Newegg Open Box Products

[HannibalX]

I am thinking about buying an open box video card from Newegg.

Does anyone know about these cards? Are they demo cards? Factory recerts? Leftovers?

Thanks,
Pale

 

[sjandrewbsme]

I think they're returned from other customers for refund. I don't know what on-site re-testing or certification they get (if any).

Carefully read the return policy.

Also, realize that a lot of these are returned (if they're processors or something else that you can overclock) because they were not good overclockers. You probably don't care about that for a video card (maybe you do), but it's not uncommon that stuff is returned for this very reason.

That's one reason that motherboards have a weird return policy - people really abused the standar4d return policy in search of a board that would overclock well.

 

[SparkyJJO]

I've gotten open box stuff before. Usually is missing a few accessories (cables, IO shield, driver CD, something) but it has always been functional.

 

[achillies]

I got a biostar mobo which doesnt work after 1 month usage....still have to figure out whats the exact prob for this

 

[Eirgorn]

I got an open box X800GTO in December and it arrived as a dud. The CSR I spoke to was very nice and I had no problem RMA'ing it. I did a follow up call about my credit a few days later and they ended up giving me an additional $10 credit to cover shipping both ways - very pleasant experience considering it was a dud.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

I worry enough about getting something new--I wouldn't ever buy something open box myself.

 

[crossrode]

Newegg does not test any of their products in house including returns. Open box are returned items from customers. Recertified items are tested by the manufacturer. Like a recertified hard drive. It has been sent to the MFG and tested. There is a difference.

I would not buy an open box MB. A video card possibly. You have a 15 day return window with an open box purchase.

From the Newegg website:

Newegg.com does not test any product, including open box items. Open Box components are therefore only tested by the original manufacturer. Due to the varying quality of manufacturer testing, YOU ARE TAKING A RISK BUYING OPEN BOX PRODUCTS. OPEN BOX products contain components that have previously been owned by other clients and returned to Newegg.com. These products are sold considerably under cost.

Newegg.com guarantees all open box products for 15 days. CPUs, however, must be returned within 7 days for refund. All open box merchandise should be considered OEM "barebone" parts. Barebone means Newegg.com can only guarantee the item by itself, no other accessories. Despite what the product's description indicates, open box merchandise may not include all of the accessories mentioned on our website or the manufacturers. Newegg.com is therefore limited to the barebone part of the item itself. Please do not be upset or surprised if a open box product does not contain any cables, manual, software, drivers, fan, et al. Newegg.com will not send you any missing accessories, even if it is an essential part.

Newegg.com certainly does not like to discourage sales, but only experienced pc enthusiasts should consider open box items that know how to deal with possibly missing accessories. Please only purchase open box products if you are willing to resolve defects and/or know how to obtain missing accessories.

Open Box items are not for dealers. We therefore reserve the right to cancel any applicable orders which may violate this warning. We are simply discouraging those who want to take advantage of this program as it is aimed towards the end user.

Open Box products do have considerable higher return rate than brand new items. If you are just looking to get a good deal, please only buy new products.

Read bottom of the page

 

[sjandrewbsme]

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
I worry enough about getting something new--I wouldn't ever buy something open box myself.

I'm the same way.

If it was an open box mousepad, that's one thing. But, I would never get open box electronics from an online retailer. In a B&M store, I wouldn't mind as I could touch it and make sure it worked prior to buying.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
I worry enough about getting something new--I wouldn't ever buy something open box myself.

Same here.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: crossrode
Newegg does not test any of their products in house including returns. Open box are returned items from customers. Recertified items are tested by the manufacturer. Like a recertified hard drive. It has been sent to the MFG and tested. There is a difference.

Close. Supposedly Open Box (AKA refurbished) are customer returns. Items returned as faulty are sent to the manufacturer. They supposedly come back "working" from the manufacturer, and are then dumped (without further testing) as an Open Box. Items returned but not as faulty are presumably just dumped as an Open Box. Anyways, that's my take on it.

Are Open Box items worth it? Maybe... Here's my take (after spending a few thousand dollars on Open Box items over the years).

Do Open Box items work?
Most of them. Overall I think I've had around a 10% RMA rate for Open Box, which is much higher than new. I've also had stuff that I've RMA'd directly to the manufacture and gotten back faulty parts. Corsair and PQI did that to me on RAM. MSI did that to someone I know on a motherboard. I don't think Newegg intentionally tries to palm off faulty parts, but they also don't dedicate any extra resources to make sure that all Open Box parts are fully operational.

Are Open Box items "complete?"
This varies considerably. You are "guaranteed" the main item, and anything else is bonus. I've received stuff like motherboards and video cards which look completely brand new and retail, with box and all included accessories. I've received motherboards and video cards as just the bare card (anti static bag and white box). With video cards it's not that big a deal because for the most part, download drivers and you're good. However, if you absolutely need the dongle for your HTPC or it's a special card like the ATI AIW, then I'd avoid it. With motherboards, if you are the type to want the I/O shield then forget it. I'd say most (more than half) of the boards I've gotten did not come with the I/O shield.

Are Open Box items "worth it" cost wise?
Depends... can you handle a high RMA rate? Can you handle a restocking fee for all RMAs? Why is that? Newegg has two types of RMAs, one for "return for repair" with no restocking fee and the other is just a "return" with restocking fee. Open Box items are only RMA-able for "return" thus the restocking fee. Also, back when they were called "refurbished" everything had free shipping, then everything had $1 shipping. Now, most things have regular shipping. Wouldn't be bad if stuff was cheap, but sometimes stuff isn't cheap. For instance, recently they had the OEM socket 939 3400+ CPU for about $3 less than new, but $6.99 shipping. The new ones had free shipping, so the Open Box would end up costing more. Go figure. I can't seem to find decent deals anymore - many midrange video cards are not selling for much less than new. Basically you have to calculate total costs (add 10% for possible RMA) and see if the cost savings is worth it. It will vary - some will be cheap enough compared to new to be worth it, and some won't. Most recent Open Box I purchased was a $30 shipped motherboard that still sold new for $75. Yes, got just the board (no drivers, cables, I/O shield), but I could live with that for saving over 50%. Been looking at video cards and haven't found any deals worth taking in a long while, with refurb being within 10% of new.

 

[imported_Nacelle]

I've gotten 2 motherboards and a graphics card, open box. If I didn't know better, I would have thought they where new. Saved a lot of money. Everything worked great

 

[KutterMax]

I've looked at some open box items on the Newegg website in the past, but I never found that things were that much cheaper than the new item - so I always ended up playing it safe and buying "new".

 

[HannibalX]

Well I didn't buy. Just to big of risk for my money.

 

[Boyo]

Good choice. You're going into that blind when you buy an open box. Not worth the risk.

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: Pale Rider
I am thinking about buying an open box video card from Newegg.

Does anyone know about these cards? Are they demo cards? Factory recerts? Leftovers?

Thanks,
Pale

I bought a vidcard once. It was (I think) returned because it doesn't overclock very well. I got the 9700Pro for $230 when they were still going for $300+ or more new. I've had to replace the heatsink twice but it's still going strong.

 

[imported_Nacelle]

If it doesn't work, you have 15 days to return it. I got a 7800 GT for $129

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: achillies
I got a biostar mobo which doesnt work after 1 month usage....still have to figure out whats the exact prob for this

user error...

 

[PingSpike]

Personally, I wouldn't ever buy a refurb or open box motherboard. Too many things to break on a motherboard, many hard to track down and identify. And within 15 days, I just wouldn't feel comfortable.

 

[crossrode]

Too many things to break on a motherboard, many hard to track down and identify

Yeah, you might get an open box MB that one of the better Newegg reviewers has flashed the BIOS on the hard way. "...thing wouldn't work with either my AMD or Intel processor. Bios flash didn't help much on this no screen machine. I'm sticking with my dual core...! Get this if you want a Dual Core board that won't post to AMD or Intel chips even after a quick flash to the latest BIOS."

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: crossrode

Too many things to break on a motherboard, many hard to track down and identify

Yeah, you might get an open box MB that one of the better Newegg reviewers has flashed the BIOS on the hard way. "...thing wouldn't work with either my AMD or Intel processor. Bios flash didn't help much on this no screen machine. I'm sticking with my dual core...! Get this if you want a Dual Core board that won't post to AMD or Intel chips even after a quick flash to the latest BIOS."

That's just scary. Another reason not to get open box--you don't know who had it before you....

 

[betasub]

quote:
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Originally posted by: crossrode

Yeah, you might get an open box MB that one of the better Newegg reviewers has flashed the BIOS on the hard way. "...thing wouldn't work with either my AMD or Intel processor. Bios flash didn't help much on this no screen machine. I'm sticking with my dual core...! Get this if you want a Dual Core board that won't post to AMD or Intel chips even after a quick flash to the latest BIOS."
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How long has it been since we had motherboards that supported both AMD and Intel processors? Socket 7 days? Certainly none from the Dual Core era.