Adventures of the Flynnmeister: January 2007

The Wii Ball sagas part 2

So I received my new wii last night. Left on the fecking doorstep by the postman...... Wishing I hadn't phoned Nintendo now and just said I never received it. Might have got another a bit quicker.

And way, after spending an hour setting the console up, creating Miis and downloading games etc I finally decided to have a game of tennis. Which is when the Wii ate my disc and decided to tell me to feck off.

18/01/2007
Dear Mr Nintendo Unhappy just really isn't the word.I received my replacement Wii from you today(for the 2nd time). Like a child at Christmas(much like my children whom this has been for), I eagerly unwrapped the parcel that had been dumped on my doorstep by Parcelforce while I was at work(if I can afford special delivery surely you can?). Naievely, as the item is brand new, I assume that there wont be a problem with it. So I fire it up create my Mii's, download Opera, buy some MORE wii points to download Sonic(one of the kids favourites) and then get ready to settle down with a nice game of bowling before I go out.

But the God of all Wiis is showing me a big middle finger as I insert the disc and hear an ominous sound.. The disc stalls half way on entry and then gets sucked in. It's okay I think to myself. It will be alright. Surely my 3rd Wii won't have a problem.

'ERROR - Please eject disc then turn off the Wii... blah blah blah'

The Wii won't eject the disc.. It appears that the drive is in fact faulty and thus redenders my Wii absolutely useless.

So I prepare for the inevitable phone call to the customer service center. 'Yes it does sound like there is a problem. You will need to return it to us. 3weeks is the turnaround time'

I think at that point a tear actually leaked from my eye.

Why - I will tell you why..

I purchased the console on release day online from Argos - 15/12/2006 I think it was. It didn't work - froze every ten - fifteen minutes constantly. I sent it back on the Monday after having a brick under my tv for the weekend. I received the console on the 22nd. Damaged (most likely by the postman).. but it worked. You just couldn't use the power button to turn it off. But hey at least we could play it over Christmas. I sent it back on the 2nd January. Received today, the 18th. Broken again, a faulty disc drive. And I note that my account information WASN'T transferred over. So thats £20 wasted on Wii points less the download of sonic.

15 - 22 Dec - 8 Days No console
16 - 02 Jan - 11 Days - Semi playable console
03 - 18 Jan - 15 Days - No console
19 - ???? - at least 3 weeks - NO CONSOLE

So since owning my Wii I have been UNABLE to use it for 23 days. Thats over 3 weeks. And I have been able to use it for 1 1/2 weeks.
Costs - £21 * 2 for Wii points = £42.
Postage - £18.50 + £7.40 = £25.90 - To return a faulty item to you

Total money now lost (assuming you forget to transfer the account info to my next wii) - £67.90

£67.90!!!!!!!

thats a third of the price of a new wii.

I have NEVER had to return a console (N64/PS1/PS2/Gamecube) to the manufacture. And now I have had to return 3 Wiis. As per the advice of the customer service assistant(who I have always found to be polite and courteous on the phone) I am returning my current Wii.I look forward to explaining to my kids that they won't be able to play bowling for at least another 3 weeks.

To summarise I have lost £67.90 and 23 days out of 34 so far to broken console Please respond to this email explaining to me exactly what you intend to do with regards to the missing account info on the wii I received today and the total cost that I have incurred due to your faulty products.

I am rapidly losing faith in Nintendo. I am sure you can imagine my disappointment and dissatisfaction with regards to this situation.If you cannot deal with this email then please forward it to your manager or someone higher up the Nintendo chain as this has turned into a outrageous situation.

Thank you'

I await their reply.....................

The Wii Ball Sagas Part 1

Not nearly as exciting, but 100 times more frustrating than the Phalt Ball sagas.....

08/12/2006 - Sent to Nintendo
'Hi My Wii was delivered today but I am having problems with it.The console keeps freezing during gameplay/mii creating or just sitting there idle. The picture freezes and a constant tone is emitted.I have updated the software with wiiconnect24 and ensure all the settings are correct. I have tried Wii Play and Wii sports and this happens both games. Generally the console only survives around 10-15mins before crashing and freezing. The only solution is to power off and on.I have emailed the retailer regarding a replacement, but do you have any suggestions or is it faulty hardware. Thanks'

12/12/2006
'Dear Customer, thank you for your e-mail.

Please send your Wii to the Service Centre at the address below and they will be able to sort it out for you. Please make sure that your full name and address details are included in the package together with a copy of your proof of purchase.

Kind regards,

Your Nintendo Team'

12/12/06
'Thanks for the reply super nintendo teamWill the service center turn my wii around before xmas? Otherwise I might hold out for a replacement from the retailer as its mean to be a present!!And what do I need to send back if i did - just the console or everything that came in the box? Thank you'

12/12/06

'Dear Customer, thank you for your e-mail.

We will do our utmost to turn it around for you by then. Please mark your package DEPT WII so that we can prioritise it for you.

Kind regards,

Your Nintendo Team'

And there all is well until I get the Wii back on the 22/12/2006.

'Nintendo service center heros...

I got my wii back on the 22nd at 17:30... Just in time for Xmas!! All good you might think and so did I initially....

But......... the wii was damaged (I assume by the postman somewhere along the line as I cannot imagine you sending out a damaged wii) when I opened it. Initially I thought it was purely cosmetic and was prepared to suffer the crack to the case - its not visible if you play it horizontally.. So I plugged it in and it fired up.. and I played and it worked! woohoo no freezing. I was incredibly happy and could finally sleep in peace that I had sorted out my kids Christmas present.. then I tried to turn it off but the power button doesn't work properly due to the crack in the casing. It appears to be stuck, which would explain why the wii turned on when I plugged in the mains. No problem , I will use the wiimote to power it off. Which partly worked, but as soon as the wii shut down it turned itself right back on again. So, one wii which is either on or unplugged from the mains.

Long and short of it all, I gave the kids the wii for Christmas and the loved it.... but can't get up in the morning and play it as I don't let them plug/unplug things from the mains. I have had them all this week over Christmas which is nice (I am separated from their mum) and we have had great fun together with it..

My point of this email - now that Christmas is almost over I will be returning the wii for a replacement on the 2nd of Jan when the local post office is open after the bank holiday as it was delivered damaged. I didn't want to send it out this week due to the holidays and the lack of regular post, and that you probably would have all been off enjoying Christmas as you should!

I have downloaded Sonic and have some wii points on the console(the kids love sonic!).. if transferring these to a new console(can you just replace the casing??!?) will delay the return then don't bother. I would rather have a working wii here and lose £20 than wait and wait for another. I mean whats another £20 among friends - its already cost me almost £40 to return defective consoles to you... I could have bought zelda for that. Ah well......... I have delayed emailing you slightly, due to family commitments and not being near my PC, and also as by mailing you it means I am accepting that I have to return the households most favourite toy :(

But as a plus point for Nintendo, I have managed to sell 3 more for you to various family members after they saw mine.

So the console will be with you on the 03/01/2007. And I look forward to a speedy return.
Any problems please mail me

Thanks very much

Ben Flynn'

I didn't get a reply to that email, but received a new Wii on the 18th Jan.... And, well, I had to send them another mail after calling them to let them know I wasn't happy.

Continued..........