New 8800GT came without anti-static bag - is it normal?

[czajunia]

Hi,
I just received a new Gainward 8800gt 512MB PCX graphic card and to my surprise the card was only packed inside the box using bubble wrap without any anti-static bag.

I am a bit worried for I have never received a graphic card before (or a motherboard) without anti-static wrapping and am thinking if I wasn't sold a refurbished or returned item. It's probably not a big deal as I will still get the full warranty from the date of purchase but simply wouldn't like to get a reconditioned product when paid for a new one. Besides, if someone returned it there must have been a reason for this I suppose.

What do you think? Is it normal that some companies do not use anti-static packaging or shall I suspect something dodgy here?

Thank's a lot for the answers.

 

[ionoxx]

eVGA always ships their cards in a plastic shell. I wouldn't worry about it. SOME bubble wrap is anti static anyway.

 

[SergeC]

There is such thing as bubble wrap made from anti-static material. I'd assume they used that rather than jump to conclusions.

 

[czajunia]

I hope you are right. Maybe I am just getting paranoid here and there's nothing to worry about. But still... my previous card was packed in both anti-static and bubble wrap bags. Plus I read somwhere on forums that this sometimes happens and you are sent reconditioned products without any notification.

 

[Mucker]

Pink bubble wrap is anti-static. IIRC.

 

[czajunia]

It is pink indeed... So it looks like I am safe.

 

[imported_wired247]

bottom line is , if it works it works, and if it doesn't, return it

 

[LOUISSSSS]

i hate getting used stuff, so if it doesn't look 100% brand new and untouched before i would return it for a new one, which u paid for.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: czajunia
Hi,
I just received a new Gainward 8800gt 512MB PCX graphic card and to my surprise the card was only packed inside the box using bubble wrap without any anti-static bag.

I am a bit worried for I have never received a graphic card before (or a motherboard) without anti-static wrapping and am thinking if I wasn't sold a refurbished or returned item. It's probably not a big deal as I will still get the full warranty from the date of purchase but simply wouldn't like to get a reconditioned product when paid for a new one. Besides, if someone returned it there must have been a reason for this I suppose.

What do you think? Is it normal that some companies do not use anti-static packaging or shall I suspect something dodgy here?

Thank's a lot for the answers.

Where did you buy it?

 

[will889]

I would send it back if it was advertised as full retail -- all retail unless white box, and even most white boxed cards come withe the anti-static bag sealed with yellow or clear stickers. It may have been a return disguised as new. Obviously it wasn't disguised well enough. If you keep it I would email or call them impromtu and ask (without saying you're a customer or giving out a customer number immediately) if that particular card comes full retail with the retail box and with an anti-static bag. If they say it does then tell them your story and ask for a new card, or give you a discount for the one you have.

 

[Oakenfold]

I picked up a new BFG 8800 GT from BBY that was packaged without an ASB, just pink bubble wrap about a month ago.

If the card works fine don't sweat it. Just make sure you keep your receipt and register the card.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

Originally posted by: Oakenfold
I picked up a new BFG 8800 GT from BBY that was packaged without an ASB, just pink bubble wrap about a month ago.

If the card works fine don't sweat it. Just make sure you keep your receipt and register the card.

if i bought some clothes from coach, wore it around a bit, then u bought it and foud out it was used. would u guys still keep it or go for a new one?

i dunno i dont like using used parts for a 'new' price

 

[czajunia]

Originally posted by: apoppin Where did you buy it?

I am in UK so not sure if you know any retailers from around here.

And the bottom line is that it works, no problems here, (it is a full retail package, btw) it doesn't look to me like it was used before but I guess if someone was careful enough it wouldn't be possible to tell, it has all these 'void warranty if removed stickers' in place. But as I said I was a bit surprised when I received the card first of all because my previous one arrived packed in both anti-static plastic and bubble wrap bags (and the one before as well IIRC) so this seemed a bit odd to me. On the top of that the card is made by Gainward which is not a very low end manufacturer (it is not the very top either) and the package is quite good with a game, SPDIF cable, DVI to HDMI converter and custom dual slot design on the top of set of standard goodies.

Dunno, but I think I am gonna keep it and see how it goes. So far so good. Nice temps for 8800gt, quiet fan and as I said there are no visible marks on the card so maybe that's the way they pack it at the end of the day. The only thing that pisses me off is that I am like LOUISSSS here and simply hate deals 'Buy one new... get one used'. Especially that you never know why a product was reconditioned. If someone just changed their mind it wouldn't be bad but what if there was actually something wrong with a product.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: czajunia

Originally posted by: apoppin Where did you buy it?

I am in UK so not sure if you know any retailers from around here.

And the bottom line is that it works, no problems here, (it is a full retail package, btw) it doesn't look to me like it was used before but I guess if someone was careful enough it wouldn't be possible to tell, it has all these 'void warranty if removed stickers' in place. But as I said I was a bit surprised when I received the card first of all because my previous one arrived packed in both anti-static plastic and bubble wrap bags (and the one before as well IIRC) so this seemed a bit odd to me. On the top of that the card is made by Gainward which is not a very low end manufacturer (it is not the very top either) and the package is quite good with a game, SPDIF cable, DVI to HDMI converter and custom dual slot design on the top of set of standard goodies.

Dunno, but I think I am gonna keep it and see how it goes. So far so good. Nice temps for 8800gt, quiet fan and as I said there are no visible marks on the card so maybe that's the way they pack it at the end of the day. The only thing that pisses me off is that I am like LOUISSSS here and simply hate deals 'Buy one new... get one used'. Especially that you never know why a product was reconditioned. If someone just changed their mind it wouldn't be bad but what if there was actually something wrong with a product.

We have quite a few members from the UK

but what you are doing sounds like a good plan ... but if you are still concerned, call or email the place you bought it from

 

[czajunia]

Originally posted by: apoppinWe have quite a few members from the UK

I got it from oclockers. They are quite big and well known company, not one of those no one has heard of.

Originally posted by: apoppin... but if you are still concerned, call or email the place you bought it from

I could do I suppose. But on the other hand I don't feel like there's much point doing that. I don't expect anyone to tell me sth like: 'Oh yeah, let me just check... Right.... We are very sorry... You are right and we did accidentally send you a reconditioned card' If they did it which I am hoping is not true they wouldn't admit to that anyway, would they? They'd just say that's how we got it from the manufacturer.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: czajunia

Originally posted by: apoppinWe have quite a few members from the UK

I got it from oclockers. They are quite big and well known company, not one of those no one has heard of.

Originally posted by: apoppin... but if you are still concerned, call or email the place you bought it from

I could do I suppose. But on the other hand I don't feel like there's much point doing that. I don't expect anyone to tell me sth like: 'Oh yeah, let me just check... Right.... We are very sorry... You are right and we did accidentally send you a reconditioned card' If they did it which I am hoping is not true they wouldn't admit to that anyway, would they? They'd just say that's how we got it from the manufacturer.

IF you log your 'possible issue' with them now, you won't have trouble later IF you have to RMA it and they say you are missing packing.
-of course it is an unlikely 'if'
---my personal motto is, "Just put it off - it is far better to be sorry than safe"



something like that

 

[czajunia]

I can always point them to this thread I suppose.

 

[Oakenfold]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS

Originally posted by: Oakenfold
I picked up a new BFG 8800 GT from BBY that was packaged without an ASB, just pink bubble wrap about a month ago.

If the card works fine don't sweat it. Just make sure you keep your receipt and register the card.

if i bought some clothes from coach, wore it around a bit, then u bought it and foud out it was used. would u guys still keep it or go for a new one?

i dunno i dont like using used parts for a 'new' price

I agree with your statement. I would not want to pay the same price for a used item as a new item. I do however think you are "assuming" the product is used. My product appeared new, it is not beyond me that a manufacturer would use ASB bubble wrap and not use an ASB. Is that standard practice in the industry? Of course not. Is it logical, yeah I think so. Is it possible that manufacturers may miss one or maybe they are changing the way they package? Yeah that's logical.

If the OP truly feels that it's used then return it if it's going to cause you to lose sleep at night. It's a videocard, it's not worth the mental anguish.

 

[Mucker]

use the crap out of it and apply the warranty if necessary....

 

[czajunia]

Originally posted by: Mucker
use the crap out of it and apply the warranty if necessary....

That's probably the best way to go

 

[czajunia]

Just to keep you up to date.
Well... I called the oclockers technical support just for the sake of getting this straight. I know, I know... I am stupid and it doesn't make any difference so pls lets not talk about this... I just thought it would make me feel better if I phoned them.

And guess what? A tech support guy told me that the card they sent me may be a returned/reconditioned item because it happens. Just like that. He didn't go into any details, he just told me about that as if it was perfectly normal. I said this was not fair to pay the full price for the product that is sold as new and clearly it is not. The guy said straight away that he can send me a new card if I didn't like it but if it's working properly it would be just the waste of my time and postage money. So I asked him who was gonna pay the postage. He said that I was. So I asked him why should I pay for sending the item back if they sold me opened-box product advertised as new. After that he kind of agreed that they would refund me the postage as well. I told him I'd get back to him if I decided to get a new card. I also asked him that maybe to save me and them a hassle they could offer me a discount or sth which seemed logical as they wouldn't have to waste any time and pay anything to send the card back and forth. And this was out of the question. I think they just assume that no one will actually request a new product simply because it is a pain in the back. It probably is and that's why they can get away with this. BTW, the guy seemed to be annoyed by the conversation.

I really haven't thought about sending this card back and I probably won't but after speaking with them and seeing how it works there it feels like it would be a right thing to do. But then again it would be just waste of my time, wouldn't it?