Do Damaged Computer Boxes Matter !!

[iread]

I received two 21.5" i5 iMac computers from Apple via FedEx and the boxes are pretty beat up.
Because they are pretty beat up I am thinking of not opening them (to avoid the restocking fees) and exchanging them at the store for two of the 21.5 i3 iMac (the store already agreed as they do not carry the i5) and getting boxes in mint condition.
Can you tell me how much you think the boxes being damaged matters or might effect the computer inside

 

[Hellhammer]

Hard to say, maybe you could include some pictures? Anyway, Apple cannot charge you with restocking fee if the damage was not caused by you. I think Apple does not charge restocking fee when getting a replacement as you don't ask for one unless there are issues. Take some pictures now that they are unopened so you have proofs to show Apple that they arrived in bad condition.

 

[wordoflife]

Ahh, you're the person who ordered two iMacs

I think you should post some pictures if you haven't opened them already. I doubt anything would have happened, but you should just share some pics to be sure.

Oh, and when you open them, share some pictures!

 

[iread]

I am mostly concerned that they might have gotten damaged and that the damage might not be visible

 

[wordoflife]

I am mostly concerned that they might have gotten damaged and that the damage might not be visible

Nah, I doubt that. Just open them up and enjoy.

BTW, did you get Apple Care?

 

[Hellhammer]

I am mostly concerned that they might have gotten damaged and that the damage might not be visible

Not very likely and you can just power them up to see are they working okay. All computers are handled quite roughly when they are moved from place A to place B.

 

[snberk103]

Get photos before opening them. Check out all the bits in the first few days (use the optical drive, use each port, etc). If there is a problem Apple doesn't charge a restocking fee to replace under warranty.

On the other hand, if the local store will allow you to replace them there you will make someone else happy. They'll be discounted and resold on the refurb site, or as in-store demo units.

I suggest you stick with them and start enjoying the experience.

 

[old-wiz]

To be safe, photograph the boxes before you open them; this will give you something to show Apple that they were damaged during shipment and not by your mishandling.

 

[iread]

I will definitely exchange them for two of the 21.5" i3 iMac if there is any issue with them like yellowing or noise as the in store exchange takes a lot less turnaround time and is easier to do

 

[wordoflife]

I really doubt anything would have happened to them.

Did you even open them? If you didn't, you wouldn't know for sure.

Either way, I still don't think that anything would have happened to them. Don't overwhelm yourself with this issue and just enjoy.

 

[landscapeman]

They ship box over box. They are packed very well. I dont think there will be any damage. I got mine from Amazon and there was not even a scratch.

 

[iread]

They ship box over box. They are packed very well. I dont think there will be any damage. I got mine from Amazon and there was not even a scratch.

I am on the east coast and Apple is on the west coast .. I could have gone to the local store but they do not offer the 21.5" i5 and the online offered me a discount.
I was not sure if there was much difference between the 21.5" i3 and the 21.5" i5 but I was down sizing from the 27" i5 quad and did not have much time

 

[Osarkon]

I doubt there's any damage to them. Boxes get damaged in transit all the time.

The way I look at it, that's part of their function. They get damaged so that the stock inside doesn't.

 

[bobr1952]

You should open them. Just think how ticked at yourself you would be if you just take them back now and exchange them and one or both of the replacements has a problem--when the ones you have now could be perfect.

 

[wordoflife]

I am on the east coast and Apple is on the west coast .. I could have gone to the local store but they do not offer the 21.5" i5 and the online offered me a discount.
I was not sure if there was much difference between the 21.5" i3 and the 21.5" i5 but I was down sizing from the 27" i5 quad and did not have much time

Just because California is on the West Coast, it doesn't mean that they are shipped from there. For example, I know that the Macbook Pros are shipped from China. Either way, packages are shipped from wherever, and you don't really increase/decrease your chance of a messed up product. I honestly doubt anything happened to them. You can even run hardware tests on them if you really want.

The only difference in the i3 vs i5 is 400mhz and turbo (speaking in terms of the i5, of course). Other than that, they both have 4MB L3 cache, bus speed and the same graphics speed (of 733mhz)*

The graphics speed doesn't matter (just so you know) because you have a dedicated card in the iMac anyways.

You payed $200 for a 400mhz increase and turbo (which means if you are using one core only, then it will shut down the other core, and increase the first core to 3.8ghz). I hope that answered your question because I know you are desperately looking for the answer

 

[iread]

Just because California is on the West Coast, it doesn't mean that they are shipped from there. For example, I know that the Macbook Pros are shipped from China. Either way, packages are shipped from wherever, and you don't really increase/decrease your chance of a messed up product. I honestly doubt anything happened to them. You can even run hardware tests on them if you really want.

The only difference in the i3 vs i5 is 400mhz. They both have 4MB L3 cache, bus speed and the same graphics speed (of 733mhz)*

The graphics speed doesn't matter (just so you know) because you have a dedicated card in the iMac anyways.

You payed $200 for a 400mhz increase. I hope that answered your question because I know you are desperately looking for the answer

I was told they were made in CA and they shipped from CA.
I do not know what 400mhz means in real or layman's terms .. Are you saying there is no difference

 

[wordoflife]

I was told they were made in CA and they shipped from CA.
I do not know what 400mhz means in real or layman's terms .. Are you saying there is no difference

Please look at my post again, I updated it.

The i5 is faster, but its not an incredible increase for everyday use (you might notice its only a few seconds faster than the i3 UNLESS you are using a single core program. With a single core program, it will shut down one of the two cores, and increase that speed to 3.8ghz

Mhz is just the speed of a processor. There is a .4Ghz increase, or 400mhz.

3.2ghz = 3200mhz
3.6ghz = 3600mhz

**Okay, so if they are shipped from California, does it matter if it was shipped to the Apple Store or your house?

 

[iread]

Please look at my post again, I updated it.

The i5 is faster, but its not an incredible increase for everyday use (you might notice its only a few seconds faster than the i3 UNLESS you are using a single core program. With a single core program, it will shut down one of the two cores, and increase that speed to 3.8ghz

Mhz is just the speed of a processor. There is a .4Ghz increase, or 400mhz.

3.2ghz = 3200mhz
3.6ghz = 3600mhz

**Okay, so if they are shipped from California, does it matter if it was shipped to the Apple Store or your house?

I have gotten iMacs from the local store that had no damage to the box at all .. I was extra mad because I had paid for next day delivery and they were sent two day indirect by mistake .. I will be refunded the shipping cost but I would have preferred the next day and not beaten up boxes

 

[wordoflife]

I have gotten iMacs from the local store that had no damage to the box at all ..

Honestly, its really hard to help you over here (and don't take it the wrong way.... please!!!) but what is your point? Did you even open the brown box? Is the brown box damaged or the white box damaged? How badly is it damaged? Do you have photos to show the damage? What do you mean by "damaged?" (Is there a dent or a hole in the box?)

If there is nothing wrong on the white box, then you have nothing to worry about. If there is something wrong in the white box, then *maybe* you should be concerned. If you aren't happy with the box, then go return it or exchange it, what ever have you, but chances are that nothing is wrong with your computer and there is no better chances of your computer resisting hard drive failure (or something like that).

About the i5, its about how you use your computer. Its not going to make it turn on faster, or load Firefox faster, or load Youtube faster. If you encode a video (maxing out the processor to 100%) then you will notice a 5-10 second difference ... maybe.

You probably won't notice it depending on your needs.

Your computer is safe.

 

[iread]

Please look at my post again, I updated it.

The i5 is faster, but its not an incredible increase for everyday use (you might notice its only a few seconds faster than the i3 UNLESS you are using a single core program. With a single core program, it will shut down one of the two cores, and increase that speed to 3.8ghz

Mhz is just the speed of a processor. There is a .4Ghz increase, or 400mhz.

3.2ghz = 3200mhz
3.6ghz = 3600mhz

**Okay, so if they are shipped from California, does it matter if it was shipped to the Apple Store or your house?

Is there much difference between the other computers or are they all kinda close Thank you for helping.

 

[wordoflife]

Is there much difference between the other computers or are they all kinda close Thank you for helping.

Haha, I seem to keep updating my posts after you quote them. Check the one above with the pictures.

Here is what I wrote:
About the i5, its about how you use your computer. Its not going to make it turn on faster, or load Firefox faster, or load Youtube faster. If you encode a video (maxing out the processor to 100%) then you will notice a 5-10 second difference ... maybe.

What do you with your computer? Then I can tell you if its really beneficial or not.

 

[iread]

Haha, I seem to keep updating my posts after you quote them. Check the one above with the pictures.

Here is what I wrote:
About the i5, its about how you use your computer. Its not going to make it turn on faster, or load Firefox faster, or load Youtube faster. If you encode a video (maxing out the processor to 100%) then you will notice a 5-10 second difference ... maybe.

What do you with your computer? Then I can tell you if its really beneficial or not.

I was talking about the white boxes being damaged (some crushed in corners, side dents and some concertinaing).
I have been using Apple Computers for about 17 years but have always gone to the store and picked up an undamaged box.

I am an all day and night heavy multi-tasker and a really heavy web browser (10 window and up to 30 tabs each) doing research and also run a professional photo scanner with professional software and I also rip and burn DVDs and do other everyday e-mail etc .. Not all at once thou

 

[wordoflife]

I was talking about the white boxes being damaged (some crushed in corners, side dents and some concertinaing).
I have been using Apple Computers for about 17 years but have always gone to the store and picked up an undamaged box.

I am an all day and night heavy multi-tasker and a really heavy web browser (10 window and up to 30 tabs each) doing research and also run a professional photo scanner with professional software and I also rip and burn DVDs and do other everyday e-mail etc .. Not all at once thou

That damage isn't going to do anything to the computer. The iMac sits in the middle of the box and is supported by foam on the top and bottom of the computer.

Its up to you. I think your just waiting for no reason.

I think the i3 would have made no noticeable difference. Upgrading to 8GB ram might have been a better choice.

Why two iMacs though?

 

[iread]

That damage isn't going to do anything to the computer. The iMac sits in the middle of the box and is supported by foam on the top and bottom of the computer.

Its up to you. I think your just waiting for no reason.

I think the i3 would have made no noticeable difference. Upgrading to 8GB ram might have been a better choice.

Why two iMacs though?

I will be updating both to 8GB each and already have purchased the memory from crucial.com.
I do understand how they are currently packaged as I have purchased the 27" i5 quad (returned as it was too big/tall for me).
I was trying to figure the difference between the i3 and the i5 as I might have preferred picking up undamaged boxes from the local store if there was no difference .. I had heard online there was no difference but Apple was claiming a large difference in the store and on the phone .. I will definitely exchange them for two of the 21.5" i3 iMac if there is any issue with them like yellowing or noise as the in store exchange takes a lot less turnaround time and is easier to do

 

[wordoflife]

I will be updating both to 8GB each and already have purchased the memory from crucial.com.
I do understand how they are currently packaged as I have purchased the 27" i5 quad (returned as it was too big/tall for me).
I was trying to figure the difference between the i3 and the i5 as I might have preferred picking up undamaged boxes from the local store if there was no difference .. I had heard online there was no difference but Apple was claiming a large difference in the store and on the phone .. I will definitely exchange them for two of the 21.5" i3 iMac if there is any issue with them like yellowing or noise as the in store exchange takes a lot less turnaround time and is easier to do

Apple wouldn't mind if you spent more money on their products.
I thought I read in previous posts that one iMac was for work and the other was for casual home use?

I think the casual home use should get the i3, and you should keep the i5 for the work stuff.

If the casual home use is doing a lot of multimedia stuff, then keep the i5 in that one and the i3 in the work one. (It really depends how you are assorted the uses of your computer).

Buy Applecare.