I was thinking about getting a 360 from an online auction site which would be like half the retail price, but is that a bad idea in case it breaks down? I could go with a retail store like best buy, but it would cost a lot more. What do you reccomend? Thanks

If you purchase off a site like e-bay there is a chance that the console was banned from XBL. Also the console may not be in working condition and the seller is trying to get the console off there hands. It may cost a little more to buy it from a retail store but that is what I would do.

retail

Get it from Wal-Mart.
1. No BS return policy.
2. Most sales person doesn't know about serial bar and don't scan it.
3. When you return they don't check the sticker.
4. Cheap and Wal-Marts are everywhere.

I got mine as a RROD from ebay and paid $120 for the console, wireless controller, 20 hd, all cables and a memory card.

This was before MS offered the 3 year warranty on RROD so i sent it to a repair shop to have it reflowed for $45, it worked great until I spilled water on it and fried it, so i bought another RROD console and sent it into MS for repair and its been serving me great since Decemder 07.

Definitely Wal Mart. Although most electronics people aren't as bad as Burning's Wal Mart, most will check the serial number and prevent scammers who switch out a broken 360 for a new one.

Originally posted by RoadDawg1:

---

Definitely Wal Mart. Although most electronics people aren't as bad as Burning's Wal Mart, most will check the serial number and prevent scammers who switch out a broken 360 for a new one.

---

depends on where you live. In bigger cities they are more inclined to check, but in smaller cities they don't check.

Originally posted by phelixnyc:

---

If you purchase off a site like e-bay there is a chance that the console was banned from XBL. Also the console may not be in working condition and the seller is trying to get the console off there hands. It may cost a little more to buy it from a retail store but that is what I would do.

---

Thank you all for your advice. phelixnyc, what if the seller has a good rating or is willing to exchange for another one in case it breaks down? Also, couldn't I just turn it into the repair shop if it does breakdown, is it possible that it could break so bad that only M$ can fix it? I wouldn't be so sure that Walmart won't check the sticker and it seems like all retail stores are selling it for at least 280 when I could get it online for half that. Still worth it even if it had to be repaired in my opinion, but then I'm new at this.

Originally posted by jewdaddy:

---

Originally posted by phelixnyc:

---

If you purchase off a site like e-bay there is a chance that the console was banned from XBL. Also the console may not be in working condition and the seller is trying to get the console off there hands. It may cost a little more to buy it from a retail store but that is what I would do.

---

Thank you all for your advice. phelixnyc, what if the seller has a good rating or is willing to exchange for another one in case it breaks down? Also, couldn't I just turn it into the repair shop if it does breakdown, is it possible that it could break so bad that only M$ can fix it? I wouldn't be so sure that Walmart won't check the sticker and it seems like all retail stores are selling it for at least 280 when I could get it online for half that. Still worth it even if it had to be repaired in my opinion, but then I'm new at this.

---

Well I'd only suggest dealing with sellers with good ratings in the first place, but its a catch 22. If you buy it from a professional ebay retailer, you get a more professional experience, but if the 360 is screwed up, there's a 99% they don't know where it came from and who did what to it before they bought it, as they probably bought it wholesale from best buy or something.

Then you have the typical guy cleaning out his closet and selling his xbox, though his rating may not be as high, since he's the only owner you know exactly whats been done to it, assuming he doesn't lie, but thats what Paypal is for.

In my experience, I've found its better to buy from individuals selling off their own broken xbox's (although they may or may not have a higher reserve) but my only bad experience came when i bought from a professional xbox 360 reseller and he didn't mention that the xbox was a bad flash and basically a $400 dvd player.

I'd buy it in the store. If money is an issue, buy the arcade one.

big chains like Wal-Mart has no BS return policy. Anything breaks down within 30days, you can return it no questions asked.

i'm not a serioius gamer so i bought a broken one on ebay. ended up paying $70 in total after buying the power brick. althought i do no have a hard drive. i went the cheap way because i'm not an everyday gamer and jus like to play from time time.

If you're an everyday gamer i'd say to by retail...

Originally posted by slimdawg:

---

Originally posted by RoadDawg1:

---

Definitely Wal Mart. Although most electronics people aren't as bad as Burning's Wal Mart, most will check the serial number and prevent scammers who switch out a broken 360 for a new one.

---

depends on where you live. In bigger cities they are more inclined to check, but in smaller cities they don't check.

---

Im in small city and they check. They all should check so scammers don't pull that crap and cause everyone to pay more.

Originally posted by RoadDawg1:

---

Originally posted by slimdawg:

---

Originally posted by RoadDawg1:

---

Definitely Wal Mart. Although most electronics people aren't as bad as Burning's Wal Mart, most will check the serial number and prevent scammers who switch out a broken 360 for a new one.

---

depends on where you live. In bigger cities they are more inclined to check, but in smaller cities they don't check.

---

Im in small city and they check. They all should check so scammers don't pull that crap and cause everyone to pay more.

---

I agree they should all check, but the Wal Mart's here, especially in the areas more populated by old people don't check, they don't even know the difference between the 360 and the ps3

I was going to buy a arcade 360, manufactured in Jan 2008, then thankfully noticed before that it was a 203 W non-Falcon. So got the Falcon Elite one instead. Whatever you do jewdaddy, make sure you get a Falcon 360.

i got xbox 360 working perf. hd, wireless controlles, all cables, and 4 games off of ebay for $200.

If i were you i would get one of a site of evay. What you want is, a person and not a company. If they have feedback of more than a thousand don't, i wouldn't buy it if i were you, because then that means there running a buisness. You want a person that is just giving it up cause they dont want it anymore. BUT make sure you read everything they say, and ask questions. If you buy it and its screwed up, report it, and get your money back from paypal, cancel the money transaction and recieve the gift. Most likely if you snoop around you'll find the right guy. Just like i did.

Originally posted by pwhite23:

---

i got xbox 360 working perf. hd, wireless controlles, all cables, and 4 games off of ebay for $200.

If i were you i would get one of a site of evay. What you want is, a person and not a company. If they have feedback of more than a thousand don't, i wouldn't buy it if i were you, because then that means there running a buisness. You want a person that is just giving it up cause they dont want it anymore. BUT make sure you read everything they say, and ask questions. If you buy it and its screwed up, report it, and get your money back from paypal, cancel the money transaction and recieve the gift. Most likely if you snoop around you'll find the right guy. Just like i did.

---

Was it a Falcon or a refurb?

neither, it was bought in 06. brand new

Well good for you if it hasn't RROD yet. Just saying for anyong buying a 360, make sure you get a Falcon one.

ya, but when i flashed it i managed to keep the warrenty in tact. so if it does rrod i still got half a year left.

Seems like most peeps on here reccomend retail. But is it possible to buy a xbox online that's so messed up it can't be repaired by someone other than M$?