"Elite" controller is a joke

After 6 months of regular usage my elite controller is broken. The left bumper broke internally and the left stick is a little loose. I have not dropped or thrown the controller. It has not been abused. I can't believe the warranty on an "elite" controller
is 90 days and that Microsoft refuses to acknowledge there is an inherent design or manufacturing issue with these bumpers. My friend was lucky enough to have his controller break in the 90 day window. He is now on his 5th controller. The left bumper broke
just the other day so he will be sending it in to get his 6th. He has had 5 left bumpers break and 3 trigger stops break. The only thing elite about this controller is the price. This warranty needs to be extended the way the xbox 360 was with the red rings.
The internet is littered with tons of stories about elite controllers breaking after a relatively small amount of use.

:)

 

Elite controller is Smashing fun...

But is the Elite controller fun to smash?



Peace, J.R.

 

What game do you really want that hasn't came out yet?

[quote user="Elite Rampant"]

CoD 50

[/quote]good joke LOL. Fallout 4.

 

Hi BTown.

From another thread with the same issue that I replied to...

I would have never bought an Elite Controller because my Day 1 controller developed a stick drift and my wife's controller's D-Pad doesn't work right anymore:

My wife bought me the Elite Controller as a gift so lucky me I suppose but I'm very nervous because like yourself, I took excellent care of my equipment to the point that other people weren't even allowed to look at them.

But like you say this is a very expensive piece of kit.

In the first instance I would go to the retailer who sold you the device and complain. Like you say it's an expensive piece of kit and so why are they selling faulty ones.

Also you should complain to Microsoft. Contact support. If they don't sort it politely insist upon speaking to a manager. If they don't sort it politely insist on speaking to their manager.

If they don't sort it politely insist on the address for their Head Office Complaints department.

Let us know how you get on.

 

"In the first instance I would go to the retailer who sold you the device and complain. Like you say it's an expensive piece of kit and so why are they selling faulty ones."

That's some pretty strange logic. How can you blame the retailer for MS having poor quality control? They had absolutely nothing to do with the design or manufacturing. They're simply selling a product from what *should* be a reputable company.

 

I was in a chat session with MS for at least 30 minutes explaining what had happened and all they said was tough luck it isn't under warranty anymore. I will probably try calling on the phone. I imagine it will end with more of my time wasted and being disappointed/
furious at Microsoft

 

Hi Codecat.

Pretty basic really. Retailers don't like getting a bad reputation so if you can make a case for the goods they are selling being faulty they may replace it and raise the issue with the Supplier themselves even if they're not necessarily obliged to.

In some countries the retailer who sells you the goods is actually responsible for them working correctly and being fit for purpose and is actually legally obliged to replace or refund.

So that's why the retailer is not a bad first step.

If they apologise and say "no sorry, you'll have to raise it with the manufacturer then move on to step 2.

Contact them. Complain politely. Be insistant but polite. If you're not getting anywhere then ask to speak to a Manager.

If that doesn't get you anywhere then request the details for Head Office Complaints and complain there.

If your complaint is reasonable you will get it resolved. This will actually be company policy.

 

I wouldn't ask for a manager. They don't care just like the person helping you doesn't. It's not just like this with MS but most customer services. I would agree with Az though and I would take it back to the retailer. Sometimes they will be more than helpful
especially if they don't want a bad name.

You should be prepared to get turned away as well. It is out of warranty after all. It sucks especially with the cost of these things and since you take care of it, but unfortunately these things happen sometimes.

 

AZ - Weird. If we were talking a piece of fruit from a grocery store or something made and sold by the same place then I could see the logic. I wouldn't try to blame Target or any other retailer if I bought a console and it failed though. That's on the manufacturer.

 

That is part of the reason I spent an extra $20 and got a service contract with mine.

 

Hey Codecat

Don't ask... don't get.

Sure they might turn you away and if they do then you're no worse off than you were before and still have to go to the manufacturer.

But if they sort it then you're sorted there and then.

Nobody is forcing you to get the Customer Service you deserve I suppose.

 

> Sure they might turn you away and if they do then you're no worse off than you were before and still have to go to the manufacturer.

You're no worse off, except for the time that's wasted if they won't help. Though it sounds like you may have a better chance to get help from a store there. For something like that in the U.S., you're pretty much guaranteed to be wasting your time. There's
one store I can think of (Costco, I believe) who is an exception to the rule, but you're out of luck with any other retailer if it's been more than 30 days.

 

@code in Australia the retailer is firstly responsible for the warranty. If this was to happen to mine I have a full year to return it to them for a new one. They then deal with Microsoft

 

^Beat me to it!

That's how our consumer law works and the retailer cannot refuse to help us by sending us to the manufacturer so I would be following Az' advice, even if the law doesn't protect you the same way ours does I would be giving it a try.

 

^ I wish things worked more like that in the U.S. It would make things much easier on the consumer. Though store owners probably wouldn't like the extra work.