I would avoid dealing with MetalX

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kschaffner

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MetalX posted a MSI Z97 Gaming 7 motherboard on the For Sale forum (thread here http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1865536) he stated that the board "* Works great, I am moving soon so I need to sell as many of my computer parts as I can" and " FYI: The board is around 2 months old - I have a copy of the Newegg invoice if needed." . When the board arrived, I took it out of the box to inspect it.

The following list of defects of the product were observed and pictures can be found here http://imgur.com/a/gjUlu :

1. Burnt trace from CPU socket to 1st DIMM slot
2. Missing PCI-E x16 retention clip (this I feel would prevent RMA)
3. USB 3.0 housing pulled away from pins (as would this)
4. Bent pin on a fan header (not that big of a deal)
5. He left his heatsink retention bracket still screwed on the board (not a big deal again, just kinda odd)
6. Missing the stand off and screw for the m.2 sata port

Timeline:
I purchased the board on 6/17/2015 (12:15am so basically 6/16) he did not ship it until 6/19/2015 and it arrived on 6/22/2015 I PM'd him on 6/23/2015 and informed him of the condition of the board and that I wanted a refund, I waited until 6/27 to tell him that I will give him until 7/1 to reply or a claim would be opened, I opened the claim on 7/1 on 7/2 he denied refund and requested photos, again stating board was almost new, I replied on 7/2 with photos and an explanation, he did not reply back, on 7/5 I requested a refund again, and today 7/7 he denied it stating "This was a new board. I can not be responsible for damage you may have done to it. I also sent it with extra insurance if you think it may have been damaged by USPS. Further, it is covered by MSI warranty for a year."

A physically neglected board cannot be RMA'd for repair even if it's under warranty for 3 years, not the 1 year he claimed.

Thoughts and feedback from anyone would be greatly appreciated, as in 10 years on this forum, this is the first time this has happened. Also, I will be leaving negative heatware feedback regardless of the outcome of this.

*edited for timeline addition
 
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That's some pretty significant "damage in shipment" in my opinion. A few of those are pretty specific. From your pictures I cannot see the m.2 or usb3 issues but I don't doubt you.

As mentioned you are handling this properly. Paypal claim with those pictures should definitely work in your favour. Sorry you had to deal with something like this.

When I was reading the post and you said 5 days I thought maybe he was moving but if he replied to the PayPal issue I feel he's likely avoiding you.
 
The first picture shows the damaged USB3.0 header, the last shows the missing standoff and screw.
 
Is it just me or are the ground pads where the heatsink standoffs are messed up?

I would closely inspect the traces that are close to those holes as well.

No way would I even go the route of trying to RMA to MSI.

He sold you a board that he said was in working order and it is obvious that it is not.

And if he wants the board back once paypal gives you your money back, I would not send it unless he pays the shipping.
 
Those appeared to have been in order, I just took the heatsink standoffs off and 1 trace is exposed (missing paint) but doesn't look damaged in any other way.
 
I have not escalated it for them to resolve yet. I was trying to give him the chance to man up, I have until the 21st to escalate it.
 
I'd escalate that with Paypal. The pictures speak for themselves. That's not a "new" board. Damage, dust, and missing hardware is a no go for pretty much anyone.
 
Did you test the board at all? Because I seen some burned traces work fine. It may be something due to heavy overclock or something. But in my experience did not give me any issue in the past. Also MSI is the best company you do RMA with. I had couple RMA with a broken PCI-e clip, one with accidental damage from screw driver scratching the board(although it was not on any trace or any place would affect the functionality, most companies would deny the RMA.).

But this does not mean the seller handled it right. Still a lot of little damages and not mentioned prior to purchase.
 
I didn't bother to test the board, once I pulled it out of the box and saw the damage I held off purchasing a 4790k to go along with it. I don't feel like I should have to be the one to try and RMA the board when what I bought was not as advertised. When I purchase a product that is described as 2 months old and as new then it should look new. Not with physical damaged that was absent from description, thermal paste everywhere and dust galore on the product.
 
kschaffner said:
I didn't bother to test the board, once I pulled it out of the box and saw the damage I held off purchasing a 4790k to go along with it. I don't feel like I should have to be the one to try and RMA the board when what I bought was not as advertised. When I purchase a product that is described as 2 months old and as new then it should look new. Not with physical damaged that was absent from description, thermal paste everywhere and dust galore on the product.
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I agree, escalate to a Paypal claim and leave negative Heat.
 
2 Months, with 1 years worth of dust build up.... That alone to me is worth a return. Yuck
 
I'd be quick about escalating the claim with paypal..next thing you know he'll send you a PM saying he just got in a horrible car accident..just sayin'.
 
Not to be cold, but that wouldn't be my problem lol. He has yet to reply to my last message 2 days ago or even bother to sign into the forums. I'm escalating the claim now.

felt said:
I'd be quick about escalating the claim with paypal..next thing you know he'll send you a PM saying he just got in a horrible car accident..just sayin'.
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Towermax said:
The neutral is actually dated 2011--Heatware must place Neutrals above Positives in the review list.
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I believe Heatware places Neutrals and Negatives at the top, which is why it can be so damaging to have one or two negatives, especially if it's just retaliatory feedback. People will see that first and not necessarily see the actual date.
 
Paypal reviewed the claim and ruled in my favor, per the instructions of the claim I sent the motherboard back to him, after 2 weeks of it sitting at the post office I called paypal and explained to the rep what was going on. She looked up the tracking number and the case, saw that I had sent it back and that it sat there, so she went ahead and gave me my money back and closed the case. He never picked up the motherboard or sent me a PM or email of any kind since he tried to say it was shipping damage.
 
Good for you!

Congrats on actually getting your money back.
 
That's odd he never responded to this thread. He's been around for a while, and he just signed in today.

Glad to see it worked out for you!
 
He claims that I sent him my board back and kept his! HE NEVER PICKED HIS BOARD UP FROM THE POST OFFICE!! If he would have the same serial number would have been seen on the board and with his stupid heatsink still on the thing.
 
kschaffner said:
He claims that I sent him my board back and kept his! HE NEVER PICKED HIS BOARD UP FROM THE POST OFFICE?! If he would have the same serial number would have been seen on the board and with his stupid heatsink still on the thing.
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Well as a seller he should have kept track of the serial numbers, but it doesnt really matter anymore, it's out of your hands.

Sounds like he might have slightly damaged the board and then tried to sell it, but hey you never know. Oh well.
 
I don't think Heatware ever changes negative feedback, even when it is clearly retaliatory. It stinks, but I think it is going to stick.
 
Just keep a record of this thread for future trades/sales. It's a pretty obvious douche retaliatory feedback move on his part. What a shame.
 
They claim on their website that they will overturn a negative eval if it was clearly a retaliation feedback post. Hopefully they honor their word on that and follow though and do what's right.

KingerXI said:
I don't think Heatware ever changes negative feedback, even when it is clearly retaliatory. It stinks, but I think it is going to stick.
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Now he just left me a disrespectful message on my profile page. This person is truly toxic and should never have business done with.
 
He has been permanently banned. It is obvious that he was less than forthcoming about the true nature of the motherboard for sale.
 
KingerXI said:
I don't think Heatware ever changes negative feedback, even when it is clearly retaliatory. It stinks, but I think it is going to stick.
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Heatware will remove clearly retaliatory feedback, or at least used to. I've had two retaliatory negative feedback removed from my account.
 
Bizarre...this guy was a long-term member. Apparently I even had him on my friends list...so strange to see people change like that.
 
I would link this thread to your heatware response to his negative feedback that way people can see for themselves. Just for future transactions :)

Glad to see this guy is gone. No room for bad traders around here!
 
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