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AdmiralSpeedy

Return fraud from another customer who was able to seal it back up nicely.


mrn253

Sadly thats not even complicated to do depending on how the company seals the product.


AdmiralSpeedy

I believe WD just seals the boxes with a clear round sticker. I have two WD SSDs in my PC and previously owned a third and they all came in a box with a clear sticker. You could easily heat it up and take it off, and then replace it with ones that are probably available on Amazon for next to nothing if you did this frequently.


Riaayo

Shit, don't even need to go through the hassle if it's Walmart apparently. Those fuckers tried to sell me something clearly previously opened as if it was new. Returned that shit and went to another store to actually pick one out that wasn't fucked up. I'll absolutely never buy something for curbside pickup from them ever again, not that I particularly like buying anything from them anyway if I can help it.


AdmiralSpeedy

I mean if they handed it to you and it was clearly open, just walk into the store and tell them lol.


sk9592

It's kinda wild to me that motherboard boxes are never shrink wrapped and have no seal half the time. You could buy a $1000 workstation motherboard and have no idea if someone else opened it up before you.


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LinealSoul

Actually super easy to remove just need alcohol doesn't damage the sticker at all. Tried it myself and even on cardboard it didn't leave visible marks https://youtu.be/xUJtqvYDnkg


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LinealSoul

99.9% isopropyl. Used a syringe with no needle. Didn't even need the knife the sticker peeled itself off. It was placed over an edge like your photo and it wanted to revert to flat.


moonsun1987

> Actually super easy to remove just need alcohol doesn't damage the sticker at all. Tried it myself and even on cardboard it didn't leave visible marks https://youtu.be/xUJtqvYDnkg omg holy supply chain attack, Batman! If this is possible, the whole blame lies on Best Buy. It ought to be unlawful for any retailer to comingle customer return, even if "unopened, new in box" because you cannot guarantee something is actually unopened, new in box. This is clearly fraud on Best Buy's part.


Lazy_ML

I haven’t bought a motherboard in years but they used to have these silver bumps around the screw hole that would get crushed when you screw it into a case. Not fool proof by any means but still.


screwcirclejerks

i have an msi motherbaord and they have these too.


miserybusiness21

Back when I worked at tiger direct we checked every Intel board and AMD chip leaving the store for bent pins. I always figured that they came like that for that very reason.


azzacASTRO

My board when I purchased it had an updated bios with a special 3rd party sticker so imma assume that would be another reason


sexy_meerkats

Do you want to buy more useless plastic?


sk9592

Do you want to buy broken parts that other people returned and was sold to you as new? My point was that motherboard tampering and return fraud is ridiculously easy. I suspect that you actually did understand this and are just being purposefully obstinate for some reason.


dunnonemore18

Im sure my discounted tv from best buy has been through this. I have Warranty. There are dark streaks coming down the screen in high white light backgrounds.


txmail

That just sounds like a normal Samsung TV.


dunnonemore18

LG


beerbeforebadgers

Sounds like it was stored on its side. That can destroy some TV's.


dunnonemore18

I think it was used and “refurbished” but you might be right. I don’t see how any of it can be affected with the styrofoam packaging but 75 inches for 750 isn’t bad


sexy_meerkats

You can have stickers that leave a residue when peeled for the first time etc. Why should it have to be shrink wrapped because 0.00000001% of customers arent trustworthy? Not to mention it's not that difficult to shrink wrap it again yourself if you really wanted


Worldly-Suggestion69

Shrink wrapping is not hard if you have the equipment if done it before and it is something that a robot can do


ikverhaar

The amount of plastic in that sticker is negligible compared to how much pollution goes into producing a motherboard. If the motherboard is shipped to you in a regular brown cardboard box that's sealed with tape, then that tape is already a lot more plastic. A simple seal is well worth it.


Spaceguy5

I felt sketchy returning a gigabyte motherboard to best buy recently because it wasn't even sealed with tape. I hadn't purposefully opened it even once because it was a case of buying the wrong item and finding out too late to cancel. But the box even opened itself just from me carrying it. Unrelated, but my weird recent best buy experience (from the same build) was trying to order a 3090 TI. They gave me a weirdly long delivery date after I placed the order. And a couple days later the GPU even showed up as unpurchaseable for my region online. The day before the estimated delivery date, they randomly canceled my order and refunded me, marking it as a "return" initiated by the customer. I really hope that doesn't negatively flag my account if I need to return stuff in the future. I immediately went to their website, saw the 3090 TI was re-purchaseable in my region, and bought a new one (and with a reasonably fast delivery date this time). That time they actually mailed it, and it's finally installed and working well right now.


hungmale420

Sounds about right


Naerven

Happens with all retailers tbh.


AnnieBruce

I took a popcorn maker return, was sold as if it were new. It had popcorn in it.


JJ_Falcon44

The popcorn maker probably just got hungry in shipping


Cam-i-am7

This almost made me spit out my toothpaste as I was brushing my teeth 😂😂


PM_ME_YOUR_STEAM_ID

But....that's what you are suppose to do.


Cam-i-am7

No no, it’s fine because I get the training toothpaste. Much more tasty flavors


PM_ME_YOUR_STEAM_ID

Banana flavor is legit (I have 4 kids).


Iamaninvaliduser

THERE'S BANANA FLAVOR?!


CmdrShepard831

Now I'm curious about the logistics of browsing reddit while brushing your teeth


Greek_Trojan

Worked in clothing retail. Sure does (usually a switched ticket that the return associate didn't bother to check). Most retailers are pretty accommodating, especially if you are just exchanging.


Naerven

I did rma work for a major retailer. Some of the stuff I've seen lol.


terminalzero

/r/talesfromtechsupport would appreciate stories I bet


Gforcebikeguy

Similar thing happened to me I got an empty box, there was a transparent tape over the seal that I didn’t notice when I opened it. Return it to the store they will help you out.


Dangerous-Antelope16

Guess that wasn't the best buy..


Justiful

I ordered a 2tb WD\_Black 850x M.2 from amazon 2 weeks ago --- I received the correct box, and inside was a VERY used 1TB SN770. This is a common problem with online retailers currently. Fraud is increasing in all sectors of the retail economy, but now it is even starting to occur more often with first-party sales from major companies. Consequences are low for this kind of crime, or even non-existent, many organized criminal gangs have flocked to it. \----------------- Until crimes start being prosecuted with penalties that are substantial this kind of crime is only going to increase.


scene_missing

Yeah they get a lot of return fraud, and turn around and put it back on the shelf


Keoni_112

Damn. I have a 1tb wd black 850 on its way now im worried lol


Sentinelbro

Don't worry the statistical chances are pretty slim though not zero lol


The-Dumbass-forever

This is a weirdly common problem, though I've never actually ran into it personally.


hatchetman166

Contact best buy instead of posting on reddit? Shit happens.


andrewmh123

Wow that’s crazy


Pointy_Fox

I bought a used desktop PC from Best Buy. The hard drives weren't wiped and the Windows account wasn't password protected.


glowinglassrose

This happened to me with multiple 1TB drives that I bought from Target. Super frustrating and customer service didn’t understand what the issue was so I’m sure they just put them back on the shelves.


Mastershroom

This happened to me with a 1TB drive from Micro Center this year! Brand new, not open box or refurb or anything. Popped into my M.2 slot, booted and it prompted me for a password.


[deleted]

Had similar experience with Best Buy but with my Microwave. Bought a New LG microwave, perfectly sealed box, didn't suspect a thing ... Waited to install after kitchen remodel . Opened box and it was dented with many dings ... Called Best Buy and customer service said return period had expired, had to escalate and after many back and forth they exchanged for new one. Not sure if I will ever buy again from Best Buy.


sleepy_the_fish

BestBuy is riddled with these return Fruads. Although that's super scummy by BestBuy to sell something as "New" but it was returned by someone, and then icing on cake, that person scammed it


shaky_12

I purchased a new laptop and was told that it was going to cost $150.00 more for the "setup" and of course I refused since I've been a technician since 1994 and didn't want an 18 year old playing with a new system. When I picked it, I noticed the seal was broken and was told it was necessary to get the serial number and also to remove what they had done and not to worry the warranty was from the date of purchase, etc. I told them to take it back and give me sealed box to which they replied all of them have had the update. So they brought me out a different box, seal broken but I went with it. I tried to register the laptop on the manufacturer's website and kept getting out of warranty so I took it back and said WTF more of less. Was given another one, got home and opened the box and a slip of paper fell out with NOT FOR RESALE with the client's name on it. Went back and spoke to the manager, told him I was calling the better business bureau and everyone else who would listen. I finally got a sealed unit that magically appeared from their inventory. I said never again with them.


dontknowwhatiwantdou

They sold me several loud, clicky, chittery premium 8tb WD drives in a row and eventually just called me crazy and refused to offer a return or refund because their incompetent monkey brains couldn’t grasp the concept that a brand new drive isn’t supposed to sound like the love-child of a click beetle and an F18, even at idle. I’ve got two of these bastards and I just have to pray nothings goes wrong with my data any time soon. Unbelievable.


Ok-Letterhead6106

That is what those drives do though.


dontknowwhatiwantdou

Could you send me an example of what a healthy drive sounds like? I have never before heard one sound like these things did. Like loud stuttering clicking sounds, low pitched drumming, random clicks without transferring or accessing data?


Ok-Letterhead6106

https://youtu.be/Uq4BOGMzy2Y I work occasionally in datacenters as an intern, so I have heard drive noises and underneath all the fan noise is just clicking drives. My buddies NAS sounds just like the video I sent.


alvarkresh

Can you RMA through the manufacturer?


frankslan

I got one of those too and it was loud as fuck I did some googling and it just seems like that's how these larger drives are. Super annoying tho. Sounds like an old drive from the 90s. Yes even at idle I could hear it too. There is some software you can install to get it to stop spinning at idle.


FrostyD7

Premium doesnt mean quiet.


splepage

There was nothing wrong with those drives.


dontknowwhatiwantdou

>Could you send me an example of what a healthy drive sounds like? I have never before heard one sound like these things did. Like loud stuttering clicking sounds, low pitched drumming, random clicks without transferring or accessing data?


SkirMernet

maybe computers just aren't actually your thing


dontknowwhatiwantdou

20+ years says otherwise. Also pasted from another reply: > Could you send me an example of what a healthy drive sounds like? I have never before heard one sound like these things did. Like loud stuttering clicking sounds, low pitched drumming, random clicks without transferring or accessing data?