Tiger Direct

[JN4OldSchool]

I ordered this barebones kit for my son:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...4064&CatId=332

The order was processed and it shipped in great time. I received the order last night when I didnt really expect it until Friday or later. I cannot complain about the price, I also ordered a 19 inch Acer LCD monitor and got a great price on that also.

Just now we opened the boxes. With what I am about to say I want to make totally clear that I have not yet built this computer. However, I was not happy to see that the CPU, the hard drive and the RAM has been repackaged in that horrible bubble/blister packaging. I am expecting the green AMD box with a nicely packed CPU and heat sink/fan. What I get is a cheap looking package with NO heat sink/fan and a nice red seal proclaiming that this item cannot be returned once the seal is broken! WTF!!! How in the heck do I know where this CPU came from? It might be a dead item that has been returned 5 times already for all I know. Same deal on the hard drive. This is bull! I am also not happy that I did not receive a heat sink/fan. Their add says an OEM processor, this means the heat sink/fan is included. What am I supposed to do without the CPU heatsink? Luckily I have a box full of AMD heatsink/fans from old computers, and I happen to have a tube of thermal paste. But this is complete crap! How do I build a barebones system without this crucial part.

I have my fingers crossed that everything works. My little voice told me not to order from these clowns, I have heard many horror stories. I do not want to have to go through the hassle of trying to return dead items. Regardless of whether or not this computer works, I will never order from Tiger Direct again. The $29 I saved would have been spent on a heat sink plus the shipping plus the extra few days wait. I have used Newegg for years. I trust them, they sell quality parts and when there is a problem they cheerfully replace the item with no questions. I regret not giving them my business this time. The barebones deal was a good price but all things considered I should have just bought the separate parts from newegg.

edit: In all fairness I just followed the links on the CPU and on the separate cpu page it does say the fan is not included. I still think this is crap OEM means in the factory packaging, unopened, with all the accessories that the factory ships with the part.

[Dan]

Thanks for the heads-up and the honest appraisal here, Sean. I have copied this post and forwarded it on to Carl. Might help, might not. Can't hurt to try, though.


Dan

[notageek]

Hi JN4,

Umm OEM doesn't mean the complete package (at least not around here), it usually means just the part. For a complete CPU kit is called boxed CPU. Something like this (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...?EdpNo=3343343).

And don't worry it will work fine, if not I'm sure they'll take it back.

The only downside with OEM CPU is that you get 30 days (usually) limited warranty as opposed to full manufacturers warranty with a box CPU, but on the up side you can go for a heat sink like the one listed below, really good in over-clocking.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...&Sku=T925-2032

OEM vs Boxed CPU warranty:

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/...82_867,00.html
http://www.intel.com/support/process.../cs-020033.htm
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/64882-28-regular
http://www.techimo.com/forum/process...vs-retail.html
http://geekgoesmeow.blogspot.com/200...-oem-cpus.html


Edit:

I followed your link from the "Merry Christmas" thread. you've got 12 month warranty on the CPU not 30 days.

Here's the link for warranty of your box:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...=WARRANTY#tabs

[Firewing1]

Depends where you are... If you're in Canada, give Direct Canada a try for your next box - I've ordered many times from them and while the shipping can be a bit slow (I don't blame them, BC to Quebec) things are always packaged well. Otherwise, newegg is the place to be
Firewing1

[PabloTwo]

Sean-

Learn the nomenclature.

OEM means: NOT RETAIL BOX. In other words, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) buy their parts to build the systems in bulk. CPU's come in trays (no heatsinks/fans), hdd's come in big card board boxes with dividers (like liquor boxes), no install CD's or cables, just the bare hdd's wrapped in a bit of protective packaging. Ditto for any other component labled as "OEM" from a reseller. They are items from boxes sold in bulk, not as items packaged for direct retail sale to the end user. Which is why they are packaged in bubble-wrap instead of "retail packaging".

Is this bad? Of course not. It provides for some great prices on components for the folks who put together their own systems. Just know what you're getting and what to expect when an item is labeled "OEM" from the seller. It usually means you can expect to provide your own cpu heatsink/fan unit for the cpu, and will have to download support drivers from the internet for various and sundry components like sound cards, video cards, hdd's, etc.

Some retailers do supply driver CD's and/or cables with some OEM components, as a courtesy (NewEgg comes to mind). I can sympathize with your situation and frustration, but really, this was your bad, for simply not realizing that OEM does not mean RETAIL BOX. Yes, I clicked on the link you provided to TigerDirct.

The cpu is clearly listed as: "AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ 2.2GHz OEM Processor" up in the banner at the top listing the contents of the kit, but "OEM" is not mentioned in the list of parts lower down for the cpu (looks like you'd have to look up the part number provided: ADO4200IAA5CU, on their site to see that it was an OEM part from that list).

There was no mention of a cpu heatsink/fan in the kit list (either one). Typical TigerDirect shinannigans.
I could provide you with a fairly long list of folks who were less than happy that they ordered stuff from this outfit, for a variety of reasons. I'm sure your son is going to love his new computer though.

The best wishes for this holiday season and coming new year
Paul

edit: Well look at that! Two posts in the time I started composing this to the time I posted it.

[bob]

Next time: http://www.newegg.com/

[kona0197]

Newegg just opened a Canadian site as well.

TD is a joke.

[JN4OldSchool]

I stand corrected, I should have known the nomenclature and read a bit more of the details. The case is cheap but very attractive and will serve the purpose. The computer flew together with no problems and fired right up. I installed Mint and the Belkin wireless USB and the onboard nvidia were recognized. Not one hiccup, I have never had such a painless build or install. I am happy. I cannot blame Tiger Direct, I am clearly at fault here. Maybe the OEM parts come in blister packs or maybe they come in bulk packaging and this is how Tiger Direct must package them. It makes sense. And I had no less than 5 AMD heatsink/fan combos laying around with 3 tubes of thermal paste. So no problem there. Even so, I doubt I will be ordering any more barebones systems like this and I am very doubtful I will ever use TD again, though they did nothing wrong. I am just comfortable with Newegg and the truth is I could have bought the exact same CPU from them, OEM same as TD, for 7 dollars less.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103214

I have not compared the rest of the parts but I would have been more comfortable with Kingston RAM and I cannot stand Seagate, to the point where I swore I would never buy another one. I have never owned a Seagate that did not die on me. I have never had a problem with any WD drives. Just my experience and that was almost the deal breaker on this barebones system. I decided to go ahead anyway, surely my Seagate luck has to turn one day. Hope this is the one...

i know what you mean JN with the bubble cheap plastic packaging.. i bought a New HDD few months ago an it turned up in that crap so i have not bought anything more from the place i bought the HDD from

[pwca]

I'm sorry to hear you had such a bad experience with Tiger Direct JN4OldSchool. I've purchased my parts almost exclusively from them for at least a decade now and have never had a problem with them. UPS delivering the stuff in one piece on the other hand.... well, that's a different thread topic.

Another great place I've found is Fry's Electronics

OEM here also means "bulk packaged" and parts like this usually come in bubble wrap without boxes. That's how they manage to keep the prices low.

Wayne

[pete_1967]

Originally Posted by JN4OldSchool

I am expecting the green AMD box with a nicely packed CPU and heat sink/fan. What I get is a cheap looking package with NO heat sink/fan and a nice red seal proclaiming that this item cannot be returned once the seal is broken! ... This is bull! I am also not happy that I did not receive a heat sink/fan. Their add says an OEM processor, this means the heat sink/fan is included. What am I supposed to do without the CPU heatsink? Luckily I have a box full of AMD heatsink/fans from old computers, and I happen to have a tube of thermal paste. But this is complete crap! How do I build a barebones system without this crucial part.

Hmm, it actually says on the page, with big red letters that:

Note: A CPU cooling fan is not included with this CPU. In order to safeguard your warranty and achieve optimum performance we recommend purchasing a new compatible cooling fan.

[JN4OldSchool]

Originally Posted by pwca

I'm sorry to hear you had such a bad experience with Tiger Direct JN4OldSchool. I've purchased my parts almost exclusively from them for at least a decade now and have never had a problem with them. UPS delivering the stuff in one piece on the other hand.... well, that's a different thread topic.

Another great place I've found is Fry's Electronics

Well, did you read my last post? I cannot blame Tiger Direct for my stupidity. My experience was what they promised, it was my mistake for expecting something else. I should have thought on it more before I fired off my initial post. Again, it was the packaging that made me leery, I have ordered enough AMD CPUs that I know the box with the factory seal. I knew newegg also sells OEM but I got the term confused with what I always buy which is the box version. And hearing all the horror stories I immediately visualized used parts being repackaged and sold as new...In short I jumped the gun. The computer works beautifully and I can highly recommend this barebones kit to anyone looking to build a cheap yet decent computer. Throw in a DVD drive and you are gold. However, I still find it silly to package a "barebones" kit and not include such a crucial piece as the CPU heatsink. The point of buying a kit is I do not need to research the individual parts and I should have everything I need for the base computer, which would include Mobo, CPU, RAM, PSU, case and HD. Silly me that I never considered the kit would be without a CPU heatsink...

Again, and to be clear on this:

This kit is a winner. I recommend it.

[JN4OldSchool]

Originally Posted by pete_1967

Hmm, it actually says on the page, with big red letters that:

Hey Pete, it did NOT have that header just a few hours ago! I also notice that they are out of stock. I wonder if Dan's letter has anything to do with this?

[pete_1967]

Originally Posted by JN4OldSchool

Hey Pete, it did NOT have that header just a few hours ago! I also notice that they are out of stock. I wonder if Dan's letter has anything to do with this?

Fair enuff.