Unsealed motherboard box and anti static bag

[chrysalis]

Got a new (supposedly) ASRock Fatal1ty Z370 Gaming K6 today from amazon UK.

The box itself had 2 tears around the area where it opens. I will upload a photo. No tape or any other seal.

Inside the box the accessories are all sealed. The manual has no creases and looks new.

The motherboard I have not taken out its bag, I thought its bag was sealed, which would have eased my mind, but then discovered its not sealed, its not very creased which is good but it has no seal tape on it, the sticker on the cpu socket is lined up perfectly, doesnt look like its been placed again.

Are amazon selling returned opened units as new or is it a known thing for new motherboards to have tears on the box and no sealing in place?

The cynic in me thinks an arrangement is in place between board vendors and retailers so a policy exists to have no seals and as such a consumer will find it harder to tell if they paying top dollar for a previously opened product.

I am trying to think of a good reason why those tears would be on the box, if they were there in manufacturing the box would be put aside and a new one used, which means its been opened after manufacturing by someone.

So I am leaning towards returning it.

Thoughts? appreciated. Especially if people can confirm if there is normally seals of any kind on asrock boards.

 

[captaincharisma]

its hard to say. the box has tears in it but everything besides the bag the motherboard in is not taped up. was the item fulfilled by amazon or was it shipped out directly from the seller? if it was fulfilled by amazon then you should be able to test the motherboard and still be able to return it.

first thing i would do though is check for any bent pins in the CPU socket

 

[geofelt]

No real reason to seal the anti static bag. I suspect that is standard today.

Possibly the box got cut by a clerk opening up the case which the motherboard boxes came in.

Since all the parts are there and unopened, I would go ahead and assume the motherboard was new .

Only if you had a problem should it be returned.

 

[chrysalis]

ok thanks

here is the pic, the tears definitely look like they been caused by the box been opened given where they are.

 

[chrysalis]

updating here what I posted on hardforum.

The board turned out to be defective, was causing random memory related post failures. A new board of the same model works fine.

The new board had factory seal tape on the box, and didnt have the marks on the backplate.

Also to add a few people posted on hardforum getting clearly pre opened stuff arriving from amazon, and asrock have as of yet refused to explain why they told me boxes are sent out without a factory seal yet my second box had one.

I have reported amazon to the UK regulator.

 

[chrysalis]

ASROCK said code 15 is usually caused by damaged pins, cpu northbridge error. Although the pins didnt look damaged when I inspected them.

I think the issue with amazon is they have a hassle free returns policy, no restocking fee etc. I expect they just reself returned stuff and send as new.