USPS destroyed my computer! (With Pics)

[Blain]

Originally posted by: iluvdeal

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.

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.

The Zalman warning reminds me of warnings about not placing plastic bags over your head. :laugh:
Common sense should kick in for most people, but you have to specifically address the issue with those of our society that may not be the sharpest knives in the drawer.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Mittens2184
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.

no probs on the gun site, interesting site and i only wish i had access to the cnc equipment necessary . there is one community college about 15MI from me, may take some machining classes in my free time just for the knowledge.

if you are interested in that, you may want to check out whttp://www.silencertalk.com/forum/ all about the legalities, at least in the states of suppressors and even design discussion and actual designs if you follow the appropriate govt regs for that type of stuff, but again, down here they are legal in many states, you just have to go through some hoops to get the correct paperwork. not sure how it is up there but i think in the netherlands you don't need any paperwork, you can just make your own when you want there. anyway, good people and good info

 

[Mittens2184]

Oh I am very current on the Canadian Firearms act. I wish I lived in the states.

In Canada suppressors are classified as Prohibited Devices. No individuals can own them or manufacture them.

Companies can make and sell them for military/police use or legal export only.

In regards to both computer and guns, it isn't much fun up here...

 

[0roo0roo]

so did you go after the seller?
clearly its negligent packaging. the only thing a case box is designed to protect against are dents.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Mittens2184
I don't know a ton about hardware but isn't the cooler bolted on?

Originally posted by: Navid
Has anyone suggested yet in this thread how a bolt-through cooler could have come off without breaking the motherboard?

It clips to the AMD socket, just like the retail box HSF.

Originally posted by: Zepper
Nor would I trust most toolless drive mounts to survive a long trip either - screws a must.

I wouldn't trust toolless drive mounts on a short trip to a local LAN party. I don't know why people like that shit. Convenience? I call it lazy.

Originally posted by: tcsenter
so we can reasonably assume it wasn't in that condition when it was picked up by USPS.

Absolutely. However, GL on a claim. USPS is pretty tight about paying out.

Originally posted by: corkyg
Many years ago, when I was in 'Nam...

LOL, awesome story!

Originally posted by: tcsenter
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: 0roo0roo
what does dell ship their pcs in?

Dell doesn't use big honkin' heatsinks.

 

[0roo0roo]

well they do use big honkin heatsinks sometimes. but they have them covered and reinforced with fan shrouds that attach to the case, and use aluminum more than copper which is light.

 

[suklee]

Wow, just read through the entire post. I cringe when I see one or two bent pins on my CPUs... your pins almost looked like a crop circle. I feel sorry for you OP, hope you get it sorted out soon.

 

[Mittens2184]

Well I have contacted the seller telling him that he should reimburse me through paypal and get his money back through USPS. Here is what he said:

Hmmm.... Where to begin? The reason for the delay in shipment is not entirely my fault, you specifically ask me to ship using methods I am not a custom to. I have shipped everything I have ever sold on ebay through Ups, you specifically asked me not to use this method. I wonder if you even noticed that it was the only method of shipping i had listed while the auction was still running? I use Ups for the simple reason that they have stores that are open after my work hours, but i did you a favor and sought other means of shipping. Even after i emailed you that the packages where shipped you put me under a paypal investigation saying the packages where never sent, only to have them arrive the very next day. Now, we'll address the shipping damages. It will take more than some bloggers opinion to make me believe this is some how my fault. If you know anything about computers you would know that it would take a SERIOUS drop to cause that processor to come out of its socket. I have been in touch with the usps customer services and there response was that it is the you who have to file the claim, since you have the merchandise. After all this is why you purchased shipping insurance. I understand that this is frustrating, i would be the same way if i was in your shoes, but expecting to get a refund over a package that was damaged in shipping is not going to happen, this is the whole reason why i had you pay for insurance.

and then right after:

I will be faxing copies of the shipping receipts, customs forms, and copies of emails that show this item was received to paypal. If your not going to stop the non-receipt claim on your own, i will stop it for you. I can not understand why you did not stop this claim the minute you received the packages. I sent you everything i listed in the auction, i can not help it was damaged in shipping, it is covered by the insurance you purchased.

I had filed a claim against him since it had taken him almost 4 weeks to get the package to me and he had not responded to many emails.

I am not sure what to do with this guy, I have a claim for non-receipt that I haven't cancelled yet because if I do I'm not sure if I can start a new one for receipt of a damaged item.

Please help!

 

[Mittens2184]

I can't file a claim with USPS because I'm not in the states so I somehow see myself getting screwed on this.

As for the assertation that I started a claim for no reason; I repeatedly asked for a tracking number and did not get one.

Since some of you asked for his contact info I will provide it. Mods feel free to remove it if this is not allowed but this guy is trying to cheat me.

Jerry Vandergriff
7914 Fall Branchway
Knoxville TN
37938

ircsteel@hotmail.com

ebayid: steelcrzy384

 

[letired]

You should have canceled the non-receipt claim the minute you received the packages as the seller has stated, why you have not done this is extremely confusing to me, the seller is 100% right in this regard. He should have responded to your emails, etc, but when you got the stuff you should have canceled the non-receipt claim and opened a damaged item dispute...

File a NEW dispute with Paypal, let the seller know that it was his negligence in packaging that caused the damages. If he refuses to compensate him let Paypal sort it out. You have the proof of negligence on his regard with the photos you have attached to your first post. As has been repeated x1000 times on this thread, it is completely negligent to ship a computer with a HUGE Zalman heatsink attached like that. The heatsink warns that it should not be moved while attached, let alone shipped across a nation!

We are not some random blogger, this has been the consensus of a computing forum dedicated to the construction of PC's. If the seller doesn't accept this, show the evidence to Paypal.

Offer to ship him back the remains of the PC at his cost. Who cares if he gets the insurance money? That's his problem.

I don't understand why you are so confused and helpless...you've had the same opinion repeated thirty some-odd times here. I mean I know it sucks to have lost a computer like this, but you are in the right. Take charge and get your money back.

 

[Mittens2184]

Let me say this again :

If I close the non receipt claim I CANNOT OPEN ANY CLAIM FOR THE SAME TRANSACTION!

My only hope is that I can change the claim type. That is why I didn't close the claim, because the computer came in several pieces.

 

[letired]

Call them during customer service hours and explain what has occurred, you will most certainly be able to resolve things this way. You cannot open a new claim because the seller took much too long. If you hurry, you can catch the customer service center before they close at 10:00PM PST.

 

[letired]

You just log into your paypal account, click "Contact Us" and then click through to the telephone number.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: letired
You should have canceled the non-receipt claim the minute you received the packages as the seller has stated, why you have not done this is extremely confusing to me, the seller is 100% right in this regard. He should have responded to your emails, etc, but when you got the stuff you should have canceled the non-receipt claim and opened a damaged item dispute...

File a NEW dispute with Paypal, let the seller know that it was his negligence in packaging that caused the damages. If he refuses to compensate him let Paypal sort it out. You have the proof of negligence on his regard with the photos you have attached to your first post. As has been repeated x1000 times on this thread, it is completely negligent to ship a computer with a HUGE Zalman heatsink attached like that. The heatsink warns that it should not be moved while attached, let alone shipped across a nation!

We are not some random blogger, this has been the consensus of a computing forum dedicated to the construction of PC's. If the seller doesn't accept this, show the evidence to Paypal.

Offer to ship him back the remains of the PC at his cost. Who cares if he gets the insurance money? That's his problem.

I don't understand why you are so confused and helpless...you've had the same opinion repeated thirty some-odd times here. I mean I know it sucks to have lost a computer like this, but you are in the right. Take charge and get your money back.

qft. the guy f*cked up and it is his loss. cancel the other claim w/ paypal and start a new one regarding the damages. usps is strict how they want electronics packaged - he did not comply w/ them and it is his loss, not yours. the insurance is in case usps damages the package, not somebodies lack of knowledge of how to correctly package an item.

 

[Navid]

He is wrong on a few points.

It is the responsibility of the seller to get the item to the buyer in acceptable condition even if the buyer does not pay for insurance. But, you did.

Insurance practically is to protect the seller not the buyer.

Regardless of who paid for insurance, it is the shipper who insures the item as he must have done at the time of shipping. There is no way that you can claim anything with USPS.
I used to live in the states. Once an item I had shipped using USPS got lost. I (the shipper/seller) filed the claim. I collected from USPS.
Thinking about this more, I see that I may be wrong. In my case, the item had got lost. In this case, you are holing the item. So, I am sorry about this part.

I am not up on the paypal rules.
There are ebay forums that can give you guidance also.
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/forum.jspa?forumID=97
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/forum.jspa?forumID=31
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/forum.jspa?forumID=143
Be careful posting on seller central. After all the changes to the feedback system putting the small sellers in a disadvantage, it is full of unhappy sellers!

It is easy for someone outside of a transaction to make judgment.
But, in reality, it is between the buyer and the seller. Those two must sometimes be realistic and work it out.

This is me, sitting outside of the transaction, not knowing all the facts, and judging: He made a mistake shipping a heavy sensitive equipment with inadequate padding with a heavy cooler still attached inside waiting to dislodge and cause damage. You did not do that.
You did everything that you could (paid all the money he asked for including insurance).

Edit:
You can see all the discussion boards here.
http://pages.ebay.com/community/boards/

Edit 2:
I would remove his name and address from the post and only post his user ID or the item number.

 

[Navid]

I once contacted my credit card company to withhold payment for an item I had purchased online. I had asked the seller to pay for my shipping it back to them (It was a PSU that they had shipped me just in the PSU box without a secondary shipping box).
The seller refused to pay me for return shipping.

My credit card company told me that as long as I was holding on to the item, they would not guarantee that they would be able to do much for me.

So, it is a good practice by the seller to make the customer happy and pay for return shipping.
But, I don't think a seller is officially required to do so.

I paid for shipping it back myself and considered it a learning experience.

 

[gamerguy2]

I use UPS

To put it mildly, they are TERRIBLE. I have had items arrive weeks late, packages busted into, packages left by the side of my house.

I use other services whenever possible, and I sympathize greatly with what happened to your gaming computer. I would hope that UPS which I never gave much thought to before I became an avid/rabid computer lover will put their act togethor and bring their level of professionalism back to where it should be.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Blain
They shipped a PC and left that HUGE 764g (1.68 pounds), cooler attached???????????????????? :shocked:

It's not rocket science...
The damage was done by that monster Zalman HS rolling around inside the case.

What were they thinking? :roll:
Please change your subject title from "USPS destroyed my computer!" to "Look how the seller destroyed my computer!"


>>> Get your money back from the seller. They should have removed the 1.68 lbs. HS before shipping <<<

Well, that would be logical and all, but at least in the case of a 775 rig, why would a seller even bother to assemble the PC before shipping it then? I mean, if the end-user has to attach the heatsink, he would have to take out the mobo, and then in that case, he would have to remove the video card, and possibly the HD. So what else could even ship pre-assembled?

There must be some way to ship PCs safely with the heatsink attached. I would like to know how though, I might need to ship one soon.

 

[0roo0roo]

you'd need to build a brace.
but theres no garrantee that would be enough.

 

[piasabird]

Was it shipped with insurance? Ship it back and demand your money back. It seems like USPS would require insurance to ship something large and expensive.

 

[Synomenon]

The seller should have used some of that styrofoam you can carve out. He should have purchase a piece as large as the interior of the case and carved out the shape of the heatsink and any other large component, then placed that styrofoam block in the case.

 

[Zepper]

No shipper requires insurance - some include the first $100. in their base rate. It's up to the seller to require insurance and add it to the price the buyer pays. No buyer should allow an expensive (more than he can afford to lose) item to ship without it. Some resellers offer extra cost packaging (e.g. "double boxing") for systems, but it's up to the buyer to take advantage of it. In any case, buyers need to "trust but verify". Trust that the seller will properly package his shipments and verify that he does so or has some arrangement available before buying - or be willing to do some assembly on receipt. Otherwise buy locally.

.bh.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
The seller should have used some of that styrofoam you can carve out. He should have purchase a piece as large as the interior of the case and carved out the shape of the heatsink and any other large component, then placed that styrofoam block in the case.

course it would have to not touch sensitive components...esd?

 

[0roo0roo]

i wonder if some of the same worries would apply from this http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/...nvidia-chips-defective a heavy heatsink during shipping could put stress on those contact points even if the damage were not obvious or immediately fatal?

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry

Originally posted by: Blain
They shipped a PC and left that HUGE 764g (1.68 pounds), cooler attached???????????????????? :shocked:

It's not rocket science...
The damage was done by that monster Zalman HS rolling around inside the case.

What were they thinking? :roll:
Please change your subject title from "USPS destroyed my computer!" to "Look how the seller destroyed my computer!"


>>> Get your money back from the seller. They should have removed the 1.68 lbs. HS before shipping <<<

Well, that would be logical and all, but at least in the case of a 775 rig, why would a seller even bother to assemble the PC before shipping it then? I mean, if the end-user has to attach the heatsink, he would have to take out the mobo, and then in that case, he would have to remove the video card, and possibly the HD. So what else could even ship pre-assembled?

* The mounting bracket on the Zalman 9700 attaches to the MB.
* The actual HS can be removed and reinstalled without removal of the MB.