Sapphire RMA $15 processing fee? **UPDATE** Received replacement card today

[Ike0069]

I tried to get on the Sapphire forums (even though I had read about the infamous Gr33nGecko and how everything is because you don't use a PCP&C PSU), but I never got the email with a link to confirm registration that would allow me to start posting.

Apparently this is a common problem and here is part of what is posted as a stickie:
"Try to avoid Yahoo / GoogleMail and also domains ending in .org / .net for the same reason as mentioned above."

Well damn, I use bellsouth.net and yahoo for email. They don't even bother to try and fix this issue and that is just another example of how Sapphire takes care of its customers. So I skipped the forums and started a ticket directly with Sapphire Tech and that has been going along fairly smoothly. However, I still haven't received my actual RMA number yet.

 

[taltamir]

yahoo... google.... .org and .net?
That only leaves the FEW isp based emails that use .com

After my @ATT email changed to @comcast and then to @timewarner I said enough is enough and got a @gmail.com
Maybe all those services just block sapphire as spam or something, it wouldn't surprise me if they spam...

 

[Ike0069]

*UPDATE*

They emailed last week and asked if I would accept a HD2900 Pro 512 (256 Bit version) as replacement for my 1900xt. I said yes and I received it today. It's in a plain box but appears to be brand new and even came with two cable accessories and a driver disk just as the retail version did. I'm still annoyed that I had to pay the $15 simply due to the principle of it, but in the end I am happy.

I think the key here is to completely avoid the forums and send a help request directly from the Sapphire site. That is what I did and was given absolutley no problems with getting a RMA # and actually feel like the entire process was finished in a very reasonable amount of time.

I may have gottem lucky, but Sapphire has brought me back to the "maybe" status when deciding to buy from them again or not. A month ago it was "hell no!!".

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: Ike0069

Originally posted by: taltamir
Is there any ATI company that offers at least 2 years warranty and pays for shipping both ways? or at least has good service and ships quickly and painlessly and doesn't charge you shipping (but you have to pay to ship to them?)

I believe ASUS offers excellent service backing up their 3-yr warranty. I've never RMA'd anything from them, but I've read positive things about their service. However, I believe you do need to register within 30 days of purchase or the warranty defaults down to 1 yr.

Asus replaced a Mobo for me, I shipped to them and I send the bare board in the box and they shipped a brand new board in the box with all the accessories. Got the latest revision as well. No reason to believe their video cards would be handled differently.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Ike0069
*UPDATE*

They emailed last week and asked if I would accept a HD2900 Pro 512 (256 Bit version) as replacement for my 1900xt. I said yes and I received it today. It's in a plain box but appears to be brand new and even came with two cable accessories and a driver disk just as the retail version did. I'm still annoyed that I had to pay the $15 simply due to the principle of it, but in the end I am happy.

I think the key here is to completely avoid the forums and send a help request directly from the Sapphire site. That is what I did and was given absolutley no problems with getting a RMA # and actually feel like the entire process was finished in a very reasonable amount of time.

I may have gottem lucky, but Sapphire has brought me back to the "maybe" status when deciding to buy from them again or not. A month ago it was "hell no!!".

Just remember it is really a 2900xt in disguise; even if it is the 256bit version, it will make no real difference at 16x10. Just OC it to XT speeds and you have a 3870 near-equal.
:thumbsup:

i buy Sapphire still .. i just keep in mind that i *might* be extorted out of $15

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: Ike0069

Originally posted by: taltamir
Is there any ATI company that offers at least 2 years warranty and pays for shipping both ways? or at least has good service and ships quickly and painlessly and doesn't charge you shipping (but you have to pay to ship to them?)

I believe ASUS offers excellent service backing up their 3-yr warranty. I've never RMA'd anything from them, but I've read positive things about their service. However, I believe you do need to register within 30 days of purchase or the warranty defaults down to 1 yr.

Asus replaced a Mobo for me, I shipped to them and I send the bare board in the box and they shipped a brand new board in the box with all the accessories. Got the latest revision as well. No reason to believe their video cards would be handled differently.

definitely wasn't my latest experience a couple months ago w/ a bad 3850 - had my jumping through so many hoops i took the restocking hit @ newegg and picked up a sapphire 4850. pretty sad as i have used asus for many years, i hope this is not their new approach to customer service, if it is expect to wait on hold for a couple hours and talk to people for about 10mins or so and have them blame everything on your setup...