Game Crazy Game Crazy lied about prices, and forces you to buy warranties you don't need. Corpus Christi Texas

Let me take a moment to explain how a Game Crazy service contract ("warranty") works versus a manufacturer's warranty. In the case of a used Xbox 360, it will NOT come with a full manufacturer's warranty from Microsoft unless it is less than one year old (from date of manufacture, located on the rear face of the console, not from date of purchase). It will include a warranty protecting you against the "red ring of death" or the E74 Error Code as long as it is less than three years old (again, from date of manufacture). The full manufacturer's warranty expires when the console is one year old, and the red ring and E74 warranties expire when the console is three years old. Therefore, the used console you were interested in may or may not have included a manufacturer's warranty, depending on its age. I would also note that if either of the Microsoft seals (located beneath the removable faceplate) are broken, any manufacturer's warranty is summarily voided, regardless of the console's age. Once the manufacturer's warranty is voided, ANY repair that Microsoft performs, no matter how large or small, will cost you (currently) $99.00. A repair from Microsoft does not include any sort of warranty, and if it breaks again two weeks later, it will cost you another $99.00 to get ir repaired a second time. This makes the one year service contract from Game Crazy for $40 a pretty good deal, considering that Game Crazy will give you an entirely different console rather than just repairing the one you have (as many "red ring" fixes are definitely not permanent, even when performed by Microsoft). You will also receive the same 30-day warranty on your replacement console you originally received when purchasing the first console.

A used console from Game Crazy automatically includes a 30-day warranty (it may be 90 days - I forget at the moment) against defects. The extended service contract available for purchase will take effect once this 30-day period is over, and last for whatever length specified by the contract (generally 1, 2, or 3 years).

You may have noticed that I use the term "service contract" in reference to Game Crazy's extended warranty. This is because it is a one-time exchange only, not a warranty that can be reused for a specified period of time such as the manufacturer's warranty.

You are correct, you should NOT be forced to purchase the extended service contract with the system. However, you should know that Game Crazy employees are required to attempt to sell service contracts, pre-orders, and memberships (MVP cards) whenever possible. Depending on the store location and the DM overseeing that district of stores, the employees' jobs may depend on selling these items. Therefore, some stores "bundle" service contracts and even MVP cards with consoles to help drive sales. Employees are encouraged to display these bundles, but in most cases, are not told to refuse to sell a console without it if the customer so desires (again, this most likely depends on the DM). I personally feel that these bundles are a bit of a cop-out - the employees should be good enough salespeople to convince a customer of the inherent value of the extended service contract without forcing the customer to purchase it against their will.

So, next time a video game store employee pesters you about buying a membership or a warranty, or about pre-ordering whatever the hot new title may be, realize that they're not doing it because they really like asking you the same question every time you walk up to the counter. They're doing it because they want to keep their jobs. The economy being what it is, I think that should be understandable for all of us.

In closing, I would just like to say that Game Crazy gift cards are NOT refundable. At least at the time I was last employed there, the POS system simply did not have the ability to refund a gift card purchase. Also, because gift cards may be purchased with store credit as well as cash, once that card is given as a gift and the recipient does not have a receipt, there would be no way to know whether that gift card was purchased with store credit or not. They're certainly not going to give a cash refund for something that may or may not have been purchased with cash.

Remember: video game store employees are people too. Treat them with respect and dignity and (at least in most cases) you can expect the same in return.