I know that from a logical point of view one may reasonably believe that once GB gives a cash refund to one customer, they're obligated to follow suite for everyone. However, that may not necessarily be the case. As you may recall, when Mr. Grim first told us all about his good fortune to receive a full refund, I inquired about whether or not he had some particularly strong consumer protection statutes in his jurisdiction that might have been a persuasive factor leading to his refund. He indicated that he didn't think so, or was otherwise unaware of any such enhanced protections.
However, I believe that once the GB folks began to realize the scope of this problem, they decided that they would not voluntarily provide cash refunds to owners of the failed N680i boards, since that meant an extra net loss for them (difference between the cost to manufacturer the boards versus the full purchase price, which represents probably near half of what was paid for each board at retail). Therefore, I suspect that without litigation, either individually or as a class, or having their corporate testicles squeezed by some consumer protection agency, GB is not going to continue to offer cash refunds.
It is also in GB's interest to keep this group of customers (N680i owners) in the GB camp by providing the X48 board replacements, and even the N790i replacements if that comes to pass. GB may also attempt to blame a regional customer service error for the fact that Mr. Grim obtained a cash refund for his board in the first place. The mere fact that no one else has been offered or obtained a cash refund (that we know about), is itself the strongest indication that GB is not going to go down the cash refund trail, unless legally compelled to do so.
So, as I posted earlier, each individual N680i board owner will have to make a choice for him/herself as to what path they wish to travel. I don't see GB willingly providing cash refunds as an offered option, unless they are legally compelled to do so, OR, unless they get their corporate chestnuts roasted some more by a significant media site, i.e. Anandtech, for failing to offer that option. Aside from those possibilities, GB is not likely going to cough up chunks of cash to quell the discontent, especially since it has been able to make some inroads into the pool of rightfully discontented N680i owners through the swap program.
However, I'm also quite sure that some technologically-moxie law firm may launch a lawsuit if they believe they can reap a significant legal fee by doing so, since most consumer protection statutes require that the losing manufacturer pay all the plaintiff's legal fees, expenses and costs, as part of any verdict or settlement. So we shall all see how this ends up.
But one fact is certainly a glowing truth in this sad circumstance, that is, GIGABYTE BROUGHT THIS ALL ON ITSELF BY ITS CORPORATE ARROGANCE in not dealing with it effectively, quietly and very promptly when it first began to surface. This is even more true when you consider the fact that other manufacturers of N680i boards stepped up right away and made things right for their customers. This left GB standing alone in the arrogance arena. It is also very interesting to observe that GB has NEVER APOLOGIZED to its customers on account of this debacle. Of course, in some cultures, that may be perceived as a "loss of face," and would be unthinkable. However, in the western world at least, that would be viewed as the right and courageous thing to do.
So, Gigabyte, LOOK INTO YOUR CORPORATE MIRROR, there you will find the sole entity that is absolutely responsible for all this grief and negative business effect! It is written, "Ye shall reap what ye shall sow" (Galatians 6:7-10)
