News RTX 4090 From Newegg Arrived as Metal Blocks, Claims Customer

[Tac 25]

this is one reason why I don't buy something as expensive as a gpu from online.

 

[Oasis Curator]

I wonder how Amazon checks this sort of thing.
Perhaps a pattern of high value items being returned?
For example, I suspect a returns person won't know the difference between two processors or ram sticks, thus switching could happen all the time.

But then Amazon driver left ~£200 worth of parcels right on my door step in plain view of anyone in the street... we have a ring doorbell so could prove they left them, but I suspect Amazon will ask for the rest of the footage (which in the grand scheme of things could be faked I guess).

As for this story, I am not convinced.
Perhaps the OP was just doing it for the laughs - a pointless task as it's a bit boring / bit of a huge task to set up to get a quick snigger isn't it?

 

[InvalidError]

The known existance of an X-ray machine, that all packages are X-rayed will be enough to deter scammers. Besides that point, a monkey could tell a GPU apart from 2 weights through an X-ray

If scammers know packages get X-rayed, they can be more sophisticated and put the HSF back in the box quasi-mounted to some random card, then your X-ray guy needs to be able to tell it is the correct PCB in there from X-ray, hence the need for training to recognize specific products.

 

[YouFilthyHippo]

If scammers know packages get X-rayed, they can be more sophisticated and put the HSF back in the box quasi-mounted to some random card, then your X-ray guy needs to be able to tell it is the correct PCB in there from X-ray, hence the need for training to recognize specific products.

Then their new 4090 wont have an HSF because it will be on the random card in the box. So.... now they have a 4090 with no cooler........

 

[warezme]

People know the value of these cards and I can see something like this happening. Also, not everyone is a crook. I had the opportunity to get a second pair of Trident Z5 6000 memory modules because UPS showed up to my door a few days after delivery and said that their records show it had not been delivered. I could have just said, no, I never got those and gotten a replacement pair. But I didn't care for someone to get chastised or even charged for an error that never happened other than paper error. I said yes, I got them, just verified they were the same model as I received and signed their paperwork.

 

[JamesJones44]

I disagree. It all depends on if you are buying from NewEgg and Amazon direct instead of from a 3rd party reseller that they are hosting the sale from. A lot of buyers in a rush to get the latest hot item really don't bother to pay attention to what vendor they are actually buying from.

That said, I take photos of all boxes of expensive items before opening when delivered from an E-tailer. So that's not unusual for the buyer here to do that as some accuse of being suspicious. However, as others have noted, something still doesn't pass the smell test. If I got jacked, the absolute last action I'd even think about doing was posting photos and comments about the situation on Reddit...if I actually had an account in that dumpster juice platform.

I agree with the idea that it's likely a scam, but I've had bad issues with NewEgg, I accidentally ordered 2 of the same motherboards once, returned the 2nd one unopened and they still try to refuse it, no explanation given. I had to call and argue with them about it and they still wouldn't tell my why it was refused, but the eventually caved and refunded me after sitting on the phone with them for a hour. Just not worth the hassle and it's not uncommon, you can read posts all over where NewEgg gave people the run around for returned items.

 

[InvalidError]

Then their new 4090 wont have an HSF because it will be on the random card in the box. So.... now they have a 4090 with no cooler........

Don't need a cooler if you planned to go aftermarket in the first place anyway.

 

[Eximo]

I would question where someone has dimensional blocks of metal like that just laying around that they could chuck in a box. Those were very nicely made at some point. Something I would expect to see in a machine shop, and pretty much nowhere else. No reason they would be at Newegg, no reason someone at UPS or USPS would have those, etc. Concrete pavers or something is what I would expect.

What I want these shippers to do is stop sending me expensive things in the original packaging. Shiny new ASUS monitor, full color box, explaining it exactly what it is. Computer chassis, less worried, but still annoyed when it has pictures of the thing inside the box. I think I have gotten power supplies the same way.

 

[Bamda]

So this is what an Nvidia 4090 graphic card shortage looks like. Glad I waited for AMD.