Joystiq: MS spokesperson says option for sent box always given

After reading an article on Joystiqs website, I have to call shenanigans all over Microsofts' box policy. Now that there have been tons of reports that the Xbox 360 is getting a new error called the "E74 Error" the way MS handles the shipping of Xbox 360s in for repair has come under scrutiny. A lot of reports have come in that MS is not always giving the option to have a box sent to you. In other words you would have to print an e-label and find a box yourself.

However, according to a MS spokesperson they give both options whenever an Xbox is being sent in for repairs. The only difference is that it may take up to 5 days to receive your "coffin", as they have come to be known. This is the part that I don't believe MS is telling the whole truth.

In August of last year my Halo SE Xbox 360 broke and needed to be sent in for repairs. (Click here to read my ordeal with Xbox Live Support) Whenever they finally said that they would repair it, they didn't give me an option of getting a box sent to me. In fact what they said was that I would have to provide my own box and print an e-label. When I questioned them on why I wasn't getting a box sent to me, like I did previously for my other Xbox 360, she stated that because it wasn't a red ring issue that I would have to provide my own box. According to Joystiqs article the representative did "confirm that the same policy applies to all scenarios, regardless of the repair."

I couldn't believe that MS would be so cheap that they couldn't provide a cardboard box. But either way my personal experience shows that MS doesn't always send a box or give the option for every return. And if they are supposed to then I believe someone needs to have a little talk with Xbox Live Support. I can't complain too much because I got both of my 360s fixed for free but if you say your policy is one thing then you should stick to it. Saying one thing and doing another is pretty sleazy and I don't think that is the image the MS is going for.

-Nick Recchia