What the hell Gainward!!!

[Flash]

As you know Gainward used to be one of the best graphics card suppliers. In my estimation theyve dropped to a bunch of no good plonkers and heres why.


I had been having the dreaded pink screen problem on my TI4200 card and finally decided enough was enough and tried to see if OCUK could help. I bought it off them in July 2002 and the card itself had a 3 year warrenty.

They pointed me to Gainwards UK operation. After numerous unanswered calls and no reply to loads of emails I stumbled across their Europeean division and dropped them an email. To my surprise I got a response within hours. A RMA had been given and all I had to do was complete the formalities before sending my package to Germany.

The royal mail advised me my package had arrived in Germany on the 8th of Jan 3 days after I sent it. So 1 week later I email them and they tell me they are behind due to christmas returns (boy are they having a bad time of it!!!) so a further week later I get the same response.... 3 and a half week later I get the same runaround and then decide to send an email to their MD and a few other people on their so called board.

The response again was instant and I was told to my surprise my card was fixed and is on its way back to me. Hmmm I thought how odd was it to tell me that they were behind on RMAs only to then get it sorted within half a day.

So 2 days later I get the card. Through the anti static bag I could see that they had put on a new fan and a few capacitors had been changed. When I got it outta the bag though the fan immediatley fell off and 2 black plastic things and a few springs also came out.

I expressed my concerns to Gainward last thursday in en email to their MD and board members. I even put a read receipt on it and got acknowledgement that they had read it. But nothing not a dickie bird no replies at all.

Its really sad when the returns process of a company break down to the point that it looks like theyve rushed teh RMA through and couldnt be bothered to do a decent job. Im now left with a card that has no fan therefore Im not gonna use it until its resolved.

What do you reckon my options are?

[Areku]

I would try to keep on their backs about it. That really sucks though. If they have a phone number try giving them a call to see what the say as well, it might speed things up a bit instead of having to wait for an email. Thank god I havent had any problems with my ti4600......yet

[Aaron]

The Ti4600 is probably the best card Gainward produced. Really nice overclocker, loads of great features (mmm... dual DVI) and reliable.

It's a shame they followed it up with the Ti4200 which had LOADS of problems.

[Flash]

unlike the 4200 and 4400

[kryptonic]

lol

[marc_ellis]

Originally Posted by Aaron

It's a shame they followed it up with the Ti4200 which had LOADS of problems.

Yeah, what was the deal with them putting BGA ramsinks on SDR DDR ram

[Flash]

they still haevnt replied to my emails

[marc_ellis]

You from the UK flash?

[blockers]

I would do as Areku says and keep hounding them about it. Send an email a-day to them until you get a response.

I RMA'd my ti4200 with the pink screen and got a Golden Sample back. clocks to 310/620 with not artifacts

[silent]

i would also send a letter/email to trading standards and get them involved. they can be very useful in solving problems.

[kryptonic]

Flash:

good look with getting any help of OCUK! They are ok until you have problems, and then they just done wonna know! I had a problem with my shuttle system recently and i sent it back to shuttle for a replacement and they just didnt care. They tried to fob me off saying that the system has been tested rar rar rar, and it clearly hadnt, personally ive learnt a lesson... dont buy off OCUK.... stick with overclockers.co.uk and kustom.co.uk ocuk = cowboys!

[Skii]

Originally Posted by kryptonic

Flash:

personally ive learnt a lesson... dont buy off OCUK.... stick with overclockers.co.uk

Err aren't they the same ?

[Kezzer]

Originally Posted by Skii

Err aren't they the same ?

Yeh, he must be jokin'

[Butuz]

Don't blame Gainward - your contract is with OcUK - if they chose not to honour that contract, and push you onto Gainward as an excuse - thats not Gainwards fault.

Who's your nice new ford focus's warranty with... Ford UK? Or Evans Halshaw? If Evans Halshaw told you "it wasnt their problem, and to get in touch with Ford's UK HQ". What would you say?...... Same applies with online GFX card purchases......

Butuz

[kryptonic]

my bad... i meant overclock.co.uk *blush*

[Flash]

yup mate Im from the UK