What is up with that? StarMicro.net, who cares? Right.

Well, I care and I decided to review / share my experience with StarMicro of Fremont California with all the world. First let me just say that none of this had to happen but, of course the key there is “had”. With all the rumblings going on about customer service lately, I thought it only fitting to share.

Run away, exit the page, close your browser, or just pull the plug if you end up at StarMicro.net looking for computer parts.

I’ve been without my PC for the last week and will be for probably another week and who do you think I can thank so very much for that? Did you say StarMicro.net? I thought I heard you say Starmicro.net and if so, you are 100% correct.

What’s that, Why? Oh, why, well let me tell you why…

My cpu fan was making so much noise that it was actually hard to stay in the same room with my PC running. So, I visited my local computer shop and purchased a new fan. Now while there they told me that if I updated, flashed, my BIOS I could jump from an Athlon 900 to an Athlon XP 2100. I know it’s an older system but I did build it from the ground up and it runs like a champ well, when it runs of course.

Anyway, they didn’t have a cpu for my system so I went online to Pricewatch.com (great site by the way) and searched out the exact cpu for my Asus A7M266 mobo. Guess who had it, correct StarMicro.net, Damn your smart.

So I place the order and wait for it to arrive. It shows up a couple of days later. Excited I flash my BIOS and reboot my PC. All well with the A7M266 mobo so, lets power down and wait a few minutes to cool off, just in case.

With the cables disconnected off comes the one side of the case cover. Next I disconnect / remove the heatsink, lift the locking arm and up comes the Athlon 900. All good so far. Carefully, I open the plastic case containing the Athlon XP 2100 from StarMicro.net then I install the Athlon XP 2100 secure the heatsink, plug in the fan, and close the case. Let’s boot up!

Cables are all reconnected and now the moment I have been waiting for, power up without noise. Yes my pc powered up without that fan noise and actually no other noise other than the power supply. Odd, there should have been a little drive access noise at boot. I looked at the monitor and it was black - nothing just blank. Wait, my pc didn’t POST and Windows XP Pro never initiated.

Start over and reseat the cpu. When I took off the heatsink I found the chip attached to it and not to the cpu. I called AMD and spoke to a Technical Specialist who informed me that the chip will not come off like that and that the cpu must have arrived damaged / DOA.

That leads to a phone call to StarMicro in Fremont CA, where I tried to explain it to the guy but he just couldn’t understand it. I even had him go to hise product webpage and I told him the little square in the middle of the top of the cpu. I thought he got it but, he didn’t. He did give me a RMA number and off it went Priority Mail.

Three emails later I finally received the following response:

  

Dear Customer,

We have received your returned part and the CPU is damaged.

You told us that the lids of the CPU came off but the lids are in good condition.

And the chip is off. At this time we cannot process your RMA.

As per the company’s Return Policy any damage made at the customer’s end cannot be refunded or replaced.

We are sending the package back.

 Thanks,

 RRegards,

StarMicro Inc.

 

Now, the part that gets me is “… at the customer’s end…” You see this little statement is a blanket for them. Why? Simply that once every product leaves StarMicro.net it will next be opened at the “customer’s end” and you know what that means. You broke it!!!

In my opinion any damage I’m to be responsible for should show as damage I did. Improper installation that would have bent pins or similar. Think about it, why would I pry off the chip? Doing so renders the cpu useless. By the way StarMicro.net puts a yellow sticker on the cpu to identify it as theirs, I guess. Which in my opinion is just fine. That sticker was still on the cpu and was not damaged in any way shape or form.

 

So what is all of this about, well it’s really quite simple. Had StarMicro Inc. of Fremont California treated me, the customer, properly nobody would have ever heard anything about this. But, because StarMicro Inc of Fremont California treated me sooo badly I want the whole world to know about it.

This relates to all marketing not just brick & mortor. what should StarMicro.net have done? Either replaced the cpu or offered me a refund. Had they done that, this would not be a post.

Oh, I almost forgot, StarMicro.net >>> Just Plain UGLY 

Al