MSI gt725-074us looks like it has been opened?

After waiting excitedly today I finally got my new lappy. Unfortunately the seal that is on the outside of the actual laptop box (not the shipping box) had dirt and such on it already and basically fell off when I opened it. Also the recovery disks had already been burned with writing on them saying, disk #1 and disk #2, which were obviously hand written. Also when i booted up the computer for the first time, instead of getting the initial boot up screen I got the selective start screen (safe mode, command prompt, normal windows) as if it had recovered from an error. This was purchased from xoticpc.com and i was just curious if this is something I should be as mad about as I am. In essence it seems I got something open box when I paid full price for something brand new. Any advice would be greatly appreciated but as for now I want nothing but to send it back.

 

Xotic got back to me really quickly as usual and stated that they have been burning the recovery disks for people before hand. Something still just doesn't seem right to me that something that should have never been opened was opened and I am just curious if others who have bought laptops from them had them opened and pre-burned.

 

They usually take a barebone and build it... so it is assumed that that is why it was opened xD

Xotic is good with customer service, just call and say your concerns and they will help you out.

 

Yep, and just think also that in the case that they actually pop them open and burnt he disks, gives you a free PSU check, DVD check, overall system check instead of getting a sealed DOA nb which would mean waiting to RMA, ship back, wait for replacement to be approved(or old one "fixed"), and then shipped back... i.e. mostly if electronics function on startup they'll likely last until something mechanical fails...

 

Just an update, I was assured it was only opened to pre-burn the recovery cd's but I'm still wary of something being opened that shouldn't have. Xoticpc has by far the fastest and best customer service I have ever encountered and took no longer then 20 minutes to respond to my e-mails even though their store has been closed for a few hours. They even offered to give me a $25 credit towards shipping it back even though this is strictly against their policy. My hats off to this company and even though I will be sending my new toy back I would suggest anyone looking at buying a new laptop to check out their stock. Never have I been more impressed with a company.

 

They certainly don't build their Sager units.

It does seem rather odd that they would open it to burn their recovery discs. That said, it's very nice of them to offer for covering shipping. And their number is 24/7 as I recall.

 

Technically none of them really build anything. They just assemble parts provided by various OEMs and optionally offer a direct warranty(desktops).

Notebooks are even simpler as there are fewer things to do with them, other than the CPU + hdd + memory + wireless and maybe GPU if the OEM of the nb barebones offers a variety of GPU configs... Problem with nbs from my POV is that getting decent prices on retail/OEM parts for nbs isn't quite as easy(or cheap) as it is for desktops, which I always build myself as it's DEFINITELY cheaper than places like xotic, but still ATM they're cheaper for custom nbs. (Although I think that MSI and some of the other retail nb offerings are, overall, a better deal yet than barebones.)

 

That's true for 99% of system resellers. What you are getting is (in theory) competent system builders and good service and support. You are also avoiding any build issues, conflicts and receive an integrated system ready to go.

You and I may build a system and we aren't, "off the shelf," users, but if the motherboard fries or another component dies, we send it back to the reseller or OEM just like Ma and Pa Ingalls....

In other words, you aren't special and neither am I.

 

I would be upset if I got the item like that, whether they checked everything or not. There's a degree of satisfaction one gets from buying something brand new and being the first person to break the seal etc. My GT725 is arriving tomorrow from Amazon, and I can't wait to geek out over the unboxing .

Customer service is one thing, but if it was opened and turned on, discs burned etc before it even reaches you, its already open box imo. If I went to say, Gamestop and bought a brand new game, I'd be pretty upset if they opened it and put it in their display to see if it worked (actually, they do try to sell opened games for full price lol).

 

At this point I'm over the initial anger and am leaning more towards keeping it. Other then it being opened and turned on it is in immaculate condition, like they wore gloves or something when they did it. Not a single dead pixel 3d mark06 score of 10078 with very minor OC on the video card and turbo button on at stock setting. I have the 074us and this thing is a beauty. Still have plenty of time left before my 15 days to return is up but man is this thing nice.

 

Yeah, I look at it like you were guaranteed not only a working system (DOA out of a sealed, new box does happen), but had the discs burned as a extra perk, but having worked retail many moons ago, I know how easy it is to rebox something up and sell it as new. How many stores have shrink wrap right in the back? It makes us wary if something we expect to be new shows potential signs of perhaps not being as such.

Hey, if I end up ordering a Asus, MSI or Sager from Xotic and they want to open it up and make sure it works fine, check the display for me, and burn my discs......I'll gladly let 'em. They could throw a pack or two of Reese Cups in for something to munch on while I run Vantage!

 

if theres no apparent signs of use whatsoever, then i'd definitely keep it. It's REALLY easy to figure out whether a laptop has been used for more than 3 minutes. Instead of angry you should just be happy that you've dealt with a vendor that took the time and put some effort into essentially providing you a convenience.

 

You know, I wonder if this is a new thing for them. Several threads ago I thought there were people complaining about their 725's from Xotic, perhaps claiming bad screens??? So maybe now they are checking them before they ship them...which is fine by me. I may end up ordering one soon.

T.

 

check the keyborad for food particulars

 

Other then the disks being burned and the seal on the outside of the box being obviously taken off and put back on it didn't look like anything else had even been touched. They even took the time to call me and make sure I was satisfied. I have no reason to believe they aren't telling the truth, I just wish I would have known before hand they were checking them out and making the recovery disks. That would have made things a lot more enjoyable instead of me being pissed that I thought i got something open box. Pretty sure I'll be keeping it since I'd rather not chance getting one with problems. Thanks again xoticpc for dealing with a pissed off customer and turning them into a very happy one with a great NEW laptop.

 

The Sager units are shipped directly from Sager, so no go on the Reese's Cups.

 

Dratz....

The more I weigh the pros/cons, the more the NP5797 will be my choice if I go with a 17" WSXGA+ model over the GT725. If not the NP5797, then the W90VP unless they have a wicked sale on their Pre-configured Whitebooks Xfire. I'd snap one of those up and replace the screen with a WXGA+ from eBay.

 

Really? Wow! And here I thought that they actually had to apply a modicum of effort with those installing the CPU/hdd/RAM/whatever GPU option(if any) on those. I know that they still do have to for MSI barebones though...

Still like I initially mentioned, I'd be happy just knowing that I wasn't getting a DOA nb, or have one with some other problems, although it sounds like they don't use the PSU in the box, but one from a text bench of some sort. It'd be nice if they used the shipped PSU as well, as it'd be a sort of test of another component that could be DOA...

Also, I presume that burning the backup disks saves them from the hassle of people who know no better, and never burn them, then run into problems.