Motherboard damage - advice / thoughts please

[Middenacht]

Hi folks

Purchased a new X870 motherboard (circa £300) from a well know large retailer but not OCUK (as they didnt have stock).

I purchased this along with some other items, which aside from my CPU (9800X3D) would all arrive roughly together. The CPU was on backorder.

Knowing I didnt have a CPU to put into the board, the mistake I made was not checking under the CPU cover of the motherboard until I had had it for 3 days. I videoed the entire unboxing from the couriers packaging to opening the box, getting it out the bag and then checking the socket in a single take video, and then discovering what I thought was a foreign body between 4 pins which wouldnt blow out.

I immediately contacted said company, let them know I had the unboxing video and asked for it to be replaced as it had been shipped with damage. They agreed to RMA. Today they have reviewed it and stated that as I didnt check within first 48 hrs, its no longer available for a replacement. They are looking into whether they can do a warranty repair or whether Im SOL.
Given this item is still under the 14 day distance selling act (even though its been with them for 3 days) I am feeling a little miffed on the basis I have proof I didnt cause the damage (above mentioned vid). They have stated the distance selling act is void due to the damage I caused. This incensed me as I had already explained I can prove I did not cause the damage but they then said that I have no proof of that. Which is a little confusing, given a date/time stamped unboxing vid taken on the day I shipped it back to them.

Ive already bought a new board and am building my PC (having a suspicion this exact outcome would happen). If I had been a student with next to no money (which in fact I have been), this would have been a very upsetting outcome so far. Given their statement I damaged it, I am now in the mood for a tussle, which I accept may cost me more than the board itself is worth.

Does anyone feel I have a case? Or despite video evidence of no wrong doing am I just going to be fighting against 'company policies' and wasting time, effort and money taking this further? Surely consumers are protected against damaged goods being shipped to you?

Cheers

 

[Tetras]

Is this the four letter company?

You'll often find they will try it on until you push back, you have covered yourself with the video and I'd make a fuss on social media or review sites, because that's usually more effective than trying to argue over emall.

 

[Middenacht]

Is this the four letter company?

You'll often find they will try it on until you push back, you have covered yourself with the video and I'd make a fuss on social media or review sites, because that's usually more effective than trying to argue over emall.

Yes, four letters, the first one being quite a wiggly letter.

Hadnt thought about social media. Ill see where they have a presence.

I was going to involve a solicitor and/or trading standards depending on the solicitors advice, but costs would end up well beyond the cost of the motherboard, unless this went to small claims and I recovered those costs. Its the principle Im annoyed about. They can basically ship anything out and claim the customer damaged it. My annoyance is primarily that this was a Christmas present which I received on their last trading day before they closed down. So their 48 hour rule seems asinine in this case. I also cant immediately find any mention of the 48hr thing in any correspondence I have looked over from them, but im sure its in there somewhere. The person on the line seemed gleefully sure of themselves.

I have to wait now for them to drop the axe and make their decision about how they will proceed, but based on Fridays call with them, I am have little hope of a happy outcome.

 

[hornetstinger]

I had a an issue with that company also, can't remember what is was, but yeah not interested when it went faulty.

 

[Alex h]

Yeh well known for poor aftersales when something is wrong that why I don't use them