New Microcenter time sensitive email...

[slag]

News Update: Important Information
Micro Center: computers & electronics

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An Important Announcement regarding Intel(r) Series 6 Chipsets

Act before May 15th!

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Good News! All makes and models of motherboards designed for Intel’s
2nd Generation Core processors (code-named Sandy Bridge) now feature
revised 6 Series chipsets, and are available immediately!

As you remember, in early February Intel identified a potentially serious
issue with the 6 Series chipsets, possibly affecting your system’s
performance but likely not your data. Intel’s belief that consumers
could continue to use their systems with confidence has been borne out.
However, some users may see degradation in the performance of SATA
devices attached to the system, whether internal or external (such as
hard drives and DVD drives).

We committed to stand behind every customer who purchased a system or
a motherboard from us that featured this chipset. With the new availability
of solid components from all manufacturers, NOW is the best time to return
your original board for FULL CREDIT toward a new one. This credit will be a
Micro Center Gift Card. Apply it however you want - a replacement board,
an upgrade, a different manufacturer, a different product, cash, whatever!

Please complete your return by May 15, 2011 to receive your Gift Card
which then can be used immediately or whenever you want. Please bring in
your receipt and any packaging, etc. that you still have.

We apologize for any inconvenience, and if this message has reached you
in error. If you have already returned and or exchanged your motherboard,
please disregard this email. We wanted everyone to know that the power
of Intel’s 2nd Generation Core processors is back!

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused by this issue,
and our assurance that we will keep you informed of any further developments.

We look forward to seeing you before May 15th.

As always, thank you for your business,
Your Micro Center Team

---No mention of the usb drive they talked about in the earlier email notification. How generous of them to provide a 1:1 return policy for defective merchandise.. 🙄🙄🙄

 

[BoomerD]

<snip>

---No mention of the usb drive they talked about in the earlier email notification. How generous of them to provide a 1:1 return policy for defective merchandise.. 🙄🙄🙄

They COULD have just told you to deal with the manufacturers...they have no obligation to deal with this...the warranty is between purchaser and manufacturer...not retailer.

 

[slag]

They COULD have just told you to deal with the manufacturers...they have no obligation to deal with this...the warranty is between purchaser and manufacturer...not retailer.

No, not really. Every other retailer is handling returns on the defective motherboards. Microcenter is too big to tell their customers to pound sand and go through the manufacturer. They should be doing more, considering it takes a good 45 minutes to an hour to remove the motherboard, take off the heatsink/fan, clean up the cpu, remove the cpu, unscrew the board, and then reinstall everything and reroute everything. It is not a minor inconvenience by any means.

 

[funkatation]

It wasn't Microcenter's fault there was a recall with Intel chipsets! While I understand it is an inconvenience (it was double for me, Microcenter is an hour and a half away), I was just happy that I could exchange it there and not have to wait to receive the new one. I wanted to upgrade my P8P67 to the Sabertooth and they were happy to do it! They even gave me the same $40 discount off the bundle when I purchased it back in January. I was VERY happy with how Microcenter handled the exchange.

 

[slag]

my point, "How generous of them to provide a 1:1 return policy for defective merchandise.."

Was that they mention that there will be no charge, that they will let us exchange it for the same thing, is laughable. Of course they will, what do we think they should do, charge us more to exchange a defective board out for a new one?

 

[ExcaliburMM]

Slag, I'm sure you've had some great warranty experiences by what your expectations seem to be.

But anyone who has dealt with some of the lesser names in retail and manufacturing will tell you even getting a 1:1 exchange on a defective product requires multiple calls, going up multiple ranks to multiple management levels, and even then you're never guaranteed anything.

And so to echo the rest here: Be happy you even get that. They are under no obligation to offer you anything if they don't want to. Your argument of 'Oh they're too big to just say not our problem' is what's laughable. Has nothing to do with how big or small they are. MicroCenter has in my experience and in the experiences of other's that I have read been excellent and helpful in all situations, from returns, to warranty, to price matching.

 

[Daemas]

You bought a product, not a service. You must be insane to think that Microcenter would pay you for your time and gas.

 

[Drsignguy]

Slag, I'm sure you've had some great warranty experiences by what your expectations seem to be.

But anyone who has dealt with some of the lesser names in retail and manufacturing will tell you even getting a 1:1 exchange on a defective product requires multiple calls, going up multiple ranks to multiple management levels, and even then you're never guaranteed anything.

And so to echo the rest here: Be happy you even get that. They are under no obligation to offer you anything if they don't want to. Your argument of 'Oh they're too big to just say not our problem' is what's laughable. Has nothing to do with how big or small they are. MicroCenter has in my experience and in the experiences of other's that I have read been excellent and helpful in all situations, from returns, to warranty, to price matching.

I very much agree with your statement! I have had a handful of times of either returning or warrantied products from my local MC store and every time they were extremely helpful. And your also right about "they didn't have to do anything". So, they took out all the hassles so we didn't have to. All I had to do is bring in my board and receipt and did the exchange. Out of the store in 10 mins! Would have stayed longer but I had my dog with me. Didn't want him to stay out there too much longer alone in my truck🙂

 

[slag]

Slag, I'm sure you've had some great warranty experiences by what your expectations seem to be.

But anyone who has dealt with some of the lesser names in retail and manufacturing will tell you even getting a 1:1 exchange on a defective product requires multiple calls, going up multiple ranks to multiple management levels, and even then you're never guaranteed anything.

And so to echo the rest here: Be happy you even get that. They are under no obligation to offer you anything if they don't want to. Your argument of 'Oh they're too big to just say not our problem' is what's laughable. Has nothing to do with how big or small they are. MicroCenter has in my experience and in the experiences of other's that I have read been excellent and helpful in all situations, from returns, to warranty, to price matching.

My experiences, in my estimation, have been normal. I have paid for X, X didn't work or was deemed defective, I take X back to where I bought it for an item of similar or better quality at no cost to me. Why anyone would settle for less is beyond me because businesses won't stay around long if they did not do that. I buy most of my computer stuff at newegg or microcenter and EXPECT that level of support as should everyone else. I'm damn close to having to RMA a video card back to Newegg and expect them to give me no hassle and exchange it for the same item or one better if the same item is no longer available.

 

[BoomerD]

My experiences, in my estimation, have been normal. I have paid for X, X didn't work or was deemed defective, I take X back to where I bought it for an item of similar or better quality at no cost to me. Why anyone would settle for less is beyond me because businesses won't stay around long if they did not do that. I buy most of my computer stuff at newegg or microcenter and EXPECT that level of support as should everyone else. I'm damn close to having to RMA a video card back to Newegg and expect them to give me no hassle and exchange it for the same item or one better if the same item is no longer available.

And, other than shipping costs, Newegg will probably do just that...but that's part of their "eggcelent" customer service that has put them heads and shoulders above the other e-tailers out there.
they're not required to do this...once you buy the item, the warranty is between you and the manufacturer...Newegg does RMAs because they have great customer service...and that earns them repeat business.

Do I think that companies SHOULD do this? Of course, as a consumer, I like doing business with companies that take care of their customers...but they are not required to do these things.
If something is DOA on delivery...perhaps they have an obligation...but if the item is in good working order on delivery? Nope...not required, just good customer service.