Controller/Headset/Play-Charge Kit Broken!?!? Mine too! PLEASE READ: XBOX/Microsoft Design All ...

I am writing this post in hopes to spread awareness of how Xbox is designing their equipment.

My experience with Microsoft, and their Xbox one accessories is as follows:

Since the launch of Xbox One, I have owned a total of: 5 wireless controllers, 2 play and charge kits, and 3 wired headsets. Now, let’s be clear, I don’t own all of these things just for fun…I’m not a collector of xbox accessories…I don’t plan to sell
them on ebay at a later date for a profit..

I have had NO CHOICE but to purchase these things in order to USE MY XBOX.

That last part is key. Because really, what is an Xbox One without its accessories? It’s nothing but an oversized, bulky, and honestly fairly ugly paper weight.



I Suppose I could have used the clumsy voice commands to navigate through the menus, but only to watch Netflix…not play a game, or communicate with my friends (through xbox live which I am also paying a monthly subscription for).



I was able to get 2 of my 5 controllers for free from Microsoft as replacements for the 2 “bad” controllers they sold me on day one. Both controllers had broken left analog sticks after just a couple of weeks of use. One of these new controllers is also
beginning to fail, this time the A button is getting stuck and being “pressed” more times than I intend it to…so I reckon I will be onto my 6th controller soon…but that’s neither here nor there.



The reason I had to buy the 5th controller was that it took Microsoft nearly HALF A YEAR (after countless hours of phone calls and email chains) to send me replacements for the 2 “bad” controllers I was sold at launch…



So for about 2 Months (Feb-March), I had no controller…again, I had NO CHOICE but to pay for a 3rd controller (while waiting for replacements) when I’m only ever using 1 at a time. My choices were A) Don’t use your xbox. Or B) Pay for another
controller.



Since launch I’ve seen tens if not hundreds of threads on the forums discussing the same issues I’ve seen with my controllers….these threads never see any attention from an Xbox admin, they never see any responses. Xbox/Microsoft denies that there is ANY
problem with their controllers. At this point in time, most of the threads are now locked or deleted (by xbox/Microsoft) so we are no longer able to openly discuss these issues…like they don’t exist..

I thought the forums were an open place for discussion, and not Nazi Germany, but I guess I was wrong.



The controllers are bad enough, but really that’s just the beginning.

As stated above, I am onto my 2nd play and charge kit. Let me start this by saying: Xbox, do you really hate your customers so much as to not have the charge kit built into your already overpriced system? Even PS3 had it….like come on guys…get
serious.

Anyway, the issue with the play and charge kit is simple…it doesn’t charge. The wires in the cord frayed almost IMMEDIATELY after I took the kit out of its box. At first the cord would still charge the controller, but I couldn’t be playing while it charged….so
how can it be called a “PLAY and charge kit”? It would charge only if the cord was bent in a certain direction and the controller had to be perfectly still, any slight movement would disconnect the frayed wires and so, the controller would disconnect.



It got to a point where even if I left the controller on the ground, plugged in to the cord, propped up so the wires and everything was in the appropriate position, the vibration of footsteps in the room (i kid you not) would cause enough movement to disconnect
the charging cord. So basically, I have to keep a constant eye on my controller while its charging or it will likely become disconnected very quickly and not charge at all. I do not think this was the intention of the play and charge kit….certainly not how
it is marketed. 1st cord was tossed, now onto my second.

My second play and charge cord has already begun displaying the same issues as the first. It is clear that the wires are frayed and have a hard time staying connected unless carefully placed in the appropriate orientation. It is a chore EVERYTIME I want
to charge my controller.



And of course, who could forget the wired headset!?! I am now onto my 3rd wired headset in under a year.

These things are probably the worst of them all. Within the first month after launch, I began to notice that my microphone would cut in and out. I first thought it was a connection issue, but it turned out (similar to the charge kit) it was just another
case of frayed wires. If I wiggled the cord around and held it in place, the fray wires would connect and I could be heard…but that was the only way…I had to hold the wire (where the cord meets the controller adaptor) in the proper orientation to get a connection.
It got worse and worse over the next couple weeks until it was simply un-usable.

At that point in time, I was in the process of having my replacement controllers shipped, and was luckily able to piggyback a wired headset replacement with the controllers.

Unfortunately, since then, my replacement headset has failed in the exact same way as the first. The microphone began to cut in and out, I noticed if I moved my arms (while holding the controller) the mic would continuously connect and disconnect. Again,
it became useless…



So now, here I am again, forced to buy another accessory to simply USE MY XBOX.



Let me make it clear again that I did not abuse these accessories…my controllers/headsets rest safely on top of my xbox when not in use, I do not pull or bend the cords (especially around the controller adaptor, as I know how HORRIBLE OF A DESIGN that is).
Every time I plug the headset into my controller you’d think I was handling a butterfly. I am SO careful, yet they continue to break.



Keep in mind, these are my own experiences…many of my personal friends with the Xbox One have had identical issues (especially with regards to the controllers and headsets).



So now, as I have gone through 5 controllers, 2 play and charge kits, and 3 wired headsets in less than a year… I ask xbox this. Do you expect your customers to keep spending 300$ a year to maintain their accessories? Simply to use their console?



What is it going to take for Xbox/Microsoft to sell me a functioning piece of equipment?



I click “Get a Replacement” on your website, thinking “Oh, that’s nice, they know there is an issue and are sending replacements!”



But this link only leads customers to a checkout page where they can BUY ANOTHER…which is NOT the same as getting a “replacement”. Very tricky wording there Xbox…very coy.

So…what is it going to take?

Do I need to go through the escalation process every time an accessory breaks? I don’t have enough time in the day to spend 2 hours on the phone with your terrible call centers. What would you have me do Xbox? Please advise, I would love some advice here.

Any lawyers out there? I've seen a few posts about a lawsuit but it seems they are yet to *** off the wrong person.

Xbox...i want to contiune to support you as i have for the past 10+ years...but you are making it extremely difficult to do so. Why are you selling your customers junk?

:)

 

Controller/Headset/Play-Charge Kit Broken!?!? Mine too! PLEASE READ: XBOX/Microsoft Design All Accessories to Break

Geek, my play and charge is also snug in the controller...its the frayed wires within the cord that casue the connection to fail....this is EXTREMELY detailed in my original post...did you even read it?

Your response really couldnt have been any less helpfull, or any more condescending...thanks for nothing. If you had ANY IDEA (which you dont) whiat i had to go through to get those replacement controllres, you wouldnt bring your ignornace in here.

I could show you in a video i suppose...ANY movement of the controller or cord while the cord is plugged in will cause it to disconnect.

And to ANYONE (Zero Divided) who thinks someone who had done the damge to their stuff themselves would be ignorant enough, mentally challenged enough, to come online and write a god damned essay describing the experiences that he has had, you sir, are a
fool, and you are not helping anyone.

Like you really think im damaging my stuff? my post clearly states that i am no abusing the accessories, many of them have problems after a few week of use. I am a grown a$$ man and I treat the things that I BUY very carefully...if you are going to wrongfully
assume i am the one causing the damage, please take your comments elsewhere. you are wasting my time.

 

Controller/Headset/Play-Charge Kit Broken!?!? Mine too! PLEASE READ: XBOX/Microsoft Design All Accessories to Break

Have had mine since Dec 3/13..... junior has dropped/thrown my controller numerous times and it still works 100%......

 

if this tread is to be deleted, i would like a better reason provided than "do not repost locked posts"

when it was originally locked for no reason (no reason was given)

This post contains no lies and no foul language, i am simply stating my experience.

Why am i being censored?

 

youtube link for reference of play-charge issue

 

before you get banned, does the cable feel loose when plugged into the controller? and have you tried a different cable? (non-MS, like smartphone charging cable.)

 

why are they deleting this!?!? i really dont get what i am doing wrong.

Its not loose within the controller, it has the same issue on my other controllers.

Its the cord, it was the cord the first time.

I do thank you for trying to help...i wish they would let this thread stay open so people with these issues know they arent alone.

I think thats why i seem like such the minoirty...all the posts get deleted.

 

No i havnt tried a smartphone cord...thats a good idea...i assumed they wouldnt be compatible but if its just a charger it might work.

 

first thread was on its way to being a flame war, that is why it got locked, second was reposting a thread that was already locked, this thread will most likely be deleted for the same reason, and wouldn't be surprised if there was a temp ban to boot.

but best of luck, still might want to try the rechargeable battery route, or even just buy a different USB cable, friend of mine is using a couple of USB extension cables to make it long enough to hide and that seems to be working fine for him.

 

right so i re-posted to avoid said flame war....

and had done so successfully....

Its not my fault if people respond to my post...it should not be against the rules for me to post my experiences...

This is important to me. I want a good reason that this information cant stay on a forum...it was originally moved by a moderator to a different spot...so it was acceptable to be viewed by that person....but now, since someone responded and said some stupid
things, it cant be posted anywhere ever again? If thats the case, these forums are more of a joke than i thought.

 

Thanks for sharing the vid - I'm now just going to get rechargeable batteries instead!

 

You're very welcome Bakez.

THIS is why i wanted to post this. So people will know about all the issues and buy other things.

If we stop buying the garbage from MS, they will have no choice but to design it better.

For example, I will NOT be buying a 4th headset when this one breaks, it will be time for a trip to Turtle Beach =)

Sensoring this information is asinine. (that is not a curse word moderators, look it up)

 

Funny... I have had the X1 since day one and have the day 1 plus an extra controller and a micro USB battery and the OEM headset and I have had not one single problem... maybe stop raging while playing COD and BF and slamming your controller on your floor
would stop the "crappy" stuff MS makes

 

well i dont play COD or BF but thanks for the help !!!

have a good day!

 

yeah that BF game stamp in your avatar tells us differently... and your'e welcome