I wanted to put a warning out there for others like myself planning to build a new PC. I started using pcpartpicker and after enough price comparisons, I ended up buying a CPU from Amazon. Keeping an eye on the tracking updates, I pulled it inside as soon as it arrived so it wouldn’t be stolen off my porch.
Something was off as soon as I opened the Amazon box. I’ve built PC’s before and this didn’t look like a CPU box from AMD. Being suspicious, I took photos of the entire process of opening it and found it was completely empty. This apparently happens a lot with certain sellers on Amazon, even if it is sold and shipped by Amazon. I found some posts from others that appear to have had the same problem, but with a different color plastic packaging.
As soon as I noticed, I opened a chat support case with Amazon explaining the situation. I told them I had photos of the unboxing and could provide them if need be. Maybe I got lucky, but after asking for a replacement, the chat agent immediately opened up a replacement without question.
I just bought a Mobo from them and when I put the computer together my Mobo said it detected a new CPU compared to the previous one and Im still not sure I didn’t get sold a used Mobo lol. The box was sealed with an Asus sticker but not plastic wrapped. I fucking hate Amazon. Computer is running fine though.
I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a shrink wrapped motherboard box, it was probably just the CPU they used for testing at the factory. Presumably they need to QA the board with some CPU before shipping.
That was my other guess