If you schedule a pickup through FedEx they will generally be there within 1-2 hours depending on location and time, but its always same day as long as its not too late.

UPDATE!!!!

I received my cube this afternoon, in perfect working order. The sheet that came in the box said that they had replaced a "disk drive mechanism."

It took only 4 business days (6 total) from the time I sent it off to Nintendo for it to get back to me. I'd say that's pretty darn good! Anyway, I have to go play my Gamecube.

Just don't EVER try taking it into a Nintendo Authorized customer service center. My B button was acting like the spring was broken (still registered with the 'Cube, but pushing it was very tough, and it basically made any games unplayable). So I called the number, and it told me to take it into the nearest center, in Cupertino, California (29 miles away).

So I get there, at this little circa-1950 hole-in-the-wall video repair shop, and the guy tries to tell me that the thing isn't broken. I've owned just about every game system since the original Nintendo, and recently figured out that I play games about as much as I sleep, so I know he's full of it. @#$#!$% even pulls out another controller from his little desk, and it's broken in the same way; he insists that's how it's supposed to be.

Me: "Look, feel this button. It should feel exactly like the one next to it, just smaller and a different color."

Him: "Naw, it's a different button. Look, I've plugged it in; it works!"

Me: "Yes, I know ELECTRONICALLY it's fine, but it has something wrong with the spring."

Him: "See, you can press the button, and it's just like this one. It's not broken."

Me: "Here, let me break your nose for you, n'kay? Isn't that better?"

(OK, not the last part.)

Eventually, I end up shouting at him, and he finally relents. And tells me he'll ORDER ME A REPLACEMENT. The only Nintendo service center within roughly 50 miles north and 150 miles south, and he carries no new stock on hand. I was leaving for college the next day, so that wouldn't work. I took my controller and left.

It wasn't until AFTER I'd left the store that I realized that if he had no new stock on hand, and he'd pulled that "working" controller to show me how they're "supposed" to work from his workbench, that his example HAD ALREADY BEEN TURNED IN TO BE FIXED. And since he showed me it working plugged in, the only thing wrong was that B button.

So, back at college, I call the big N again, and am cheerfully told that the nearest center is now 89 miles away. Yay. For that much gas money, I could buy another MadCatz Cubicon, which is a better controller by an order of magnitude anyway.

Don't get me wrong; I like Nintendo, and I'm sure they'll do the fedex thing too when I refuse to drive 89 miles. But if they're not going to a) get better coverage, and b) check their centers better, they should abandon that method of repair altogether.

These systems are pretty sophisticated electronics. You have to expect a certain percentage off the line are going to be lemons. I went ahead and bought the 2 year warranty from Best Buy for $30. Any problems with my Cube and I can take I can exchange it at the store for a new one. I think Circuit City has a similar deal.

Normally I regard the "extended warranty" as a blatant rip-off, but the $30 is worthwhile for my peace of mind, especially after reading this thread and the one about 3rd party peripherals screwing up the consoles.


As for the controller 'B' buttons:

That bugs me. MWoody, how much buttom mashing did you do on that controller before it jammed like that? I'm not asking if you mistreated the controller, just how much you played using it.

I've taken apart controllers for all my old systems when they started to work poorly: NES, PlayStation, etc. They didn't have springs in them, they had little rubber disks that deform when you press them (and make the connection) and "pop" back when let go.

I'm not about to take apart my GameCube controller but I think they're the same. It sounds like the rubber disk slipped out of place on your controller. It would explain the problem. But then why couldn't the customer service guy just fix it right infront of you? So maybe it's something else (except that the guys sounds like a real jerk-off).

The "sticky B button" problem is common among GC controllers. To fix the problem, twist the handles of the controller in opposite directions firmly (for example, twist the left handle down and the right handle up). That should unstick the B button.

Apparently this problem arises from frequent rumbling.

good tip. I'll try that.

Christo, here's a tip about your Cube "extended warranty." It's a little white lie that will "extend the life" of your cube. When the warranty is about up, take the system back to Best Buy and say it freezes up playing games or something or complain about any minor problems you have had with it. Best buy does not do electronic repairs (only PC repairs) and will replace the unit with a brand new one. I did it with my dreamcast and got a fresh one with brand new (and quieter motor). It seems like a little scam, but then again you are paying for the warranty.

I didn't even think of the rumble feature. It makes sense that it could move the rubber disc out of place, unseating it. I could also see where twisting the controller could re-seat it. I bet the rumble motor is right under the B button so it gets extra good vibrations. (If you know what I mean.)

I'd be reluctant to do it with my new controller, but taking these things apart isn't too hard. That said, when I first took my PlayStation analog controller apart to see how the rumble worked, the motor popped out and broke off the wires. I didn't have a solder gun to reconnect it. Oh well, it was broken anyway in a "protest" of some game.

And mmconhea, that's the plan, Stan.

I said defects in a new system are a fact of life.

The original assertion I was replying to was that a good company is not one that creates products that don't break, but one that has good service when they do. I disagree. I would rather have a product that doesn't break than a company with good service and a product that breaks frequently. The comment about the new system was entirely unrelated.



I wouldn't disagree with you. But you can't deny that there can be a rather large difference in quality between manufacturers. Take, for instance, memory cards. Would I want a Brand X one, that sometimes breaks, but their company sends a replacement promptly while under warranty? Or would I rather have the name brand one, that rarely, if ever, breaks?