MSI - Would you RMA using USPS?

[Pink Jazz]

My grandpa from Puerto Rico had problems with his A68HM Grenade motherboard that we had to RMA.

MSI recommends using UPS or FedEx for RMAs. Since it is cost prohibitive to RMA using those carriers from Puerto Rico, I decided to order him another one of the same model on Amazon and RMA the broken motherboard myself, which he shipped to me using USPS. If the RMA is accepted, I will try to sell the refurbished motherboard on Craigslist.

While I shipped the RMA using UPS Ground, it does appear that USPS Priority Flat Rate is significantly cheaper. However, if I ever have to do another RMA in the future, would you recommend using USPS? Since MSI recommends using UPS or FedEx, I simply took their advice and went with UPS Ground (specifically at our local Staples). However, had I gone with USPS Priority Flat Rate I could have saved some money on shipping. However, would using USPS increase the possibility of the RMA being rejected?

 

[Puffnstuff]

I've used USPS for RMA before as they offer tracking and insurance. As long as you pack the mb according to their specifications so it won't get damaged in transit there's no reason for MSI to reject it. I always use insurance on valuables in transit just in case something unforeseen should occur to damage it. Good luck with your RMA.

 

[Pink Jazz]

I've used USPS for RMA before as they offer tracking and insurance. As long as you pack the mb according to their specifications so it won't get damaged in transit there's no reason for MSI to reject it. I always use insurance on valuables in transit just in case something unforeseen should occur to damage it. Good luck with your RMA.

Interesting to hear experiences. This is my first time doing an RMA with MSI, so I like to hear some past experiences from other people if they have sent an RMA via USPS. I did UPS just because MSI recommended UPS or FedEx, however, I will keep this in mind if I ever have to do another RMA with MSI. I do know that some companies will not accept RMAs via USPS, so I just wanted to be sure.

Still, I have used USPS First Class Package twice to RMA some incompatible RAM for an HP G62t laptop to Newegg before, and both times they accepted it. This saved me some money vs. paying for Newegg's UPS shipping label.

 

[bigboxes]

I always ship it the cheapest route. I usually don't pay extra for tracking. If I've spent $300-$400 on a motherboard then yeah, I'm getting the tracker and insurance. I just hate spending money cause it adds to the final cost of my purchase. If I got to RMA I just pray it's in the 30-day window to send back to the seller.

 

[dlerious]

I sent an SSD back to Amazon via USPS. About the only thing I definitely wouldn't ship USPS is a monitor.

 

[Pink Jazz]

I sent an SSD back to Amazon via USPS. About the only thing I definitely wouldn't ship USPS is a monitor.

As far as Amazon goes USPS is one of the free prepaid return options that Amazon offers for items sold or fulfilled by Amazon (the others being UPS and Amazon Locker drop-off). I normally return Amazon items via USPS as well since I live near a post office.

 

[RLGL]

With tracking and insurance, WHY NOT?

 

[Elixer]

Yeah, I have done RMAs with USPS, (priority mail box) just get the insurance & tracking, and if you want more "safety" you can also have them sign for it.

No problems at all, and, what is funny is, they can be faster than UPS or Fedex especially if it is coast to coast.

 

[Malogeek]

Aside from the obvious tracking and insurance guaranteeing both delivery and covering damage, check the wording on MSI's RMA procedure. If it is "recommended" and doesn't say UPS/Fedex is a requirement then they can't deny it. If the box is damaged upon arrival then it is the requirement of the receiver to notice that upon receipt and reject it. If it's somehow damaged in transit in despite no box damage then your insurance covers it.

 

[Pink Jazz]

Aside from the obvious tracking and insurance guaranteeing both delivery and covering damage, check the wording on MSI's RMA procedure. If it is "recommended" and doesn't say UPS/Fedex is a requirement then they can't deny it. If the box is damaged upon arrival then it is the requirement of the receiver to notice that upon receipt and reject it. If it's somehow damaged in transit in despite no box damage then your insurance covers it.

Since UPS at Staples includes $100 worth of insurance and the fact that this is a very inexpensive motherboard (currently $50 brand new on Amazon), I guess I am covered. If I sent it USPS Priority (which includes $50 worth of insurance) I also would have been covered.

 

[Mike64]

Since UPS at Staples includes $100 worth of insurance and the fact that this is a very inexpensive motherboard (currently $50 brand new on Amazon), I guess I am covered. If I sent it USPS Priority (which includes $50 worth of insurance) I also would have been covered.

UPS's base price has always included the first $100 of insurance. SInce companies like MSI regularly deal with shipping and receiving huge numbers of packages with all shippers, I'd take their advice/suggestion, personally.

I'm also inclined to agree with them from my own experience. It's been a while, but in a couple of different jobs I've used both UPS and FedEx heavily, and have a fair amount of personal experience with USPS Priority. None of them is what you might call "gentle" with any packages, even those marked "EXTREMELY FRAGILE", etc, so it's really down to the shipper to package fragile things well enough to withstand pretty much anything short of being run over by a tank. But in my experience, UPS is at least the most consistent. With Fedex and USPS, how your packages get handled entirely depends on who handles them, and some of USPS's carriers especially are among the most annoyingly passive-aggressive individuals I've ever had the displeasure of dealing with. I've never had any major problems with package handling by FedEx, but have had nightmarish problems with USPS, even so far as crap like folding up large envelopes and bags with big, red-lettered labels saying "DO NOT FOLD" small enough to fit in narrow mailboxes, and that's just for starters... Since package shipping has become such a big part of their business in general, they seem to have gotten a little better, but UPS has been doing a pretty good job of it all along, for a much longer time. (And again, in my experience, while FedEx can't be beat for express shipping, their "equivalent" of UPS-type regular shipping is much iffier......)

Call me old fashioned, but I've had the most luck sticking with the traditional services the different shippers offered until fairly recently. UPS for regular "packages" (and definitely for big/heavy ones), FedEx for 1-2 day express shipments of pretty much all sizes and weights (or USPS if they have to go to a PO box), and USPS for regular mail (especially with extra services), things that have to go to out-of-the-way or poorly trafficked areas, and small, lightweight packages. I've used DHL for international express shipments a few times and they handled those very well, but in my fairly limited experience, they totally suck out loud for domestic ones (and whoever designed that awful low-cost USPS trans-shipping bullshit they offer businesses should've been drowned at birth...)

 

[Pink Jazz]

Just as an update, it looks like MSI has accepted the RMA and I just got a replacement motherboard, since the damage was not repairable. I just listed the replacement on Craigslist. Around here there doesn't seem to be many Socket FM2+ motherboards that are listed, so hopefully I am able to sell it. Since the A68HM Grenade goes brand new on Amazon for $50, I listed the refurbished motherboard that I got for $35.