US* make a mistake ? It's always the companies fault......especially when we break our tv's with controllers....

Damn, humanity is going down the drain...

   by XBox is the best (Unregistered) - 2007-05-14
 » OH MY

OH MY, a person that works for xbox support said I am laughing at you to someone, see how bad microsoft is as a company let us a all sell our 360s and get a ps3 sony is better any (Sarcasm) whoever posted this news on the internet has no friggin life.

   by XBox is the best (Unregistered) - 2007-05-14
 » OH MY

make that no friggin sense



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