new graphics card - suspicious that I got a refurb

[naihan]

Hey guys, I want some second opinions on an issue I'm having.

I bought a new Gigabyte GTX 780 Ti GHz Edition from Newegg and it arrived today.

I opened the shipping box and was shocked to see that the retail Gigabyte box wasn't sealed (no shrink wrap or sticker on the box). My spidey senses immediately went off, because I've heard of companies like Newegg nefariously trying to pass off good used items as new before, so I did the rest of the unboxing with latex gloves on to see if I could find some fingerprints where they weren't supposed to be. The retail box contained in it a black box. My first observations were that it (the inner black box that shouldn't have seen the light of day since the factory) looked scuffed-up. Not damaged per se, but like someone put it on a dirty hardwood floor and slid it across a few times. Then I opened that box to find all the accessories where I expected and the card correctly in an anti-static bag, sealed with a piece of tape. I opened up and I found my final clue: a finger-print on the IO bracket (remember I was wearing gloves). The rest of the card however was immaculate. I looked at the gold contacts in the PCI-E slot and it doesn't look like it was ever inserted.

First thing I did was look at some unboxings of the SKU. None of them had sealed boxes, which I thought was really strange, and I expected that a product that cost over $700 (at least when it was designed -- don't worry, I only paid $380) would have its retail box sealed. Anti-static bag congif the same too (as in it was sealed w/ a piece of tape).

Anyway, I called Newegg and the rep was nice. He sent me a shipping label so they can get me a replacement.

Per the Newegg guy's suggestion, I called Gigabyte to see if I should expect a sealed box (can't blame the Newegg guy for not knowing if an individual SKU is sealed or not), and he informed me that the majority of Gigabyte products ship sealed to retailers.

So now I'm just confused and I have a few questions:
1) Am I justified in thinking I was shipped an open-box item? I asked my wife for a second opinion, and after looking at my evidence she confirmed I wasn't being crazy. She's not afraid to tell me when I'm overreacting, so I trust she's being honest.
2) Due to the conflicting stories I'm getting from the Gigabyte rep and the unboxing videos, I have no idea whether I can expect a sealed box next time. What do you guys think?

I have no problem with open box items, and if Newegg offered me a partial refund (which they didn't), I'd accept it and live with the refurb, but I'm not okay with paying for a new item and getting an open box.

 

[mdsiu]

If they are willing to replace it for free then I see no issue. Newegg has excellent customer service. I think you were justified given the cost of a brand new card. All hardware should be sealed with tamper-proofing materials when it is new.

 

[MarkW]

Well, if even the Gigabyte guy said MOST product goes out sealed, that's not 100% do.

The fingerprint though does seem like it probably was looked at and returned for some reason. For all we know, someone with an ancient motherboard that pre-dates PCIe bought the card not knowing that PCI and PCIe were different. At least until they went to insert the card into the slot and it wouldn't fit.

If that was an open box, it should have been clearly stated.

Part of the reason I have gone from buying nearly all of my computer hardware at Newegg, to mostly using Amazon now, was the way Newegg was treating people that returned items. I fortunately never needed to return anything to Newegg, but I was concerned enough that when Amazon matched or beat a price, I went to Amazon. Now days, I am an Amazon Prime customer, have been for over a year now, and I have not purchased anything from Newegg since I put this system together 14 months ago. I still look at Newegg for prices and spec sheets, but of the things I have purchased since building this box, Amazon always at least matched Newegg.

So I do not blame you for wanting a sealed box. I feel the same way. The fact that Newegg agreed to the RMA so easily kind of makes me wonder if they didn't know that it was an open box.

 

[mrmez]

If it's never been plugged in and looks ok, I don't really see the problem.

Obviously good to make a note of it, and even contact seller before you use it, but as long at it shows zero sign of use, an open box doesn't bother me.

We spend far more on things like new cars that have been driven around a bunch of times.

 

[naihan]

If it's never been plugged in and looks ok, I don't really see the problem.

Obviously good to make a note of it, and even contact seller before you use it, but as long at it shows zero sign of use, an open box doesn't bother me.

We spend far more on things like new cars that have been driven around a bunch of times.

You know? I think I'm going to go with this. I looked at a ton of unboxings, and all aren't sealed. All the other stuff is stuff I wouldn't have noticed had there been a seal (which apparently is something either gigabyte doesn't do or rarely does, contrary to what the rep said). I installed the card and I'm so happy with the performance gain over my 670 that I can't find anything to complain about anymore