Where do I stand on this RMA?

Rambo2683 · 22 Oct 2009 at 12:36

I RMA-ed a motherboard which was dead on arrival from a very big ocuk competitor.
They say the socket is damaged and have rejected my RMA.
What the hell?
Does this mean there's nothing I can do now and have to keep a dead Motherboard?

MeatLoaf · 22 Oct 2009 at 12:41

Rambo2683 said:
I RMA-ed a motherboard which was dead on arrival from a very big ocuk competitor.
They say the socket is damaged and have rejected my RMA.
What the hell?
Does this mean there's nothing I can do now and have to keep a dead Motherboard?

Did you send it back with the socket protector installed ( assuming it was an intel board )

Rambo2683 · 22 Oct 2009 at 12:46

Yep, the protector was back on, I sent it back in pristine condition, all boxed as new.

mogwai · 22 Oct 2009 at 12:49

Did they say what the damage was?

I had to send an Asus Maximus Formula back once as it arrived with bent pins in socket for the cpu which was swapped no questions asked.

Rambo2683 · 22 Oct 2009 at 12:51

They just said damage to CPU socket, nothing much else. I've sent an email asking where we go from here, but from the sounds of it I'm gonna be ruined big time

Rambo2683 · 22 Oct 2009 at 13:52

I got an email saying this...

'Further to your mail, as there is no insurance on the invoice we are unable to help further, the board will be sent back to you.'

Looks like I'm stuffed!!!!!!!!!
What an absolute joke.

HazardO · 22 Oct 2009 at 13:56

Reject it under the DSA.

Engram · 22 Oct 2009 at 13:57

You could try contacting the Office of Fair Trading. They're responsible for enforcing the distance selling regulations.

It will be interesting to see what state the socket is in when you get it back.

Ch3m1c4L · 22 Oct 2009 at 14:17

if it wasnt damged when you sent it, and it was when they recieved it, it was damaged in transi, which is what postal insurance is for?

dl763 · 22 Oct 2009 at 14:24

Seen lots of boards in my time with damaged sockets (worked in returns department for very big OCUK competitor- maybe not the same) and i've even seen one where every pin had been straightened on a 775!

JonJ678 · 22 Oct 2009 at 14:26

The inside of a cpu socket, covered with protector, is vanishingly unlikely to be damaged in transit. However bent pins can easily prevent the board from working on arrival.

I would phone and say that the reason the board was doa was that the cpu socket was damaged, so refusing an rma based on this is inappropriate. If needs be refer them to the many recent pages on foxconn cpu sockets.

dl763 · 22 Oct 2009 at 14:27

Get them to send a pic of the damage and then post it on here for us experts to look at

Audigex · 22 Oct 2009 at 14:34

Presumably they're assuming that you damaged the socket and then sent it back. That's the point you'll have to refute/argue over.

Rambo2683 · 22 Oct 2009 at 14:52

I kinda skipped ahead and rang my credit card company. Told them what had happened and he was laughing saying they don't have a case. And the fact they are still in possession of the goods was even better. He said recent changes in the trading legislation meant he could refund me in full right there and then.
He said they don't have a leg to stand on and I can consider it done and dusted save for a few letters of correspondence because he expects they will put up a fight, but apparently I have nothing to worry about.

I find it a shame though, I had the highest regard for this competitor as I had never had an issue before this. But I won't be shafted like this, I can't afford to be. I am no hardware amateur either, I know accidents happen but I can say with certainty I wasn't at fault here.

Dano · 22 Oct 2009 at 15:02

Rambo2683 said:
I find it a shame though, I had the highest regard for this competitor as I had never had an issue before this. But I won't be shafted like this, I can't afford to be. I am no hardware amateur either, I know accidents happen but I can say with certainty I wasn't at fault here.

To be fair though they do probably get a lot of hardware returned that has been damaged by the user, just sucks that your genuine issue was lumped in with them.

mogwai · 22 Oct 2009 at 15:33

Could it even be that they have mixed up someone elses board with your one. This has happend to me before.

Engram · 22 Oct 2009 at 16:52

Dano said:
To be fair though they do probably get a lot of hardware returned that has been damaged by the user, just sucks that your genuine issue was lumped in with them.

That's a good point.

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It's good that your CC company are being so helpful!

Rambo2683 · 22 Oct 2009 at 19:05

Engram said:
It's good that your CC company are being so helpful!

I know, I absolutely despise this particular card company normally, but have still got it cos I'm in no position to pay it off in full at the mo.
I am so glad I paid using them though because I think they are as nasty and unforgiving to the retailer as they are to me, lol.
I paid for the rest of my components with a debit card, I'm so glad I didn't for the motherboard....fate?

capriboy1978 · 22 Oct 2009 at 21:31

credit cards are a fantastic tool for paying for goods thanks to the consumer credit act. lucky for you buddy.

HazardO · 23 Oct 2009 at 15:37

Always pay for goods online with a credit card.

1) Prevents unscrupulous dealers getting access to your bank account details.
2) Consumer credit protection applies to credit only.