To "Open Box" or "Not to Open Box"

fritzfield

Senior member
Mar 4, 2003
389
2
81
Newegg has open box P5Q Pro for $89.00 shipped versus NIB for $139.00 shipped. Anyone have experience with this type of product presentation. 50 clams is 50 clams.
 
 

Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
28,830
17
81
I buy open box all the time but be warned, always assume that open box includes NOTHING except the bare mobo itself. No I/O shield, manual or anything.
 

badnewcastle

Golden Member
Jun 30, 2004
1,016
0
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I won't buy another open box... if something is wrong with it, you'll spend the money anyways, the extra money is worth the piece of mind. I got lucky with 1 of my Open Box boards... they allowed me to RMA as if it was retail. Then a 2nd and 3rd rma because the replacement boards were refurbished... Here I am about to install my brand new P5Q-E Retail tonight.
 

fritzfield

Senior member
Mar 4, 2003
389
2
81
Thanx all. The manual can be downloaded. However, the 'egg is vague, at least on the telephone, as to iff they will take the board back if I am unsatisfied. Any experiences on sending back an open box item for refund?
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,571
10,206
126
As far as i know, newegg will take back open-box boards, but you have only days to completely test the mobo out.
 

badnewcastle

Golden Member
Jun 30, 2004
1,016
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Egg's Return Policy

Open Box policy is further down the page, 15 days for open box merchandise. So you better figure it out fast... It may also be subject to a 15% restocking fee, but I'm not sure about that, I didn't even read my own link.:beer:
 

khurios2000

Diamond Member
Dec 11, 2003
7,531
1
91
once i bought P5K premium and turned dead,
egg refund my money minus shipping and they gave free return label.

btw i got just the board in white box.
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
"Officially" (as in written and what they stand behind) you have 15 days from date of invoice to request an RMA. After that, Newegg needs to receive it in 14 days. There will be a 15% restocking fee. You have to pay shipping to return the item to them, and shipping cost at purchase will not be refunded.

Unofficially you can phone them to find out if a CSR has a sympathetic ear.
 

tallman45

Golden Member
May 27, 2003
1,463
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open box = someone else tried it and something was wrong

A few years ago I gave it a whirl and was DOA It cost me more in R/T S/H than if I just bought a new one to begin with

Not worth the risk
 

o1die

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2001
4,785
0
71
If you buy open box, be sure to open an rma as soon as you receive the board. That way you're covered for about 30 days from the actual order date. The rma expires in 30 days if you don't use it. I just use the reason "board won't post".
 

badnewcastle

Golden Member
Jun 30, 2004
1,016
0
0
Originally posted by: o1die
If you buy open box, be sure to open an rma as soon as you receive the board. That way you're covered for about 30 days from the actual order date. The rma expires in 30 days if you don't use it. I just use the reason "board won't post".

Egg's RMA policy.

Careful, the RMA is good for 15 days, so you can go on the 15th day after incoice and get and RMA and you get another 15 days so you yeah it's 30 days. But the RMA is only valid for 15 days.
 

Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
28,830
17
81
I've purchased MANY MANY open box items, never had an issue. I have received DOA parts but they were always quickly tested by me and RMA'd to Newegg without a single fee of any kind. I have never lost any money either, I got a refund in full and they gave me a return label at their cost. I guess YMMV.
 

OLpal

Member
Feb 12, 2008
188
0
0
I have my doubts about their open box policy & RMA'd products!!!
On this last batch of orders to build new E8600 system; i've had my cpu cooler come with missing parts, my case box had been resealed & some standoffs & all the screws for motherboard were missing.. & a program on CD was supposed to be packaged with my memory!! CD wasn't there....

They used to have a policy of not reselling returned goods unless sold as open-box item !!
On the cooler the seals had been opened on the box & i could see if someone bought one of these 120 mammoth coolers without doing research like on this fine forum & it wouldn't fit their motherboard.. That they might end up RMA'ing for a smaller one... You'd hope they'd put all the pieces back in the box..
Same thing on the case..
Anyway Called egg for the missing parts, their answer "we don't stock accessories for those products & that i should contact manf.. & gave me a couple of 1-800 #'s to call for parts.. they did give me a $10 credit though !!
Now my new build is in Neutral , case people said they'd get those right out to me. but cooler people still haven't called me back !!!
I might add , i've built a lot of computers using da'egg & this is the 1st. time i've had this many problems .. I will continue with them unless this happens again !!
 

Ksyder

Golden Member
Feb 14, 2006
1,829
1
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On the cooler the seals had been opened on the box
you bought new parts from Newegg and they were open? That is terrible! I've spent tons of money there over the years and everything that was new was unopened. If that happened to me I think I'd find somewhere else to shop.


My experience with open box is sometimes you might get everything and sometimes you get nothing with the board. Its really a crapshoot buying open box at Newegg. I've done it before and I don't think I'd do it again unless it was a replacement board for something I already had the other parts to or some other odd situation.
 

Raduque

Lifer
Aug 22, 2004
13,140
138
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Originally posted by: tallman45
open box = someone else tried it and something was wrong

Or it didn't overclock well. I bought a Radeon 9700Pro several years ago open box for $250 when they were still $350+ brand new. It was returned most likely because it didn't overclock well. It only did 10mhz ont he core and 5mhz on the ram. It's still serving me well and it works perfectly.

I just haven't found a deal I'd buy on newegg open box since then.
 

Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
28,830
17
81
Originally posted by: Raduque
Originally posted by: tallman45
open box = someone else tried it and something was wrong

Or it didn't overclock well. I bought a Radeon 9700Pro several years ago open box for $250 when they were still $350+ brand new. It was returned most likely because it didn't overclock well. It only did 10mhz ont he core and 5mhz on the ram. It's still serving me well and it works perfectly.

I just haven't found a deal I'd buy on newegg open box since then.

+1

I bought a open box mobo there and it had the stock heatsinks pulled off. I'm guessing someone pulled them to replace the TIM and had bac oc's. I redid the TIM and booted it right up at over 500fsb no problem.
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,327
1,887
126
Too much uncertainty about whether you'll have to RMA the item. It's a judgment call. What I've seen at the Egg, though, is the price differential is not worth the risk.

That's different than "white-box" or OEM parts brand-new. I go that route all the time.
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
Originally posted by: Gillbot
I got a refund in full and they gave me a return label at their cost. I guess YMMV.

Yes, YMMV. Your experiences are contrary to their written policies.
 

Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
28,830
17
81
Originally posted by: Zap
Originally posted by: Gillbot
I got a refund in full and they gave me a return label at their cost. I guess YMMV.

Yes, YMMV. Your experiences are contrary to their written policies.

I must do a lot of open box business with them then since I've never had a single issue nor lost a single $. Shrug.
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
Originally posted by: Gillbot
I must do a lot of open box business with them then since I've never had a single issue nor lost a single $. Shrug.

Are you able to do that without having to contact customer support?
 

Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
28,830
17
81
I just use the online customer support system as per any other user. **shrug**

I do A LOT of open box shopping though.
 

fritzfield

Senior member
Mar 4, 2003
389
2
81
Well it's a moot point now as some other soul bought the board in question My decision was made for me.
 

spacegoast

Member
Aug 24, 2008
135
0
0
I bought an Asus P5E X38 mobo a few months back for $99. It came with nothing but I was able to get the I/O shield from the Asus e-store and the manual and drivers could be downloaded. So they were not essential to me. I think I got a steal for the mobo as I have since seen it open box for around $159 or $169. I also bought a Thermalright HR-03+ for $29, as opposed to $45 or $49, and it came with everything in it. The RAM sinks were used though but I contacted Thermalright and said mine didnt come with any RAM sinks. They shipped me brand new ones a few days later. It is a risk to purchase open box items but I think it may very well be worth it.
 

Spicedaddy

Platinum Member
Apr 18, 2002
2,305
77
91
I'd never buy an open box motherboard. I even try to buy them locally now so they don't get damaged during shipping.

Anyways, it's the most important part of your system, why take the risk to save a few bucks?
 

Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,230
701
126
Originally posted by: Gillbot
I buy open box all the time but be warned, always assume that open box includes NOTHING except the bare mobo itself. No I/O shield, manual or anything.

I've done the same (maybe not as many). Many motherboard manufacturers will send you an I/O shield if you request it from their support department. A few try to charge you but most don't.