Faulty GeIL stick returned from RMA as good

[IT Troll]

Faulty GeIL stick returned from RMA as "not faulty"?

I purchased GeIL 1GB (2x512MB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit to sit alongside my existing GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit in my DFI Infinity 975X (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard. However straight away I hit memory errors and quickly narrowed the problem down to one of the new 512MB sticks.

With Memtest86 this stick produces multiple failing address errors during Test 5. I have tried running the stick below spec at DDR712 and DDR534 at 5-5-5-15 timings but the errors remain. I have tried running at 2.1v and 2.2v but still the errors. At 2.05v or below (running DDR534) the PC will not even POST with this stick!

In contrast, the other 512MB stick and my two existing 1GB sticks work faultlessly at full speeds. To me this smacks of a faulty stick.

I RMAed the 1GB Kit with OcUK but the same sticks have been returned to me. RMA just states Returned To Customer.

What do I do now? I am missing something obvious?

The motherboard, processor and all the memory were purchased from OcUK.

 

[Cob]

If you're sure it's faulty return it for a refund under the distance selling act.

 

[stoofa]

If the item has been returned via an RMA, tested and then returned to the user it's highly unlikely they are still within the time limit to utilise the Distance Selling Regulations.

 

[Cob]

True. But I would still speak to OcUK and see if they would agree to swap it for something else since their testing of the sticks probably used up a fair bit of the distance selling time limit. Goodwill and all that.

 

[IT Troll]

I have put in a webnote asking them to detail the testing carried out and how we proceed from here...

 

[str]

I've been in contact with Geil recently regarding a direct RMA to them and they first suggested I send it back to OcUK because the agreement they have is an immediate replacement when memory is found to be faulty. I had other faulty Geil memory from elsewhere so I continued with the RMA with Geil anyway.

If you included a description of the problem and your testing methods for showing the errors then I'm surprised they would send it back to you as tested working.

 

[Vertigo]

That's Geil off my list come upgrade time then!

 

[Garyj881]

You will always get faulty products, don't not buy it because of one bad stick.

 

[stickroad]

Surely if OCUK return the Memory back to you as a working product, now surely its down to the user not doing something right that is preventing the system not working properly?

 

[Vertigo]

You will always get faulty products, don't not buy it because of one bad stick.

How about 3 in the space of 6 posts in one thread?

I'm sticking with Corsair tbh, never had any problems with them in the past, ever.

 

[hohum]

How about 3 in the space of 6 posts in one thread?

I'm sticking with Corsair tbh, never had any problems with them in the past, ever.

I bought a 2gig Corsair kit a while back, one stick was faulty. Returned to OCUK, got replacement kit, still had problems... turned out one of the sticks was faulty yet again however memtest86+ never found anything wrong with it despite being left running for hours (a windows based app called 'memtest' found that it was duff within seconds though). Ended up having to send the kit to Corsair themselves, had no PC for two weeks

Would I buy Corsair again? Sure, I just had bad luck that's all. Same goes for Geil, the majority of people have no problems.

 

[IT Troll]

Surely if OCUK return the Memory back to you as a working product, now surely its down to the user not doing something right that is preventing the system not working properly?

Could be. I'd love to know what I am doing that makes one stick work and the other not though. Any suggestions?

No response yet to my webnote.

 

[str]

I'd still recommend Geil memory even though I've had problems with my memory. Their direct RMA service has also turned out to be exceptional.

 

[IT Troll]

Thats good to hear, as I may have to resort to it.

 

[IT Troll]

WTF? Just discovered I've been charged £21.21 (without notification) for my RMA. The memory only cost £39.57 in the first place!

Still no response to my webnote. You would have thought I would be entitled to a response/test report for the money.

Gonna try the stick in another PC and take it from there...

 

[allosunshine]

If you read the T&C's for the RMA, if its found not faulty your charged £10+VAT+Return Delivery.

 

[Margaret]

If the item has been returned via an RMA, tested and then returned to the user it's highly unlikely they are still within the time limit to utilise the Distance Selling Regulations.

Is that the 28 day time limit?

If so then that's the reason I don't order expensive stuff from OcUK anymore, nightmare RMA service after the 28 days.

 

[The Running Man]

if your 100% sure the stick is faulty, id be prepared to start sending invoices to OCUK for shipping (to and from ocuk), expect instant replacement - not "we've sent it back to geil it'll be 4 weeks" either.

 

[Linwig]

If you read the T&C's for the RMA, if its found not faulty your charged £10+VAT+Return Delivery.

That works out about £9.46 to return a single stick of RAM.

 

[IT Troll]

If you read the T&C's for the RMA, if its found not faulty your charged £10+VAT+Return Delivery.

Apart from the fact that I'm sure it is faulty, the original order was sent by Royal Mail for a a couple of quid, whilst the RMA return was sent by courier. Surely I should get a test report for my £11.75?

I have certainly learnt my lesson on this one. If you think you have a faulty item, return it under Distance Selling Regs and then buy a replacement elsewhere!