Author Topic: Waaah! Dead GeForce 4 4600...DOA (Read 423 times)

LePaul · « **on:** July 01, 2002, 10:30:54 AM »

Finally took the time to assemble the new PC. Was almost done, just had to install the video card, close the case and power up. I took the shrinkwrap off the VisionTek GeForce 4 4600, and inside, there's that baby in a nice clear plastic box. I'm thumbing through the CDs, directions and TV in/out adaptor cable when something catches my eye..."debris" at the bottom of the clear plastic container that holds the card. Upon closer examination (leaving container closed...) its 2 transistors and a mini fuse. Ugh!

....and now Im on hold at VisionTek...been on the phone for 55 minutes waiting to speak to a tech for an RMA.

Wanker · « **Reply #1 on:** July 01, 2002, 10:33:39 AM »

Which retailer did you purchase it from?

LePaul · « **Reply #2 on:** July 01, 2002, 10:46:14 AM »

A gentleman on eBay.

The bad news: For VisionTek to cover it, I need the receipt from where he purchased it. Further, VisionTek is backordered on the cards (4-5 days).

Good News: Seller has offered 2 things...original receipt or, send it back to him, he'll replace the card and return the defective one where he bought it.

The new PC just gets delayed a week or so

Charon · « **Reply #3 on:** July 01, 2002, 10:57:55 AM »

Just had my first DOA with online shopping, a SB live from Newegg. They took care of it just fine, but it took an extra week. I could have paid an extra $30 at Best Buy (about twice as much) and avoided all this trouble I suppose

Charon

LePaul · « **Reply #4 on:** July 01, 2002, 11:42:19 AM »

Yea...I bought the card for $300 + $13 shipping...$99 less than what Best Buy had it on the shelf for, and I think these are still out of stock at NewEgg

The good news is the seller has a new card on order and its being sent red to me. He's a dealer and is very apologetic about the whole thing. I'm shipping the card back to him today, and he's in turn shipping it back to his vendor.

So, asides the time and hassle, its all working out quite well. The only other time I've had hardware show up with "pieces" falling out of it was a Sansung hard drive, with several chips laying in the bottom of the anti-static bag. Yikes! It happens.

Local would've been a great option had the price been as good.

Staga · « **Reply #5 on:** July 01, 2002, 11:45:40 AM »

That's one reason why I usually buy my hardware from local store even if I have to pay little more.
One HD I bought from there went broke after one month (seagate). I took it with me and went to the shop and gaved it to the shop keeper. He took another one from the storage, gave it to me and said "better luck with this one".
No fighting, no need for recipe (serial no. was in their comp.system) and no waiting.
Only thing I've ever ordered from elsewhere was 512megs DDR . I couldn't find one from here so I ordered it straight from Mushkin

Eagler · « **Reply #6 on:** July 01, 2002, 12:14:31 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Staga
That's one reason why I usually buy my hardware from local store even if I have to pay little more.
One HD I bought from there went broke after one month (seagate). I took it with me and went to the shop and gaved it to the shop keeper. He took another one from the storage, gave it to me and said "better luck with this one".
No fighting, no need for recipe (serial no. was in their comp.system) and no waiting.
Only thing I've ever ordered from elsewhere was 512megs DDR . I couldn't find one from here so I ordered it straight from Mushkin

ditto

buy my motherboards & cpus online (http://www.tccomputers.com) - the rest is local

capt. apathy · « **Reply #7 on:** July 01, 2002, 01:43:50 PM »

local stores are the only way to go.

3 years ago i did an upgrade (processor, motherboard, ram) and i found I could save $55 if i bought it at a store in tacoma(150 mi). since i had some business up there anyway i stopped in and got the parts.

the motherboard and processor where both crap so 2 or 3 aditional trips later I finally had my system back up and running.

the store was very good about the returns but I still burned up about 600-900 extra miles and a couple of days.

hell I could have bought a whole new system for the extra time and money it cost me

Morgoth · « **Reply #8 on:** July 01, 2002, 03:24:53 PM »

I've never had a problem buying stuff from either MultiWave Direct or NewEgg.com. Never had any DOAs but I did have a motherboard that roasted the hell out of an AMD proc due to a faulty voltage reg. NewEgg replaced both very quickly (3 days including shipping).

The only time I ever buy local is in emergencies. I had a motherboard toejam on me 4 hours before a LAN party and I paid a premium price at a mom and pop shop just to get me up and going again. Most distasteful ...

volsung1 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 01, 2002, 04:41:09 PM »

OUCH!! Those Bastages!:mad:

SKurj · « **Reply #10 on:** July 02, 2002, 12:17:35 PM »

and ppl wonder why i shop local +)

sorry about yer luck LePaul

SKurj

LePaul · « **Reply #11 on:** July 02, 2002, 02:46:50 PM »

New one will be here Friday

I did buy the hard drive, case, keyb, mouse, hard drive and fans local. CPU, RAM, OS and Video Card were all eBay/OnLine Shopping (GoogleGear.Com for Win2k OS + CPU, Crucial for RAM, eBay for GeForce 4 card)

So, what I could get locally, I did. In hindsight, ya, $100 extra for card mighta been good...but had I done that, I probably wouldve kicked myself FOR SPENDING $100 extra... Its a vicious cycle, eh?