hi all,
I received my replacement console, I found the Wii number 'dropped'.
The original console I purchased was w781.....
The replacement I received is w341.....
A replacement unit, according to Nintendo customer service, is a new unit. It is not because they like to do this, it is just because they have no remanufactured units yet. I inspected my replacement unit carefully before use. I found a finger print and some grease on the rear end, which made me suspicious. The original console I bought from the store was so prestine when I opened it up. Besides that the replacement unit seems new.
When I powered it up, it started from scratch like entering dates, language...etc. The firmware version was already version 2.0U. But it still needed an update to use the shopping channel.
Like some of you, there was a disk read error happened on the first time when I insert the Wii Sports Disc. It didn't happen afterwards.
Is there anyone who understand how to decode a Wii number? Or a Wii number is just a unique random number?
Normally production numbers go up as time goes on. But in this case, it does'nt seem to make much sense to relate the Wii number to production time.
So far the replacement unit works fine. However I can't recreate all the Miis as good looking as before which is frustrating. I haven't tried to redo the steps to screw up my Wii the first time, i.e., sent the Wii a 1.5MB email. I think I will leave this experiment to others!
I would suspect that if you found any type of "grease" or fingerprints on the system, then it's probably not new. I wonder how long a system could be used and still be considered new and sold as new. Either way, I'd give them a call and ask. They're making money off these systems so i'm sure they don't want people to be asking questions like this...maybe you'll get something good out of them.
E-mail them because a grease finger isn't something positive considering the fact Wii's are packed by people with rubber gloves.......
unless they were simply looking over the console, possibly opening it up to make sure everything was in working order before sending the console to you. have a lil faith people. we're talking about Nintendo, not Sony *ZING*
ya, i mean as long as it all works fine. but i wouldnt be surprised if its refurbished. i mean nintendo has had a number of systems break, so they take them back and send out new ones. so why not fix it up and resell it. maybe thats what happened here?
but the person unpacking wasn't, fingerprints are no biggy, don't mean a thing the unit was still probably new.
and as for the wii number, well theres a set algorythem them follow meaning no two wii numbers can be only 1 didgit different.
I would suspect that if you found any type of "grease" or fingerprints on the system, then it's probably not new. I wonder how long a system could be used and still be considered new and sold as new. Either way, I'd give them a call and ask. They're making money off these systems so i'm sure they don't want people to be asking questions like this...maybe you'll get something good out of them.
Customer service didn't promise me that it would be a new unit to begin with. He said normally replacement units are remanufactured, but I would be given a new one because there is no old ones (YET).
The grease and that one finger print is bothering me too. But I guess I shouldn't complain as long as it works. I suppose replacement units were not packed in the main production line because it is packed in a much smaller, plain looking parcel box. In the box there is no Wiimotes or anything else, just the main unit. So handling may not be as clean as their normal standard before the unit was shipped.
Now that I think about that single finger print on the console, assuming the replacement console is used. Who would use 1 finger to hold the console? A console should be printed with at least 5 finger prints during installation, another 5 for uninstallation. As a matter of fact, my old console has finger prints all over the place. My best guess is probably the guy who packed the replacement unit into the parcel pushed the console into the box with his holy finger, leaving one finger print on the butt of the console. At least that makes me feel better thinking this way!
Let me know what they say to you in your call.
You got a refurby. No matter how new they have refurbs.
I wouldn't worry about the finger print.. Worry about the Wii.
i forgot to say that i too believe the number is a random number in some sort of calculation they have going, they wouldnt do them all in order. but i have a question, when you get a new one cause urs is broken, do u get to keep the old one? i would assume they would make u send it in.
I believe if it's registered on their site, then you don't need to send it in...but I'm curious if you can still use it or not...like, I know most errors cause the console to stop working all together, but in some cases, I'd assume it's only for a certain part of it (like if the GC controller slots are broken or something along those lines). I'm sure it wouldn't get updates anymore, but being so new, you never know...I'm just curious, really.
New development to my story...
I tried to register the replacement system online. I got a message saying I couldn't get the 90 extra days of warranty. Huh? I read the FAQ and found the reasons are mostly related to the serial number: a system that had been repair/returned/refurbish/remanufactured don't get the extra 90 days. I called customer service again and they assured me that I would get the 90 extra days even though the web said I didn't. And they repeated that all replacement systems were still brand new ones. I asked if he could tell from the serial number whether a console was brand new or not, he said he couldn't. Oh well, I am not sure if I should believe them. Maybe too many people asked and everyone of them were trained to answer this question the same way so customers don't complain getting a refurbished replacement. I gotta admit I am a very picky consumer. I am alergic to refurbished products. For this replacement Wii, I checked, checked and check (surface scratch/dust accumulation/screws/reflectiveness..etc), I couldn't see any sign of usage besides 1 finger print and a little grease at one end of the console. So I kind of buy what customer service said to me.
Anyways, I will have to ship back the broken system. I have 21 days. It totally didn't work so there is no point keeping it. I believe the memory are corrupted.