Warning - Beware of fake GPUs

[Tinek]

With my SSD I ordered two evo 4tb direct from them, not a reseller. One was 512gb inside, with slight different internal packaging. I spoke to the CS rep straight away and she said to send them both back for an instant refund, nothing else was necessary (I double checked this). When I did they only refunded me for one, and discarded the item that "wasn't what they were expecting". It took loads of chats and they were asking me why I hadn't done this or that, but I said I did exactly what their cs rep had told me to do. Different cs reps would say different things as well, wait till x date, "case is closed you need to send right item in", we are investigating, "we can't do anything" etc. I started proceedings with my CC after about 3 weeks and got an instant refund, But also an email saying "my returns weren't in line with Forrest policy" and threatened my account (they are roughly 10% returns IIRC, 20+ year old account).

After this experience, you can understand why I'm hesitant to go through it again with this Trio. I have spoken to them this morning, and even linked to this thread, and they insist it is sold directly from them so no issues (as I presume OPs is and my SSDs were) and they will pass on feedback.

Ultimately I get the impression all customer service is outsourced to a foreign country, with no real powers and multiple people who just want rid of you. All thy can offer is platitudes. I'll be filming opening my Trio next week for sure.

I've never had such experience there but that could be just luck. Even recently I got 4tb SSD then decided to return it, they gave me a return postage label which didn't work in the post office, contacted CS by chat and just got issued refund instantly plus got told to keep the drive... Can't complain for a 200 quid gift. But again, I'm just a sample of one.

 

[Tinek]

What kind of extra protections does a credit card offer?

I did a successful chargeback recently with a debit card.

We had a big discussion about it relatively recently in another topic but people didn't like it and it went to the bin I believe, so not going that route again.

 

[Hostile_18]

My Trio from the same place comes tomorrow. Perhaps this may be the price I pay for my GPU war crime last month! lol.

Guess I'll be filming it upon opening!

 

[SkeeterUK]

When you buy from that place are you buying from "that" place or a 3rd party seller? If i was to buy a gpu there id make sure its from them and not a 3rd party seller. To minimise the risk of scams. I dunno if you still get scammed that way but i hope its more secure that way.

 

[Rilot]

I've changed the thread title. Not MSI's fault.

 

[Major774]

You do need to have a quick glance to make sure it is sold directly by them and not a 3rd party, any issues are easily resolved directly with them.

I bought my Palit GamingPro 5080 from them, no issues… so it’s not MSI specifically.

 

[Hostile_18]

My SSD issue with swapped parts was directly from the forest with no third party. Probably a casualty of their third party CS agents more than anything else though. But still super frustrating and had to spend a lot of time and effort to get a refund, many would have given up.

The Trio arriving soon is direct, as ops is, so fingers crossed.

 

[Yrkoon]

only been bit twice by similar things on there but no where near this scale with the price concerned i would be going absolutely mental.

first time was a when i bought a ryzen 3600x and in the box was someones old i5 and another time a switch game with the game removed from the box.

hope you get it sorted.

 

[SkeeterUK]

Could always email gamers nexus, they love a good old swap story.

 

[Gerard]

I'd never buy a pc component off amazon, i also got stung by the swaparoo years ago, my 980ti strix was replaced with an older geforce gpu. Got refunded no bother but its just too dodgy to get anything off amazon that is pc related.,

 

[TheCarcassKing]

I'd never buy a pc component off amazon, i also got stung by the swaparoo years ago, my 980ti strix was replaced with an older geforce gpu. Got refunded no bother but its just too dodgy to get anything off amazon that is pc related.,

Must be hit or miss, 2 years ago i pretty ordered every part for my pc from there minus the gpu. But i always make sure the seller is the manufacturer and not some random reseller.

Cant imagine the feeling of ordering a top end part and a different/older card turns up. I wonder if there are some people who dont know much about pc's think its the right part and just go along with it unaware theyve been had.

 

[Bizarre]

I bought a 2700 pound Asus laptop from there during lockdown which overheated to nigh on melting point so I returned it within a couple of days. A day or two after I returned it I received an email from them explaining they'd received the laptop box, and that they would issue my refund once I was ready to return the laptop. 3 weeks it took me of what I can only describe as traumatic, to finally receive my refund. I can not be fussed to go into the ins and outs of it all in regards to how I received my money back because it is so long winded, but I will say the fight for it took over my life, night and day. An experience I wish to, but will never forget.

Hopefully the op will not not experience any similar bs and be issued his refund without any problem, I'll be interested to find out. GL with it.

 

[andybird123]

I'd never buy a pc component off amazon, i also got stung by the swaparoo years ago, my 980ti strix was replaced with an older geforce gpu. Got refunded no bother but its just too dodgy to get anything off amazon that is pc related.,

I ordered a DSLR camera from them, received a box full of shower heads instead, there were a few hoops to jump through but I got a refund within a week. Yes they definitely have issues with items going walkies sometimes in fulfillment but I've never had a really big problem in getting recompense.

Recently got a 13900k at a really good price with no issues at all.

 

[Phixsator]

*snip*

Ultimately I get the impression all customer service is outsourced to a foreign country, with no real powers and multiple people who just want rid of you. All thy can offer is platitudes. I'll be filming opening my Trio next week for sure.

Automated Voice: Press 1 for English.
*presses 1*
Customer Service Rep *Incomprehensible thick Indian accent*: Halloo, this is Rajesh, how may I help you?

 

[Tom|Nbk]

And another reason to add to the list to stop messing round in the £sillymoney GPU arena.

 

[Troezar]

I'd never buy a pc component off amazon, i also got stung by the swaparoo years ago, my 980ti strix was replaced with an older geforce gpu. Got refunded no bother but its just too dodgy to get anything off amazon that is pc related.,

I wouldn't be surprised if there was some organised crime involved. Lots of money to be made by the sounds of it.

 

[Hostile_18]

My Trio arrived. Haven't tested it yet but it's all intact and as expected.

 

[Rawr]

Automated Voice: Press 1 for English.
*presses 1*
Customer Service Rep *Incomprehensible thick Indian accent*: Halloo, this is Rajesh, how may I help you?

I don't even think they transfer. My experience with Amazon support is sometimes they'll straight up lie to you to get you off the live chat. I've had it happen multiple times where they say they're going to refund money, give credit or something, they say they've actioned it, I've disconnected expecting it to happen like a mug and it doesn't. So I have to contact live chat again the next day to get a solution.

 

[Subliminal Aura]

This thread needs a plot twist ... Maybe it was the OP who swapped out the PCB

 

[Matthew Hunt]

I stopped buying computer components from the Rainforest due to being sent a different board.
I ordered an ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi II board from them and in the box was clearly a scam return of a ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi original.
So someone bought the II and then returned their I, which also had a couple of bent pins.

I contacted them and stated they sent me the wrong board and they just said return it.

2 weeks later I received this:-
"We received incorrect item , instead of the correct Item : ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi II (Intel 14th, 13th & 12th Gen) LGA 1700 ATX motherboard, 18+1 power stages, DDR5 slots, five M.2 slots, PCIe 5.0, WiFi 7, USB 20Gbps w/ PD 3.0 up to 30W , in your return of order # 026-3547989-4270716. Since the incorrect item was returned, Per Amazon's return policy, Amazon does not store mistakenly sent items, and no compensation is provided for incorrect items sent to Amazon. We're happy to accept the return of the correct item at your earliest convenience.

If you would like to appeal this decision, please reply to this email to reach an Account Specialist. Our Customer Service team can only confirm that we sent this message and help you with technical issues. They cannot reverse this decision or share more details on this matter."

I appealed and they just responded with exactly the same email back - So had to do a chargeback on the credit card, which took 3 months but eventually won.