A WARNING about buying monitors from Newegg.com

[TourGuide]

I know there are LOTS of guys here who use Newegg as the standard price point and in fact throw a lot of business their way. Well, I have a warning for you regarding some of their policies SPECIFICALLY regarding buying new monitors from them.

One of the things Newegg has recently started to do MORE and MORE of is to charge a 15% restocking fee with certain items in their inventory. This is my story regarding buying a new monitor from Newegg.

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In the current upgrade cycle I figured it was time to do the monitor on my box. So I went to Newegg (naturally) and checked the prices on a Sony G520. They are currently doing a free FedEx Saver shipping deal, which I thought - sounds good to me. So I ordered from Newegg. Well, the monitor got here and was good for 24 hours, then it started to phase in and out of focus after it had been on for about 30 minutes. So I decide, the heck with this, I am sending this sucker back for a refund and ordering an NEC from Dell. I mean it is defective right, so I should not have any trouble getting my money back, right? So I call Newegg today and low and behold THEY DO NOT process returns on defective monitors without a 15% restocking fee. Now on this monitor that is going to cost me $105 and change.

I fully realize that this was my fault for not reading their policies ahead of time, but heck I thought - this is Newegg, they have awesome customer service so why worry?! Well, I found out why.

Two things to take from this story:

1. If you order a new monitor from Newegg be aware that it is YOUR responsibility to deal with the manufacturer if there is a problem.

2. If you want to return a defective monitor to Newegg (EVEN WITHIN YOUR FIRST 30 DAYS) you will be looking at a 15% penalty.


I had to learn the hard way. Now you don't need to.

 

[Viper96720]

Good to know although I'll never buy a monitor online. I like to see it working before I'll purchase one so I'll buy locally. Plus the shipping charge are to much.

 

[TourGuide]

I'm doing more and more buying locally for bigger items. My problem is finding higher end stuff locally. Where I am, the good stuff isn't available in stock.

 

[VirginiaDonkey]

There is no restocking fee if they send you a replacement monitor....only if you get a refund

I guess your fee for 'test driving" their stuff

 

[JackBurton]

Sh!t, I would have told them to send me another G520 to replace the defective one. No restock fee.

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: Viper96720
Good to know although I'll never buy a monitor online. I like to see it working before I'll purchase one so I'll buy locally. Plus the shipping charge are to much.

Yep, that's always been the danger of buying a monitor online. You get a better price, but the extra security of buying at a B&M is worth the extra cost IMO.

Chiz

 

[hollowman]

and it probably will cost you around $50 to ship that monster back.

 

[kylebisme]

no kidding, stick with a g520 and you dont have a problem.

 

[kmmatney]

I would never even consider buying a monitor on-line - too many bad things can happen while a monitor is shipped. I wouldn't buy a laptop online either.

 

[Workin']

It seems to me that Newegg's policy is entirely reasonable. They would exchange your defective monitor and not charge a restocking fee. However, to just simply return the monitor and expect your money back is asking alot. Like someone else said, for all they know you just wanted to take the monitor for a test drive. Kinda like buying a big-screen TV from Circuit City on Friday to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday and then returning it on Monday.

I understand how you could be angry, but I can't understand why you just didn't exchange the monitor for a new one.

 

[FacelessNobody]

The exchange game gets annoying quickly. Take my case--I purchased an NEC FP2141SB-BK online and my first one had some really funky problems with it's vertical linearity calibration. The top maybe third of an inch had the image stretched to about twice the size of what it should have been, and any adjustments I made would screw up the rest of the image because it already had perfect linearity. Also, part of the screen would flicker at times (sorta the left center of the display) so this one had to go back. I sent it back to the retailer for frikkin $86 shipping only to get a replacement monitor that was far worse. When you do the "make your desktop white" test and look for flaws it had many vertical lines (almost scratch like) and a few dots here and there that wouldn't clean off. This time I called NEC and am in the process of having them replace it. NEC will pay for shipping both ways and their customer service is very helpful and knowledgible--which is what convinced me to stick with them. Hopefully monitor #3 will be as flawless as I paid for it to be. I recommend dealing with the manufacturer first to anyone with a defective monitor as their warranty policy is probably much more helpful to you than any e-tailers RMA policy. Props to NEC-Mitsubishi.

 

[Cabana]

A couple years ago I ordered a 19" from some site, I think it might have been Outpost before they went commercial-only and then as a Fry's affiliate. The one I got couldn't be calibrated at all. I RMAed it, they paid shipping, and sent me another one. Same problem. They paid to ship that one back too for a refund. All in all they probably spent $300 shipping me monitors and in the end I didn't pay a dime. That was about the best customer service I've ever received.

 

[rbV5]

I also would have simply let Newegg replace the Sony. Seems they did nothing but honor their policy, and you were alittle unsure of what you wanted.

and Please, those B&M's get shipped stuff the same way you do, just at least one more set of hands throwing your box around before you get them. Last time I checked "free shipping" is cheaper than buying gas and driving btw. If you buy from a reputable dealer online, and research your purchase, you're pretty safe in my experience.

 

[kylebisme]

it is best to see the model of monitor in preson before you deside to buy one though, whether you actualy buy it online or not.

 

[Noid]

I learned that lesson about 2 yrs ago too.
I bought a refurbished NEC FP950 from a web site.
After hooking it up I found the corners wavy and rounded.
I talked to the web site and they gave me the same 15% doodoo.
They recommended going to NEC.
I did and I recieved NEW one but,,, the money I thought Id save went to shipping.
And the whole process took too long and was a pain.
Next time I go locally.

 

[UncleWai]

Dell is a great place to buy montior with their stackable coupons.
They give return labels.
Use newegg only for computer components.

 

[Slappy00]

Also buying locally means your gonna pay tax ... in Chicago its 8.75% and thats a chunk of change when you buy a $300 monitor.


also not to sound partial but FedEX is a bit more "gentle" when shipping stuff, I had a friend that worked For UPS in their hub by Orland Park , IL and he said they would kick crap around and the "loaders" would toss boxes into trucks and bash em to make em fit.... I would assume that workers in FedEx would probably also do the same, but in a smaller degree, i think theres more accountablity on their part. I donno about Airborne....

 

[TourGuide]

Dell is my new place to shop for monitors.

I bought the NEC that replaces the G520 from them. I thoroughly grilled the sales rep about the return policy (which they allow if it is defective) and I am satisfied. For monitors they are the way to go.

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: rbV5
I also would have simply let Newegg replace the Sony. Seems they did nothing but honor their policy, and you were alittle unsure of what you wanted.

and Please, those B&M's get shipped stuff the same way you do, just at least one more set of hands throwing your box around before you get them. Last time I checked "free shipping" is cheaper than buying gas and driving btw. If you buy from a reputable dealer online, and research your purchase, you're pretty safe in my experience.

Not really, B&M stock are shipped on pallets with like-kind items which are often plastic wrapped in bulk cubes for added protection, which equates to safer transport. You're not at the mercy of having your monitor shipped with 30 bowling balls let loose onboard

Chiz

 

[Antoneo]

NEC will pay for shipping both ways and their customer service is very helpful and knowledgible--which is what convinced me to stick with them.

Yeap, this is why I continue to buy NEC monitors as well. About 4 years back, I bought a NEC E750 from a local store and it did not work when I brought it home. I had to bring it back and exchange for a new one. After a couple of months of using it, the monitor started to lose focus and adjusting it through the small screw holes on the side failed to solve the problem. I called up NEC, and ten minutes later I was told a pickup+delivery date for the new monitor, shipping fully paid. That's what I call service and I have recently purchased yet another NEC screen.

 

[Kingofcomputer]

one thing for sure:
buy from local = kicked by the delivery guys when they delivered it to the shop or by the UPS guys if the shop received it by UPS.
buy from online = kicked by the UPS guys too, if you live in apartment and you're not at home, kicked by the apt manager too.