I've read a few plaintive threads about how people have had their console die on them after the expiry of the warranty. They have not only been forced to endure days or even weeks of gaming down time, when ...gasp... they might have to interract with people face to face. But they are being told they must pay for the privilege of having their favourite console to be fixed.

Fear not, if you live in a civilised country there might be recourse allowing you to not have to spend that $150 to get your console fixed at no cost.

It's called consumer protection law.

Here in New Zealand we have a law called the Consumer Guarantees Act. This law holds manufacturers and retailers to a fundamental guarantee for consumers that a product will last without malfunction for what can be reasonably expected as the product's lifespan.

Now ask yourself: What is a reasonable lifespan for a gaming console? 1 year? 2 years? 3 years? 5 years? 10 years?

I suggest a reasonable lifespan for a console is the number of years between the launch of one console and the launch of it's replacement (PS2 -->PS3 = 8 years right?). Lets be generous to Sony and say 7 years. XB --> X360 was what 5 years? GC --> Wii 6 years? Because let's face it, no one expects to have to buy a 2nd console because of console death during the time when that console is the latest piece of gaming hardware for the manufacturer concerned. So for the current gen consoles I would say the minimum reasonably expected lifespan for a machine is 5 years, and for the PS3 that is being very lenient on Sony. Typically for electronic items the reasonable life span is 5+ years, depending on how expensive it was (a $30 el cheapo DVD player could not be reasonably expected to have the same lifespan as a $400 top of the line Blu Ray player).

In New Zealand, that means if my PS3 or X360 or Wii breaks down through no mishandling by me within 5 years of me buying it I am entitled to have the console be fixed or replaced at no cost to me. Now the Consumer Guarantees Act does not require Sony to replace my b/c with 4 USB ports 60 Gig launch console with exactly the same console if they can't fix it. But it does mean they have to give me a brand new console that is currently available through retail. Another thing the law does not cover is 2nd hand consoles, even if you buy one from a retailer with a 1 year warranty. And the other thing consumer protection law does not cover is goods you have personally imported, because there is no local entity that can be held legally accountable for fixing your imported item.

So fellow gamers, before you agree to fork out >$100 for having your console fixed because it went futt after the manufacturer's warranty period expired (including MSs forced generosity of a 3-year RRoD warranty), go check up on the consumer protection laws in your country, because you might get a pleasant surprise. Don't ask your friendly retailer about it, because they will tell you the consumer protection law is far more limited in scope than it really is. Instead go find out from your friendly consumer watchdog organisation, whether it be an NGO or the govt department in charge of administering that law (ours is the Commerce Commission). They will tell you precisely what you can and can't expect out of the retailer/manufacturer if your precious craps out on you.

Arm youself with the law BEFORE you go into battle with the people who sold you your pleasure machine.

What if I have already paid my >$100 you ask? You might be up for a refund of that money. Check out your legal rights, you might get some dough back and shout yourself a new game or 2 as a gift.