Question Building a threadripper system, and I have questions about newegg and other websites return service.

[iamgenius]

I want to build a threadripper system based on the newly launched 7970X, and since this system will have high value items, I need to be careful how I order my pieces. What I usually do when building a pc is to buy big/regular easy to find items from local shops and have the luxury of returning the items to the local shop after a short trip by car if they are defective. Small size and high value hard to find items like the CPU, RAM, and Mobo I buy online looking for the best price I can find. You can save a remarkable amount by buying online. I have a bad habit of buying pc items and not putting them together right away, sometimes because of work/family commitments. I mean computer parts can sit in my computer room for weeks before being put together. With a threadripper system, I don't want to buy a > 2500 USD cpu and end up not being able to return it if it is defective, hence this thread. I want to buy from newegg and amazon mostly and I want to know their policies when it comes to defective items or DOA items, and whether they are up to the task. And I mean newegg the international version of their website. I don't have experience with their return service. Any international buyers from newegg here? I can see that RMS's are easy in the US, but I'm no longer in the US. I can still buy items from the US using a forwarding address but I'll have to pay for shipping if I need to return an item.

Can you still return a defective item even after some time passed? Like two months for example? Or you have to deal with the manufacturer using the warranty?

The cost of the whole system may reach ~ 7500 USD. Once you get all the parts and start building the system, if it works then that's good. If not, and depending on the type of problem you have, you may take some time identifying defective item(s), and you will lose your return period time. That's the problem with very expensive systems. Of course you can make a computer shop do everything for you (sometimes) but that will take all the fun and it will be more expensive.

Any ideas are welcomed. Many thanks.

 

[manly]

Usually, retail return periods are 30 days. Right now you're in the middle of Christmas/extended returns. It varies a bit by retailer, but for argument's sake just say you can still return things until the second of January.

First, I would strongly suggest you come up with a rock solid plan for this build. What might make sense for a $2k build (buying parts over time to take advantage of deals) doesn't really apply here. Decide exactly what you want to buy, decide when you feel is a good time to build it, and order everything around the same time.

I'm not familiar with Newegg and international sales, but that all sounds like a huge PITA. Can you just buy from Amazon locally wherever you currently are?
Brand new in box CPUs are highly unlikely to be DOA, so it's not even a remote concern. That doesn't mean other components can't arrive damaged or defective, but it's not going to be the CPU.

I'm about to return a 750W PSU to Newegg (decided to get the 850W instead). The web form asked if the item is new/sealed, which it is; so there's no restocking fee. Amazon is extremely liberal about returns but I keep reading that Newegg is more difficult to deal with. If you're only returning a defective item, I wouldn't worry about it. If you think you might return something because it doesn't perform well, then I'd recommend Amazon over Newegg.

Finally, a manufacturer warranty means you deal with the manufacturer. For example, AMD warranties CPUs for 3 years (I believe). So after the 30 day return period, the retailer is no longer involved. Many companies have specific warranty policies with respect to geography. If you're buying a component from XYZ Corp. in the U.S., they might insist that you send the defective item to a U.S. address for service. Some large multinational companies, such as Apple, effectively have a "global warranty" in any of the countries they operate in.

 

[iamgenius]

Usually, retail return periods are 30 days. Right now you're in the middle of Christmas/extended returns. It varies a bit by retailer, but for argument's sake just say you can still return things until the second of January.

First, I would strongly suggest you come up with a rock solid plan for this build. What might make sense for a $2k build (buying parts over time to take advantage of deals) doesn't really apply here. Decide exactly what you want to buy, decide when you feel is a good time to build it, and order everything around the same time.

I'm not familiar with Newegg and international sales, but that all sounds like a huge PITA. Can you just buy from Amazon locally wherever you currently are?
Brand new in box CPUs are highly unlikely to be DOA, so it's not even a remote concern. That doesn't mean other components can't arrive damaged or defective, but it's not going to be the CPU.

I'm about to return a 750W PSU to Newegg (decided to get the 850W instead). The web form asked if the item is new/sealed, which it is; so there's no restocking fee. Amazon is extremely liberal about returns but I keep reading that Newegg is more difficult to deal with. If you're only returning a defective item, I wouldn't worry about it. If you think you might return something because it doesn't perform well, then I'd recommend Amazon over Newegg.

Finally, a manufacturer warranty means you deal with the manufacturer. For example, AMD warranties CPUs for 3 years (I believe). So after the 30 day return period, the retailer is no longer involved. Many companies have specific warranty policies with respect to geography. If you're buying a component from XYZ Corp. in the U.S., they might insist that you send the defective item to a U.S. address for service. Some large multinational companies, such as Apple, effectively have a "global warranty" in any of the countries they operate in.

This is a valuable reply. Thanks buddy. So I have to plan it very well and only buy when I have good free time and ready to build the system. I'm in UAE and we have amazon.ae here. But I never tried their return service. I don't know if I can use the international warranty and send a defective cpu or mobo to their respective manufacturer. I know cpus don't usually go bad but this threadripper is very expensive and I can't afford to lose such money. I have seen mobos go bad though. The mobo for such systems is expensive also.

I have to check whether a specific manufacturer has an international warranty and whether I can use it where I'm. I know it can get messy.

 

[JackMDS]

When Googling Amazon Return Policy in AE that is what you get (Scroll down the page).

About Our Returns Policies - Amazon Customer Service

Amazon and most sellers on Amazon offer returns for most items within 15 days of receipt of shipment.

www.amazon.ae

 

[iamgenius]

When Googling Amazon Return Policy in AE that is what you get (Scroll down the page).

About Our Returns Policies - Amazon Customer Service

Amazon and most sellers on Amazon offer returns for most items within 15 days of receipt of shipment.

www.amazon.ae

Yeah I saw that before I posted here. It wasn't really helpful. They say out of the 15 days you can use the manufacturer warranty. 15 days is nothing. I don't know if there is an AMD agent here I can deal with directly if something is off. This website is little helpful, it says AMD cpus have international warranty:

Does AMD Processor Have International Warranty? – Laptop Reviews and Guides – Simply Laptop

simplylaptop.com

 

[iamgenius]

Most shops here only offer 1 year shop warranty. Some say you can still use the manufacturer warranty after this year is over if it is international, but there is no way to be sure. If I buy the cpu, the mobo, the ram, and the video card from here, they will be more expensive. I want to get the best deals.

 

[iamgenius]

Intel does seem to have international warranty for all their cpus:

Does i7-7700k bought in the USA have international warranty?

I have a question about the international warranty for the i7-7700k processor. It was bought in the stationary shop in the USA and the question is whether it will have the warranty in Poland? Does it have an international warranty?

community.intel.com

But this is irrelevant here.

 

[iamgenius]

Hmmmm. I just thought of something. One way to go about this is to buy most items from the US and if everything is okay then it is great. If some items turns out to be defective, you will return them under warranty by using a friend. You only need to plan your purchase when you know a friend of yours will soon visit the US. This could work if planned correctly. The friend can take the items with him and return them there.

 

[Pohemi]

I will preface this by stating that I've only ordered from within the US...

I use to order practically all PC parts from Newegg. They had not just the best prices but the best site navigation, generally better review system than Amazon, and decent return policies.

Then Newegg was bought out by a Chinese firm, and many aspects of their business, at least in the US, went to crap. Returns became more difficult, packing/shipping became more inadequate on a regular basis, prices were no longer as competitive, etc.

The only thing I use Newegg for these days is searching for parts. Amazon navigation still stinks, and works best if you know an exact part you are looking for. General search is a bit of a, "good luck" situation with Amazon. Returns is the one thing that Amazon is still good for here. Like Newegg, however, their shipping departments have lost the ability to properly pack items to ship. Returns can be more likely for certain items. I've received GPUs in a bubble envelope, for example.

Again...this is anecdotal experiences from the US.

My biggest piece of advice for you is: whether ordering from Amazon or Newegg (or anywhere), pay attention to the seller, and order items that are sold and shipped directly by the company, NOT third-party sellers. Buying from a seller on their 'marketplaces' only complicates returns if/when needed.

 

[iamgenius]

I will preface this by stating that I've only ordered from within the US...

I use to order practically all PC parts from Newegg. They had not just the best prices but the best site navigation, generally better review system than Amazon, and decent return policies.

Then Newegg was bought out by a Chinese firm, and many aspects of their business, at least in the US, went to crap. Returns became more difficult, packing/shipping became more inadequate on a regular basis, prices were no longer as competitive, etc.

The only thing I use Newegg for these days is searching for parts. Amazon navigation still stinks, and works best if you know an exact part you are looking for. General search is a bit of a, "good luck" situation with Amazon. Returns is the one thing that Amazon is still good for here. Like Newegg, however, their shipping departments have lost the ability to properly pack items to ship. Returns can be more likely for certain items. I've received GPUs in a bubble envelope, for example.

Again...this is anecdotal experiences from the US.

It is bad that you are telling me this because I favor newegg over amazon. My instincts go with newegg. I have been a member since when? Maybe 2001. I know they changed and this is why it is bad for me. At least their return window is 30 days. Amazon says 15-30 days. It will boil down to luck at the end maybe.

 

[Pohemi]

It's been a while since I ordered from Newegg, but I recall that their return policies also differed depending on the component. Pay attention to return policies for specific item types, as they may differ from 'normal return policy'.

For instance, CPU, GPU, and display returns. Some of these may not be returnable to Newegg, and may require returns directly to the manufacturer. Just keep an eye out for situations like these on particular items.

 

[iamgenius]

It's been a while since I ordered from Newegg, but I recall that their return policies also differed depending on the component. Pay attention to return policies for specific item types, as they may differ from 'normal return policy'.

For instance, CPU, GPU, and display returns. Some of these may not be returnable to Newegg, and may require returns directly to the manufacturer. Just keep an eye out for situations like these on particular items.

Okay....thanks buddy.