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Xbox Misadventures

Wow…it’s been a while since we’ve posted here.  We had a great idea, and then it went south kind of quickly.

Anyway, for those interested in consumer issues regarding video game consoles, I recently experienced the dreaded “Red Ring of Death” that is so frequent to Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console.  If you are unfamiliar with the console or the Red Ring of Death, allow me to explain.  The Xbox’s power button is surrounded by the “Ring of Light” which are four semi-circle indicator lights that show when the Xbox is on and/or the controllers are attached.   When Microsoft first released the console, it quickly became apparent that there was a higher than usual rate of failure, although, predictably, they denied this at first.  For a more comprehensive explanation, just click on the Wikipedia link I have supplied. Anyway, when the console would crash, three of the indicator lights would turn red, and it became known amongst the video game community as the “Red Ring of Death.”

I bought my Xbox in 2007, and hadn’t had any problems to speak of with it.  I knew a few friends who had experienced console failures, but they typically tended to be hard core gamers who played their consoles at least four hours a day.  I, on the other hand, usually play a couple times a week, other than when I buy a new game, which is usually about three times a year, at which point I’ll play it every day for a couple of weeks.  Anyway, I thought that with my fairly limited amount of time on the console, I wouldn’t be as at risk for console failure.

Turns out Microsoft’s products are crappy and can quit regardless of how little or how much you use them.  About two months ago, my console finally succumbed to its inevitable failure.  I shouldn’t have been surprised; according to a recent survey conducted by Game Informer magazine, the 360’s failure rate is a stunning 54.2 percent.  Even worse, 41.2 percent suffer a SECOND console failure after having received a repaired version of the 360.  By comparison, Sony’s PlayStation 3 suffers about a 10.6 percent failure rate.

Don’t get me wrong.  The 360 is an incredibly fun gaming platform, and the fact that several of the titles I enjoy the most only appear on the Xbox 360 or on PC (Mass Effect comes to mind) I still would rather own the 360 than any other console.  But Microsoft, in my opinion, is notorious for putting out poorly made products and then dealing with the damage later.  Hence, Windows 7, which if anyone believes is going to correct all the flaws of previous Windows operating systems, I’ve got a bridge in San Francisco to sell you.

That aside, I immediately checked Microsoft’s site and found that the best way to return my console for repair was to enter the necessary information on their website, and I could print out a UPS tag at home and just drop it off at any UPS facility.  Which wasn’t an issue for me anyway, since my work has a UPS account and we have daily UPS pickups at our facility.  What was an issue was the fact that the tag wouldn’t even show up on the screen when I pulled it up.  I tried this on three different computers, and it didn’t work on any of them.  This was a problem, especially since the address I needed could only be found on the UPS tag.  So I had to call Microsoft anyway and get the information.  The next day I sent the package on my own dime to their facility down in Texas.

I was hopeful that it would be returned to me quickly, because one of my friends had told me he had received his back in about a week.  Microsoft says to figure on about three to four weeks.  It was just a little past four weeks when it was returned to me.  When I opened it, I found that they don’t actually fix your console, they give you a replacement console (presumably one that has been used by someone else).  This wasn’t a huge deal, since the memory drive on the 360 is detachable and they advise you to take it off before you send the console.  This way, you can keep all of your information and just attach it to the new console.  After some initial set up, my 360 worked like a charm.

Also, I should mention that when they finally were able to admit that the consoles were crashing at an epic rate, Microsoft agreed to extend all warranty’s for three years from the time of purchase.  So the only thing I paid was the shipping, which I would not have had to do had their website worked properly.  Regardless, it was nice to get the console back and not have any further issues.  I wasn’t greatly impressed by Microsoft’s customer service (I don’t think it should take a month to replace a console that crashed through no fault of my own), and I was even less impressed by the fact that my console crashed.  But overall, they did get it replaced in roughly the amount of time they promised, and I’m currently satisfied with how things ended up (considering how they could have gone).

I’m normally not a huge fan of hot dogs.  I am also not a fan of Steak-N-Shake.  However, I must say I am hooked on Steak-N-Shake’s 100% beef steak franks.

One night while out and about, we were hungry for a bite to eat.  We didn’t feel like trekking into the city, and we wanted to fill our bellies with food as soon as possible (without having to wait to be seated).  As such, our options were limited.  After sitting in a parking lot debating our few options, we reluctantly chose Steak-N-Shake.

Upon our arrival, I noticed an advertisement at our table for their new jazzed-up franks.  I hadn’t had a good hot dog in a long time, so I decided to try one.  Nathan thought they looked good as well.  This night I ordered the Guacamole frank.  It was quite tasty!  For those of you who are guacamole lovers, I highly recommend it.  However, if you only like guacamole in small portions, this isn’t the frank for you as it comes completely covered in it.

After a long, hard day of cleaning today, we did not feel like dirtying up the freshly-cleaned kitchen by cooking.  We decided to head back to Steak-N-Shake for another meal of franks.  Tonight I decided to try the Chicago Style frank.  It comes loaded with mustard and sweet relish and also includes tomatoes, onions, and a pickle within the bun.  The Chicago-style frank also comes with a few hot peppers on top, but since I don’t enjoy having my tongue burned to the point of being unable to taste my food, I decided to leave them off.

It took only one bite to determine I liked the Chicago Style frank even more than the Guacamole frank!  I will definitely be ordering this one again.

My first review is going to be about Steak-N-Shake’s new foray into the world of specialty hot dogs.  The restaurant has just put out a new line of specialty franks with various toppings on them, with the frank on a toasted bun, sliced down the middle and loaded with toppings.  They have the standard steak franks and a chili frank, but also a new Guacamole frank, a Chicago Style frank, a Southwest frank, and the Carolina Slaw frank.  All of these can be combined with fries for the low price of just $3.99, and all of it sufficiently filling.

My choice of frank was the Carolina Slaw.  I’ve had it twice now, and although the second time they skimped a little on the toppings, both times it was absolutely delicious.  The Carolina Slaw toppings are mustard, onions, and a generous amount of a semi-sweet cole slaw.  The bun is, as I stated, toasted and the frank is quite meaty and long, and split down the middle and full of toppings.  Both times, at my local Steak-N-Shake in Wood River, Illinois, the fries were fresh and hot, and I supplemented my meal with a Vanilla Coke.  Heather will have to give her opinion on the Guacamole frank and the Chicago frank.  I had a bite of her Chicago Style frank, and that’s what I’m getting next.  Overall, I was quite impressed. If you can get out to Steak-N-Shake in the next few weeks, give the Carolina Slaw frank a shot.   I don’t think you’ll regret it.

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Statement of Intent

Just to be clear:  We aren’t professional critics.  We are amateurs.

One night while speculating in Wal-Mart about the difference in energy saving light bulbs versus regular light bulbs, we came to the realization that the only fair way to settle the issue was to test both light bulbs and see how much longer the energy saving ones actually lasted.  Then inspiration hit.  Why not try this for other products and then blog about our very unscientific results?  We could test not only energy saving light bulbs versus regular bulbs, but also name brand products versus generic ones, and then post about any differences we find.  Or try different restaurants and let people know what we thought about those. And that’s how The Common Consumer was born.

We aren’t professional critics. Our tests will probably have plenty of flaws.  But nevertheless, we are going to push forward into unexplored territory for the good of all average consumers, and answer questions that have forever plagued those shoppers who pondered over whether Sam’s cola was REALLY as good as Coke, or whether Suave is really as good as Oil of Olay.  Our results will be posted here for all the world to see, and then you can decide whether to follow our advice, or take a chance on your own.  We aren’t being sponsored or funded in any way.  We are just common consumers with curiosity and a keyboard.

Welcome to The Common Consumer.