Are BestBuy MSI laptops Refurbished or factory seconds?

Out of curiosity are they? I originally purchased a ge62vr 6rf due to a EC/daughter board failure I had to exchange this for a gs63vr 7rf, what they thought was a similar enough model. Due to BestBuy's horrible mishandling of their warrantee my hands were tied. It was either this or not have a laptop for 4-6 weeks not to mention exchanging it voided my 3 year warrantee. I honestly wish I had sent it in for service. It is hard to find something about this laptop that I like other than its looks, so long as you are 4-5 feet away. It really doesn't meet my needs..I need an optical drive and a powerful processor that can do some moderately heavy lifting. A graphics card that allows me to play a few games casually is a plus. I need user serviceability when it comes to upgrades, as I tend to keep my laptops far beyond their prime. I still have functioning laptops from 10 years ago that function as well as they did new, which is to say slow by today's standards. Portability is a minor concern as 75-80 percent of my laptops life is spent sitting on a desk. Although I do find 17" models to big and clunky. This laptop is portable at the sacrifice of power.

I am on my third one now. I have noticed each one has had its own flaws either cosmetic or performance wise. Each one of the three has had different stickers and a different brand power adapter. The only thing consistent about them is they all have the same crappy display that is specific to the ones sold through BestBuy.If you purchased one elsewhere rejoice in your nice screen.

When I say consistent I mean the model number of the display is the same. It is like playing the lottery. One of them was so dim I couldn't see what I was doing at full brightness. Another is blindingly bright allowing me to run it at 80 percent. The one I have now is somewhere in between. None of them have any remote semblance of color accuracy.

The build quality of each has been very different. Each having flaws. I would write an unbiased review on this laptop, but after seeing so many inconsistencies in build quality it would be impossible for me to do so.

Before someone says I need a desktop, I have one. It sits below my hdtv. I am typing on it now. I have no room for a desk. And no space for a dedicated monitor. It is moderately awkward doing tasks on a tv. thus where a laptop and a kitchen table come into play.

 

I had 2 MSI's: one about $1800 and one $2500. The first one split apart finally and the second all metal case pc cannot run w/o flashing the screen and delaying all commands. For $2500, you would think MSI could send you a working pc! No, you have to spend 6 months on your own before you 'bother' MSI.

No, all MSI's are just good hype by the 3rd party sellers. They are junk. The MSI service just says you got to do this and that, but why? I've had a $500 acer 14" (from Walmart) that all I've done is upgrade to Win Pro and 2000 Office for 13 years now with no problem. I have an unused $2500 MSI sitting in a box because MSI does not deliver or support a finished product. Too bad you cannot get a Sony, Acer, or even Dell all metal case 14" pc with win7 OS. I will probably get the upgrade to my Acer next time for up to year 2030. Custom gamer pc's are a scam: pure and simple. ymmv.

 

i have lenovo laptop which is 5yrs old. Everything is good in it only issue is with battery and i can't find new genuine spare battery. so i am looking for other laptops and i wanted to go with MSI. After viewing this thread i can't finalize my decision whether to go for MSI or stick with Lenovo as i know HP and Dell are junk

 

It's best to acquire MSI systems through reputable resellers. Machines can be pretested before sending out to customers as well as having a desired customization.

 

When I finally received my MSI from Gentech, a little less than 2 years ago, it never worked right ever. I was told to do this and do that! I bought a brand new $2500 laptop from you: not a new model, but a mature supposedly stable configuration. I spent about a man-month screwing around constantly downloading until I finally figured out it was vapor-ware. It was unstable with a popping screen that would flash constantly; and then I was told that I would be charged hundreds of dollars repair and no guarantee on top of that.

Do what you say and say what you do: simple as that. I fell for the line from 2 different MSI custom vendors and both were full of hot air.Gamers must be awful tolerant of crap just because they are told they are leading edge. I will buy another 13" metal case Win7 Acer that is perfect and trouble free. No more MSI leading edge double talk for me any more!

 

Sorry to hear about your experience with the product you've purchased. Can you tell us what had happened to your system exactly? There are many users who purchased the same system from everywhere but seldom have issues and we would like to help. If you want, you can also contact us directly at [email protected], thank you.

 

I thought that popping/flickering screen came from yourself downloading and loading the wrong display driver?

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No, who are you? It was junk that did not work after 6 months of wasting my time: NOT ONCE!

 

I'm just someone who remembers reading your post from 2 years ago. You specifically said that your display started flickering after installing the wrong driver. No need to get all salty about it.




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No thanks. I don't have another 6 months to waste. Just because you 'like to help', it does not return my $2,500 cost and 6 months effort of wasted time. Not only should it have been delivered right, but it should have been shipped and repaired immediately. Double talk on the email, chat screen, or even phone by techs is all fixed costs for you so not one dime was spent. MSI is a scam. They talk a good game, but it's still a scam.

 

On July 1st 2015, you said the following:

"I had a little flickering because when I loaded Win 7, it said my video driver is outdated. I mistakenly loaded the incorrect driver up."

Sounds like your issues stem from user error.

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After 6 months of screwing around with them, most of my correspondence was not on a chat site. I was desperate though, so I was trying anything, including pandering their ego: it didn't work. As well, I was looking for anything I could do to help. The fact is I should not have to do anything at all. If you remember 2 year old posts, it would help to post them to give yourself more credibility. You have none now.

You are more double talk like the vendor just posted. From reports, I had the most mature and stable product made. BS!

 

I just posted what you said on July 1st 2015. If you want, I can post it again.

" I had a little flickering because when I loaded Win 7, it said my video driver is outdated. I mistakenly loaded the incorrect driver up."

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Now print all 6 months of all verbal & written communications, and man -weeks of uploading instead of a hasty conclusion based on 2 sentences. It did not work from day one, because it is a scam pc and a scam organization! You must be the vendor who just responded back to me to be so quick.

I am not a pc tech. I am just a customer who got ripped off $2500 and was robbed of 6 months of my time. If anyone believes in trolls with as many likes as he has posts, I've got bridge to sell you.

 

You are obviously an old senile man and nobody is going to take you seriously. Anyone who looks at my posts going back to 2009 will immediately know I am no vendor.

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guys now i am more confused between MSI Ge63Vr Raider, GS63VR stealth pro and Asus Zephyrus... I know Zephyrus is looking very premium but which MSI is premium and mid range out of two ?

 

I have owned alot of laptops over the years... I have an issue where for some reason I buy a new one every 2 months. And in all honesty every manufacturer has their duds that go out. I have a come to love and respect MSI Whitebooks and Sager/Clevo laptops. They are not always the most "Premium" feel but have always had the least amount of issues. I am using a MSI 16L13 and it has had 0 issues.
To answer your questions about which laptop:
I would avoid the stealth PRO line. I had 2 different models of it and both were throttled like crazy due to heat. Maybe things are different now, but I would look at real world reviews of this one first. Like notebookcheck if they have one.
The Asus Zephyrus is an interesting machine with the new MaxQ design but I don't have a real world review of it other than damn that's alot of money for a 1070 laptop. I understand it is different, but it is so different I would have to try that for a while before recommending it.
The MSI Ge63Vr Raider is pricey for what you get and the GE line is MSI's "Cheaper" line. I would move toward the GT line unless you are looking for thinness..

 

If that's the case I will go with Lenovo ultrabooks without any GPUs and fancy stuff.. may be building a gaming rig is best option than sticking to these cheap quality laptops

 

Cheap quality may not be the best wording there. I would honestly prefer the soft touch plastic over an aluminum frame any day. Especially in a hot gaming laptop.

But building a desktop and using an ultrabook/surface type computer is a very good compromise.

Right now on Dell outlet there are some XPS desktops(these are refurbs but have full warranties) I saw a 1080 desktop yesterday after coupon for $859... Still debating buying one but I know that I will just end up selling it and going back to a laptop haha

 

I think MSI is trying to change the way people perceive the GE line with the new Raider.

As of right now, the GE73vr has the upgraded thermal system where the GT72vr does not. The GE73vr also has a better sound system which I'm sure the GT's will be upgraded to during the next refresh cycle.

I think MSI is trying to change the way people think about their models. The GT is full desktop replacement. The GE is a middle ground between desktop replacement and the very thin GS line.

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Interesting. Thanks for the info! Haven't looked into them since I had my old GE.

 

I would suggest a folding desk to you. I have one of these and it's wonderful, sturdy and folds into a nice compact package that can sit in a corner or in the closet or the hallway storage closet pair it with a nice folding chair and voila, compact workspace. I'm sure under all the nice sealant it is still fibre board but it is not the crappy type of fibre board seen in furniture out of a box this will hold up to spills and scrapes and the rear feet have leveling tips on them as well. https://www.bestbuy.com/site/calico...-desk-black-driftwood/5580808.p?skuId=5580808 If you look around you can find a much better price than this, I've seen them as low as $50.00 but of course shipping is also a consideration. It won't be a comfortable desk for sure but you can make do. A sufficiently high quality flat panel tv is basically a monitor with a tuner on it so if you have no room for both perhaps consider one of those new 4K units, I've seen fairly big basic units under $400.00 on sale. Black friday isn't far off maybe santa can bring you one.

 

i understand your desire to have a "genuine" oem battery for your laptop but if you can't find one there are reputable companies that make batteries for units the manufacturer no longer supports. Go on e-bay of course you should be very careful of chinese batteries I'm sure we've all heard the exploding battery stories. Just research and read reviews, if you find one by Mugen that is a great company they make many but not all for sure. Another alternative is that if you can find a bad one for the laptop you may be able to find a service that will rebuild and recondition the battery to like new.

 

IIRC the only issue with BB MSi laptops is that sometimes they're a lesser SKU with inferior parts. The GS63VR (SKL) has a really bad 6-bit panel instead of the proper 72% NTSC 8 bit IPS panel on the retail units by resellers such as HID/XOTIC/Gentech/etc.

 

You know the title of the the thread is kind of inflammatory to say the least. If I was best buy's legal department my eyebrow would be raised. Best buy most likely wanted a certain profit margin and in order to get what they wanted corners had to be cut, like you i am sort of surprised that such things happen but they do. If it's such a big issue it is not impossible for you to purchase the panel you want and replace it. I am told that so long as you do not damage the laptop electronics it is perfectly acceptable to open it for upgrades etc. If I was willing to put all this money on a regular visa card instead of a best buy card with a great introductory rate perhaps I would have bought mine elsewhere. Personally I don't get what everyone complains about it's a decent panel, if you want better either plug in a monitor or change it out, I use my desk monitor to game and this for a second screen for the most part. You have a lot of power in a small light package with these, try carting around your tower for a few days and you'll appreciate it more. Even the bookshelf units weigh more and they don't have a built in monitor that's more to carry.

 

People tend to get salty when they know they're wrong...just saying...