Question A moment of 1st world emotional confusion regarding my new motherboard

moonbogg

Lifer
Jan 8, 2011
10,637
3,095
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I bought a new B650 board from micro center, along with a bunch of other stuff. I was all excited and drive all the way down there and came back home with me fancy new stuff. I was all set to build my rig. So after much work tearing down my old water cooled setup, I was ready to install my new board. I then realized the motherboard box seal was broken. This was an open box board. The heat sinks were strewn around with the sticky tape taken off the m.2 heat pads and the board itself wasn't even in a plastic bag.
It was late and I wanted to build and didn't want to drive back, so I took a chance and built it. The board works so far.
Should I insist on a partial refund or should I STFU and move on with my life?
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
21,743
4,748
136
I bought a new B650 board from micro center, along with a bunch of other stuff. I was all excited and drive all the way down there and came back home with me fancy new stuff. I was all set to build my rig. So after much work tearing down my old water cooled setup, I was ready to install my new board. I then realized the motherboard box seal was broken. This was an open box board. The heat sinks were strewn around with the sticky tape taken off the m.2 heat pads and the board itself wasn't even in a plastic bag.
It was late and I wanted to build and didn't want to drive back, so I took a chance and built it. The board works so far.
Should I insist on a partial refund or should I STFU and move on with my life?


If you paid for a new board then you should have taken the time to return it and get a new board. Now that you have built it I don't think you have any recourse...

What does it say on the receipt New or Open Box?
 

moonbogg

Lifer
Jan 8, 2011
10,637
3,095
136
It says full price, so new. It seems to work fine, so I feel silly complaining.
 

Hail The Brain Slug

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2005
3,535
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Is there actually a seal that is broken? The last several boards I've gotten from MSI, Gigabyte, and Asus all had no seal at all. Just a box that opens up. It's more and more common for no antistatic bag, either. Just an antistatic sheet of plastic over cardboard. I wouldn't worry too much about that. The missing covers in the m.2 thermal pads is a little irritating, though.

If the thermal pads aren't all messed up/imprinted/dirty and there's no giant fingerprints and other signs of handling I'd probably not worry about it at all.
 
Nov 26, 2005
15,169
390
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I bought a new B650 board from micro center, along with a bunch of other stuff. I was all excited and drive all the way down there and came back home with me fancy new stuff. I was all set to build my rig. So after much work tearing down my old water cooled setup, I was ready to install my new board. I then realized the motherboard box seal was broken. This was an open box board. The heat sinks were strewn around with the sticky tape taken off the m.2 heat pads and the board itself wasn't even in a plastic bag.
It was late and I wanted to build and didn't want to drive back, so I took a chance and built it. The board works so far.
Should I insist on a partial refund or should I STFU and move on with my life?

Didn't read through the entire thread but I had the same thing happen with my X570 Dark Hero board. Bought it the day it came out at my local MC. Realized the seal had been broken when I got home and I immediately went back to ask what happened. I did get a partial discount after a little arguing about the board and thankfully it was release day at the time of purchase so imo the staff were the suspects of guilty interest.

EDIT: it's like this, ask yourself if you can sell an electrical computer product in an online forum at a new price if the seal is broken. I don't do that nor should I expect to pay full price for something that has been opened. "You can't sell this as new. The seal is broken!"
 
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Feb 4, 2009
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Micro Center is a pretty reputable solid business it is worth mentioning to them in person or via email. I am confident they will give you something for it.
 

tcsenter

Lifer
Sep 7, 2001
18,595
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I'm mean, it's a bit like taking home a pizza, eating it and then saying they forgot pepperoni, but you ate it. Not perfect the same but I think you missed out on your window of opportunity to object or supply some evidence of it.
 
Jul 27, 2020
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Still, there is no harm in calling them and see what they might be willing to offer by way of compensation for giving you a product that didn't fit their description of being new.
 

yottabit

Golden Member
Jun 5, 2008
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I'm mean, it's a bit like taking home a pizza, eating it and then saying they forgot pepperoni, but you ate it. Not perfect the same but I think you missed out on your window of opportunity to object or supply some evidence of it.
Like those people that play a game for 100 hours on Steam and then leave a negative review saying the game isn’t fun?

That being said I’d at least mention it (assuming you took pictures) but I wouldn’t throw a fuss if they aren’t upfront about a partial refund either. I’ve had pretty good experiences with MC customer support but I’ve also got into the habit of opening/checking the boxes in the car to avoid having to drive all the way back if there’s an obvious issue.
 
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Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
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My local PC store always opens the motherboard box in front of you to ensure everything is there and the socket pins aren't bent.

I appreciate that service.
 

SteinFG

Senior member
Dec 29, 2021
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My local PC store always opens the motherboard box in front of you to ensure everything is there and the socket pins aren't bent.

I appreciate that service.
They're mostly covering their asses this way. If someone would break socket pins and try to return it, they'll say that you got it in a new condition with no bent pins.
 
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Mloot

Diamond Member
Aug 24, 2002
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They're mostly covering their asses this way. If someone would break socket pins and try to return it, they'll say that you got it in a new condition with no bent pins.
When I used to live near my local MC, I would open up the box, after paying, but before I left the store to make sure what I purchased was what I received. I knew it would be harder to dispute an error after I left the building. I was fortunate that I never had an issue.