"Open Box" RAM??????

I ordered some Kingston 2GB DDR2 RAM for store pickup at Frys as the price was right...$18.99 for upgrading one of my other laptops.

I already had some of the same RAM coming to me from Newegg.com to upgrade my HP Mini 1033CL, but figured I could always use some more to upgrade one of my Toshiba laptops.

I placed the order online at Frys.com, electing store pickup at my local Frys location. The website indicated that the item was in stock.

I printed out the confirmation I received that the item was, indeed, waiting for me and took it to the store. The cashier, who was very nice, went to retrieve it from the place where they keep the store pickup items. He returned a few minutes later and told me that the RAM was actually an open-box item. I told him I was not interested in open-box, as you don't know what people have done with such a delicate item before they return, i.e. bend the pins, replace it with their own existing defective RAM, etc.

He said that all the RAM of that type was open-box. I took a look at it and realized it was for 512MB only. I showed him, and he quickly apologized, saying that they gave him the wrong one. He returned to retrieve the correct RAM.

He came back a few minutes later with the correct RAM and informed me that this, too, was open. The package was cut open and he said they were all like that. I told him I was not interested, and cancelled the order.

Am I being ultra-picky? It seems to me that RAM is one of those things you do not want to purchase already opened and already possibly tampered with.

Anything could be wrong with it, from bent pins to God-knows-what.

I didn't even know people could return RAM after they opened it. Very strange. I am surprised that Frys even accepts it. They certainly should indicate on their site if something is only available as an Open Box item.

Anyone agree with me?

 

I say install it on the spot at Fry's and make sure it works fine.

 

My Frys is like a zoo. Easier said than done.

 

Are you sure the "open box" ram isn't OEM ram which isn't packaged with a box thus "open box"?

 

frys resells a lot of stuff customers return w/o testing it.

 

No. The first set of RAM (the 512MB RAM I did NOT order) came in the retail packaging with the OPEN BOX sticker over the part where the plastic was cut open.

The second set of RAM was also in the plastic retail packaging and looked like somebody had cut the packaging all the way through from one side the other with a pair of scissors. THere was no OPEN BOX sticker on this one.

 

I get that feeling too. I NEVER buy anything OPEN BOX from Frys. For that matter, I do not really buy OPEN BOX anywhere.

Have you seen how the Best Buy employees, for example, at the Returns counter throw around the returned items???

 

All RAM i've ever seen comes with limited lifetime warranties. Perhaps the person realized it does not fit in their motherboard physically. It may be risky if its got bent pins as you said so I would try to get them to test it out.

 

Exactly. The issue of bent pins is probably the greatest possibility.

 

With Frys, its a gamble. I've heard stories where people buy RAM at Frys and remove the stickers/heat spreaders and puts them back on some old modules and returns them (chances a regular Frys employee wouldnt even know what to look for when a customer returns a couple DIMMs).

So taking that into consideration, I think you made the right choice.

Under normal circumstances though, especially with Kingston memory and their lifetime warranty, I wouldnt be worried if the memory was defective since its an easy replacement.