NEW GPUS's on EBay tested to make sure they work???

[Psynaut]

What is the deal with GPU's on EBay that are listed as 'New' with 'full manufacturer's warranty', but with the added caveat that the item has been opened and tested to make sure it works? I have seen this on a number of listings lately.

It sounds fishy that they would open a new item before selling it just to make sure it works. Are they selling refurbished cards and calling them new or something?

 

[Spicedaddy]

overclock testing?

 

[SSChevy2001]

I don't care what they consider it, but open box is not new. When your spending close to new prices, then just buy new.

 

[Hauk]

If it's an individual, chances are they're selling off a card they've used. If it's an ebay store or the like, there's no reason to open a box to test. That's BS. Unboxing an item instantly devalues it; no right-minded seller would do so. You may get a perfectly good card, but with mileage. Buy new/sealed for a few bucks more..

 

[Psynaut]

Well, I just bought an XFX GTX260 core 216 Black Edition, with manufacturer's warranty, for $164.00 shipped, after my 10% EBay discount and 25% MS Cashback. That is $116.00 less than Neweggs Thanksgiving Sale on the card at $280.00. It seems like a good deal, I hope I didn't screw up.

 

[eddiebravo]

i would never buy from a seller that wrote that kind of bullshit in the listing.

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: Psynaut
What is the deal with GPU's on EBay that are listed as 'New' with 'full manufacturer's warranty', but with the added caveat that the item has been opened and tested to make sure it works? I have seen this on a number of listings lately.

It sounds fishy that they would open a new item before selling it just to make sure it works. Are they selling refurbished cards and calling them new or something?

Glad I am not the only one who noticed this and seemed a bit irked. I am thinking how in the fuck can these guys claim 'new and sealed' then 'opened and tested'... That is total bullshit and IMO, the auction should be cancelled by Ebay as that alone is false conflicting information.

Ebay is something I will almost always avoid unless someone has a crap load of positive feedback and is rated as a power seller. A lot of good folk out there with less than that, but I won't be taking the chance.

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: eddiebravo
i would never buy from a seller that wrote that kind of bullshit in the listing.

You would be surprised just how many of those sellers exist... I was searching for some stuff with the buy-it-now type stuff and nearly every seller was pulling that shit. Again, Ebay should just go in there and cancel the auction and refuse to refund the list fee.

 

[Hauk]

Originally posted by: Psynaut
Well, I just bought an XFX GTX260 core 216 Black Edition, with manufacturer's warranty, for $164.00 shipped, after my 10% EBay discount and 25% MS Cashback. That is $116.00 less than Neweggs Thanksgiving Sale on the card at $280.00. It seems like a good deal, I hope I didn't screw up.

Do a good physical inspection, check clocks and fan speed with gpu-z to make sure everything reads like it should (could have messed with bios), then run it through some tests. XFX does have a double lifetime warranty so even if they deem your purchase "used," you should still be covered..

 

[CP5670]

I buy a lot of stuff off ebay and my last couple of cards have all come from there, but this is an obvious scam. There is no good reason for anyone to open a card just for "testing." You can often get some great deals on used hardware, but it should be clearly advertised as such.

 

[ronnn]

Could just be trying to dump excess stock without devaluing product prices in stores.

 

[nitromullet]

IMO, something is either new or it's not. I have sold cards that were a week or two old as "lightly used, in excellent condition", but never "new". Once I open it, it's used. If someone is dishonest in their listing, where does their dishonesty end?

 

[tcsenter]

That, and the warranty is not assignable or transferrable unless they are either registering as the original owner/purchaser or they are an authorized reseller. I don't think any manufacturers would let someone register as an end-using original purchaser several dozen or more times per year, so that's out of the question. The only question left is whether or not they are an authorized reseller.

 

[Loreena]

Originally posted by: Spicedaddy
overclock testing?

Exactly. People buy a bunch of them with a credit card and weed out the good ones and hawk off the ones that don't o/c worth a darn. Fine if you get a good deal and don't care about overclocking.

 

[aka1nas]

If it doesn't come with the original box they are probably scamming the UPC codes for rebates somehow.

 

[taltamir]

I know a guy who always sells his used stuff as "new in box" and "been opened to test only".
Basically they are lying to you and selling you a used item.

Back in the day newegg sold open box items REALLY cheap, at that time he would buy a bunch of open box and refurbished items on newegg and then resell them at a profit on ebay as "new in box" and "opened for testing".

 

[Indyboy2]

I would consider a "used" a card that has been physically installed in the the motherboard and powered up.Say someone buys a video card for a pending build and they are buying it piece buy piece and for some reason they opened the box and looked in it just to make sure the card is not damaged and all the accessories are there and then decided not to go through with the build .The card is not used imop but some would says it is i dont get it?

 

[tcsenter]

If I have a new product that I am opening to test, I describe it as new, opened only for testing, and NO manufacturer warranty (only my warranty or DOA guarantee).

Actually, whether it is opened or not has no bearing on the warranty. The warranty depends on whether the manufacturer allows the warranty to be transferred from original purchaser, and/or requires it be sold by an authorized reseller.

 

[Insomniator]

Originally posted by: Loreena

Originally posted by: Spicedaddy
overclock testing?

Exactly. People buy a bunch of them with a credit card and weed out the good ones and hawk off the ones that don't o/c worth a darn. Fine if you get a good deal and don't care about overclocking.

I'm sure people do this, but it certainly doesn't seem worth it. I know people will search far and wide to get the latest CPU up past 4 or 5 or 8ghz as a hobby but that seems much lamer for a GPU...

 

[lloydxd]

Wow this is an awesome thread. I learned a lot thanks to the answers. Good question OP.

 

[nemesismk2]

If you open the box then you can't sell it as being new.

 

[amtbr]

I bought a 4870 1GB w/ the cashback deal, getting it at about 200$ It was listed as brand new, retail, etc...seller had good ratings. Well I got it, the box OBVIOUSLY had been opened up and the manual was missing. The box explicitly stated that a manual was included. So I called the guy out on it, and he said either he will refund or send me some buyoff money into my paypal. Well, I tested the card, it works fine, and I wound up getting a 4870 1GB for less than 150$.

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: nemesismk2
If you open the box then you can't sell it as being new.

i have heard claims of best buy, circuit city, frys, newegg, and tiger direct supposedly repacking returned merchandise (with a shrink wrapper) and selling it as new... (not as a chain policy, but sometimes as a store policy, or to deal with a single item with very high return volume)

 

[LordGestle]

Not that I'm encouraging doing this but I have sold items new but opened box, but I also clearly state as such. I have also sold many items used but were in like new condition (see heatware). For higher priced items I want to make sure the item works before I ship it out to prevent DOA and also to take pictures of the items, capture serial numbers, and etc for my records just incase the deal goes south.

I make the difference in that I take pictures of the entire process (example item Sealed, Item Opened, and Screenshots following for that product) and box it up when completed (<24hrs). If I had the product for personal use and decide to sell it, doesn't matter how long, it's used. I also list box was opened for pictures and testing in the same font as the item description, and don't try an hide it via other methods.

I agree there's many shady people out there on both buyer and seller sides, but take a look at the history of the seller before making a decision.

Personally in the beginning of buying/selling I had allot more trust in transactions but it only takes a few bad apples to quickly change trading habits. Example, worse case scenario if the buyer complains you shipped him a brick in the XFX 260GTX box, with the item sold as sealed, what evidence can you provide to prove otherwise? Also if the buyer complains the item never worked, reverses charges without even contacting you, what evidence can you provide?

I'm a very reasonable person and I find the only way I can deal with online trasactions is by taking these procedures to protect myself. I'm sorry if buyers don't want the terms I list, but at the same time not everyone is honest and everyone needs to be carefull on both sides.

 

[zerocool84]

If it's opened it isn't new. If they sell it as new price don't buy it. You have no idea what was done to it. Fry's sell "new" products as open boxed for slightly cheaper which has a sticker indicating so.