Did I just get ripped off with my new CPU?

[mazeroth]

I took advantage of the 30% cash back on ebay and purchased this E3110 for $182 shipped, then $51 back for a net cost of $131. This auction states the CPU is new, which it is, however, the box was opened. The "Intel Factory Sealed" stickers are still intact but the side of the box is completely open. My thoughts are maybe they used a hair dryer or some way to take the sticker off, opened it up, checked to see if it was a good stepping, and sold it if it wasn't. I'm not sure if this is the case but maybe you guys have seen something like this in the past and you can tell me if these guys are crooks or not. Or, is it true the only important "stepping" info is on the box sticker, which in my case reads BX80570E3110 S-SPEC:SLAPM (pack date 6/6/08). I did see on a forum where others were saying the last 3 numbers at the bottom of the actual chip were important, where mine are 034. I can't find these numbers anywhere on the outside sticker.

Now, the chip and fan are brand new but the box was opened. I was hoping to get a good stepping and hope they didn't cherry pick the good ones and are selling the crap ones on ebay.

What should I do?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Intel-Xeon...78610852QQcmdZViewItem

http://farm4.static.flickr.com...13023_fe1a509e6f_o.jpg

Thought I'd throw up one more image. Do most CPU tops have some marks on them like mine in the picture? I installed my last CPU about 1.5 years ago and can't remember. Sorry if I'm sounding paranoid!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com...53465_95e9412d27_o.jpg

 

[OCGuy]

If you can tell the CPU is brand new, and it works fine, then there shouldnt be any problems. You have a 3 year warranty with Intel anyway.

 

[aigomorla]

well the seller could of tested the cpu for you, so you wouldnt have to go though the hassle incase it was a dead cpu.

Or worse case scenario, the seller bought a bunch to overclock and see what ones were cherry, and decided to ebay the rest he didnt like.

Either situation, if the cpu works, i wouldnt worry about it too much.

 

[jjmIII]

hmmmm, brand new doesn't mean opened to me...

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: Ocguy31
You have a 3 year warranty with Intel anyway.

Does he really?
Does he not need to show a receipt from an official distributor in case Intel ask for one?

 

[soccerballtux]

Originally posted by: Navid

Originally posted by: Ocguy31
You have a 3 year warranty with Intel anyway.

Does he really?
Does he not need to show a receipt from an official distributor in case Intel ask for one?

 

[nyker96]

I think the open box can't be advertised as "brand new". you have grounds to take up dispute with the vendor if you want to do that.

 

[Zap]

Was the plastic clamshell inside opened? If not, then the CPU was absolutely not used, because AFAIK those can't be re-sealed.

 

[kpo6969]

http://www.techarp.com/showart....aspx?artno=527&pgno=1

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
well the seller could of tested the cpu for you, so you wouldnt have to go though the hassle incase it was a dead cpu.

Or worse case scenario, the seller bought a bunch to overclock and see what ones were cherry, and decided to ebay the rest he didnt like.

Either situation, if the cpu works, i wouldnt worry about it too much.

There's usually no legitimate reason why a reseller would open a CPU box and then sell it as if it were new.

Open box means open box. New means new. A new item delivered in an open box has very different connotations to the buyer than a new item delivered in a sealed box...which is the very reason why open box items sell for less than sealed boxes.

Not all open boxes have had sinister things happen to the contents, but there is much higher chance that the contents have been violated and deemed necessary for sale on ebay at blow-away cheap prices for a some good reason.

The OP got ripped off. He just hasn't quantified the damages yet. And regardless, when dealing with a seller who ships you open boxed items passed off as new and sealed box items then you already know you've got a dishonest seller on your hands and good friggen luck getting any kind of justice out of arguing with them or asking for your money back.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: Idontcare

Originally posted by: aigomorla
well the seller could of tested the cpu for you, so you wouldnt have to go though the hassle incase it was a dead cpu.

Or worse case scenario, the seller bought a bunch to overclock and see what ones were cherry, and decided to ebay the rest he didnt like.

Either situation, if the cpu works, i wouldnt worry about it too much.

There's usually no legitimate reason why a reseller would open a CPU box and then sell it as if it were new.

Open box means open box. New means new. A new item delivered in an open box has very different connotations to the buyer than a new item delivered in a sealed box...which is the very reason why open box items sell for less than sealed boxes.

Not all open boxes have had sinister things happen to the contents, but there is much higher chance that the contents have been violated and deemed necessary for sale on ebay at blow-away cheap prices for a some good reason.

The OP got ripped off. He just hasn't quantified the damages yet. And regardless, when dealing with a seller who ships you open boxed items passed off as new and sealed box items then you already know you've got a dishonest seller on your hands and good friggen luck getting any kind of justice out of arguing with them or asking for your money back.

I totally agree. Even if the CPU was never used, a completely honest seller would have made note of the box being opened. Also, the markings on the CPU in the last photo look like they may be from usage.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Have you asked the guy? Maybe there's a reason for it? I wouldn't be happy though.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle
I totally agree. Even if the CPU was never used, a completely honest seller would have made note of the box being opened. Also, the markings on the CPU in the last photo look like they may be from usage.

FWIW, my brand-new (sealed box) C2D CPUs had "marks", like some heavy square thing was pressed against the CPU. Probably from testing, I doubt they use thermal paste though.

 

[daw123]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

Originally posted by: Idontcare

Originally posted by: aigomorla
well the seller could of tested the cpu for you, so you wouldnt have to go though the hassle incase it was a dead cpu.

Or worse case scenario, the seller bought a bunch to overclock and see what ones were cherry, and decided to ebay the rest he didnt like.

Either situation, if the cpu works, i wouldnt worry about it too much.

There's usually no legitimate reason why a reseller would open a CPU box and then sell it as if it were new.

Open box means open box. New means new. A new item delivered in an open box has very different connotations to the buyer than a new item delivered in a sealed box...which is the very reason why open box items sell for less than sealed boxes.

Not all open boxes have had sinister things happen to the contents, but there is much higher chance that the contents have been violated and deemed necessary for sale on ebay at blow-away cheap prices for a some good reason.

The OP got ripped off. He just hasn't quantified the damages yet. And regardless, when dealing with a seller who ships you open boxed items passed off as new and sealed box items then you already know you've got a dishonest seller on your hands and good friggen luck getting any kind of justice out of arguing with them or asking for your money back.

I totally agree. Even if the CPU was never used, a completely honest seller would have made note of the box being opened. Also, the markings on the CPU in the last photo look like they may be from usage.

I agree. You have a reason for recourse again the seller. Did you pay using PayPal? If so, and providing the 45 days from the payment date hasn't expired, you are protected if you want a refund. You obviously have to send the CPU back to the seller in the condition you received it.

 

[xylem]

I agree with the general tone of replies here. The listing describes a brand new cpu, and there is no mention of the box having been opened. The closed box is (ideally) your assurance that the cpu has not been tested for overclocking, abused for a short period of time, or whatever else. If you feel that it's worth your time and effort, you may want to return it for a refund.

 

[alcoholbob]

Factory sealed is worthless on ebay, pretty much no manufacturer is going to cover an ebay purchase, unless it's an authorized reseller. In my opinion you're always better off being an open box item. 1) it's cheaper 2) the merchant is held liable if it fails to be in the condition its stated.

The only time factory sealed is of any use is if the seller is willing to provide proof of purchase.

 

[dguy6789]

If your processor works and you are sure you can get the warranty if ever needed, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Replay]

If the cpu works, keep it, and go on with your life.

Buy your next new retail boxed item somewhere other than ebay. Boxes can get banged up, or opened for a purpose.


My "boxed" Ebay E2140 came as a bare chip with some silicone heatsink compound smears on both sides, rolled up in a bit of bubble wrap, and rattling around in a huge USPS flat rate box.

Pictured, listed, and described as a new retail boxed processor. Turns out the lazy-ass always used cut-n-paste to steal write-ups from other peoples listings. Seller still had ok feedback at that point.

I asked for a heatsink or ten bucks to buy one. The chip works fine (~3.2GHz).

Paypal ruled in my favor. Telling me I should send the chip back to the amazingly rude and foul mouthed seller. Paypal would attempt to recover the purchase price from the seller, if they could. Setting me up for a total loss if I had been stupid enough to ship the chip back.

Paypal has a knack for annoying me. They recovered three cents, that's it, from another bad seller. Thank you Paypal, for your useless and deceitful "buyer protection" plan.

But don't get me started...

 

[psihog]

it could have been used by someone in overclocking contest for couple days and then sold on eBay.
Seller tested it out for you and it worked, even takes really high voltage.

 

[AmberClad]

As far as the marks on the heatspreader, all of the brand new, non-open box CPUs I've gotten have had marks like that on them. I assume that they're tested for DOA by Intel, and that process includes using a heatsink...

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
As far as the marks on the heatspreader, all of the brand new, non-open box CPUs I've gotten have had marks like that on them. I assume that they're tested for DOA by Intel, and that process includes using a heatsink...

i think its more a direct result from the automated stamping machine when it lids the IHS. :X

i could be wrong tho.

Testing phase is most likely conducted during selection when they see where each chip has its evelope at. Then its bin'd and lided and packaged.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
FWIW, my brand-new (sealed box) C2D CPUs had "marks", like some heavy square thing was pressed against the CPU.

I had a new E8400 with markings like that.

I still would like to know from mazeroth whether the plastic clamshell inside the cardboard package was opened.

And yes, I do agree that the seller should have at least said the package was opened.

 

[mazeroth]

Sorry for the late reply everyone. Been extremely busy with work and finals week in school (DeVry on trimesters) and forgot about this thread and the computer build, for that matter! Still waiting on the motherboard before I can do anything.

I got a reply from the seller this weekend stating, "The box was not opened. If you notice all the stickers that insure the item has not been opened are still in place. That one strip was removed as we did not realize we ordered 30 of the wrong CPUs for a major server build until we ripped of that one strip on the side of the box, but no box had the seal broken."

I guess he could be telling the truth, although, there were a handful of others that purchased chips before me and somehow they decided to ship the opened one not first or last, which is a little odd. The inside "clam shell" was brand new and I had to break it open to open it up. I think I'm just going to use it when the motherboard arrives and see how it does. I can't complain too much, because with the 30% MS cash back I got it for $130.99 with shipping.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: mazeroth
The inside "clam shell" was brand new and I had to break it open to open it up.

That means its new pal.

So dont worry, to me, that would be NIB. New in Box if you had to break that clam shell. Thats all the seller needed to say as well. If it was open, that clam shell would be broken.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: aigomorla

Originally posted by: mazeroth
The inside "clam shell" was brand new and I had to break it open to open it up.

That means its new pal.

So dont worry, to me, that would be NIB.

Yes, I take it as brand new also.

FWIW just today I received my retail-boxed VelociRaptor 300GB (Ebay -30%) and it was the same way. The drive inside was still factory sealed in the anti-static bag, but the box was no longer shrink-wrapped and even the bottom was torn a bit.

I'm going to double-check the warranty to make sure I didn't get a refurbished drive (which would also be sealed in anti-static bag) and as long as it works, I'm good.