GA-P67A-UD7: B2 Recall Replacement Question

[steved54321]

Hi Moderators

I purchased this fabulous board mid February and it's great.
Once the new B3 stepping boards came out I decided to bring the old board back to the dealer I purchard the board from.
Unfortunately when they opened the socket cover they found two bent pins in the socket.
This must be because I had trouble getting the socket cover back on and must have closed it incorrectly when packing it up.
They informed they couldn't send this board back to Gigabyte because they sent 2-3 boards back before and they weren't accepted by Gigabyte and this caused them the dealer (canada computers) had to absorb the cost.

I don't think the sales person I was speaking with knew that in Gigabyte's official announcemenet they are accepting all B2 motherboards purchased regardless of condition.

Please visit the link below where I found this information:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4146/gigabyte-announces-6series-motherboard-replacement-program

The board is so good that I actually purchased the replacement  B3 stepping UD7 board for $339.99 CAD + tax which is 13% in Canada

For the moderator reading this post. Can you please confirm if the information in the link above is correct?
I printed the article out, but I would like further proof so they don't turn me away.

I have until March 18th to return the board for a refund or exchange for the B3 board
Since I bought the board already I'll be going for the full refund.

I was sweatin' cause I thought I'd be down 400 dollars.

UPDATE: I called head office sales at Canada Computers and they said I would need to print out the official return policy and it has to state that Gigabyte will accept boards regardless of condition. They said even if a moderator says Gigabyte will accept boards regardless of condition it won't be official because someone could login as a moderator etc.

I found this link: http://uk.gigabyte.com/press-center/news-page.aspx?nid=986
But it's not detailed like the article from the Anandtech website.

Can you send me a site or provide me something official so I can return this board to the retailer? I love the new B3 UD7 board, it's kickin' hard!

Thanks in advanced!

- Steve  

[Dark Mantis]

Hi

Well as I understand it you are correct and the boards can be returned for replacement whatever the condition. They are not going to be able to be reused anyway so what difference does it make. However if they are not going to accept my take on this I can only suggest that you either ask runn3R the Gigabyte Forum Administrator if he would be able to print you something or get in touch with your nearest (USA) Gigabyte Centre and ask for clarification.

(PS just tell him to try and post something on my forum and he will soon find out who is the Moderator )

[steved54321]

Hey Dark Mantis!

Thanks I've emailed using this form: http://ggts.gigabyte.com.tw/nontech.asp
Asked if they could provide me something official.
I will now contact runn3R via PM! (That's the best way right?)

You always reply quickly, and you've helped me before with the FF code on my mobo last month I was getting no display.
You ROCK!

Thanks again!

- Steve

[steved54321]

Hey Dark Mantis!

I just PM'd runn3R and copied you~
Is there anything more I can do?

Thanks,

- Steve

[Dark Mantis]

Hi Steve,

Yes I remember your recent problem and take it that it didn't recur.

There is nothing more that you can do at the moment and it may even be that Gigayte UK don't want to get involved as it is in another regions area. Yopu will just have tpo see what the response is. Good luck.

[steved54321]

Hey Dark Mantis,

Here is an update! I contacted Canada Computers head office
They would like to hear from Gigabyte that they will accept the board regardless of condition.

They said to open a ticket with Gigabyte (Just did this)
I asked Gigabyte to confirm boards can be sent back regardless of condition.
Once I get that response I will contact Canada Computers and tell them to call and refer to the opened ticket.
Canada Computers also asked if someone can call them at their head office to update them.
I asked this in the ticket also and provided Canada Computers head office number.

I called Gigabyte US, and they said I should open up an RMA request anyway so I can give the RMA number to Canada Computers. (Just did this)

Thanks!

- Steve

[Lsdmeasap]

If it doesn't work out with Canada Computer, you could just RMA directly with GIGABYTE in California

[Dark Mantis]

Hi Steve

Well it looks like it will get worked out one way or the other without too much fuss. As Lsdmeasap just said you can always go direct although I know from Canada that isn't ideal.

Let us know how it works out mate.

[steved54321]

Hi Dark Mantis & Lsdmeasap,

Thanks for the replies!

Gigabyte US said they will accept the motherboard as RMA in the condition it's in and send me a new one but for convenience I'm trying with Canada Computers first. If they won't budge then I'll just RMA it myself and when I get the new one I guess I'll sell it on craigslist or kijiji which are online classifides

Thanks a lot mates!

- Steve

[Dark Mantis]

At least it sounds like you have got a result one way or the other.

[Lsdmeasap]

The US office is in California, and for US it generally takes 2 weeks or so for a RMA.   I think it will be less in this case as they are trying their best to get the B3 boards out quickly, but it may be a bit longer than US times due to you being in Canada.   I do think they are shipping out boards within the same week as reviving on this, so you don't have to wait for the board to be checked like you would in a normal RMA instance.

Gigabyte direct does offer advanced replacement if you would be interested in that, if so your board would ship out in 2-3 days after you put in the request, and then you could send your old board back once you got the new one.   If you want to do advanced replacement fill out the form here and then when they contact you just tell them you want to setup an advanced replacement (And I would be sure to mention the pins when if you do this, and that you have already asked and been approved on that, just so they don't think you are trying to pull a fast one)
http://event.gigabyte.com/intel-6-series-swap-request/

[steved54321]

Good news guys!

I received an email from Chuck from Gigabyte USA who said I can go to the Canadacomputers retail store I initially purchased the motherboard at for a direct refund.

So I went there and got the refund without trouble! They know I purchased the B3 board at their same store when they first didn't take my B1 board.

Thanks a lot for the help guys.
I'm a happy customer and that means I'm gonna buy more gigabyte products in the future!

Cheers,

Steven

[Dark Mantis]

That's always a good thing and we try and make sure that everyone ends up with a good result from here.