WARNING: Micro Center Motherboard Scam

[jcniest5]

There is a POST IT free service at MC. If it's done by their tech, they responsibility to exchange it for a good. I hope you are able to resolve this issue in a timely and satisfactorial manner. Hope that guy that left a post claiming to be from their MC's HQ can help you. If not, just do a charge back at your CC.

 

[JSt0rm]

It's always reassuring when employees actively check enthusiast forums for issues. Regardless of the final outcome, thanks a bunch since it doesn't look like you're required to do this 🙂

honestly if they aren't checking enthusiast forums they aren't doing there jobs lolol. Imagine some shit like this getting blown out of proportion because some kid manager got on a power trip. All of a sudden a microcenter screwed me thread is the first thing google comes back with a "microcenter" search. Then it is ass rapage time.

Best to tighten that shit up.

 

[pcgeek101]

There is a POST IT free service at MC. If it's done by their tech, they responsibility to exchange it for a good. I hope you are able to resolve this issue in a timely and satisfactorial manner. Hope that guy that left a post claiming to be from their MC's HQ can help you. If not, just do a charge back at your CC.

I paid mostly cash for this transaction, though I plan on charging back the ~$60 on my card.

I heard the POST service is free, and I didn't even know they had it. My friend mentioned it to me later on, after I told him about the issues. He said it's $10 BTW.

I think the bigger problem here is that Micro Center lacks any security features on their motherboards. I could've stuffed a Gigabyte board in the box and no one would have been the wiser. For honest customers, it means that you get screwed over, like me.

That's why I will no longer shop at Micro Center and will shop at Fry's like I should have stuck to.

 

[djnsmith7]

pcgeek, any update from Asus? I'm curious to know if they're willing to help you. They've been very helpful with a couple issues I had in the past.

 

[pcgeek101]

I got an e-mail about the RMA. Here's part of what it says:

-------------------
Physical damage is not covered under your ASUS manufacturer’s warranty and automatically VOIDS your warranty. ASUS reserves the right to reject any product received with physical damage.
- Damage can include any shape or form of corner / edge damage / markings with pens and/or markers
- Broken traces or burns due to improper installation / removal of other components
- Broken CPU socket or bent pins

--------------- ----

I don't think it's worth me paying for shipping on it if it has a bent pin (I think I see where Micro Center said it was). At least this would theoretically allow me to get a replacement without giving them the serial # on the box, had the board not had a bent pin.

Ultimately, based on the principles of this entire situation, Micro Center needs to man up and take responsibility for the situation. I shouldn't have to deal with RMA'ing the board, and Micro Center should commit to doing their absolute best to tracking down the mismatching numbers, and involve the manufacturer if necessary in the process.

Somewhere, someone has the board that belongs in my box, and I have the board that belongs in someone else's box. I need to find out where my board is.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

I got an e-mail about the RMA. Here's part of what it says:

-------------------
Physical damage is not covered under your ASUS manufacturer’s warranty and automatically VOIDS your warranty. ASUS reserves the right to reject any product received with physical damage.
- Damage can include any shape or form of corner / edge damage / markings with pens and/or markers
- Broken traces or burns due to improper installation / removal of other components
- Broken CPU socket or bent pins

--------------- ----

I don't think it's worth me paying for shipping on it if it has a bent pin (I think I see where Micro Center said it was). At least this would theoretically allow me to get a replacement without giving them the serial # on the box, had the board not had a bent pin.

Ultimately, based on the principles of this entire situation, Micro Center needs to man up and take responsibility for the situation. I shouldn't have to deal with RMA'ing the board, and Micro Center should commit to doing their absolute best to tracking down the mismatching numbers, and involve the manufacturer if necessary in the process.

Somewhere, someone has the board that belongs in my box, and I have the board that belongs in someone else's box. I need to find out where my board is.

Are you trying to deal with the MC CSR that came HERE? You got someone from their Corp HQ, deal with them. They don't want a bad rep going farther than it needs to.

 

[bankster55]

yeah, what happened with that
you are continuing along as if that guys offer never happened
not helping things for you
shouldnt you wait to see the outcome?

 

[pcgeek101]

yeah, what happened with that
you are continuing along as if that guys offer never happened
not helping things for you
shouldnt you wait to see the outcome?

I e-mailed them, and no one has contacted me.

I filed the RMA request before that guy posted, and I saw it.

Don't jump to conclusions without all the facts.

 

[Meghan54]

* 2 box straps completely preventing someone from opening the box without breaking them, or killing the box itself

Bullshit. Those straps are sooo easily removed in a minute or less without destroying the box or straps it's not funny.

Do it all the time with MB's I buy at Fry's, which has been more than quite a few. Always slide the straps off to inspect the MB prior to purchase, in front of the salesman. They're not exactly dumbfounded that they can be slid right off.....it's quite common knowledge and very easy to do.

Have even done it while driving down I-85 towards home from Fry's. Not hard.

 

[CZroe]

Bullshit. Those straps are sooo easily removed in a minute or less without destroying the box or straps it's not funny.

Do it all the time with MB's I buy at Fry's, which has been more than quite a few. Always slide the straps off to inspect the MB prior to purchase, in front of the salesman. They're not exactly dumbfounded that they can be slid right off.....it's quite common knowledge and very easy to do.

Have even done it while driving down I-85 towards home from Fry's. Not hard.

Sometimes they are too tight to slide off without mangling the box, which I guess is how they are supposed to be and usually aren't. I, too, have done it many times from motherboards bought at Fry's in Duluth and Alpharetta coming from south on I-85 (Newnan, GA).

 

[playah]

Your telling me on a new intel platform you bent pins and there easy to bend back?

😕

The funny thing is we hashed it with intel in regards to the pins on the board.
Intel said, would you rather replace the board or the cpu?

To intel's reply since they sell way more cpu's then boards, its a no brainer.

Also the density of pins on the cpu make it impossible for them to be on the cpu end. This is why the pins on the board are in an angle and not straight up.

A lot of research was done in the pins and pin socket, and its not something u want to take tweezers to in repairing unless u have very stable hands, and a good eye.

A bad pin can mean missing ram, and unstable cpu, or a non booting one.

I've gotten a couple 775 and 1366 mb's shipped to me with minor pin damage, 2 or 3 bent at the most, ended up buying a jewelers headset magnifying glass, you'd be surprised what you can do with steady hands if you can see what your working on in good enough detail

 

[MentalIlness]

This is great information to know. Ill be making a trip to the Micro Center Beltway/Rockville MD this weekend to pick up a 1155 UD4 and a 2500K.

Ill have my eyes open...no doubt about that.

 

[MentalIlness]

Wonder if there is anything on security cameras ? Does Microcenter have cameras ? You'd think they would. Maybe it would show someone exchanging the items.

 

[imported_mystro]

hmmmm..I don't think I've ever purchased a MB or CPU at a B&M store so I totally rely on the company I'm buying from...a review at http://www.resellerratings.com/ helps.
The rare occation that I have had a DOA issue, the higher rated (by number of reviews) online stores RMA'd without issue.

 

[cherrytwist]

Microcenter has always had bad CS. Hence, the cheap prices. It's the Wal-Mart for computer enthusiasts. Certainly not worthy of a "call out" post, and definitely not worth getting the cops involved.

 

[Meghan54]

Microcenter has always had bad CS. Hence, the cheap prices.

Then you've dealt with some crappy run Microcenters. The ones I shop, the two in Atlanta and the rare occasion I get to the one in Fairfax, VA, have all had exemplary CS....never a moment's problem in returning anything I've bought from them.

 

[CZroe]

Then you've dealt with some crappy run Microcenters. The ones I shop, the two in Atlanta and the rare occasion I get to the one in Fairfax, VA, have all had exemplary CS....never a moment's problem in returning anything I've bought from them.

Being so quick to accept a return is likely what got them in this mess. 🙂

 

[Castiel]

Microcenter has always had bad CS. Hence, the cheap prices. It's the Wal-Mart for computer enthusiasts. Certainly not worthy of a "call out" post, and definitely not worth getting the cops involved.

HEY... I like walmart :biggrin:

 

[Nebor]

I paid mostly cash for this transaction, though I plan on charging back the ~$60 on my card.

#1 Forgot wallet
#2 Called the police
#3 Payed with a mixture of cash & credit

Yeah, I'm sure they're REALLY going to miss you at Microcenter. 🙄

 

[Hogan773]

I wonder what the Westmont police officer was thinking......

"WTF! Some computer nerd called me into this computer nerd store and is whining about how some other computer nerd that works behind the counter switched his Mother's board out for some other Mother's board while he went home to get his wallet which he forgot to bring over when he drove here (wait a minute - that means he was driving without a license) anyway back to my thoughts - why is that one computer nerd with the whiny voice poking that other computer nerd with his skinny little finger - why am I even IN this horrible store with all these computer nerds walking around - hmmmm let me see if I can look around and find even ONE piece of tail that I'd even CONSIDER hitting - hmmmm nope, I don't see one, not at all - jeezus when are these nerds gonna stop arguing with each other - I have half a mind to bring them both out back by the dumpster and see if they'll fight each other - yeah, a nerd cockfight - that would be funny - I'd call down the other guys from the station and we could bet on which nerd wins - good lord I'm not even listening to these guys - I'd better at least ACT interested otherwise I think they'll never shut up - maybe I should pull out my pad and pen and pretend to take notes - doodle doodle doodle - wait look over there, maybe that is a piece of a$$ that just walked in - yep yep here we go - ohhh no wait, its a 'butter face' as in 'everything but her face' --- hold on, I think that one nerd with the ugly tie who looks like he's 14 years old just brought over this other nerd who says he is the "manager" even though he looks like he's 16 years old and I'm betting money has never "managed" to get his hands inside a woman's pants in his whole life - man alive, what a day - have I saved someone from being shot? No. Have I stopped a criminal in his tracks before he executed a heinous crime? No. I'm standing in this Micro Store listening to two people pointing at some gadget that this kid was trying to get for his Mother apparently. I gotta get a new beat............"

 

[Nebor]

Could we move this thread to OT so we can wail on the OP?

 

[pcgeek101]

#1 Forgot wallet
#2 Called the police
#3 Payed with a mixture of cash & credit

Yeah, I'm sure they're REALLY going to miss you at Microcenter. 🙄

Paid*

Who's wailing on who, now?

 

[pcgeek101]

Being so quick to accept a return is likely what got them in this mess. 🙂

I think it was someone, or several people, working on the inside of the store. I got there not more than 3 minutes after the store opened, and that was the first day that they sold any Sandy Bridge hardware, to my knowledge.

I don't see how any other person, besides an employee, could have swapped boards or done anything fishy.

 

[pcgeek101]

Sometimes they are too tight to slide off without mangling the box, which I guess is how they are supposed to be and usually aren't. I, too, have done it many times from motherboards bought at Fry's in Duluth and Alpharetta coming from south on I-85 (Newnan, GA).

Your initial description is how the straps around the board I got from Fry's were. The box was slightly disfigured from the pressure that the straps put on it.

Additionally, there is a return sticker that no one is going to be able to remove without a hell of a lot of work.

My point is that Fry's has several layers of security, and Micro Center has none.

 

[Meghan54]

That return sticker can be slapped on anywhere on the box. The last couple I bought from Fry's had them on the front, nowhere near the opening seam for the top.

And even when the straps are dug into the box as most are, just working your fingernail under the strap and then easing it over the depression gets the strap sliding right off.