Nintendo of Europe continues to refuse to repair drifting Joy-Cons without payment despite NoA replacement policy

[Kyonashi]

Despite all the news surrounding the ubiquitous Joy-Con drift and how Nintendo of America are no longer requiring proof-of-purchase or an active warranty for Joy-Con repairs, Switch owners in Europe have had no such luck and are finding they have to pay up if they want working controllers:

This is no breaking news but Nintendo France still won't fix the Joycons for free. Numerama sent one and it was still 45 € (15 € for sending it back if you refuse the cost estimate!)

"We then had the following choices:
- Accept the quote, send it back and pay 45 euros;
- Refuse the quote and request the destruction of our controller;
- Refuse the quote and pay 15 euros (!) for Nintendo France to return our controller;
- Miraculously retrieve the invoice and send the proof by mail (which we did)."

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As discussed in the other thread, we should probably have a place to discuss non-American experiences with Nintendo Customer Service, advise others, and hopefully put some pressure on Nintendo to roll out their American policy to other territories as this really doesn't seem like a particularly infrequent hardware issue.

Eurogamer have recieved no comment from NoE when contacted, and GamesRadar have an article on how to fix it yourself, but really NoE should be adopting NoA's policy here.

If you've attempted this process, what's your personal experience been like? If they offered you repair cost estimates as in the above quote, could you please post them in the thread?

 

[Boiled Goose]

It's time for European media and legal system to step it up.

 

[cw_sasuke]

NoE should fix this - especially since those controllers aren't cheap and a essential part of the Switch experience, they are selling to customers.

 

[RPG_Fanatic]

Wow, I thought it strange when that Nintendo of Europe ignoring the Joy-Con issue thread showed up, but I didn't realize it meant that Nintendo of Europe wasn't following through with free Joy-Con repairs.

It is a pretty bad look when Nintendo of America has acknowledged the issue and is fixing controllers free of charge.

 

[TheMoon]

Despite all the news surrounding the ubiquitous Joy-Con drift and how Nintendo of America are no longer requiring proof-of-purchase or an active warranty for Joy-Con repairs, Switch owners in Europe have had no such luck and are finding they have to pay up if they want working controllers:



As discussed in the other thread, we should probably have a place to discuss non-American experiences with Nintendo Customer Service, advise others, and hopefully put some pressure on Nintendo to roll out their American policy to other territories as this really doesn't seem like a particularly infrequent hardware issue.

Eurogamer have recieved no comment from NoE when contacted, and GamesRadar have an article on how to fix it yourself, but really NoE should be adopting NoA's policy here.

If you've attempted this process, what's your personal experience been like? If they offered you repair cost estimates as in the above quote, could you please post them in the thread?

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We've had a thread like this on Monday. Do we really need another? It's bad but focus on one, imo.

https://www.resetera.com/threads/ni...on-drifting-issue-please-contact-them.134412/

 

[Kyonashi]

We've had a thread like this on Monday. Do we really need another? It's bad but focus on one, imo.

https://www.resetera.com/threads/ni...on-drifting-issue-please-contact-them.134412/

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Oh dammit, I did search but the title of that thread omits the hyphen in Joy-Con so I didn't find it.

 

[Iichter]

NoE's customer service is the worst in the world.

 

[HandsomeCharles]

If you're in the UK, this may help:

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/consumer-rights-act

In short, you have six years to claim so long as you can prove the fault was due to the manufacturer, and not due to your usage. As NOA have publicly acknowledged the fault, and the models are the same, you might be able to get somewhere with this.

 

[brambles13]

Nintendo deserves a class-action lawsuit over this. This is no way to treat paying customers when you make a shoddy product.

 

[MatrixMan.exe]

This is actually a proper example of blatant anti-consumer practice. What on earth are they thinking? And in Europe no less.

 

[Baccus]

NoE is the worst

 

[Omegamon]

Same in Latam

 

[Oreiller]

Deliberately selling an overpriced faulty product is fucking disgusting.

 

[Chiramii]

Knowing NoA got their act together regarding this issue I expected NoE to do the same. Anyone know if Bergsala is pulling the same shit?

 

[cvxfreak]

Same in Japan.

 

[Team_Feisar]

At least we have better special editions.

They really should adress this, not a good look at all, NoE

 

[Ant_17]

And you wonder why most of Europe is Sony land....

 

[TheMoon]

And you wonder why most of Europe is Sony land....

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Certainly not because of customer service :)

 

[fossi8]

How is the customer service in EU in general??

 

[cowbanana]

How are Japanese Switch owners looking on the whole drifting garbage joy-con issue? Are they as fed up as the rest of the world?

Deliberately selling an overpriced faulty product is fucking disgusting.

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Yes, it is absolutely disgusting that they continue to sell this abysmal shit product.

 

[nuttyevans]

Put the pressure on them. Contact Watchdog on BBC if you're in UKland.

 

[Vilifier]

Does anyone know how NoE's service team is structured vs NoA? Does NoE use an internal or an external third party for repairs in Europe? If external; is it a different provider than NoA. There has to be some logistical reason that's preventing NoE from covering the costs.

 

[I Wanna Be The Guy]

And you wonder why most of Europe is Sony land....

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Yeah I loved it when they fixed my ylod PS3 for free. Oh wait....

But yeah this is honestly disgusting. Nintendo need to get their arses sued over here too.

 

[Oreiller]

Does anyone know how NoE's service team is structured vs NoA? Does NoE use an internal or an external third party for repairs in Europe? If external; is it a different provider than NoA. There has to be some logistical reason that's preventing NoE from covering the costs.

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It shouldn't matter to consumers either way. Nintendo is the one selling a faulty product so they should shoulder the cost.

 

[super moustique]

Certainly not because of customer service :)

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LMAO

 

[Deleted member 8791]

Surely EU can't lose to US in a case of consumer protection? What's going on?

 

[ClickyCal']

Weird because NoE beats NoA with almost everything else.

 

[-shadow-]

Surely EU can't lose to US in a case of consumer protection? What's going on?

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The class action lawsuit was never going to happen here.

 

[Vilifier]

It shouldn't matter to consumers either way. Nintendo is the one selling a faulty product so they should shoulder the cost.

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It matters. EU typically has longer warranty terms then NA due to laws and has to be structured to support the added cost of those longer product life cycles. NoA was likely able to implement the policy change quicker than NoE due to how they're structured for services. Companies don't just role out policies that affect one region but not another unless there's a roadblock.

 

[cyba89]

So someone knows what the current situation in Europe is?
My left Joycon stick is broken and I probably have to send it in at this point.

Would be really pissed if I have to pay up for this and then have to wait like three weeks for them to repair it.

If it's really 45€ I might as well buy a whole new pair without the long wait.

 

[LAA]

Annoying as my recent joy-cons have now developed the drifting issue just after a year, so now bought a 3rd pair.

 

[nampad]

Nintendo's anti consumer policies strike again...

 

[Puffy]

Nintendo are a joke and wouldn't have did anything in US if they didn't have a class action lawsuit against them there.

 

[Margarito Piruli]

My left joy-con has this drift problem. I'm in EU so I have low hopes NOE will repair it for free. Is this problem fixed in new joy-cons?

 

[Deleted member 31104]

Silly question but have Nintendo rectified the flaw causing the propensity to drift or are we in a RROD cycle where the fundamental issue may reoccur on the repaired or replaced device?

 

[Deleted member 44371]

Despite all the news surrounding the ubiquitous Joy-Con drift and how Nintendo of America are no longer requiring proof-of-purchase or an active warranty for Joy-Con repairs, Switch owners in Europe have had no such luck and are finding they have to pay up if they want working controllers:



As discussed in the other thread, we should probably have a place to discuss non-American experiences with Nintendo Customer Service, advise others, and hopefully put some pressure on Nintendo to roll out their American policy to other territories as this really doesn't seem like a particularly infrequent hardware issue.

Eurogamer have recieved no comment from NoE when contacted, and GamesRadar have an article on how to fix it yourself, but really NoE should be adopting NoA's policy here.

If you've attempted this process, what's your personal experience been like? If they offered you repair cost estimates as in the above quote, could you please post them in the thread?

Click to shrink...

OP when did you buy the joycons? Are you still within warranty (1 year in EU)?

 

[Kingpin Rogers]

I'd really like for there to be some concentrated effort to get Nintendo to repair their shitty joycons for free. It's ridiculous that they expect us to pay when they essentially sold us ticking time bombs. Both of my joycon are completely screwed by drift now and I'm not paying for repairs nor am I going to pay for a new pair when they'll just inevitably drift as well. Nintendo need to make a statement that they've updated the design of the sticks so drifting will no longer occur and also that they'll offer free repairs for stick drift worldwide.

Nintendo's quality control has been absolute dogshit this gen, between the joycon drift and the pro controller's dpad that they still haven't bothered correcting either it's ridiculous.

 

[Riversands]

Isnt it because noa and neo are two different things?

 

[Deleted member 274]

Silly question but have Nintendo rectified the flaw causing the propensity to drift or are we in a RROD cycle where the fundamental issue may reoccur on the repaired or replaced device?

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Pretty sure a fix would require changing the sticks they use, that or a considerable redesign, and I would be surprised if they were interested at all in doing that, I honestly doubt they give a fuck at this point.

 

[nostoppingepoch]

I'm in the UK and sent my left Joy-Con in for stick drift and right Joy-Con in for desync and dropped inputs.

Identified a faulty stick in both, repaired them and sent them back free of charge. Sticks are great again but desync is worse than ever. They also repaired them and sent them back separately, it was a little weird but hey, mostly fixed for free. I seem to be a rare case though?

 

[Arex]

Is this problem still the case with the newer switches?

 

[Kyussons]

Isnt it because noa and neo are two different things?

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Its because Nintendo doesnt gives a fuck about his customers... until you take them to court.

They will cave in when the UE threatens them with a huge fine.

 

[Thorrgal]

Shame on them

 

[KennyLinder]

My friend got his fixed a month or so ago (in England). When he sent them in, he added a letter stating that UK law gives us the 6 year warranty on defects etc (someone posted that actual law above).


Nintendo UK repaired his Joy Cons for free.

 

[Maximo]

Australia here alittle worried cause mine has started to drift alittle too...

 

[Deleted member 274]

I'd really like for there to be some concentrated effort to get Nintendo to repair their shitty joycons for free. It's ridiculous that they expect us to pay when they essentially sold us ticking time bombs. Both of my joycon are completely screwed by drift now and I'm not paying for repairs nor am I going to pay for a new pair when they'll just inevitably drift as well. Nintendo need to make a statement that they've updated the design of the sticks so drifting will no longer occur and also that they'll offer free repairs for stick drift worldwide.

Nintendo's quality control has been absolute dogshit this gen, between the joycon drift and the pro controller's dpad that they still haven't bothered correcting either it's ridiculous.

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Fun fact: Pro Controllers are also prone to stick drifting issues

 

[Puroresu_kid]

Disgraceful

 

[Deleted member 10737]

anyone having problems with drift, this method works well. i've tried it 3 times now and each time it take 4 or 5 months before it comes back. (just don't spray as much as the guy in the video, one or two puffs is enough)

 

[Kyonashi]

OP when did you buy the joycons? Are you still within warranty (1 year in EU)?

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No, they're the ones that came with my console at launch.

My friend got his fixed a month or so ago (in England). When he sent them in, he added a letter stating that UK law gives us the 6 year warranty on defects etc (someone posted that actual law above).


Nintendo UK repaired his Joy Cons for free.

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Don't suppose you could paste the text your friend included here for others to use?

 

[Deleted member 8593]

anyone having problems with drift, this method works well. i've tried it 3 times now and each time it take 4 or 5 months before it comes back. (just don't spray as much as the guy in the video, one or two puffs is enough)

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It's what I've been doing clarity but from what I understand, the design flaw might actually cause permanent damage in the long run.

This is really just putting a band-aid on an infected wound and until we get some clarity on the matter, I'm not buying any new joycons. I am also quite worried about the Switch Lite. Do we know if it's using the same analogue sticks?