The Great PS3 Dust Warranty Controversy
The Internet has been rumbling lately with the story of Sony denying a PS3 owner warranty coverage due to the PS3 being too dusty. Everyone kept speculating what this meant, and what Sony's threshold was for dust (seeing as the PS3 is known for attracting dust to its mirror finish.)
Well, Sony has now released photos of the PS3 in question so that all may see the extent of the damage.
I have to agree that Sony is not obligated to repair this console. If the photos really reflect the condition of the console as it was sent in, then the owner of the console was clearly being negligent in taking care of it. Companies should not be liable in the case of a customer being negligent with a console.
In fact (*goes to fetch PS3 box*), there's language in the warranty that dissolves Sony's liability in the case of customer negligence, on page 14 of the PS3 Safety and Support manual in the box:
THIS WARRANTY SHALL NOT APPLY IF THIS PRODUCT .... (D) IS DAMAGED BY ACTS OF GOD, MISUSE, ABUSE, NEGLIGENCE, ACCIDENT, WEAR AND TEAR, UNREASONABLE USE, OR BY OTHER CAUSES UNRELATED TO DEFECTIVE MATERIALS OR WORKMANSHIP
Judging from that front picture especially, I'd certainly qualify that as negligence. I mean really, how hard is it to dust off your PS3 once in a while? (I actually keep a duster next to my TV to wipe down the PS3 at least every other day, I'm a little OCD about the dust that gathers on it.)
Hit the jump for the rest of the pictures.
What do you think?
Den Den Boy
Posted to In Your House, In the News on 15 November 2007
· Comments (10)
Other stuff like this: dust, PlayStation 3, PS3, Sony, warranty
3D iPhone glasses. Why?
does it really say act of god? LOL thats hilarious and christian-full. Take that Buddhists
"Acts of God" is standard US legal language for natural disaster, etc. It's a result of the US's Christian core, unfortunately.
I like that Sony used the technician's health as an arguing point. So basically, all this dust is a health hazard.... unless you sweeten the deal with $150 then the tech will dive right in.
That is actually disgusting. That person should be ashamed. You'd think they might have been able to clean it before they sent it in at least. Scumbag.
As much as I'd like to rant about Sony and the ridiculous positions they put themselves into, I don't feel one bit sorry for this guy. I think this is an obvious case of neglect.
If he can spend $600+ on something and not take proper care of it, then he can pay $150 make it right.
Though there has been no mention of it, I'm curious as to if there was any smoke damage in the PS3. Generally, smoking around electronics can exacerbate the dust/gunk build-up on the internals quite a bit.
Luckily it's still under warranty from acts of Baal and Moloch.
i still don't understand how a system that has only been out for a year *if we assume the guy bought it on launch date* could get that dusty o_O
@jahoshi:
And that's exactly why it qualifies as negligence.
@Den Den Boy:
well if sony put out some more games for it... lol :P tired joke i know
even if its due to negligence... i still don't see how it could get THAT dusty... that looks like over 3 years of dust... i have had my xbox for about a year... and it just sits on my stand... i don't ever touch it besides putting a game in it.. and i power it on through my remote... and its not even close to being a little dusty.
The PS3 is made of shiny plastic that attracts dust like anything. Still no excuse for this though....