0-20k Got a possibly tampered Ballistix RAM. Should I return?

[xkcd0137]

I was planning to make a post in Show-off thread but here we are discussing if I should return the RAM. The RAM is a Crucial ballistix 3600mhz cl16 RGB RAM which I had ordered from Appario Retail via Amazon. It got delievered an hour before and when I opened the package, I found that the plastic case was already torn from one side -

..and it can be opened effortlessly from that side. When I removed the RAM from the package, there were some scuff marks few of which went away after I used a microfiber once. Though, there was one tiny thing sticking to one side of the case which I had to remove using my fingernails.

Now, this is my first time building my PC and hence, first time I am experienceing a RAM so felt a little weird when I saw some curve/depression on the base of RAM. Though I think this is normal but still need you people to confirm it. I hope you can see it though, it a very minute curve. One more thing, if you observe closely there is a whitish Scratch near that dip/curve in the base of the RAM. Is that normal? -

On further examination, I found such depression on both sides of the RAM symmetrically so hoping it all to be normal though -

Though, this RAM has a 10-year warranty but since I may not be able to build my PC till next month or two due to high prices of GPUs, and hence won't be able to test if its working properly or not till then. Should I return it just becasue the package was torn when I opened it?

PS - I bought it out of excitement of building a new PC and this one was the last stick avaialble and that too for a very reasonable price. Couldn't resist!

 

[SunnyBoi]

Look closely at the golden fingers. Does it have any marks in the center, like a line? if it was used you'd see a mark.

Do you have rest of your components? why not try it and see if it works

 

[kartikoli]

If you got it for a good price, don't return as you might not get a same deal again. try to get it tested with a friend if it works

 

[xkcd0137]

Look closely at the golden fingers. Dones it have any marks in the center, like a line? if it was used you'd see a mark.

Yup. I can see some marks on the golden fingers. It is definitely a used one. Is that a good enough reason to return?

Do you have rest of your components? wh not try it and see if it works

Unfortunately, no. I am waiting to get rest of the components after I get the gpu. Bought the RAM early as it had a 10 year warranty so thought that risk may be less.

And no one in my residential complex has a PC. And since we are in lockdown, can't move out either.

If you got it for a good price, don't return as you might not get a same deal again. try to get it tested with a friend if it works

Does ₹4085 seem like a good price?

 

[Sumi]

Hope you recorded the entire unboxing?

Unless it's OOS, amazon should send you a replacement as rams have a 7 day replacement window. Don't go the refund route as you probably won't get it again at the same price mark.

Since you don't have anyway to check it, there are two ways to solve it. One is to find someone here at TE who lives near you and can help you out or secondly you can ask amazon if a replacement is possible since it has visible signs of tampering.

Lastly, if everything is all good than it's all good or you can always RMA the ram.

 

[SunnyBoi]

Yup. I can see some marks on the golden fingers. It is definitely a used one. Is that a good enough reason to return?

here's a pic from my old ram. can you see the marks I talked about? I cant see them on your pic, hopefully this gives a better representation

If you got it for a good price, don't return as you might not get a same deal again. try to get it tested with a friend if it works

I agree. keep it if it works

 

[xkcd0137]

Hope you recorded the entire unboxing?

I took the pics but didn't record a video but I don't think they would mind returning it at all.

Unless it's OOS, amazon should send you a replacement as rams have a 7 day replacement window. Don't go the refund route as you probably won't get it again at the same price mark.

It is OOS for now as this was the last stick that I ordered.

Lastly, if everything is all good than it's all good or you can always RMA the ram.

Yeah, that's what I am thinking if its worth taking that risk.

 

[roofrider]

plastic case was already torn from one side

I was hoping this wont be the case with yours, but yeah I noticed it in one of my sticks too, the packaging was tampered with. But at the top, rather than the bottom but it was not as apparent as yours so did not pay much attention to it unfortunately. But I noticed later that the stick was placed in the opposite direction--the product code/QR code was facing the top. Did not record so my memory could be playing tricks on me too, but something was definitely odd.
@Sumi did you get yours yet?

 

[xkcd0137]

here's a pic from my old ram. can you see the marks I talked about? I cant see them on your pic, hopefully this gives a better representation

These kind of marks are visible on one side but they are very faint since maybe it was used for less than 7 days so that it was returned, hence not visible in photos.

I was hoping this wont be the case with yours, but yeah I noticed it in one of my sticks too, the packaging was tampered with. But at the top, rather than the bottom but it was not as apparent as yours so did not pay much attention to it unfortunately. But I noticed later that the stick was placed in the opposite direction--the product code/QR code was facing the top. Did not record so my memory could be playing tricks on me too, but something was definitely odd.

Is it working okay?

 

[Sumi]

@Sumi did you get yours yet?

It's arriving tomorrow. I'll update you guys on this thread.

I took the pics but didn't record a video but I don't think they would mind returning it at all.

Always record unboxing videos, no better proof than it. Some sites even deny returns or replacement if there are no unboxing videos.

It is OOS for now as this was the last stick that I ordered.

Yep, they'll only refund you the amount. No point in doing that.

Yeah, that's what I am thinking if its worth taking that risk.

No idea about how long the RMA would be but they would definitely accept it.

 

[nRiTeCh]

@xkcd0137 even if it is used barely for few days chances are it didnt fit well with the mobo for the earlier customer as these days peeps order stuff randomly and then realize about compatibility etc issues.
So its your choice if you wish to keep it or return as both are fine as for you got the invoice and if the ram is working perfectly!

 

[xkcd0137]

@xkcd0137 even if it is used barely for few days chances are it didnt fit well with the mobo for the earlier customer as these days peeps order stuff randomly and then realize about compatibility etc issues.

Unless s/he tried on a DDR3 slot, why wouldn't a DDR4 ram fit the slot?

 

[nRiTeCh]

Unless s/he tried on a DDR3 slot, why wouldn't a DDR4 ram fit the slot?

Facepalm! By fit means compatibility I didn't mentioned slot here..

 

[kartikoli]

I've RMA'd my Crucial SSD and it took around 20 days so you would be good for RMA too

1. Try to see if return is possible
2. drop it for RMA and you will get it back before your other components are ready (hopefully)

As everyone mentioned, this looks like used piece so you can opt for above options. I got my Adata XPG kit for 7800rs in Jan (8gb*2 3200Mhz)

 

[xkcd0137]

Facepalm! By fit means compatibility I didn't mentioned slot here..

Pardon my ignorance, but are some RAMs not compatible with certain hardware?

 

[kartikoli]

Pardon my ignorance, but are some RAMs not compatible with certain hardware?

true

 

[roofrider]

I cant test it right away too, i did try to look for some marks but couldn't find anything that convincing. Any particular place i need to look at?
A couple of pics of my suspicious stick, the portion I think @SunnyBoi was referring to.

And that white scratch you mentioned is probably nothing, I notice it on the sides and is more apparent in my non-suspicious stick

I'm thinking of keep it. If it happens to be dead then have to RMA it later.

PS: @SunnyBoi I'm from Blore too, but with the lockdown here now I doubt you can test it for me

 

[xkcd0137]

As everyone mentioned, this looks like used piece so you can opt for above options. I got my Adata XPG kit for 7800rs in Jan (8gb*2 3200Mhz)

Thanks for replying. Dividing by two, yours was ₹3900 per stick.. but this is a 3600mhz cl16 RGB one, so ₹4085 seems like a good deal, me thinks.

 

[SunnyBoi]

I found another pic of old and new ram side by side, looks like the new one atleast what I have does have liiight marks. nowhere as defined as the old ones though

PS: @SunnyBoi I'm from Blore too, but with the lockdown here now I doubt you can test it for me

Haha, I wouldn't mind but I'm back at my home town now

but this is a 3600mhz cl16 RGB one, so ₹4085 seems like a good deal, me thinks.

did you buy one stick or two?

 

[princeoo7]

if its working then keep it else if you have your worries then return it. warranty will not be an issue. may be some one ordered it and found he was not happy with it in the configuration so they returned it so those marks can be from that.

I found another pic of old and new ram side by side, looks like the new one atleast what I have does have liiight marks. nowhere as defined as the old ones though

Haha, I wouldn't mind but I'm back at my home town now

did you buy one stick or two?

do the color matters, like are those the same ram under the hood ?