Gamecube read errors (out of warranty). Send it in for repair or buy a new system?

aoi tsuki

Member
Title says it all. It'll cost me $50 plus shipping to send it to Nintendo. i can live without my Cube while it's being repaired, but i'm thinking it would be better off to just buy a new system, use the old one as a backup (or travel system) and live with the disc error. i've heard that they really generous and occasionally repair systems or send items for free. Since i bought my system at launch, would it be better to send them an sappy email detailing this? i've got the Cube, my SP, and DS registered along with a few games, so they know i'm a pretty loyal customer.

Recommendations?
 
Nintendo has a special deal with FedEx that covers shipping for about $7. I *think* that's for both ways, you might want to check with NoA customer support. But consider this:

~$60-70 gets you a repaired GameCube, including shipping; $100 plus tax gets you a new Gamecube. It just depends on how much you want to spend.
 
xsarien said:
Nintendo has a special deal with FedEx that covers shipping for about $7. I *think* that's for both ways, you might want to check with NoA customer support. But consider this:

~$60-70 gets you a repaired GameCube, including shipping; $100 plus tax gets you a new Gamecube. It just depends on how much you want to spend.
Yeah, if i read correctly it's both ways for $7.50.

The only two-disc games i have now are MGS:T and Resident Evil, so it's not a dire situation. i'm leaning towards waiting on a good price on a new system, although i'll probably have to turn around and send it to them to get one with the digital output...
 
Friend of mine sent in his GC for repair (warrenty over) and they sent him a new platnium GC.

They must have dropped it on the floor or something :lol
 
Just make an account at SuicideGirls.com and say your favourite games are NINTENDO and POKEMON.

You'll end up getting a free system and game of your choice.
 
Orin GA said:
Friend of mine sent in his GC for repair (warrenty over) and they sent him a new platnium GC.

They must have dropped it on the floor or something :lol


did he have to pay?

im having read errors as well, but i dont want to pay to get it fixed. :(
 
I had this same decision to make a couple months ago and just waited till a good deal came around and bought a new one. I think I got a Gamecube form Frys with 3 free games and a accessory pak. I traded in games and the end difference was about $20 or so dollars instead of $40 dollars from the cost it would be to get mine repaired.
 
I had errors with my GCN after the warranty had expired and I called Nintendo about it. After the guy on the phone had me do a few things (clean the disc, try other games, make sure nothing was inside the GCN, etc) he told me that he extended my warranty and that the repair would be free. Since the repair shop is about five minutes from my house, I dropped it off and got a call the next day that it was ready to be picked up. Call and talk with them and see if they'll do the same for you.
 
Fuzzy said:
I had errors with my GCN after the warranty had expired and I called Nintendo about it. After the guy on the phone had me do a few things (clean the disc, try other games, make sure nothing was inside the GCN, etc) he told me that he extended my warranty and that the repair would be free. Since the repair shop is about five minutes from my house, I dropped it off and got a call the next day that it was ready to be picked up. Call and talk with them and see if they'll do the same for you.


IAWTP. Nintendo's Customer Service is top class.
 
You could also try cleaning the lens with rubbing alcohol and a qtip. My launch system had the disc read error, so I tried this and it was as good as new.
 
Also make sure to remove any dust near the lens. I have a launch gamecube that was having DRE's and I just blew the dust out of the disc tray and cleaned the vents and everything was perfect.
 
Ironclad_Ninja said:
Also make sure to remove any dust near the lens. I have a launch gamecube that was having DRE's and I just blew the dust out of the disc tray and cleaned the vents and everything was perfect.
i'll try that tomorrow. i'll skip on the Q-tip thing since touching the lens can introduce even more problems. If that doesn't work, i'll call. i'll probably leave out the fact that i'm considering selling my DS. :)
 
aoi tsuki said:
i'll try that tomorrow. i'll skip on the Q-tip thing since touching the lens can introduce even more problems. If that doesn't work, i'll call. i'll probably leave out the fact that i'm considering selling my DS. :)
Heh, they might not take too fondly to that. I remember having a DRE while playing Metroid Prime so I called the customer service on the spot and the woman on the line told me to disconnect the cube, clean the vents, then blow inside the disc tray very lightly. You can also turn it up-side down with the disc tray open and hold it there for a second. The DRE's are usually caused by something very small. The lasers tend to be overly sensitive. You can try compressed air but blowing with your mouth works well. If the DRE persists, then give customer support a call.
 
Fuzzy said:
I had errors with my GCN after the warranty had expired and I called Nintendo about it. After the guy on the phone had me do a few things (clean the disc, try other games, make sure nothing was inside the GCN, etc) he told me that he extended my warranty and that the repair would be free. Since the repair shop is about five minutes from my house, I dropped it off and got a call the next day that it was ready to be picked up. Call and talk with them and see if they'll do the same for you.
Arrgh, you bastard. >:( After repeatedly calling Nintendo and complaining about my Gamecube giving me disc errors (which is due to shoddy craftsmanship, the laser is known to lose strength over time), I was told several times that it would cost cost upwards of $60 to fix. Not wanting to pay such an outrageous fee for something entirely not my fault, I was forced to take matters into my own hands (seeing as how the release of RE4 was imminent :P). I went on eBay, bought a Gamebit screwdriver bit, opened up my Gamecube, and adjusted the laser potentiometer myself. Viola, works as good as it did at launch.

The guide to fixing your Gamecube's disc problems can be found at http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/gamecube/game/915781.html, under Lens Calibration Guide. I highly recommend this method if Nintendo holds out on you like they did me, as it costs at most $10 and maybe half an hour of your time.
 
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