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USPS destroyed my computer! (With Pics)

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For $700 you could put together your own computer that would be close in performance to that one. You wouldn't have the fancy-schmancy mouse and keyboard, but that stuff is overrated anyway if you ask me. You can always save up for it and buy it down the road if you want it.

It's really not that hard to do.
 
Originally posted by: DSF
For $700 you could put together your own computer that would be close in performance to that one.
Click to expand...
Is that statement based on experience? How long and when did you live in Canada if you don't mind telling us?
 
Originally posted by: Navid
Has anyone suggested yet in this thread how a bolt-through cooler could have come off without breaking the motherboard?

Or did the seller forget to tighten the screws?

Were the bolts and screws in the case when you opened it?
Click to expand...
You don't understand how a Zalman 9700 attaches.
The HS bracket is fastened to the MB via bolts, not the HS itself.
The HS itself simply is clamped down onto the CPU and held tight with retention clips.

The CPU was pulled out of the socket by the HS compound adhering the HS and CPU together.

 
Originally posted by: Mittens2184
I don't know a ton about hardware but isn't the cooler bolted on?
Click to expand...
Not this design, it is clipped on using a metal clip that is adequate only for securing the heatsink while the PC is stationary or being moved by hand. Its a pretty sh-tty design, if you ask me (and you didn't).

That doesn't get you a box that looks as though it tumbled down a flight of stairs, though. There is shared culpability or contributory negligence here between the seller and USPS. Even if he had used a different HSF, there is ample evidence in those photos to conclude your PC may still have arrived in a damage or dysfunctional condition from excessive jarring or impact (though not nearly as catastrophic, to be sure).
 
Originally posted by: Blain
Originally posted by: Navid
Has anyone suggested yet in this thread how a bolt-through cooler could have come off without breaking the motherboard?

Or did the seller forget to tighten the screws?

Were the bolts and screws in the case when you opened it?
Click to expand...
You don't understand how a Zalman 9700 attaches.
The HS bracket is fastened to the MB via bolts, not the HS itself.
The HS itself simply is clamped down onto the CPU and held tight with retention clips.

The CPU was pulled out of the socket by the HS compound adhering the HS and CPU together.
Click to expand...
http://zalman.com/ENG/product/Product_Read.asp?idx=165
According to the installation clip here (How to Install), the sink is mounted to the bolted-through bracket with two small screws, not a clip.
Is this not the cooler?
Or is that for a different type of CPU?
I see it is. Forget about it.
 
wow that's a total loss. Did you file a claim with USPS yet? Then notify the seller, in fact he may be the only one that can file the claim, but usps should have it on record that the package was a total loss upon delivery.
 
Zalman:
"Special care should be taken when moving a computer equipped with a cooler that exceeds the specified weight limit.

Zalman is not responsible for any damage that occurs when moving a computer.

Excessive force exerted on the fan may damage the fan, resulting in damage to the system."
 
Originally posted by: TheDoc9
wow that's a total loss. Did you file a claim with USPS yet?
Click to expand...

The one who ships is the one who has to file a claim.

However, this is a complicated situation.
USPS has no authority or control in Canada. USPS is in charge until the package is handed over to Canada. Then, it is Canada post that is doing the handling.

I could be wrong. But, the seller may not be able to file any claims.
 
Sweet now you can send it back and get one with a better graphics setup, reputable and non-insane PSU, Core 2 CPU and no raptor-RAID.
 
Originally posted by: Navid
Originally posted by: DSF
For $700 you could put together your own computer that would be close in performance to that one.
Click to expand...
Is that statement based on experience? How long and when did you live in Canada if you don't mind telling us?
Click to expand...

Did you eat Know-It-All Crunch for breakfast this morning or something? Considering that this thread was posted yesterday and concerns the USPS (that's United States Post Office) I forgot the OP was in Canada. Regardless, I would venture to say that a serviceable gaming computer could be assembled for that price even in Canada. Not as good of a deal as the OP was getting, but a decent machine.

Edit: Just by quickly flipping through prices on NCIX I came up with a machine for right around $700 including a highly overclockable E7200 and an 8800GT. With a little bit of shopping around on other Canadian parts websites I'm sure you could bring the price down even a little bit more. The only problem is that it doesn't include an OS.
 
Originally posted by: DSF
Originally posted by: Navid
Originally posted by: DSF
For $700 you could put together your own computer that would be close in performance to that one.
Click to expand...
Is that statement based on experience? How long and when did you live in Canada if you don't mind telling us?
Click to expand...

Did you eat Know-It-All Crunch for breakfast this morning or something?
Click to expand...

I am sorry if my question bothered you.
I live in Canada and know that we have to pay about 15% sales tax.
I was surprised by your post. I was curious to find out if you really know how to build such a system for the price you claimed here.

Either way, this is irrelevant to the original post. It really does not help him to tell him that he could have got it for cheaper, even if it was true.
 
so who is the person who packaged this so badly so others may not be in the same boat as you? sorry for the loss, but usps nor canadian post is responsible for the sellers packaging as many have stated.

the seller f*cked up plain and simple, file a claim w/ paypal if you get any b.s. as there is a time limit w/ them.

and fwiw, i worked for the usps for over a decade and you would be surprised at how much care is taken w/ the packages, especially the priority/express ones. nobody did this on purpose at the p.o., at least on the u.s. side.
 
Originally posted by: Navid
Originally posted by: DSF
Originally posted by: Navid
Originally posted by: DSF
For $700 you could put together your own computer that would be close in performance to that one.
Click to expand...
Is that statement based on experience? How long and when did you live in Canada if you don't mind telling us?
Click to expand...

Did you eat Know-It-All Crunch for breakfast this morning or something?
Click to expand...

I am sorry if my question bothered you.
I live in Canada and know that we have to pay about 15% sales tax.
I was surprised by your post. I was curious to find out if you really know how to build such a system for the price you claimed here.

Either way, this is irrelevant to the original post. It really does not help him to tell him that he could have got it for cheaper, even if it was true.
Click to expand...

Oh I wasn't trying to tell him he could've got it for cheaper. I think he got a very good price on the system he bought. However, it seems to me that he was buying that system used, and therefore there isn't going to be a replacement available at the same price.

I was just saying that when he gets his money back he could still build himself a decent system if he wanted to roll up his sleeves. It was an "all is not lost" kind of post throwing out another option.

At any rate, I might've been a little harsh in my reply. I think your post looked different to me than you intended it.
 
We had a similar thing happen to a server shipped with dual Xeon CPU with stock Intel copper HSFs which probably weigh about 4lbs each. Both HSFs were not attached properly as they were bolted to the motherboard rather than to a plate that came with the mobo. Both CPUs came loose during shipping, $3000+ went down the drain. Subsequent shipments used the plate and we never had a problem again.


I wouldn't put USPS at fault here. I wouldn't say the seller was negligent either. Does anyone who regularly sells computers ship the CPU and HSF separately for customers to install? If I were to place blame it would be on Zalman for the weak retention mechanism design. Most likely you will not get your insurance claim approved by USPS, so the seller is going to have eat the costs, the poor guy.
 
Originally posted by: iluvdeal
We had a similar thing happen to a server shipped with dual Xeon CPU with stock Intel copper HSFs which probably weigh about 4lbs each. Both HSFs were not attached properly as they were bolted to the motherboard rather than to a plate that came with the mobo. Both CPUs came loose during shipping, $3000+ went down the drain. Subsequent shipments used the plate and we never had a problem again.


I wouldn't put USPS at fault here. I wouldn't say the seller was negligent either. Does anyone who regularly sells computers ship the CPU and HSF separately for customers to install? If I were to place blame it would be on Zalman for the weak retention mechanism design. Most likely you will not get your insurance claim approved by USPS, so the seller is going to have eat the costs, the poor guy.
Click to expand...

so zalman is suppose to make heatsink attachments that will survive shipping? even @ 2#s or more? not zalman's issue at all. if the seller wants to be selling stuff like that, they need to know how to correctly package it, or do ftf only.
 
Originally posted by: iluvdeal

I wouldn't put USPS at fault here. I wouldn't say the seller was negligent either. Does anyone who regularly sells computers ship the CPU and HSF separately for customers to install? If I were to place blame it would be on Zalman for the weak retention mechanism design. Most likely you will not get your insurance claim approved by USPS, so the seller is going to have eat the costs, the poor guy.
Click to expand...
Originally posted by: Blain
Zalman:
"Special care should be taken when moving a computer equipped with a cooler that exceeds the specified weight limit.

Zalman is not responsible for any damage that occurs when moving a computer.

Excessive force exerted on the fan may damage the fan, resulting in damage to the system."
Click to expand...

 
Originally posted by: bob4432
so zalman is suppose to make heatsink attachments that will survive shipping? even @ 2#s or more? not zalman's issue at all. if the seller wants to be selling stuff like that, they need to know how to correctly package it, or do ftf only.
Click to expand...

Sure why not? Other HSFs, heavier ones, can be shipped without any issues so I don't see being able to ship with a HSF attached as an unreasonable expectation. Computers are shipped everyday with HSFs heavier than this w/out issue.

What the seller has to do is use a different brand of HSFs next time which can survive shipping as Zalman doesn't require theirs to. It's nice they include a disclaimer as it indicates they are aware of it. Next time I'd make sure the retention mechanism is bolt through with all parts of the bolt through kit made of metal.
 
Thanks for all the feedback guys. I did check out NCIX but found such a good deal on a SLI'ed system with 2 raptors, an Antec 900, and 3 games (Two of which I would have bought anyway so $50 x 2) and Win XP that I thought it was a great deal. I will be very hesitant to order a complete system from the US again.

On a side note Bob, thanks for the link to the CNC gun site. I am a shooter and it is a very interesting read.
 
Originally posted by: iluvdeal
What the seller has to do is use a different brand of HSFs next time which can survive shipping as Zalman doesn't require theirs to. It's nice they include a disclaimer as it indicates they are aware of it. Next time I'd make sure the retention mechanism is bolt through with all parts of the bolt through kit made of metal.
Click to expand...
This is not the first incident of its type and most manufacturers of these crappy designs are well aware of the risk. I call these designs 'balloon' type coolers because of the massive bulbous portion at the top that turns into a little square plate at the bottom, vaguely resembling a hot air balloon. The attachment mechanism of these coolers are usually barely adequate to withstand the levered weight of the 'balloon' positioned at an angle while the chassis is standing upright and not moving. Not fit for sale or use, but they do look really neat.

Bolting them to the backplate is not enough. I remember seeing a photo online a few years ago where someone shipped a PC like that, and it ripped a square-ish hole completely through the PCB with the CPU + Socket still attached to the HSF. AMD recommends any coolers weighing in excess of 600 grams, especially these top-heavy designs, should be fastened to the chassis using some kind of cage or bracket assembly during shipping/transport (which would obviously need to be custom made).
 
what does dell ship their pcs in?
what shipping service?
i've never brought a desktop from dellso i dunno, but i'm guessing they know what they are doing.

i don't think its usps fault.

it looks like improper packaging. at the very least he should have filled the inside with cardboard braces to prevent movement. and of course use a much larger box with more padding. i'd say the seller was negligent. clearly he tried to ship on the cheap. a case box is built to protect that, an empty light case. it was not designed to protect anything more, let alone something costing many times more. the box probably was beaten up because it was carrying far more weight than it was designed to. a loaded higher end pc full build is very heavy. and a case box generally has no give in the padding, there is no air space gap between the box walls and the case. regular packaging would use something compressable to allow for a certain amount of movement inside the box to absorb shock. a case box wont, the foam is the solid type and transmits everything. but it doesn't matter if the case is empty after all. and thats the point. a pc should probably be packaged more like many harddrive retail packages are, plenty of protection around it.
 
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