Gigabyte/Computer Lounge not honoring warranty

[DrDray]

About 5 weeks ago I purchased a second hand (but brand new, unopened) Gigabyte H97 Gaming 3 motherboard for $150NZD.

 

I chucked in my new (to me) i74770k and set of brand new G.SKILL Ripjaws X 2x4gb DDR3 1600MHZ from a local store called PB Tech (I live in Chirstchurch, New Zealand).

 

I was excited to put together my new PC and unfortunately the pc was stuck in a boot loop, I then decided to take out one stick of RAM as I know it's a likely culprit and bam, the PC booted! Next day I went back to PB Tech with the ram and said that I was having issues with it and it would not boot with both sticks in, they tested it with a nearly identical rig and it worked fine. Me being confused, I took it home and tried with two sticks and it was a no go, but I could still run either stick one at a time with no problems. I started asking around forums about what could cause this issue and they all said bent pins on the CPU socket. So I took the CPU back off and noticed that a bunch of pins were bent, so I carefully bent them back and reassembled but still would not boot, pulled back apart again and under a closer examination i noticed that on the very bottom left corner that a pin was actually snapped and missing.

 

 

Note picture was taken AFTER I'd attempted to bend back most of the pins

 

I then took pictures and sent them to the guy I bought the board off and he then forwarded it to Computer Lounge and they said to send it back to them to evaluate, they then came back and said that it is "used/messed with" so won't honor it. They then went to Gigabyte with the issue and they replied with the same thing, but (quote from email I received) "I asked them to pursue it with Gigabyte and they did so; Gigabyte won't honor the warranty but they'll fix it; the catch being the cost to fix it is $150"

 

 

I don't see how this is fair at all, it was DOA? I'm not stupid enough to bend about 12 pins in total in 2 different spots and then snap one in a different area?? 

 

I hardly see how this is fair.

[Godlygamer23]

Here's the thing: You touched the CPU socket and bent some pins back. From their perspective, who's to say you didn't snap the pin?

[exercutor5]

This is why you should always check your product physically before leaving the store.

[DrDray]

Here's the thing: You touched the CPU socket and bent some pins back. From their perspective, who's to say you didn't snap the pin?

I understand that, but even still the pins shouldn't have been bent in the first place? If the pins weren't bent then I wouldn't have to bend them back (and in their eyes I could've snapped it) But, if they weren't bent to start off with then I would not be in this problem

[DXMember]

Yeah, got same problem with Gigabyte, frak them... they have the worst customer service,

All I did is try to install CPU but it didn't go in at first, I had to force it a little, when I got it in it didn't boot.

Then I took out the CPU...

AND THE FRAKING PINS WERE BENT AND EVEN SOME CAPACITORS SNAPPED OFF,

WTF GIGABYTE?????

 

 

how is this fair? Q.Q

[DXMember]

I understand that, but even still the pins shouldn't have been bent in the first place? If the pins weren't bent then I wouldn't have to bend them back (and in their eyes I could've snapped it) But, if they weren't bent to start off with then I would not be in this problem

if they were bent to start off then you shouldn't have touched it and immediately returned it

it's your fault as a user

and you most likely didn't install the CPU careful enough which caused the bent pins in the first place

 

it is highly unlikely for LGA board to leave manufacturing site with bent pins, 80% of the time it's user error

Motherboard makers usually replace it even if the CPU was indeed installed improperly but since you physically touched the pins it's void immediately

[DrDray]

if they were bent to start off then you shouldn't have touched it and immediately returned it

it's your fault as a user

and you most likely didn't install the CPU careful enough which caused the bent pins in the first place

 

it is highly unlikely for LGA board to leave manufacturing site with bent pins, 80% of the time it's user error

Motherboard makers usually replace it even if the CPU was indeed installed improperly but since you physically touched the pins it's void immediately

How does one actually bend pins via installing the CPU? genuine question, you'd have to be fairly fucking aggresive

[DXMember]

How does one actually bend pins via installing the CPU? genuine question, you'd have to be fairly fucking aggresive

the pins are fairly fucking delicate and don't require much to bend them, that's why the socket always comes with a plastic cover and whenever you use the motherboard without a CPU in the socket you must always put the plastic cover back on

[exercutor5]

Yeah, got same problem with Gigabyte, frak them... they have the worst customer service,

All I did is try to install CPU but it didn't go in at first, I had to force it a little, when I got it in it didn't boot.

Then I took out the CPU...

AND THE FRAKING PINS WERE BENT AND EVEN SOME CAPACITORS SNAPPED OFF,

WTF GIGABYTE?????

 

 

how is this fair? Q.Q

 

Those look like metal worms coming out of their caves lel

[DXMember]

Those look like metal worms coming out of their caves lel

#GigabyteRuinedMyFrakingLife

[DrDray]

the pins are fairly fucking delicate and don't require much to bend them, that's why the socket always comes with a plastic cover and whenever you use the motherboard without a CPU in the socket you must always put the plastic cover back on

I still don't even understand how one can bend pins when putting a cpu straight down into the socket, pins were even bent 180 degrees over. I understand where you're coming from but it's bs

[DrDray]

Yeah, got same problem with Gigabyte, frak them... they have the worst customer service,

All I did is try to install CPU but it didn't go in at first, I had to force it a little, when I got it in it didn't boot.

Then I took out the CPU...

AND THE FRAKING PINS WERE BENT AND EVEN SOME CAPACITORS SNAPPED OFF,

WTF GIGABYTE?????

 

 

how is this fair? Q.Q

have you tried turning it off and back on again? lol

[DXMember]

I still don't even understand how one can bend pins when putting a cpu straight down into the socket, pins were even bent 180 degrees over. I understand where you're coming from but it's bs

then you shouldn't have touched it

you never touch the pins

if there is anything wrong with the pins you immediately call the retailer and tell them you're bringing it back in for a replacement

 

that's pretty much your life lesson, now you know what to do if it ever happens again

 

i'm sorry for your loss, move on

[Prysin]

I understand that, but even still the pins shouldn't have been bent in the first place? If the pins weren't bent then I wouldn't have to bend them back (and in their eyes I could've snapped it) But, if they weren't bent to start off with then I would not be in this problem

if it is broken, and under warranty. Do not try fix it yourself.

 

I work with customers who try this all the time, this is exactly how you void your warranty

[RZeroX]

Try posting this on GPForums as some of the CL Staff are there and they may be able to help you out with this.

[DXMember]

Try posting this on GPForums as some of the CL Staff are there and they may be able to help you out with this.

what's  gpforums?

what's cl?

can they help me too? (linked pic above)

[RZeroX]

what's  gpforums?

what's cl?

can they help me too? (linked pic above)

It's a NZ Forum

CL= Computer Lounge

Doubt it.

[DrDray]

It's a NZ Forum

CL= Computer Lounge

Doubt it.

Thanks for the info but I'm just gonna drop it, considering I messed with the pins and I kinda need the money for it sooner rather than later