I've had my EVGA Dark Mobo since launch and for the most part it was doing a great job. Recently I started filling up more USB sockets and I found out the bottom two USB 3.0 sockets on the back of the I/O shield were defective. I'd have reported the fault sooner but I'd never even used those bottom sockets until recently. Either way, I was met with a choice: RMA the motherboard back to the eShop (www.Scan.co.uk) or send it overseas to EVGA themselves.
 
I figured sending it back to the Scan.co.uk would take less time as they are based in the UK (my home country). So I packaged the motherboard up neatly and made sure it was well protected. What a huge mistake!
 
A few days later I received an email from Scan.co.uk and they told me they had rejected the warranty due to 3 of the CPU socket pins being bent. Needless to say I was shocked because the last thing I did before I sealed the motherboard into its anti-static bag was put the CPU socket cap back on. And when I did, there most certainly were NOT any bent pins.
 
I studied the screenshot of the CPU socket they sent me and saw that 2 of the pins were mashed downwards and a third broken pin had been pulled right back on itself. I told Scan.co.uk that it must have been their technician who had damaged the pins (either accidently or on purpose). I also explained that a 4960X processor is flat on the underside so it could not have hooked that third up-turned pin in the socket while I was removing or placing the CPU.
 
I received the faulty motherboard in the mail today and had a look inside. Seeing those broken pins just disgusted me. I'd bought from Scan.co.uk for years but never needed to RMA anything to them before. I didn't think they'd be so underhand.
 
The screenshot below is the one Scan.co.uk sent me after they had tampered with the CPU socket. Notice the 3 broken pins. Anybody else think it looks suspicious that 2 are mashed and one has been levered right back on itself?
 
Please, if anyone from EVGA can help me out I'd greatly appreciate it.
 
 

iamSneaky
This is why you should always take photos of your board before
sending it off. Pics that have the date on them, you can do this with most
cameras.
Unfortunately you having no proof that you didn't do it, you don't have
a leg to stand on.

I know, mate. I'm kicking myself right now for not doing that. You just don't expect eshops that you thought were reputable to pull these kinds of shenanigans :(

It cost me about $80+Shipping to EVGA to Repair/Replace the CPU Socket.
More then Worth the Cost.
 

rjohnson11
CPU socket repair might be possible (at a cost to you of course) so contact EVGA European support for assistance in this matter.

That's all very well but where do I stand when it comes down to the faulty USB 3.0 sockets? As far as I'm aware they've never worked since day one. The only reason I found out about that fault was when I tried to populate them for the first time a few weeks ago.

BF3PRO

Ravenmaster

rjohnson11CPU socket repair might be possible (at a cost to you of course) so contact EVGA European support for assistance in this matter.

That's all very well but where do I stand when it comes down to the faulty USB 3.0 sockets? As far as I'm aware they've never worked since day one. The only reason I found out about that fault was when I tried to populate them for the first time a few weeks ago.

Well the fact they weren't working could be due to the pins being bent and you not noticing...

Nope. The first thing I noticed was that the USB sockets weren't working. Then obviously I removed CPU out and then removed the motherboard from the case ready for RMA. The last thing I did before placing the mobo into its anti-static bag was put the protective cap back on over the CPU socket. While I was doing so, the pins were all in tact. The action of putting the cap back on couldn't have damaged the pins either because the pins in question are the ones on the outer-most part of the socket (which get covered by the metal rim that closes down over the socket when the levers are closed).

manojks
I am little concerned on the protective cap and installing it on the CPU socket but your pictured damage obviously isn't linked to that. I faced a similar issue with the x79 ftw back when it's usb port were as responsive as a lady trying on shoes. I hope they aren't broken so you can slowly bend them back with a small lead pencil.
 
And are we sure those ports don't work ?

Yeah just those 2 ports, the rest are fine. I tried a USB stick in them, an iphone and an external hard drive. None of which were recognised when plugged into the bottom 2 USB 3.0 sockets.

If you want to risk it take something like a lead pencil and slowly bend the pin back into place. Be very careful as one false move will ruin everything

I've heard this is commonplace in some resellers as a method to reject an RMA request.

 
Moving thread to the Warranty section.

Pretty sure it wasn't EVGA. It was ASUS. just google "asus rampage iv bent pins" and see them results. Yeah yeah the x79 era plagued with bad memories for all.

freestylingford
I guess we all need to start making a unboxing video so we can prove that if any damaged product is received we can prove it. Otherwise you get a brand new board with pins somehow bent from the start you cant prove it.
Like someone else mentioned I dont understand how pins can get bent and a person not know about it while they place the cpu in the socket.

This ^
 
Well, after carefully edging the 3 pins back to where they should be I have retested the motherboard. It booted up just fine and had no BSOD's for the 3 hours it was turned on. The two USB 3.0 sockets on the bottom of the I/O panel are still faulty though, as was to be expected. There's just no power going to them. All of the USB sockets above them work just fine. I've got an RMA number from EVGA so i'll be shipping it off to them soon. Hopefully they can sort things out. I'm willing to bet they will be far more help than Scan.co.uk. *shudders*

iamSneaky
This is why you should always take photos of your board before
sending it off. Pics that have the date on them, you can do this with most
cameras.
Unfortunately you having no proof that you didn't do it, you don't have
a leg to stand on.

Pictures and paper with date when you send.
Many retailers over world because different reasons try to avoid warranty.
Sometimes no more supplies of same hardware, sometimes simply want to influence on customers to buy next time some other brand, hardware from their sponsors or simply expect from you to pay other peace of hardware from them. 
 

 
I see my thread warning was ignored. Ravenmaster you have a PM.

rjohnson11

Ravenmaster
Jeez... it's gonna cost me £47 just to ship it from UK to EVGA Germany. This is (Word deleted for foul language). I already paid £18 to send it to the reseller the first time. Man I am so (Word deleted for language) off

Are you using Royal Mail or another transporter?

Sent it Parcel Force, sir as it was cheaper than FedEx who were asking a massive £75 (just for economy class) I was like "Whaaaat? O.o its only going from UK to Germany" XD

rjohnson11
Postal rates in the UK to mainland Europe are higher than from the Netherlands to Germany for example. Royal Mail with tracking might have been cheaper unless Royal Mail uses Parcel Force for large packages.

It does indeed use parcel force for larger packages :)