I'm Thinking of Getting a 360

[00slash00]

So I've been using PC and PS3 but there's some 360 games I wanted to play. Since Xbox One isn't backwards compatible and doesn't have any games out or coming out soon that I want to play, I was thinking of getting a 360 so I could experience the games I missed and play online with my friend who still uses his regularly. Obviously, I want the cheapest deal I can find. I know Gamestop has some deals for 20 gig refurbished systems but used systems are even cheaper on Amazon. I know if I get it from Gamestop, I can just bring it in if I have any red ring related issues. If I buy it used on Amazon and get a red ring, is there anything I can do or am I pretty much shit out of luck? Realistically I'll probably only have it for a year or two, but I'd still like to have some kind of insurance in the event of system failure

 

[FourCartridge]

Your outta luck. Once the transaction is finished, the seller had no obligation IIRC.

If you are going to buy a use 360, get it with some type of warranty, as you said before; my old Arcade edition still goes strong but it barely escaped the red rings a month ago. Otherwise, you are in for a decent purchase, as the 360 had a few quality releases for it here and there.

 

[TheMigrantSoldier]

Funny, I'm a 360/PC owner who is thinking of getting a PS3. As the poster above me said, be sure to buy a warranty. It's a fragile console.

 

[Evonisia]

I'd say buy a newer model later on or when you can, maybe not a 'slim new 2013' 360, but maybe one from 2009/2010. If you get an old 360 and you get a RRoD, chances are you'll get no help.

But anyways good luck!

P.S Buy "insert exclusive I like here"! And I'm a 360/PC Gamer who's interested in a PS3, just like another poster. Weird.

 

[00slash00]

Your outta luck. Once the transaction is finished, the seller had no obligation IIRC.

If you are going to buy a use 360, get it with some type of warranty, as you said before; my old Arcade edition still goes strong but it barely escaped the red rings a month ago. Otherwise, you are in for a decent purchase, as the 360 had a few quality releases for it here and there.

Any idea if refurbished systems from Gamestop get a warranty? I saw an online only deal on the Gamestop website for a refurbished 20 gig system for under $150

 

[Frezzato]

snip

I agree with CloroxBB.
Searching on Gamestop's website shows this little blurb at the bottom for one of the oldest 360s they sell:

"This pre-owned product is guaranteed to work and may not include an instruction manual or original box.
Note GameStop refurbished systems are not covered by a manufacturer warranty. Normal GameStop return policy applies."

Problem is that 'normal' policy may be the standard one they use for everything. I believe it's 30 days, which is terrible. Also, if you're buying online (and even in stores) you have to be careful of what you're buying. The cheaper prices may get your attention, but those can be 1st or 2nd gen 360s (no HDMI ports built in) or use a larger Nanometer chip process, which was generally identified with the heat problems that the early 360s suffered from. If your heart is set on a used 360, be sure to educate yourself as to the difference between all the SKUs Microsoft has issued in the past several years.

Here's one reviewer's take on used 360s:

"mine came working great but looks someone cleaned in with steel wool. u pay $180 for the system and then $20 for the 1 year gamestop warranty. might as well buy a new one."
Gamestop Reviews - 360 4GB [http://reviews.gamestop.com/9014/90889/reviews.htm]

The problem is that you probably don't want to get caught in the cycle of having your 360 die and getting it replaced/die/replace. I would just buy a new one, or at least wait and see if the price drops, then get a new one, with a warranty like Square Trade on top of that. Square Trade warranties only apply to new consoles by the way. I never had to use my ST warranties, but what I read of them online appears to be very good. Also, if you buy direct from ST and use a coupon code, you save the most money--even more than what you would save at Amazon--which offers no discounts on ST warranties.

 

[an annoyed writer]

The models from 2010 are pretty solid machines(Mine's lasted 3 full years without breaking) so if you're going to get one, I suggest one of those. My other ones, which were all from 2007/2008 were very very veeeeery fragile, and I'd sometimes get a more broken console back refurbed than when I'd sent it in. Hell, I even got one back that didn't even run when I plugged it back in, it just red-ringed as soon as I plugged it in. So don't go for one that is pre-2010 AT ALL. The updated ones are a much safer purchase.

 

[TrevHead]

The red ring of death is mostly a "feature" of the original 360s, Slims have a temp sensor in it which will turn off the system and stop it from melting, not that I've ever experienced it firsthand since it runs quite cool. I've no idea if the latest model is any good or not. Besides the original 360 has a separate internet wireless adaptor and the pads are naff.

I personally would never buy 2nd hand consoles online if I can avoid it, too many ppl offload dodgy systems. Better to source it locally so you can get a refund if anything goes wrong (depending on what warranties come as std where you live) and test it out before you take it home. With so many ppl trading in their last gen consoles now is the time to buy a 2nd hand system, plus games are pretty cheap even rarer Japanese games which might possibly raise in price like older systems do.

I know original 360s had production numbers on the back which told you roughly it's age, it might be the same for the slims.

 

[00slash00]

snip

So buying refurbished is super risky and potentially a giant waste of money. Well that's legitimately disappointing. Thank you for the warning and I'm really glad I asked about it here before jumping on the cheapest one I found

 

[Frezzato]

snip

Well, I don't want to turn you off the idea completely. I think An Annoyed Writer has a better outlook on the situation overall.

 

[wulf3n]

Is there any reason to go refurbished over the arcade? How much is the price difference?

If you're worried about HDD space you can always use a portable HDD for storage.

 

[00slash00]

snip

Well, I don't want to turn you off the idea completely. I think An Annoyed Writer has a better outlook on the situation overall.

One last question, if you don't mind. If I were to buy a new system and upgrade the hard drive, is there any reason to go with a new 360 hard drive over a refurbished one?

 

[Frezzato]

snip

I haven't purchased a used hard drive but I do still have my original 20GB (from my first RROD system) and it works fine. It's at least 6 years old. I've transported it several times from my house to my friend's so I could play on his console when I would house sit for him. From my experience (including three friends that own 360s), the hard drive has never been a problem.

 

[00slash00]

snip

I haven't purchased a used hard drive but I do still have my original 20GB (from my first RROD system) and it works fine. It's at least 6 years old. I've transported it several times from my house to my friend's so I could play on his console when I would house sit for him. From my experience (including three friends that own 360s), the hard drive has never been a problem.

Well looking at the prices I could either get a 4gig 360 for $180 or a 250gig for about $250. I was going to get a 4gig version and just upgrade the hard drive but a refurbished 60 gig hard drive, for example, is $30 and a new 60 gig hard drive is $90. I'm just trying to figure out if there's any reason to get a new hard drive if I can get a cheaper refurbished one

 

[Strelok]

~SNIP~

I would just hit up pawn shops, since you have a PC and PS3 I assume this is only for the two series that Microsoft had left? Halo and Gears of War, if so you wouldn't want to spend a lot just to be let down. Even rebuilding a RRoD XBox should be good, I did that for Alan Wake before it was released on PC. Then just gave the thing away after, still working last time I talked to the guy. After you take out those gimmicky X-Clamps it should be fine. $180 - #250? No way those two series are worth the entry fee, add to that gold membership to play online, sounds like a bad deal. Go cheap odds are good you won't need it long, then sell it for profit.

 

[daveNYC]

The HDD shouldn't be a problem. As long as nobody dropped it, the HDD will probably outlive whatever 360 you end up buying.

 

[Frezzato]

Well looking at the prices I could either get a 4gig 360 for $180 or a 250gig for about $250. I was going to get a 4gig version and just upgrade the hard drive but a refurbished 60 gig hard drive, for example, is $30 and a new 60 gig hard drive is $90. I'm just trying to figure out if there's any reason to get a new hard drive if I can get a cheaper refurbished one

Like daveNYC said, as long as nobody dropped it, I agree, it'll probably outlive any 360 it's used with

Oh, take note that the slightly older 4GB 'Slim' 360, or "S" model, costs the same as the latest 4GB "E" model, which looks a lot like the Xbox One. This review on CNET [http://reviews.cnet.com/consoles/microsoft-xbox-360-e/4505-10109_7-35791991.html] says that the latest, boxy "E" has one less USB port and is also missing optical audio output, unlike the S. Just some things to balance while you're thinking about it.

 

[CannibalCorpses]

My advice is don't bother...the 360 breaks with alarming frequency. My last reconditioned one lasted 13 months and so far i've broken 6 machines in total...it's the main reason i won't ever spend money with microsoft again.

 

[WhyWasThat]

If you're a PC/PS3 gamer up until now then there really aren't a whole lot of 360 games that aren't already available on those platforms. But there are some.

All of the Halo games are exclusives.
Gears of War 2, 3 and Judgement are exclusives.
Fable 2 is an exclusive.
All of the Forza games are exclusives.

And that's about it.