Ongoing 290x issues - need advice

[Nelly]

Hmm everytime you get a new card in return your warranty renews again with the replacement card. Meaning if a 12months old card with a 2 year warranty period gets RMA'ed and is exchanged for a replacement card then you get a new 2 year warranty period along with a revised invoice. At least it's how it works in Denmark. I assumed it was pretty much the same overall in Europe.

Well, only one company in the UK gives a full refund at anytime within the warranty period no matter what brand, so you can then buy a new card with full warranty again.

Nothing beats that anywhere in the UK, once you get treated like that as a customer, it makes you go back again and again. Makes even Asus products totally desirable.

 

[TNA]

After roughly 3hrs on the phone (or more precisely - on hold) to asus tech support, I finally got a response: We're very busy at the moment and will have to call you back. They never did. And that was an international call. At peak times. All in all, about 40euro worth. I could've flown to thier UK office for only a little more and beaten them to death with this brick of a card.

That aside, I continued to e-mail them about it, got the usual "Did you try this driver from nov '13? did you flash to the latest bios for the card? have you tested it in another machine?" and so on. This went around in circles for 2-3 days until I finally got:

"We're sorry for the poor experience with our product, you should request a refund from the retailer". I made it clear (for the second time) that it was 16 months since the original purchase, long passed any point of retailers refund - and quite frankly it was insulting to return the card to them a 4th time for the exact same issue.

Then I was greeted with this gem: "We don't deal with technical issues and faults. You will have to go through your retailer's support and RMA channels".

So there you have it folks: Asus technical support - They don't deal with technical issues.

That is disgusting support from asus. I have had a bit better luck in the past, but was with a laptop. I don't see the point in paying them a premium on products if they have not got your back when their product fails to function as advertised in the warranty period.

Well, only one company in the UK gives a full refund at anytime within the warranty period no matter what brand, so you can then buy a new card with full warranty again.

Nothing beats that anywhere in the UK, once you get treated like that as a customer, it makes you go back again and again. Makes even Asus products totally desirable.

Yeah, exactly. I used the company you mention a lot for the exact same reason. Would rather pay a bit more from them knowing I don't need to worry and run around chasing them jumping through loops and getting nowhere. Some companies process is so bad they make you feel like a criminal. Lol.

Every company should offer a no quibble replacement/full refund, even in credit form, but some plonkers abuse such things I suppose and that makes companies not want to offer it.

Lucky for me 9 out of 10 things I buy last a long time as they should

 

[Surfer]

gets RMA'ed and is exchanged for a replacement card then you get a new 2 year warranty period along with a revised invoice. At least it's how it works in Denmark. I assumed it was pretty much the same overall in Europe.

Yes thats how it should work for those in EU. 2 year warranty according to EU law. This is why i generally ignore t&cs and manufacturer "warranties" which give me less rights than those in EU consumer law. In saying that SOGA is generally sufficient...and things get more murky/convoluted after you've had the item 6 months.

edit: but that is shocking CS treatment by ASUS there...think i will be avoiding their products in future.


Regarding the original post about the vagaries of the 290x / 290 ...ie seemingly so many apparently "NEW" graphics cards that are faulty (at least that is how it appears to me and has happened to me as well) it is rather disturbing (will continue to keep my eye on this)....do graphic card manufacturers not do extensive Q&A testing anymore?

 

[Stunted]

Well here's where I'm at:

The 1st card was bought @ its release. Cost = 523.56 (inc tax/delivery), ~ 715euro @ current exchange rate.

This will be my 4th returned card, it's costing ~35 euro per package for the RMA delivery costs. That's ~140 euro total.

Phone call with Asus was another ~40 euro.

So I'm at a total cost of close to 900 euro for a card with a current market value new of ~390 euro (on this site, inc standard delivery).

And I've yet to get a fully working/functioning as described product!

 

[Marine-RX179]

Well here's where I'm at:

The 1st card was bought @ its release. Cost = 523.56 (inc tax/delivery), ~ 715euro @ current exchange rate.

This will be my 4th returned card, it's costing ~35 euro per package for the RMA delivery costs. That's ~140 euro total.

Phone call with Asus was another ~40 euro.

So I'm at a total cost of close to 900 euro for a card with a current market value new of ~390 euro (on this site, inc standard delivery).

And I've yet to get a fully working/functioning as described product!

I would take this note to myself as well- think twice about buying Asus products, not matter how attractive they might seem...

Though I believe OcUK take care of the entire duration of warranty for Asus product, so may be customers might be be less screwed comparing to buying from elsewhere...

 

[Stunted]

I would take this note to myself as well- think twice about buying Asus products, not matter how attractive they might seem...

Though I believe OcUK take care of the entire duration of warranty for Asus product, so may be customers might be be less screwed comparing to buying from elsewhere...

They have been - they've been the ones replacing the cards after all. From my email records (I've got a few of these!):

Overlockers UK Mailer ([email protected])

Dear Mr. **** (Privacy and all that jazz!)

The product GX-330-AS on RMA****** (edit: let's leave those out for now too!) has been sent back to manufacturer for repair or replacement. It will be returned to you as soon as we receive it.

Please be aware it can take up to 28 working days to receive a repair / replacement from the manufacturer.

Further email confirmation will be sent when the item is returned to you.

Regards,

Overclockers UK - Support
WebNotes:- https://www.overclockers.co.uk/webnote.php
Telephone:- 01782 444455

PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS AUTOMATED EMAIL

All my RMA's thus far have been through OCUK, and while they've honored them each time, I'm sure even they're getting tired of it. And it's getting costly for me! Shipping these things back to the UK constantly isn't cheap. And waiting for a month round trip is time is a frustratingly long time for someone who spends their day either stuck in their house or a hospital bed.

Boredom tends to set in very quick

 

[Marine-RX179]

All my RMA's thus far have been through OCUK, and while they've honored them each time, I'm sure even they're getting tired of it. And it's getting costly for me! Shipping these things back to the UK constantly isn't cheap. And waiting for a month round trip is time is a frustratingly long time for someone who spends their day either stuck in their house or a hospital bed.

Boredom tends to set in very quick

You should probably buy Gigabyte from now on since they are based in Milton Keynes UK

 

[Stunted]

You should probably buy Gigabyte from now on since they are based in Milton Keynes UK

Well the RMA shipping costs is from where I am now to OCUK themselves @ Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire.

I live in the arse end of Ireland and nothing here is cheap, especially postal services.