****check serial number sticker on GPU****

[dave2110]

I am having a hard time believing that the manufacturers of these incredibly complicated pieces of kit have not in some way built in a unique identifier, in the hardware or the code.
Do they really rely on a 5p sticker that is barely stuck on when new and is presumably quite easy to swap if you wanted to scam, to verify its within the warranty period?
The cynic in me thinks that its just an easy way to avoid warranty claims.

 

[bru]

dave2110 did you by any chance take pictures of the card or the box when it arrived, maybe just maybe the serial number is visible on one of them?

 

[dave2110]

Hi Bru, thx but unfortunately no, good idea though, will do this next time as well as check there is actually a sticker in the first place.

 

[MyBrainz]

I see 2 stickers with barcodes firmly stuck on the PCB of my 7950 and my card has been overclocked like crazy and is over 3 years old now.. but its a Sapphire card

Its obviously the quality of the sticker used.

 

[Gregster]

I have bought so many GPUs and never had the serial number sticker fall off. Having been on these forums for some time, it has been said many times that the serial number is important should you ever need to RMA a card.

At least you have learned something new.

 

[Joe!]

Where are these mystical serial numbers?

I can't say I've ever noticed one.

Edit: Nvm saw it first time when looking.

On the PCB, next to the GPU and under the backplate.

I guess they're easier to lose when there's no backplate?

 

[Klunt Bumskrint]

This is why when I buy a new GPU I register it on the corresponding site. My Titans I registered them on the EVGA warranty site, serial number kept safe.

 

[dave2110]

not sure registering on warranty site will help if the sticker falls off, apparantly the only way to identify a card is by the sticker.

if the sticker is not on the card, there is no way of proving it matches the serial number you have recorded.

 

[Drangueos]

I had many GPUs that came with the serial number sticker already peeling off straight out of the box, mostly MSI cards, with the heat inside the case it would make it even easier to peel them off.
So some of them I just removed myself and put on a non stick paper and kept it safe in case I need to RMA, which actually happened once with a MSI 7950.

 

[dave2110]

according to the very rude person I sopke with at OCUK, he has never seen a card which did not have a sticker on and directly accused me of intentionally removing it

 

[rtho782]

Not sure what relevance the SN sticker even has, the item was sold as carrying a warranty, and being as the 980ti is not that old it CANNOT be out of this warranty period.

Any court would side with the customer here on the balance of probabilities.

 

[jakspyder]

I have an Evga 980ti. What's to stop me getting a cheap faulty one off ebay, sending that back claiming that is mine that I bought from Ocuk and getting a new one sent out. Suddenly I have a 2nd 980ti for free.

This is where the serial number comes into play. They record the serial number of the card that comes out to me and can compare that if it comes back as an rma.

It's not completely fool proof but it stops a lot of scams.

Surely you could just buy the faulty 980ti, put the sticker from your working one on it, RMA it, get a 2nd one free.

like... the sticker encourages fraud because its so easy...

When did removable paper labels become acceptable ID tags...

Imagine if your passport was just a sticky label with your name on it, that if it ever fell off you were unable to travel again.

 

[Jim99]

Not sure what relevance the SN sticker even has, the item was sold as carrying a warranty, and being as the 980ti is not that old it CANNOT be out of this warranty period.

Any court would side with the customer here on the balance of probabilities.

Because warranties are typically dependent on a variety of things, not just how old it is. In most cases, they'll require original receipts and serial numbers that tally up in the T&Cs - and if that's what the warranty says, there's not much you can do.

 

[rtho782]

Because warranties are typically dependent on a variety of things, not just how old it is. In most cases, they'll require original receipts and serial numbers that tally up in the T&Cs - and if that's what the warranty says, there's not much you can do.

The advertisement doesn't say "Warranty of X years subject to terms" it just says "X years warranty", and the advertisement forms the basis of your sales contract with the retailer. If the goods have gone faulty then the retailer is potentially in breach of the sale of goods act by refusing a remedy.

Note that any such terms will always state "this does not affect your statutory rights".

By retrospectively imposing terms on the advertised warranty that the customer has no opportunity to read before entering into a sales contract the terms are worthless.

 

[andybird123]

Warranties can say whatever they like, as they are in addition to your statutory rights.
The warranty is supplied by the manufacturer but your contract and stat rights are with the retailer, and if you paid by credit card you can also just get your money back that way.

 

[Jim99]

The advertisement doesn't say "Warranty of X years subject to terms" it just says "X years warranty", and the advertisement forms the basis of your sales contract with the retailer. If the goods have gone faulty then the retailer is potentially in breach of the sale of goods act by refusing a remedy.

Note that any such terms will always state "this does not affect your statutory rights".

By retrospectively imposing terms on the advertised warranty that the customer has no opportunity to read before entering into a sales contract the terms are worthless.

You're conflating warranties and SOGA.

 

[rtho782]

You're conflating warranties and SOGA.

If he is offered a warranty of 3 years and instead gets a warranty of 3 years subject to the presence of the serial number sticker, I would argue the goods are not as described - even if fully working.

 

[Jim99]

If he is offered a warranty of 3 years and instead gets a warranty of 3 years subject to the presence of the serial number sticker, I would argue the goods are not as described - even if fully working.

Without checking the specific terms of the warranty, they're somewhat valueless. We just tend to presume that the terms will be reasonable etc. I'd argue that you ought to check it before you buy.

Virtually every warranty is dependent on something, whether that's an original receipt, sticker or whatever. That's never going to be published in full on the item description on the web, or on the side of the box in a shop.

 

[ZeroG]

But surely you also have to see it from the supplier/manufacturers side. Putting the warranty issue aside for the moment, how do they know you are sending them the same card back that they sent you?

 

[moogle]

I have recieved quite a few brand new cards where the serial number stick is barely stuck to the card.

It's usually always stuck on top of capacitors/resistors on the underside where it never fully makes a proper connection to the board. I don't get why they can't just stick it to the flat surface. Even then it will probably still peel off due to the heat but at least it'd have a better chance of surviving over the years.