Microsoft: No more "coffins" for busted Xbox 360 consoles

There's nothing fun about the dreaded "Red Ring of Death," a flashing red ring on the front of an Xbox 360 that signals a general hardware failure—and a mandatory trip for your console to a Microsoft repair center. But at least Microsoft will send you a custom box and free shipping materials, right? No more, apparently.

According to Joystiq, Microsoft (as of May 26, as it turns out) no longer hands out Xbox 360-sized cardboard boxes (nicknamed "coffins" by annoyed gamers) and foam packing supplies if you need to send your console back for repairs. Microsoft will, however, still pay for your shipping costs.

So, what's the big deal? We're just talking a few bucks for a cardboard box, some peanuts or wadded-up newspaper, and packing tape, right?

True, but try telling that to a gamer who's sending his or her frozen (often, without warning) Xbox 360 for the second, third, or even fourth time.

Personally, I've had to send two 360s back for repairs (click here for my sob story)—incredibly annoying, but at least I appreciated that Microsoft bothered to send me a box with proper shipping materials, especially given that you're essentially shipping a (somewhat bulky) computer.

For its part, Microsoft (though a spokesman, and via Joystiq) says that it stopped sending the "coffins" to "expedite the repair process," as gamers "will not need to wait for an empty box to be shipped to them."

Well, maybe so, but given Microsoft's long, painful history of shoddy Xbox 360 hardware, it would still be a welcome courtesy to have the "coffin" option available.

So, Xbox 360 gamers, what do you think: Should Microsoft continue sending "coffins" for those consoles in need of repair? Or is the policy change not a big deal? And by the way, anyone get the "Red Ring of Death" recently?

Related:
Microsoft kills 'coffin' policy, time to pack your RRoD Xbox yourself [Joystiq]