Interesting back-story about BFG

[lopri]

It's kind of dubious (just look at the packaging) but interesting anyway.

http://pcper.com/article.php?aid=982

It has come to our attention though that BFG was pursuing another avenue that would in fact bring them back to the graphics market. If they had been able to successfully launch this venture, then it could very well likely have saved the company for a few more quarters. Best Buy was BFG’s biggest customer, and when BFG stopped producing significant amounts of graphics cards, it seems that Best Buy dropped them altogether. If this product had launched, then it might have meant that Best Buy would have thrown a lifeline to BFG for their graphics cards, power supplies, and perhaps their desktops and laptops. It had been rumored that BFG was looking to AMD to continue to be a presence in the graphics card market, and here is proof that they almost pulled off that partnership.

 

[RussianSensation]

The problem with BFG has always been awful marketing and lack of brand recognition. The company also offered lifetime warranty for their cards but prospective buyers would almost always choose EVGA over BFG. EVGA offers the complete package, which includes a great enthusiast forum, customer service, lifetime warranty, and a large variety of product offerings which are available for sale both online and at retail stores. BFG generally lacked in almost all of these areas. Sure one can start blaming NV for BFG's demise but in reality it was simply ineffective management at BFG that ultimately resulted in its downfall.

Since imo the root cause of BFG's problem was ineffective management team, signing with AMD wouldn't have mattered since you would still be stuck with leadership which is unable to stand head-to-toe with the best of them: MSI, XFX, Asus, etc.

 

[OCGuy]

It is hard to be a nV parter that isn't named EVGA. With the margins being so tight on graphics cards, it isnt like ECS or Galaxy can come in and offer a 20 percent discount for not having a lifetime warranty, poor service, etc.

It amazes me that these companies can exist in the US market, to be honest.

When you look at someone like EVGA, this is what they offer:

Lifetime warranties on "AR" products
Warranty covers overvolting and overclocking. (in fact, they provide the tools)
Stepup (Can buy a 470, then just pay the difference for a 480 within 90 days)
RMA support IN THE US (big one here folks)
You can get a EVGA staff member to help you on the forums at any time. (Much like OCZ)

This is why I tend to lean towards nV. My 5850 is XFX, which is one of AMD's better board partners.

It isn't really a good thing, to be honest. If all of the top-tier partners (nV actually tiers the partners) die off, EVGA could start to slip.

I had one of the 1st non-ES GTX480s delivered to me in the world ( http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2065410&highlight= ), and it was PNY, because they started a lifetime warranty program. So they are starting to see that you need to offer more to stay alive.

 

[Meghan54]

I had one of the 1st non-ES GTX480s delivered to me in the world ( http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2065410&highlight= ), and it was PNY, because they started a lifetime warranty program. So they are starting to see that you need to offer more to stay alive.

I wouldn't put too much stock in PNY's lifetime warranty.

From PNY's own page on "lifetime warranties":

PNY Technologies, Inc. ("PNY") warrants the product, to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the product as sold to the original purchaser ("purchaser"), subject to all the terms and conditions hereunder. This warranty is for replacement for like items only. Lifetime replacement warranty does not cover items out of production if the company no longer stocks them. (Lifetime is defined as the lifetime of the product on the market. Outdated technology is not covered by lifetime warranty if the item is no longer available on the common market as a new product.)

http://www.pny.com/support/warranty/?prod=flash


The bolded section is the relevant section.....lifetime as defined by PNY is life of the card in production. The lifetime warranty ceases once the card is EOL....so I can foresee the GTX 470, GTX 465 and FTX 480 having a rather short lifetime.

 

[VirtualLarry]

So, according to the article, it was AMD that eventually killed BFG, by axing the possibility of them selling ATI/AMD cards?

 

[v8envy]

More correct to say that NV not having any high end GT200 product for six months (pretty hard to justify a "premum" brand mark-up on 3 year old G92s and $30 GT210s) combined with ATI not throwing them a lifeline once they realized they were in trouble was the cause of death.

About 4 months ago I saw a huge stack of GT220 (or was it 210?) boxes from BFG at microcenter. Must have been hundreds of them at that store alone. For all I know they're still there. BFG definitely agreed to be channel stuffed, but never managed to release the cards to make a profit with.

 

[Hauk]

So, according to the article, it was AMD that eventually killed BFG, by axing the possibility of them selling ATI/AMD cards?

If true, AMD stomped the nuts of two companies.. the unnamed Chinese manufacturer, and BFG. To recap:

- Unnamed Chinese manufacturer makes volume AMD chip purchase
- AMD asks for details (who's your customer)
- Manufacturer doesn't think much in saying it's BFG
- AMD says hell no, they're not an authorized board partner
- Manufactuer gets stuck with volume purchase..

"The company was stuck with a full order of three different SKUs, built to BFG specification, in the process of being boxed in BFG material, and with no recourse for actually getting money out of BFG."

Back at BFG, the attempted "end around" results in massive fail. Heads hit the chopping block..

"Only a few weeks after the company (maunfacturer) began ongoing attempts to get a clarification as to why this was a situation, they discovered that the entire graphics marketing and product management staff at BFG was let go."

It sounds like a failed last ditch effort, and the final nail in the coffin. Whatever the real story, it sucks regardless. Sorry BFG.


@ OCGuy, I too am surprised by the sheer number of board partners and how they manage to keep up. I've love to get hold of Newegg sales figures.

 

[Lonyo]

So, according to the article, it was AMD that eventually killed BFG, by axing the possibility of them selling ATI/AMD cards?

Well it sounds (if true) like BFG was trying to go a grey market route and avoid dealing directly with AMD.
BFG (if this is true) caused their own problems by not dealing with AMD directly. The question is, why did they take the route they did, rather than trying to get authorised with AMD?

 

[RussianSensation]

I had one of the 1st non-ES GTX480s delivered to me in the world ( http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2065410&highlight= ), and it was PNY, because they started a lifetime warranty program. So they are starting to see that you need to offer more to stay alive.

Be careful, as far as I remember even my friend's PNY 4200 had lifetime warranty on it. However, PNY's lifetime warranty means that the warranty only applies when the card is still manufactured. When the card is no longer produced or sold by PNY, the lifetime warranty is no longer in effect.

http://www.pny.com/support/warranty/?prod=flash

LIFETIME WARRANTY

"PNY Technologies, Inc. ("PNY") warrants the product, to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the product as sold to the original purchaser ("purchaser"), subject to all the terms and conditions hereunder. This warranty is for replacement for like items only. Lifetime replacement warranty does not cover items out of production if the company no longer stocks them. (Lifetime is defined as the lifetime of the product on the market. Outdated technology is not covered by lifetime warranty if the item is no longer available on the common market as a new product.)"

Therefore, PNY still does not have a true Lifetime Warranty of brands like XFX and EVGA.

EDIT: oops, didn't see that Meghan54 beat me to it! Good job!!!

 

[thilanliyan]

How many people here really keep their cards for more than 3 years? For those that don't, a lifetime warranty is pretty much useless (except XFX's since the 2nd owner would also get it). I certainly would not pay more for a lifetime warranty anymore since I usually sell my card in 1-2 years. And I have found that Gigabyte is not so bad for RMAs after having to send in my motherboard so that is one other manufacturer that I would definitely consider.

 

[ZimZum]

Well it sounds (if true) like BFG was trying to go a grey market route and avoid dealing directly with AMD.
BFG (if this is true) caused their own problems by not dealing with AMD directly. The question is, why did they take the route they did, rather than trying to get authorised with AMD?

Supposedly at one point a while back when ATI wasn't doing so well they went to several NV board partners to start selling ATI parts. BFG turned them down (among others). Fast forward a few years and their roles were reversed. This time it was BFG that was in bad shape. When they went to ATI looking to become a board partner, ATI pretty much said go fuck yourself.

 

[Meghan54]

And that box.....looks like a Chinese ripoff look-a-like product more than a BFG product. Logo's not right, name is printed in wrong font.

 

[lsv]

I think it's a Chinese knock-off of the BFG brand. Trying to sell using the BFG brand to unsuspecting retailers.

 

[sandorski]

They had a good Rep, but it's not like the Vidcard Market has a shortage of Brands.

 

[RussianSensation]

I certainly would not pay more for a lifetime warranty anymore since I usually sell my card in 1-2 years.

How was quick was your RMA process with Gigabyte mobo? Did they send you a new one before you had to send in your broken one?

I find that when I try to sell older cards, a lot of buyers keep asking me if the card still has warranty left on it. I had no problems selling my EVGA 8800GTS 320 with lifetime warranty and MSI 4890 which still had 2 years of warranty left on it. I imagine some people still would rather buy a used card with a lifetime warranty on it, rather than not (so I guess it helps the resale value a little bit)

 

[Tsavo]

That PNY warranty is comically bad.

 

[Zap]

And that box.....looks like a Chinese ripoff look-a-like product more than a BFG product. Logo's not right, name is printed in wrong font.

You mean looking like this?

 

[evolucion8]

Be careful, as far as I remember even my friend's PNY 4200 had lifetime warranty on it. However, PNY's lifetime warranty means that the warranty only applies when the card is still manufactured. When the card is no longer produced or sold by PNY, the lifetime warranty is no longer in effect.

http://www.pny.com/support/warranty/?prod=flash

LIFETIME WARRANTY

"PNY Technologies, Inc. ("PNY") warrants the product, to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the product as sold to the original purchaser ("purchaser"), subject to all the terms and conditions hereunder. This warranty is for replacement for like items only. Lifetime replacement warranty does not cover items out of production if the company no longer stocks them. (Lifetime is defined as the lifetime of the product on the market. Outdated technology is not covered by lifetime warranty if the item is no longer available on the common market as a new product.)"

Therefore, PNY still does not have a true Lifetime Warranty of brands like XFX and EVGA.

EDIT: oops, didn't see that Meghan54 beat me to it! Good job!!!

Oh, I didn't knew about the colors.

 

[thilanliyan]

I find that when I try to sell older cards, a lot of buyers keep asking me if the card still has warranty left on it. I had no problems selling my EVGA 8800GTS 320 with lifetime warranty and MSI 4890 which still had 2 years of warranty left on it. I imagine some people still would rather buy a used card with a lifetime warranty on it, rather than not (so I guess it helps the resale value a little bit)

The RMA was about 2 weeks after they had received my mobo IIRC (can't remember exactly now). And AFAIK, EVGA warranties are not transferable as you have to send in your receipt with the RMA, and then they will know it is a 2nd owner.