I Was SCAMMED By A Viewer - Here's How They Did It

Summary

This video chronicles the repair journey of an Xbox sent in by a viewer after a failed HDMI port fix. The console was mishandled by a repair shop and subsequently rejected by Microsoft due to warranty issues. The technician dives deep into the console's damage, uncovering heat damage, torn circuit traces, and poor repair attempts. Unexpectedly, the viewer turns out to be the repair shop owner attempting a scam. Despite the deception, the technician opts for integrity, fixes the Xbox, and delivers a fully functional console in the end, showing professionalism and kindness over bitterness.

Takeaways

• 😀 A viewer sent in an Xbox for repair after their friend's HDMI port was broken, but the initial repair attempts made the issue worse.
• 😀 The repair shop charged $150 for the repair but failed to fix the problem, and even sent it to Microsoft, who refused to repair it due to the warranty status.
• 😀 The viewer hadn't received a refund from the first repair shop, but they did eventually get their money back after further communication.
• 😀 Upon disassembling the Xbox, the technician discovered severe overheating damage, including a melted case and plastic components.
• 😀 The repair shop improperly replaced the HDMI port, damaging the board and ripping off several pads, making the repair job even more complicated.
• 😀 The technician used a new screwdriver set from Linus TechTips to assist in the repair, offering to compare it with iFixit’s kit if viewers were interested.
• 😀 The technician encountered significant damage to the power supply and other components, with melted plastic and traces of burnt areas visible on the motherboard.
• 😀 The technician replaced damaged components like the power supply and HDMI port, carefully repairing the motherboard with wires to re-establish the torn traces.
• 😀 While cleaning the thermal paste, the technician found scratches on the heat sink, which likely resulted from improper cleaning by the previous repair shop.
• 😀 The technician realized that the viewer who sent in the Xbox was actually the owner of the repair shop that originally caused the damage, revealing a scam.
• 😀 Despite the scam revelation, the technician chose to handle the situation with kindness, opting not to call out the viewer in the video, and focused on delivering a successful repair.

Q & A

What was the initial issue with the Xbox sent in for repair?

The HDMI port of the Xbox was damaged, possibly by the viewer's friend, and the viewer sent it to a repair shop for fixing.

How much did the initial repair shop charge, and what was the outcome of their work?

The repair shop charged the viewer $150, but their repair attempt made the issue worse rather than fixing it.

Why did the Xbox get sent to Microsoft after the first repair shop failed?

The Xbox was sent to Microsoft because the first repair shop couldn't fix the issue, and Microsoft claimed they couldn’t repair it either, as it wasn't under warranty.

What was the viewer's reaction to the repair process, and what did they expect?

The viewer was dissatisfied with the results and expected a better fix. They later agreed to send it to the technician in the video for further repair.

What caused the significant heat damage inside the Xbox?

Excessive heat caused by improper repairs led to components, including the case, melting. The heat from the damaged cable and board was a major contributor.

How was the thermal paste situation handled during the repair?

The thermal paste was not applied properly; there was excess paste and old paste was not cleaned off. The technician planned to clean and replace the thermal paste properly.

What unusual damage did the technician find while inspecting the Xbox?

The technician discovered scratches and marks on the heat sink, indicating improper handling, and several torn pads on the board, which led to further complications.

What was the major issue with the HDMI port, and how was it addressed?

The HDMI port had torn pads and disconnected pins, likely due to improper previous repairs. The technician had to install a new port and repair the damaged traces on the board.

Why did the technician think the repair shop had mishandled the Xbox?

The technician suspected the repair shop used improper methods, such as pulling off the port without enough heat, which caused further damage to the board.

What surprising discovery did the technician make about the repair shop?

The technician discovered that the viewer who sent in the Xbox was actually lying about the repair shop. The repair shop was the viewer’s own business, and the viewer had falsely claimed to have been refunded.

How did the technician decide to handle the situation with the viewer?

Despite the deceit, the technician chose to remain kind and take the high road, continuing with the repair and not calling out the viewer in the video.