WARNING: Micro Center Motherboard Scam

[pcgeek101]

That return sticker can be slapped on anywhere on the box. The last couple I bought from Fry's had them on the front, nowhere near the opening seam for the top.

And even when the straps are dug into the box as most are, just working your fingernail under the strap and then easing it over the depression gets the strap sliding right off.

The sticker on my box was covering the flap, pretty evenly spaced 50/50. I can take a picture later, if you'd like.

 

[bankster55]

its been four days since mentioning it, any response yet from MC HQ?

 

[cherrytwist]

HEY... I like walmart :biggrin:

Hey! I do too! I'm a cheap bastard.

 

[slateman]

Bought my P8P67 on 1/9 (1155 release day) at the MC in Patterson. Would not POST if all 4 DIMMs were inserted. Single or pairs would work fine but OK DRAM led would flash / stay on if 4 were installed. Finally took it back today for an exchange and got the same "I see 2 bent pins" scam. I pointed out that it would boot just fine with 2 DIMMS and raised enough of a stink that they agreed to exchange it. Was told, "if you have a problem with this board you have to bring back by tomorrow." WTF? I pointed to the 30 day return sign and after some spluttering by the store manager they made a note on my receipt that I had one day to return it. Put me down as another former MC customer.

 

[slateman]

Woot! (How come nobody says Woot anymore?)

All 4 slots populated, 1053 bios, a happy slateman!

 

[Shack70]

Always take your wallet with you. Most times when you are exchanging/returning an time they will ask for ID. I wish you luck with your exchange! You did manage to make me laugh with this line:
"Since I'm a computer guy, I know my troubleshooting stuff."

 

[bigboxes]

its been four days since mentioning it, any response yet from MC HQ?

^^^^
This. I want to see if you've contacted corporate like the poster asked you to.

 

[pcgeek101]

I e-mailed corporate (custrel@microcenter.com) on January 13th. I have not heard back from them, and provided them 2 e-mail addresses, and my mobile phone #.

They're a black hole.

 

[Meaker10]

I must be some wizard or something, I bent back a whole bunch of socket 1366 pins using nothing but my eyes and some tweasers ^-^

Also did that a 939 CPU with an entire collapsed line of pins, slotted in without any resistance

 

[HOOfan 1]

Then you've dealt with some crappy run Microcenters. The ones I shop, the two in Atlanta and the rare occasion I get to the one in Fairfax, VA, have all had exemplary CS....never a moment's problem in returning anything I've bought from them.

They have a Microcenter in Fairfax? There are none anywhere near Richmond. Since CompUSA left, we don't have any place that sells everything needed to build a computer. We even lost our own home grown business Circuit City. All we have left is Best Buy (blech) and H.H. Gregg (snooze)

 

[bigi]

Just FYI,

I went to this store last Sunday (1/23)

I got P8P67 Pro for $160
I7-2600K for $270
PSU and other crap.

Plus IL tax.

All is running fine and my shopping experience was very good.

Bios 1253, 4x2MB Corsair XMS 1600 now. I'll try 4x4GB Corsair Vengeance soon.

 

[Hulk]

First of all I want to say go easy on the OP for calling the Police.

He was in the middle of being robbed so he called the Police. I can see how he would feel that way.

I got ripped off on the bent pins scam on e-bay about 5 years ago. Still burns me up to this day. I'm selling a P4 3.06. Buyer has a lot of negative feedback but pays. I get a message from him "CPU not work please send new one or give money back."

I tell him to return it to me so I can check it out and will return his money if it doesn't work. He goes dark and next thing I know Paypal returns his money based on the dispute. He sends me back a CPU with broken pins! It's not my CPU as I can tell from the serial number. I tell Paypal and they say they can't do anything because I didn't have the CPU serial number in the auction description. I tell them I have high resolution photos of the CPU where you can see the serial number and that the pins aren't broken but they're hosted by me but not e-bay so Paypal won't except. Then the seller closes his e-bay account. I tell Paypal he has other disputes on e-bay and if they look into him they will see he's a known scammer. They say they can't do anything. Finally after telling them how unhappy I am with them helping this scammer they offer to split my losses with me and credit me $50.

I was scammed but good.

Moral of the story. Always beware in every sales situation and ALWAYS put the serial number of every item that has one in the item description of your auction or sale description.

To the OP - I feel your pain.

 

[God Mode]

I haven't had any problems with returns to microcenter. One time, I returned a mobo because I simply didn't want to use it and expected a 15-20% restock fee. They just took it and sent me on my way. I suspect it could be that when they punch in my info, it shows that I bought a lot of stuff from them.

 

[sxr7171]

Customer relations isn't responding huh? Maybe a voluntary AT forum boycott thread would catch their attention. Let's start a thread where we simply agree to boycott MC and post nice little links to Newegg, Tiger Direct, MWave etc.

I appreciate having B&M computer parts on tap, but we can't have one of our members get ripped off like that. Send a link of that thread to every possible MC e-mail address you can find. Another nice touch would be people posting their Newegg purchases that they had planned to buy at MC B&M.

 

[pugh]

Speak for yourself. Have purchased from MC without an issue now for 4 years. Have also built other clients pc's using items from MC. Not 1 issue....

I have had bad dealings with a number of brand name stores. But you won't find me posting it here. I handled it in some way on my on.

Care to boycott lowes for me also? Bought a storm door and had it installed by their "top" installer( their claim). Working horrible at the moment after numerous call backs. I might need to hire a second guy to fix his mistakes....

 

[Conscript]

They have a Microcenter in Fairfax? There are none anywhere near Richmond. Since CompUSA left, we don't have any place that sells everything needed to build a computer. We even lost our own home grown business Circuit City. All we have left is Best Buy (blech) and H.H. Gregg (snooze)

Yea it sucks. I moved down to Glen Allen 3 years ago and didn't realize how much I'd miss the cambridge Microcenter (used to live outside of Boston). There's really nothing nearby for us computer geeks... though I'd KILL for a Fry's....

 

[ramj70]

They have a Microcenter in Fairfax? There are none anywhere near Richmond. Since CompUSA left, we don't have any place that sells everything needed to build a computer. We even lost our own home grown business Circuit City. All we have left is Best Buy (blech) and H.H. Gregg (snooze)

The one in Fairfax has been there since 1992. Used to go there quite a bit when I live in Springfield. But when I moved to Maryland it was a little too far for me. Then a couple of years ago they opened up in Rockville in the old CompUSA store, now I'm only a few miles away.

 

[Diogenes2]

Did you get free bent pins, or were they an extra cost option ?

 

[sxr7171]

Speak for yourself. Have purchased from MC without an issue now for 4 years. Have also built other clients pc's using items from MC. Not 1 issue....

I have had bad dealings with a number of brand name stores. But you won't find me posting it here. I handled it in some way on my on.

Care to boycott lowes for me also? Bought a storm door and had it installed by their "top" installer( their claim). Working horrible at the moment after numerous call backs. I might need to hire a second guy to fix his mistakes....

I've had good experiences over the years at MC also, but what happened to him is unacceptable. For sure I am not one to side with a big corporation over a hapless customer no matter how good *my* experiences have been. MC doesn't put food on my table.

 

[Diogenes2]

There are parts of this story that do not seem to be MC's fault..

 

[adlep]

Boycott MC my ass. It is a great store with good service and great prices. I have spend over 100k with MC throughout the years. Never had a bad experience.

 

[sxr7171]

There are parts of this story that do not seem to be MC's fault..

That's completely valid.

For the record I've dropped at least $5k at MC myself in the last 2 years.

 

[boozie]

I believe if you buy a board and proc [@ MC], they will due a test post for free

Not that anyone here needs this info, but they just told me $20 so looks like I'm going to Frys.

 

[pcgeek101]

Did you get free bent pins, or were they an extra cost option ?

I paid $160 for them.

 

[bigi]

They REALLY need to put seals on motherboard boxes, and if they don't, then they NEED to perform some sort of sanity check at the register, AT THE TIME OF SALE. I'm now holding a $200 paperweight, and some employee at Micro Center is most likely gloating that he got a "free" replacement.

Very true. I was a little skeptical when I got my MB. Because of this I asked the sales person if this had been a returned unit. He said that I was getting NIB motherboard. I took it out and checked visually. Looked brand new.