Bruno Ferreira Contributor Bruno Ferreira is a contributing writer for Tom's Hardware. He has decades of experience with PC hardware and assorted sundries, alongside a career as a developer. He's obsessed with detail and has a tendency to ramble on the topics he loves. When not doing that, he's usually playing games, or at live music shows and festivals.
dimar A few months ago, I ordered a Noctua CPU cooler, and received a used Core i5 older gen. CPU open box. At first I couldn't understand the reason for getting the CPU, then Amazon support said it was supposed to be the Noctua cooler based on the package info, and told me to return it, and got a refund. A little later, Amazon charged my CC again saying I didn't return the right item. Once I contacted support again explaining the issue, I got a proper refund. Amazon support hasn't failed me so far, but I do buy a lot. Reply
Gururu Can't trust Amazon at all anymore. Just got a Dell monitor from them missing pieces and with hairs and smudges inside. Sent it back same day bought Dell direct for same price. Ridiculous. Reply
CelicaGT Are people not using, or at least searching using Prime or the Prime filter? Never, ever, ever buy anything from shamazon if it isn't at least shipped by Amazon or better yet, Prime and sold/shipped by Amazon. An easy way to almost completely avoid situations like this or at least guarantee a seamless refund/replacement. The only times I had issues was with third party sellers shipping direct. Reply
Gururu CelicaGT said: Are people not using, or at least searching using Prime or the Prime filter? Never, ever, ever buy anything from shamazon if it isn't at least shipped by Amazon or better yet, Prime and sold/shipped by Amazon. An easy way to almost completely avoid situations like this or at least guarantee a seamless refund/replacement. The only times I had issues was with third party sellers shipping direct. Prime might afford a better experience, but that monitor I bought was 100% through Amazon and it wasn't listed as used or refurbished. Reply
CelicaGT Gururu said: Prime might afford a better experience, but that monitor I bought was 100% through Amazon and it wasn't listed as used or refurbished. Well notice how I said "almost"! Anyways, how was the return process? I got the wrong mainboard shipped when I built my AM4 system and they took it back with no questions asked. Money was refunded within minutes of the return package being scanned in at the Post and that's how I judge them. Mistakes can be made, but how well do they remedy them? (FWIW I use Amazon mainly because I live in a small, remote community. My options for hobby and electronics purchases are limited to zero locally. If I had local options, I wouldn't use them at all.) Reply
Notton Yeah, Prime is usually guaranteed no-fuss, but "ships from amazon" should be good enough protection. From the sounds of it, the thieves are looting shipments between supplier and amazon, or further upstream. Reply
Gururu CelicaGT said: Well notice how I said "almost"! Anyways, how was the return process? I got the wrong mainboard shipped when I built my AM4 system and they took it back with no questions asked. Money was refunded within minutes of the return package being scanned in at the Post and that's how I judge them. Mistakes can be made, but how well do they remedy them? (FWIW I use Amazon mainly because I live in a small, remote community. My options for hobby and electronics purchases are limited to zero locally. If I had local options, I wouldn't use them at all.) So far so good but no refund yet. When I originally asked for return it was because of the hairs and smudges. Then I noticed parts were missing when I looked at pictures on the Dell site (back IO cover, screws, etc.). So I canceled and resubmitted with new details because I was worried they would alter the refund because of the missing parts. They pay shipping and I just had to drive it to a local UPS. They say refund when they get it, so I hope it doesn't get lost. I'm supposed to get $265. Reply
Sluggotg Years ago, I ordered a latest set of 4 Commander Decks, (Magic the Gathering). They only sent me one. Looking at the reviews, they did the same thing to several hundred people. I had to reorder, (which was $40 more than when I first bought them) and send the single deck back. They did not even refund the deck I sent back and they refused to refund the other 3 decks that they never sent, (I lost about $300). Several years later they gave me a partial refund and sent me and email basically saying they were doing me a favor. This was sold and shipped by Amazon. I shy away from buying anything computer related from Amazon due to all the scams. I have been using Newegg for a very long time, (zero issues). I like a lot of things about Amazon, but they do rip people off sometimes. Reply
GeorgeLY This summer I ordered internal BlueRay drive got *correct* OEM box, but there was a cheaper slower *external* drive inside. Amazon exchanged it no problem, but it took awhile (more than a week) to receive correct replacement. Reply
Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/dram/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/dram/unlucky-amazon-shopper-orders-ddr5-memory-but-gets-ddr4-hidden-under-the-heatspreader-ram-sold-as-new-was-a-switcharoo#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
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- Cheers to AI: ADAM Robot Bartender Makes Drinks at Vegas Golden Knights Game
- Pirate archivist group scrapes Spotify's 300TB library, posts free torrents for downloading 86,000,000 tracks — investigation underway as music and metadata hit
Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.