Buying cases from mail order

paulsiu

Member
Feb 7, 2005
156
0
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Recently, I had to have a case returned to the vendor because it was defective. What I notice is that the cost of shipping back the case have been prohibitive. A 16 lbs case shipped UPS ground is about $20.

Do you folks buy cases from mail order? If not, how have you managed to avoid the prohibitive shipping cost.

Paul
 

MustISO

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,927
12
81
I've bought all my cases online and never had any problems. My last case was purchased at NewEgg.
 

TransientBen

Junior Member
Feb 22, 2005
18
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0
Just ordered my first case mail order. I think your main worries come into play when you're getting a cheaper case (knock on wood). That having been said, friends have ordered cases online without a problem. Retail bought cases have two nasty tendencies: one, not being just what you want and, two, being more expensive than you'd like.
 

srcstc

Member
Jan 12, 2000
86
0
0
How exactly was your case "defective"?
It's pretty rare for a case to be defective. Was it damaged from shipment?

I myself have ordered all my cases onling and have never had any issues (knock on wood).

Rich
 

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
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Some of the flimsily made and poorly packaged brands (Raidmax for a well-known example) have unusually high shipping damage rates. Not much you can do re the shipping costs. Places with cut-rate shipping contracts (e.g. Newegg with FedEx) should have a way to pass this on to their customers at RMA time - yet another possible way of cementing customer loyalty. Another way to save on shipping is to go to places like Staples UPS shipping desk. At least you don't pay a premium above the normal individual rates as you do at a lot of pack&ship places. Sometimes I have even gotten cheaper rates there than I could find on my own.

. And when you are returning stuff to a real COMPANY, be sure NOT to use the residential rate. That alone saves around $2.

.bh.
 

MrControversial

Senior member
Jan 25, 2005
848
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Originally posted by: paulsiu
Recently, I had to have a case returned to the vendor because it was defective. What I notice is that the cost of shipping back the case have been prohibitive. A 16 lbs case shipped UPS ground is about $20.

Do you folks buy cases from mail order? If not, how have you managed to avoid the prohibitive shipping cost.

Paul
Make the damn vendor pay the shipping. Hell, you shouldn't be penalized for defective sh*t.
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
Originally posted by: MrControversial
Make the damn vendor pay the shipping. Hell, you shouldn't be penalized for defective sh*t.

Does Walmart pay you gas money to return something that you have to drive there for?

The only company that I've had offer to pay return shipping was SVC. They seriously offered - I didn't have to ask. :thumbsup:

I live in the middle of friggin nowwhere, so everything's shipped here. Only time recently was the B&M $40AR Antec Super LAN Boy deal from CompUSA. My friend and I drove 130 miles to pick up one each... only to have them OOS due to computer glitch (checked before driving there, showed in stock but they couldn't physically find the cases).
 

Gravity

Diamond Member
Mar 21, 2003
5,685
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0
I always get free shipping on a case. Those are hot deals. I got a Xaser II for like $99 shipped. That thing weighs about 40 lbs.

 

GnomeCop

Diamond Member
Jun 17, 2002
3,863
0
76
the last case I bought was through mwave... drive 5 minutes there to go pick it up, will call option is great.
 

friedrice

Member
Apr 4, 2004
120
0
0
I build computers and total I've probably ordered around 20-25 cases. Out of them I have had 1 defective. By defective the front faceplate was cracked. Of course, it's not like i'm ordering Antec's. To continue the story, I showed the customer the damage and told him it would be a few more days to order a new case. He said he didn't care :D
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
That's not defective. That's shipping damage.

I've received a case damaged in shipping. There was a clear footprint on the cardboard. :Q
 

MrControversial

Senior member
Jan 25, 2005
848
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0
Originally posted by: Zap
Originally posted by: MrControversial
Make the damn vendor pay the shipping. Hell, you shouldn't be penalized for defective sh*t.

Does Walmart pay you gas money to return something that you have to drive there for?

The only company that I've had offer to pay return shipping was SVC. They seriously offered - I didn't have to ask. :thumbsup:

I live in the middle of friggin nowwhere, so everything's shipped here. Only time recently was the B&M $40AR Antec Super LAN Boy deal from CompUSA. My friend and I drove 130 miles to pick up one each... only to have them OOS due to computer glitch (checked before driving there, showed in stock but they couldn't physically find the cases).
You pay the shipper to send your things to you unharmed and in the condition it which you ordered it. If they break it, they buy it. Same goes with the vendor. If they ship it out defective, they should pay for the shipping. It's common sense. Your Walmart analogy doesn't work because if it breaks in the car on the way home, it's my fault. If it's broken when I buy it, it's Walmart's fault.