Elite controller durability, design flaw or just bad luck?

I'm on my 2nd controller (first one had terrible right analog drift) And after 8 months everything seems to be dying. Both bumpers pop in and out at will, no headphones will work in the 3.5mm jack, and now the grip is peeling off.

I've been with Xbox since 2004 and the original and probably owned around 12 controllers, yet I have never had issues like I have had with the elite. Apparently the warranty is only 3 months, yet this controller is designed for "pro" use? I play a lot yet
consider myself casual for the most part. A quick google search reveals others that have had similar bumper issues and overall poor quality despite how well the controller performs when it is actually functioning.

My dilemma is do I now save up another 150 and give it another go only to possibly have to do the same next year? Is there any revisions in newer controllers that help the overall durability? Does Microsoft offer any sort of trade in credit for "lemon" controllers
like mine that break down in the first year? I have my Day One edition standard controller that still works flawless, yet the controller that costs 3x as a regular can't even survive a year.

TL;DR: I expected more from a controller that now costs near as much as the console, and am unsure of whether to stay brand loyal or look elsewhere. Surely others have had similar issues or Microsoft offers some sort of support to us that just got unlucky?

:)

 

Xbox ONE Elite controller

I know right! I would almost say that the AC game developers knew that particular configuration spoke to that flaw in the bumper design, so they chose to default it for the game, but I digress. I guess any kind of redesign will be Christmas or next year...
or they just might sneak it into the next shipment of controllers that come down the line as a surprise. I don't have the new white Elite controller, so I'm not sure how its build quality is. The shoulder button durability on the PS4 controller is nearly what
I'm expecting from anything that comes out on the Elite controller going forward.

 

Xbox One Elite Controller Design Flaw

Hey there! I’m finding myself quite annoyed with one of your company’s policies. I’ve purchased your most premium accessory, the Xbox One Elite controller, and had a pretty mixed experience. While I absolutely love the design, finishes,
and apparent build quality, I seem to be suffering from a rather infamous design flaw—bumpers breaking and removing from the controller. I know three people who have replaced their Elite controller over five times. And even if I didn’t have personal anecdotal
experience, the internet and even your own forums are absolutely rife with customer complaints about this now notorious design flaw. I have sent in my controller for repair once already after three months of use. Much appreciated, thank you for replacing it.
Found it odd you never asked for the original back. Tonight, the replacement controller’s LB button broke yet again, forcing me to contact your customer support for a replacement. This time, I was told that I would first need to send in my newly-broken replacement
controller at MY cost to ship. I was told this was in order to avoid sending me endless controllers to keep. Makes sense. I don’t mind sending in my controller first (it doesn’t even work right now…) but having to pay out-of-pocket for shipping for a warranty
replacement is really, really lame. I’ve been an Xbox owner since launch day 2001. I’ve been an Xbox Live member for at least thirteen years. I’ve spent more money on Microsoft products than I’d like to publicly admit, likely tens of thousands of dollars.
Microsoft offers just one premium peripheral, the Elite controller, which has a notorious design flaw that you completely refuse to address. Fine, that’s cool. I understand the potential awful PR, as well as the logistics and ramifications of replacing millions
of dollars in hardware. I feel you. But please, for the love of God, give your customers a shipping label to send products to you. This is the first time I will be paying for shipping to return my controller and, as you probably know from statistics, I will
be sending it in again as the left bumper inevitably will break yet again in three months, then again and again as you refuse to address this. The entire circumstance sucks – lifetime Xbox customer, super premium product, design flaw you refuse to address,
send in my controller every twelve weeks, and now I have to pay $10 each time I do. Please do something about this, starting with ensuring that ALL shipping charges are covered for warranty replacements. I replaced my Samsung Galaxy S7 recently and they provided
a shipping label. Be like Samsung. Samsung didn’t make me pay.