I wouldn't say it was a scam, just kind of them taking advantage of us by knowing we would bite on a good chance of a deal. At least one guy said he got a GS for 390$. That guy is the man.
I wouldn't say it was a scam, just kind of them taking advantage of us by knowing we would bite on a good chance of a deal. At least one guy said he got a GS for 390$. That guy is the man.
Whoever was quoted that Monarch tried to honor GS requests should call back too. I figured from impersonal email response I got back that no one was going to bother honor any request.
They definately did not try to honor them. Joe told me on the phone it was random and that they still have GS's in the pile and he could "take a picture of them right now". Since they still have some in the pile, they obviously did not try to give them to us. I ordered on the 31st at 1 pm (time on their printout), so I had to be one of the first on the 380 price. One guy ordered 2 hours earlier and also did not get one.
Ok, after just getting blasted on a telephone conversation, here's the deal:
Both Golden Sample cards, as well as non-Golden Sample cards have been shipped. Additionally, there are still GS cards that are intermixed with the non-golden sample cards still in inventory currently.
Golden Sample cards were not promised to anyone. This became a "deal" due to word
of mouth, as well as a website error. The website error was corrected as soon as it was
brought to my attention.
The item description, price, and manufactuer's part number all reflected a 6800 GT.
Golden Sample cards cost more to us than non-golden sample cards. In this fluke case,
we received both as the same price. Additionally, most all of that initial shipment were GS cards.
So both cards were inputted under the same item code.
Basically, we're in a lose situation, when it was never any intention to dupe anyone in this manner. I do
apologize if you feel that way, as it was never Monarch's, or my own, intention. Its a case that
a nice gesture on my inventory manager's part was exploited. Again, my apologies to anyone that
feels slighted.
Both Golden Sample cards, as well as non-Golden Sample cards have been shipped. Additionally, there are still GS cards that are intermixed with the non-golden sample cards still in inventory currently.
Golden Sample cards were not promised to anyone. This became a "deal" due to word
of mouth, as well as a website error. The website error was corrected as soon as it was
brought to my attention.
The item description, price, and manufactuer's part number all reflected a 6800 GT.
Golden Sample cards cost more to us than non-golden sample cards. In this fluke case,
we received both as the same price. Additionally, most all of that initial shipment were GS cards.
So both cards were inputted under the same item code.
Basically, we're in a lose situation, when it was never any intention to dupe anyone in this manner. I do
apologize if you feel that way, as it was never Monarch's, or my own, intention. Its a case that
a nice gesture on my inventory manager's part was exploited. Again, my apologies to anyone that
feels slighted.
Guys, don't feel too bad if you didn't get the GS. From their past products, the golden samples have never been able to overclock more than the other cards (if fact, if you look at some past products from Tom's Hardware, you'll see that the GS aren't een above average in overclocking ability). The only thing that is really different with the GS is that it has the guarantee from the warranty. Really though, as long as you don't increase the voltage, there really is no risk of destroying the card if you do a driver level tweak with a program like Riva Tuner.
I had emailed you, stating that your web site clearly showed photos of a GS card, and wanted a GS card! All I got back was a "We do not guarantee..." response. If you do not honor what was on your website, you should've given me at least a chance to canel the order.
HeroOfPellinor
Lifer
- Dec 27, 2001
- 11,272
- 1
- 0
By any chance is your inventory manager looking at the top side of the box (as he would if they were stacked) and not the actual front of the box? People are reporting a advertisement sticker that says Golden Sample on the plain GT cards.
MonarchJoe, this is not smart business practice by Monarch. Instead of righting the problem by taking at most a few hundred dollars of losses, you now have a bunch of customers with bad tastes in their mouth. Your ratings on various websites will likely suffer, and you'll probably lose more in the long run.
I don't think that was their mistake, I did plan to ask them that but forgot. It does say GS on the top of the box in a little description letting you know what GS is, but the real GSs have a special logo on the front at the bottom of the silver award thingy. But the fact that they say some had it and some don't doesn't uphold that argument, since I'm sure every box has this same thing on the top.
There's no need for the slanderous comments.
A "deal" that's posted as YMMV does not guarantee anyone is getting anything but what the
item was advertised as. A Gainward 6800 GT with Dual DVI. Golden Samples shipped out
last night, and the remaining Golden Samples are shipping today out of the last batch.
All of the Gainward cards do have Golden Sample on the side panels. The main differenting factor is the golden sample has a gold sticker on the front of it, whereas the normal has a silver sticker on on.
Golden Sample cards cost more, it was a fluke that we received them in the initial batch at
the same price.
Due to demand for the GS cards, there is now a separate item code.
My question is: Who's gotten these GS's then?
And what is the real percentage of GS's to non-GS's? I mean, shipping 2 GS's and 100 non-GS's will still make that statement true. So far, it seems that nobody on this board has gotten a GS (post-price drop). It just seems odd since those of us that called were given the impression that there was at least a 'good chance' that an order would be a GS - 0 for 7 is not a good chance...
HeroOfPellinor
Lifer
- Dec 27, 2001
- 11,272
- 1
- 0
LOL. There was demand for them because they were $380, Joe. Why would I buy it from you for $444 when I can get it for $419 from Directron or $437 from newegg?
Amazingly, Directron sells the GS for $10 more than the non-GS Gainward GT......EXACTLY what I recommended earlier.
Joe - I'm not sure you get it. People aren't upset that they, personally, didn't get GS's. We're upset because so far, it looks like NOBODY got them. As I said earlier, Rick used words like "95%", "vast majority" and "very good odds" on the phone with me when I enquired. If that was truely the case, we really shouldn't be 0-7 right now.
I don't mind being unluckly; I MIND that your company may have exaggerated our chances of getting one of these in order to boost your sales.
Originally posted by: oakleaf00
My question is: Who's gotten these GS's then?
And what is the real percentage of GS's to non-GS's? I mean, shipping 2 GS's and 100 non-GS's will still make that statement true. So far, it seems that nobody on this board has gotten a GS (post-price drop). It just seems odd since those of us that called were given the impression that there was at least a 'good chance' that an order would be a GS - 0 for 7 is not a good chance...
Well, from the post at 6:34 pm on 9/1, the following was said:
"Ok, yet another update...
I just talked to MonarchJoe for about 10 minutes and here's the scoop on things (past and present).
7
First of all, he said that their supply of GS are running out. Previously, most of their cards are GSs. Now, he said that less than 20% of the cards are GSs because of so many people ordering them."
Which was completely true. This morning when I arrived, I went to the warehouse to find 4 remaining cards that were GS. My last trip to the warehouse found 0 remaining.
So yes, those that ordered early did have more of a chance to receive the card, but those that ordered later have/will received them as well.
And this is why I even put out there for recommendations on pricing, where you guys would like to see it priced at. (realistically)
Again, it was never put out there as Golden Sample - $380 - Guaranteed @ Monarch. It was a 6800 GT at $380. Which was a good price for a 6800 GT.
I hope that you, in general, feel that I've tried to be as forthright and honest with any of you that have contacted me about this situation on this card.
I was the one (Jaxidian's friend / co-worker) that got the original GS card that caused the thread to start. When I ordered (At $425, even) I was expecting a regular 6800 GT (non-GS). ($425 at the time was about the right price, and I was also ordering other things from Monarch).
Anyway, I was really excited to see a GS card, and I showed Jaxidian, and then the thread began.
It has been stated since the beginning that the deal is YMMV because I ordered the regular GT and received the GT Golden Sample.
Anyway, people were trying to get a count and encourage people to post that got a GS card.... I believe I was the first, and it is definately GS
Anyway, I was really excited to see a GS card, and I showed Jaxidian, and then the thread began.
It has been stated since the beginning that the deal is YMMV because I ordered the regular GT and received the GT Golden Sample.
Anyway, people were trying to get a count and encourage people to post that got a GS card.... I believe I was the first, and it is definately GS
Rick just didn't keep track as to what amount of cards were going out. Yes, at one time, 95% of the cards were GS. I promise you that. In fact, it was that way as recently as 5 days ago. Once word spread and more and more purchased, the GS inventory percentage lowered due to more of the non-GS inventory coming to help fullfill orders for what was, a non-GS card.
Again, I do apologize to anyone that feels slighted and that it was not intentional in any way shape or form.
Well, I think the mere fact that you're here talking to us is a good sign. Much appreciated and speaks well for your company that you obviously care about your reputation.
If a bunch of people post that they got GS's, well, then I'll be the first to apologize. But can you see where we're coming from on this?
To me, it's almost like buying a lottery ticket. I know there's no guarantee, but SOMEONE has to win.
By the way - we should ignore the pre-price drop cards because even as late as 9/1, we were being told that the vast majority of cards were GS's so our odds of getting one were pretty good.
Maybe that is a good sign. Mine arrives tomorrow. I guess if none of you guys got a GS and IF GS's were being shipped, my odds are looking all the better then?
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