Tiger Direct Sandy Bridge Solution

[BladeVenom]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcrLbzcscqY They are offering SATA cards to fix the problem.

 

[Zap]

That's one way around the problem. If the motherboard manufacturer offers replacements at a later date, does TD want the SATA cards back? If not, hey free SATA cards!

 

[JWalker55]

lol, I like how the guy refers to them as "600 gigabit" and "300 gigabit" ports.

 

[C1]

Use of an external board is a patch not a fix. Besides displacing a MB slot, can that slot be expected to support the bandwidth of ALL the SATA II & III ports that it's supposed to replace (ie, shown in the youtube)?

I think not.

 

[Ariae]

What a joke. This is why I never buy from TD.

 

[postmortemIA]

These defective boards should be selling at heavy discount.

Cheap SATA cards wereusually worse than build in onboard controllers - until now. I wouldn't rely my data on practically no-name controllers.

 

[darinf]

Why isn't Gigabyte handling the returns/exchanges directly like ASUS?

The problem I am having is that the people at TigerDirect.com are not very knowledgeable or helpful.

I have called twice. The last time, the CSR told me my only option is to return the Gigabyte motherboard for a refund.

The problem is that I am using it as my main work computer. I explained that to them. I explained that I do not want to be without a computer until April, best case. TigerDirect's response was that I only had 30 days to return the defective motherboard.

Then he said, "We can do an exchange, but we don't have anything to exchange it for right now. But when the new replacements are available we can ship that to you." Great, I am thinking. but then I ask, "But the replacement motherboards will not be available in 30 days." The CSR says, "Oh, well in that case, I will send you a return shipping label now so you can return the board before 30 days. Then we will ship you the replacement when it becomes available."

WTF!! That's the exact reason why I DON'T want to return the board right now. I tried to explain this to the CSR, but he got completely confused and said, "Well, let me just issue you a refund and you can send the motherboard back. Problem solved!" Huh?

This conversation went around and around as I tried to explain to him the issue of being without a motherboard until April. He said, "Oh it won't take more than 30 days. Don't worry about it." WTF?! Finally he checked with someone else and came back and said, "Oh, I guess it will take more than 30 days. I will send out a return shipping label to you now so you can return the defective board. But the shipping label will expire in 30 days."

Really? Am I being Punk'd?

So much for TigerDirect. Why can't Gigabyte step up and let us get replacements directly rather than dealing with the idiots at the retailers.

Someone please let me know I have another option.

Thanks,

-Darin

 

[MrTransistorm]

The problem I am having is that the people at TigerDirect.com are not very knowledgeable or helpful.

Yeah, that's messed up. I don't understand why some retailers are being so difficult on this matter. You might try pointing them to Gigabyte's FAQ:

To ensure the highest standard of customer support & services, GIGABYTE recommends that all customers who purchased GIGABYTE 6 series motherboards contact their local dealer (retail store where you purchased the motherboard) at the end of April for a motherboard exchange. GIGABYTE will provide an equivalent new motherboard replacement.

If TigerDirect still doesn't comply, contact Gigabyte.

 

[PingSpike]

To be fair to tiger direct there, it isn't their fault they don't have replacement boards and they are adhering to their return policy. I suppose ideally they would extend the replacement period...but that is kind of a iffy proposition on when you don't know when you'll have more stock. Really the motherboard maker should be handling this like you said.

If Intel didn't insist on breaking compatibility with existing chipsets every time they released a new cpu in order to boost chipset sales or allowed other companies to make compatible chipsets there would be a decent interim solution available. But with the situation as is the risk to the early adopter is much greater.

 

[ImpulsE69]

n/m

 

[darinf]

To be fair to tiger direct there, it isn't their fault they don't have replacement boards and they are adhering to their return policy. I suppose ideally they would extend the replacement period...but that is kind of a iffy proposition on when you don't know when you'll have more stock. Really the motherboard maker should be handling this like you said.

Of course it's not their fault, but if Intel is truly paying the bill for all these exchanges, then TigerDirect could at least have a policy in front of all their CSR's that the 30 day return policy will be extended until the new boards are available. How hard is that? How much more would that cost them than their standard 30-day return policy? Nothing.

It's not that hard. They already have all the CRS's trained with text that they read regarding the "work around", so why not also have them tell you that they will exchange the board for free in April.

It is their fault for not handling the situation correctly. It's called good customer service.

You can't excuse them for something that's not their fault. Aren't almost all defective returns "not their fault"?

-Darin

 

[Doggiedog]

That's pretty smart of them. Give you a $20 SATA card and get $88 back from Intel for the Cougar Point recall. Not a bad business decision if they can pull it off.

 

[darinf]

That's pretty smart of them. Give you a $20 SATA card and get $88 back from Intel for the Cougar Point recall. Not a bad business decision if they can pull it off.

I am assuming that even after we get the $20 SATA card, we can STILL get our motherboards exchanged.

That would be really bad if TigerDirect is assuming that the $20 card is a permanent fix and we then give up our rights to a replacement motherboard.

 

[BladeVenom]

If Intel didn't insist on breaking compatibility with existing chipsets every time they released a new cpu in order to boost chipset sales or allowed other companies to make compatible chipsets...

LOL! Karma's a bitch. I bet they are wishing there was a Nvidia chipset about now.