I purchased a brand new 1080 ti graphics card and by the time it arrived I had decided to return it.  The package came with a poorly / incompletely applied "EVGA" sticker on one of the ends of the box.  It was not completely adhered, but it was still there, and clearly never removed.  Doing so would have transposed the "EVGA" text from the sticker to the box, as well as left a sticky residue where the sticker previously was.  I noticed this poorly applied sticker and was concerned they might think I had opened it, so I took several photos of it.  However, despite my assertion that it had never been opened, as well as photos showing that even thought the sticker was incompletely applied, it was clearly never removed, they denied that it was unopened and charged me a $100 restocking fee.  If I had purchased this from Amazon or Newegg this never would have happened.  
 
I am an honest individual and never opened this package.  Shame on EVGA for their poor packaging and poor service.  That's the end of line for me with EVGA products.  

It's not like it doesn't come with it's standard 3-year warranty too.
 
Did you try opening the box even to examine everything else, or did you just assume?

TheParagonHero
It's not like it doesn't come with it's standard 3-year warranty too.
 
Did you try opening the box even to examine everything else, or did you just assume?

Assume what?  I assumed the card worked just fine.  I merely wanted to return it.  Their policy states that if you return a new, unopened product within 14 days, then you get a full refund.  I did that, and they didn't give me a full refund.  

This isn't about whether the card worked or not.  It's my assumption it worked just fine.  

rcampbell_13
I purchased a brand new 1080 ti graphics card and by the time it arrived I had decided to return it.  The package came with a poorly / incompletely applied "EVGA" sticker on one of the ends of the box.  It was not completely adhered, but it was still there, and clearly never removed.  Doing so would have transposed the "EVGA" text from the sticker to the box, as well as left a sticky residue where the sticker previously was.  I noticed this poorly applied sticker and was concerned they might think I had opened it, so I took several photos of it.  However, despite my assertion that it had never been opened, as well as photos showing that even thought the sticker was incompletely applied, it was clearly never removed, they denied that it was unopened and charged me a $100 restocking fee.  If I had purchased this from Amazon or Newegg this never would have happened.  
 
I am an honest individual and never opened this package.  Shame on EVGA for their poor packaging and poor service.  That's the end of line for me with EVGA products.  

 
Why would you buy something you weren't 100% sure you wanted? Trying to talk crap about eVGA you're just like another user that recently stopped by who asked his company for permission to build a new PC, didn't get permission, But bought tons of stuff from eVGA only to find out his request to build the PC was denied by his company just DAYS after the return period ended... then came here to cry about how eVGA wouldn't refund the money.
 
Lol.
 
Think about something, Do research, Then when you're certain you want it, buy it. Now either keep it, or give eVGA the $100 for wasting their time.

Is this buyer's remorse based on the 2080 release announcement? Just do the EVGA stepup program....

the_Scarlet_one
When you purchased the card, you agreed to the terms. The terms state there will be a restocking fee.

“EVGA only offers refunds for products purchased directly from its official website EVGA.com if such products are returned within 14 days of purchase. Returns are subject to a 15% restocking fee if the product packaging has been opened, regardless of whether the product has been used or not.” May 25, 2018

https://www.evga.com/warranty/graphics-cards/

The OP is saying evga is changing him a restocking fee because they believe the package was opened due to how the sticker is placed on the package.

bcavnaugh
Looks Open to me as the Plastic Wrap was removed from the Box, I call this Opened.

 
The OP should have taken the Photo of the Box With the Plastic Wrap Sealed on the Box.

True, but arguments can be made both ways.

After inspecting the photo closely it looks like the sticker has actually been removed. There are two shades of black on the box. The lighter black area is most likely where the sticker was before it was removed.

There was no shrink wrapping on the box.  It came precisely as it looks in the photo.  And, apparently that is my fault.  And it's my fault for ordering something I was "not 100% sure about."  I'm certain nobody on this forum has ever returned anything.  
 
Unbelievable

Sajin
After inspecting the photo closely it looks like the sticker has actually been removed. There are two shades of black on the box. The lighter black area is most likely where the sticker was before it was removed.

True, but arguments can be made both ways.

And, lest people get all worked up about this, my complaint was bout buying from evga.com, if you read the subject line.  This is not a commentary about their products.  I have owned many in my lifetime and they have always been great.  It's about the fact that had I purchased this from Amazon or Newegg or somebody else who doesn't look for every opportunity to capture a restocking fee even when I told them it was unopened and could have arguably been so, then I would have been better off.  I have been ripped off by EVGA.com, plain and simple.  As the subject line says. 

If you want to buy EVGA products I'd look to do it elsewhere.  That's it.  Just one man's experience.

the_Scarlet_one
Rcampbell, how long did shipping take to arrive to you from date of purchase?

Purchased 8/7, delivered 8/10
 
No complaints on the shipping portion...

rcampbell_13

the_Scarlet_one
Rcampbell, how long did shipping take to arrive to you from date of purchase?

Purchased 8/7, delivered 8/10
 
No complaints on the shipping portion...

And you returned it as soon as it arrived?

Sorry, don’t mean to play 20 questions. Just trying to understand everything. Initially I figured the return date would have been after the 14 day period, so returned on or after 8/22.

>>This is unfortunate however if you were planning on returning the product, from my perspective I would of either refused the shipment or took pictures of the unopened shipping box and returned it that way. No reason to open the package in the first place.
>>And you returned it as soon as it arrived?

Yes, in a perfect world.  However, I was gone on a work trip when it arrived and my wife had already opened the outer package as she didn't know what it was.  I returned the package as soon as I returned home from my trip, which was not as soon as it arrived, but it was within the 14 day window.
 
It was sent back precisely how it arrived.  There's not much more I can do.   (just added 3rd photo showing how it was when arrived/opened. notice no shrink wrap).  Yes, "that's unfortunate."  The company is left with the decision to believe me that I did not open it (which they could further confirm by the (I presume) perfect condition of everything within the box), or ignore the fact that I clearly was concerned about the sticker, took photos of the condition and then hit me with the restocking fee anyway.  They chose option B.  That is their prerogative.  It cost me $100 and I did nothing wrong.  Hence my warning to others shopping on evga.com.
 
I've probably bought a thousand items off of Amazon at this point and never once have I had a return not given benefit of the doubt when packaging was in question.

the_Scarlet_one
Thank you for the answers. Sorry to hear about your frustration and hopefully someone at EVGA will see your thread and assist you.

Thanks.  Yes, I hope so as well.  Thus far the standard customer service has denied my request to reimburse the restocking fee.  I guess to them $100 isn't really worth the effort or making a judgment call on.  For the rest of us that's a lot of money, and it's surely enough to lose loyalty over.  
 
I have always loved EVGA products and would like to feel good about buying them again in the future.  But this has soured me on them, unfortunately.