Would you use a motherboard...

[ungsunghero]

So I ordered some cheap ECS motherboard on eBay (probably my first mistake), and when it arrived this morning, I noticed that the shipping container was about the size of a motherboard box. When I tore open the wrapping (a USPS Priority Tyvek envelope basically taped over the box), sure enough, inside of it was the motherboard box itself.

There's no real damage to the box, other than a slight nick or two, and the board seems to be damage free. Also, the package wasn't shipped cross country; in fact, it probably did not have to be shipped more than 50 miles.

So the $32,000 question: would you even consider hooking up the board?

 

[NokiaDude]

Shouldn't be a problem. How do you think it got to the seller?

 

[ungsunghero]

Originally posted by: NokiaDude
Shouldn't be a problem. How do you think it got to the seller?

Off the shelf from Fry's

But seriously, I was under the impression that motherboards are shipped to a retailer in some sort of secondary container, even if it's a wooden pallet (or whatever those things are called).

 

[RallyMaster]

The motherboards probably come in a larger brown box to get to the retailer with each brown box containing maybe 10 motherboards. Experience at a grocery store tells me this.

 

[Zap]

I'd use it.

 

[Aluvus]

Visual inspection for anything that looks like it might have been damaged, with special attention to capacitors and any other tall components, then yes. This is a good practice regardless of how the board might have been shipped.

 

[Jessica69]

I'd hook it up and test right away....but ECS's motherboard boxes are rather substantial, as most are. And the board is pretty isolated within the box itself, again, as most are.....wouldn't hesitate to hook it up and run it. Besides, if it has any problems, the seller should have the receipt still handy, if that seller is at all organized/responsible and be able to provide at least a copy for an RMA, at a minimum.

 

[ungsunghero]

Originally posted by: Jessica69
I'd hook it up and test right away....but ECS's motherboard boxes are rather substantial, as most are. And the board is pretty isolated within the box itself, again, as most are.....wouldn't hesitate to hook it up and run it. Besides, if it has any problems, the seller should have the receipt still handy, if that seller is at all organized/responsible and be able to provide at least a copy for an RMA, at a minimum.

The seller offered no returns or exchanges, and wanted $5 for insurance (which would have cost $1.70 out of pocket).

That being said, I hooked up the board earlier, and it seems to be running just fine. Thanks for all the opinions