
Video game giant continues to be a customer service titan as it restores fan’s original model 3DS.
For about as long as Nintendo has been in the video game business, the company has had a wholesome image. Sure, there was that period in the mid ‘90s when it dabbled in edginess with its “Play it loud” ad campaign, but for the most part, Nintendo has shied away from overtly violent or sexual content (at least in games it publishes itself).
Because of that, people are quick to call Nintendo “kid-friendly” or “family-friendly.” But maybe the best way to describe the company is simply “friendly.” Nintendo has repeatedly shown that it cares about its customers, whether by paying attention to the needs of gamers with hearing impairments or helping kids recover from the sadness of bullying, and now comes another tale of amazing customer service via Japanese Twitter user @kaboo_factory.
While Nintendo’s shiny new Switch is all the rage these days, @kaboo_factory is still enjoying the company’s 3DS handheld. Unfortunately, the battery for @kaboo_factory’s 3DS (an original-spec model, which was first released in 2011) had stopped holding a charge, so he sent it in to Nintendo for maintenance, but what the company did went far beyond simple repairs.
ボク「初期型3DSの電源入らないから直してくだしゃい」
— カブー (@kaboo_factory) April 3, 2018
任天堂「充電池が膨張していたので、メイン基板と充電池を交換したよ。あとなんかボロボロだったからスライドパッドとボタン全部交換しといたよ。部品代は71円です」
ボク「71円」
任天堂「71円」 pic.twitter.com/PzlojOD4ST
After examining the system, a Nintendo technician gave @kaboo_factory his diagnosis:
“The battery pack was swollen, so we replaced the main circuit board and the battery. Also the slide pad and buttons seemed a little beat up, so we replaced all of those too. The charge for parts is 71 yen.”
In case you haven’t been keeping up with exchange rates, 71 yen is about 65 U.S. cents. Even a single play of an arcade game in Japan will usually cost you 100 yen, but a mere 71 was all that Nintendo was charging @kaboo_factory for some of the 3DS’s most important internals and interface equipment. What’s even more amazing is that when poking around online, @kaboo_factory found that the estimated cost of replacing the system’s CPU alone is 8,100 yen.
Granted, there was also a 2,500-yen labor fee, but still, aside from having the same screens and casing, @kaboo_factory essentially got a new 3DS for a little over 20 bucks. That’s some pretty impressive generosity from a company that used to make its money thanks to gambling dens.
Source: Twitter/@kaboo_factory via Jin
Top image: Wikipedia/Evan-Amos

With 3DS repair service ending, Nintendo once again shows its god-tier customer service【Photos】
Nintendo announces end of repair support for 2DS, New 3DS, and New 3DS LL systems
3DS games popping out and running away? Cyber Gadget has the solution!
Nintendo announces eReader system for children’s books on 3DS
Gamer damages cover of friend’s 3DS game, returns it with awesome hand-illustrated replacement
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
Schoolkids learn life skills through shopping field trips at street markets in Kochi Prefecture
Family Mart unveils new Japanese bread that elevates convenience store food to mocchiri levels
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
New Travelling Bento pouches turn your luggage into a Japanese lunch box
Japanese politician arrested on charges of accepting bribes to reduce number of monkeys in park
Japanese manhole lid raises eyebrows with fertility god symbol that looks like… well, you know
Krispy Kreme Japan giving free donuts with morning drink purchases at all branches, maybe forever
Tokyo day-trip hot springs: Beautiful Mt. Fuji-view bath is just one highway bus stop from Shibuya
Japanese politician Super Crazy Kun arrested on sexual assault charges
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Tokyo turns its phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots, and here’s how to use them
Fading Tokyo – Searching for signs of the Showa era as local neighborhoods evolve[Photos]
Tokyo teahouse serves up a sakura matcha dessert you won’t find anywhere else
7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Fighting too hard? Super Smash Bros 3DS players in Japan are reporting broken slide pads
Awesome retro faceplate turns your New Nintendo 3DS into an old-school Game & Watch
Nintendo announces end of online service for 3DS, Wii U
Limited-Edition Pikachu Yellow Nintendo 3DS XL Coming to Japan in September
Nintendo announces last day of online service for 3DS and Wii U, coming this spring
Pokemon + Nintendo, Limited Edition Charizard 3DS XL Only Available For Lottery Winners in Japan
Nintendo eShop closing for 3DS, Wii U next year — Here’s something you might want to do right now
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon revealed to be the last Pokémon RPGs for the Nintendo 3DS
Newsflash: Attack on Titan 3DS game to get North American release?
New Nintendo 3DS ad flaunts the incoming console’s spiffy new features 【Video】
Sorry Japan, this Yoshi-themed 3DS XL is just for North America and Europe
Nintendo’s new Super Famicom-themed 3DS is a blast from its awesome past
Is the New Nintendo 3DS worth the purchase? Early adopters in Japan share their thoughts
Dragon Ball Fusions game’s Nintendo 3DS bundle, 1st print bonuses unveiled