1/5

posted Nov-06-2002

In April 2001, I assembled a "blaster pc kit" and accessories purchased from Tiger Direct ($1183).It was dead on power up. The 40gig hard drive was not compatable with the on-board bios program.I had to jumper the drive to 33.8gigs. After formatting, it took weeks to load the operating system--It would manage only 10 to 20 minutes a day of operation. I contacted them about my "lemon"--in response, my Intel 900mhz P3 cpu was replaced--no fix here--I asked for a motherboard replacement--I was told they did not have any. That was my last contact with them--they refused to answer my emails from that point on.I purchased a bios upgrade January 2002, that fixed the problem--another bios compatability issue--you can't operate a P3 900mhz cpu at 66,75,or 83mhz, and expect it to work correctly. These guys are first class jerks when it comes to servicing what they sell--this is my last purchase. (Friday 12/20/2002) Please note how skillfully Danny evaded answering my problem of a 900mhz cpu at fsb's of 66,75,and 83mhz--this is what Tiger Direct support is best at--rather than admit any wrongdoing on their part, they just ignore the problem. I also sent him 3 emails, which he has chosen not to answer---(perhaps because I have filed 5 complaints with consumer protection agencies)---from my personal experience, they should carry a customer service rating of MINUS 10. (Tuesday 1/14/2003)---Since Danny "The Mute", a Tiger Direct chip off the old block, will not communicate with me, I'll post the three other rip-offs they laid on me as part of this purchase. This kit was advertised as on board soundblaster live Platinum 5.1. (it is and always will be soundblaster live value 3.0)---I paid $110 for a video card with tv out. (it did not have this feature)---I purchased a System Mechanic software program with a $60 rebate. (I have not yet received it)--Is it that hard to understand why I am not a happy camper?(Tuesday 1/21/2003) Danny's response requires some clarification--regarding the bios/hard drive compatability issue--I found a programmer who patched the 32gig limitation problem--I don't need a band-aid like drive overlay software. As for your cpu diagnosis--a miss is as good as a mile--maybe you don't know the difference between a cpu and a bios program--I never said "the problem" went away--I said "most of the internet explorer faults" went away--my last contact with you was the day I installed the replacement cpu--when it behaved the same way the original cpu did, I knew that was not the problem.--to work around the "we don't have any motherboards" issue, I purchased a second blaster pc kit--rest assured, had I determined anything on my original purchase was defective, I would have used the warranty on the second kit for replacement--so you can take that "he was out of warranty" crap, and shove it. I believe I have stayed a step or two ahead of you throughout this ordeal--from where I stand now, I don't think I've lost any ground.

This review was modified by Michael J M on January 22 2003 05:52:19 AM

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1/5

posted Oct-24-2002

Part of a $354 order was for a 1ghz Celeron cpu ($87). When I installed the cpu, I found it dead on powerup. I had bios related problems, and thought this to be another one. In August 2002, I added cpu micro codes to the bios program. The cpu was still dead. After many internet inquiries, I was asked what type cpu I had--Coppermine or Tualatin? I didn't know there were two.(Intel's Corporate webpage for Celeron cpu's listed only the 1ghz--FC-PGA--.18 micron. "Coppermine"). Turns out mine was the "Tualatin" core--not compatable with my motherboard 440BX chipset.
I contacted Mwave--hoping to exchange my Tualatin core cpu for a Coppermine core--they stock and sell both. I was informed by their customer DISservice that they do not refund or accept returns on boxed cpu sets, and gave me a toll-free number for Intel--telling me they would resolve my problem. Intel told me flat out that this was a reseller problem, not theirs.(according to an Intel "manager", incompatability is NOT a part of warranty) I went back to Mwave--who sent me back to Intel--and so on and so forth. I have a three year warranty
on my cpu--since the reseller and maufacturer will do nothing about it, I guess they expect me to sit by and wait for it to expire. I don't believe I'll be giving Mwave any future business.(Sunday 1/19/2003)--I read with dismay the comment of [BBR] araina 1/8/03 9:18PM--"breaking the established procedures", Mwave pays shipping both ways to exchange an OEM cpu for a retail version--I find this very upsetting, since they would not lift a finger to help me in similar circumstances--could they have in fact discriminated against me by this action? I will give this matter my close attention!!(Friday 1/31/2003)
--For anyone who has been treated by Mwave, as I have been, here is an alternative--I found PowerLeap.com--they sell an adapter card that permits the "Tualatin" core construction cpu to work with the 440BX chipset--in addition,the adapter will support cpu speeds up to 1.4ghz--I paid $67 delivered--a lofty price to pay to save an $87 cpu investment--as far as I am concerned, Intel and Mwave can hold hands, and take a long walk on a short pier. Mwave did not sell me a defective part--worse--they sold me an incompatable one--I am a reciprocal person who has had Mwave's policies explained to me--now, I intend to explain my position on every website that I can find on the Internet. After all, fair is fair.

This review was modified by Michael J M on February 16 2003 05:57:19 PM

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1/5

posted Oct-23-2002

After being assured by salesperson
74 that my purchase would include
fsb frequencys up to 133mhz and hdd
support greater than 40gigs, I
placed an order for a bios upgrade.
$70 including s/h. I installed the
upgrade--the fsb was there, but,the
hdd support had the same 32 gig
limitation as my original bios.
After 7 email exchanges with their
customer DISservice, communications
ceased--their position being that
the upgrade did support hard drives
up to 137 gigs--it did not. They
sell garbage and then lie to you.
Apparenly they believe if you tell
a lie enough times, it becomes the
truth. Buyer beware.

This review was modified by Michael J M on February 20 2003 05:44:58 PM

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