Ebay RAM VS Crucial RAM?

[RegEdit]

This sounds too good to be true:

$80.00 for 2 GB of DDR 3200 - 400 MHz RAM at Crucial.com

Same RAM also brand new on Ebay (but a different brand) just $41.74

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2GB-DDR-PC3...255?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item56436d0b57

 

[cprompt]

This sounds too good to be true:

$80.00 for 2 GB of DDR 3200 - 400 MHz RAM at Crucial.com

Same RAM also brand new on Ebay (but a different brand) just $41.74

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2GB-DDR-PC3...255?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item56436d0b57

My distributor (D and H) carries the 2x1GB Crucial right now at my cost of $56.89. Their cheapest DDR 400 2x1 GB is Patriot memory at $49.26. The eBay RAM seems like a good price - as long as it doesn't fail. It would be nice if there were a brand on it so you could know what you were getting...

 

[shamrin]

It's all down to risk isn't it? You know the Crucial RAM is unused, is going to work in the machine you're buying it for and that it's not going to be DOA or fail.

 

[Appleby]

I don't put much stock in the brand name of RAM. I've seen it all and most all of it works. I've read articles that claim much of it is made in the same factories in China and just branded for different companies. Not sure how true it is, but I wouldn't be surprised. I don't buy from Crucial because of the price, but Newegg and Amazon are hard to beat and there are plenty of reviews for most everything on their sites, so you have a good idea of what you are getting.

 

[joydivision]

I tend to stick with Corsair Value or Kingston these days because at least it is branded and they are cheap.

Also buy Samsung OEM at times too.

 

[sassenach]

It depends what it is going to be used for, really and I prefer to buy branded whenever possible. As it is a fairly old style RAM I would think there will be no mission critical applications running and you can reasonably safely pay your money and take your chance.

 

[krtechsolutions]

I bought memory off eBay for a Dell and no matter what they sent me it would not work, went to compaua bought the same memory and it worked the 1st time I am usually an eBay fan but I am worried to buy memory again from there

Rich

 

[phaZed]

I always buy a branded memory, I have had and seen too many problems with crappy RAM. Too many system stability problems.

That being said... why not use pricewatch.com:
http://www.pricewatch.com/gallery/system_memory/ddr_pc3200_2gb_kit

Take your pick:
$23.61 for Generic
$38.99 for Micron, Samsung, or Infineon (I used to work at Infineon!)

Amazon has PNY for $45 /w free shipping..
http://www.amazon.com/PNY-Channel-D...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B000F6KQ7G

There really is no reason to go for the eBay stuff.

 

[Nate]

Why not get some Kingston memory from Newegg? I have used these small sticks before and they work just fine.

$25.99
Kingston 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 400 (PC2 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR400D2N3K2/2G

I cant post links yet, just search the model number.

 

[Fixedathome.com]

Why not get some Kingston memory from Newegg? I have used these small sticks before and they work just fine.

$25.99
Kingston 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 400 (PC2 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR400D2N3K2/2G

I cant post links yet, just search the model number.

He wanted DDR not DDR2

 

[Nate]

He wanted DDR not DDR2

Wow, second post and i have already screwed up.

 

[MobileTechie]

I must say I've not noticed any difference in brands of RAM for reliability or longevity. I tend to get Kingston Value RAM for most applications. I've ordered from Crucial before and despite their system checker they've sent incompatible RAM and faulty RAM. So I'm not sold.

 

[Pc Fixed Right]

there are generic manufacturers that sell ram on eBay with a lifetime warranty on the ram so I dont see the problem nor have I ever had a problem. Only buy from Top Rated US sellers here is a a kit item # 370497925426

 

[NETWizz]

I have personally had good luck with Crucial, Kingston Value RAM, Patriot, Muskin, & Corsair.

I tend to avoid Kingston because I once had a rebate for $35 that they didn't pay when I bought $200 RAM from them. On the phone they B.S.ed me about not getting the Rebate Form, BUT their online system shows they got it.

For the last 5 years at work when I order memory for sometimes 1000+ machines, I never buy from Kingston. I flat-out told our REP they aren't getting $50,000 from us because they once ducked out on $35... to think about that next time.

He later came and tried to give me a few handfuls of free RAM, which I told him wasn't going to change anything and to just walk out; I don't want it.

 

[Martyn]

I use Crucial, I like the scanner and the guarantee they give. The scanner has got it wrong twice so far and they took the memory back no problem. Normally I get the memory next day as well.

 

[shamrin]

there are generic manufacturers that sell ram on eBay with a lifetime warranty on the ram so I dont see the problem nor have I ever had a problem. Only buy from Top Rated US sellers here is a a kit item # 370497925426

I think your eBay advice is spot on, but I also want to explain the problem that you said you don't see. This is a business question, not a technical one. The lifetime warranty doesn't help the OP if the RAM he gets is DOA or doesn't work with his customer's computer because of the time it takes to return RAM then go back to the customer site a second (or third) time when the new replacement RAM comes in. Moreover, if the RAM doesn't work the first time, it's going to be difficult for him to know if it was a compatibility or DOA issue, more time, more money, more delay for the customer.

Now, I'm sure there will be someone here who will claim they've ordered thousands of sticks of RAM off eBay and never had a bad one; fair enough, if you see no difference in the likelihood of the RAM working then buy the cheapest stuff you can find and pass the savings on to the customer (or keep it I suppose). But to me, a job that I have to visit a second time to finish the work is a job where I don't make any money - it's not worth the risk especially when I'm charging the customer for the part anyway.

 

[RegEdit]

I bought memory off eBay for a Dell and no matter what they sent me it would not work

Who did you buy from? The sellers I am seeing are ones with THOUSANDS of sales. They are techs who claim to have tested their chips.

Here's what one vendor says:
"Our testing process includes running the "extensive test" on our Ramcheck advanced memory tester, then they're installed in one of our many Dell computers which we use to run the identification utility called "CPU-Z". We use CPU-Z to verify that the information on the memory module's sticker is correct and also to document the serial numbers. We don't ship bad memory."

 

[Appleby]

I stand by the fact that unless a person is just flat broke and can't afford to buy anything but no-name eBay ram, why not buy from Newegg or Amazon, get basically the best price anywhere for name brand RAM, you know what you are getting, you know how long the shipping will take, you know how easy the return policy is in case you need it and unless you just get unlucky, you know it's going to work when you get it.

$45 shipped for PNY on Newegg, $43.50 for no name brand on eBay. End of discussion.

I take back what I said, even a flat broke person would be silly to roll the dice on eBay RAM for $1.50.

 

[Crgky127]

+1 for Newegg/Amazon. Personally I like the managment and record keeping aspect of buying from as few places as possible. I can log in to Newegg and see at least 90% of the parts I've ordered in the past few years. If the prices were 30% higher, I'd reconsider.

 

[Pc Fixed Right]

+1 for Newegg/Amazon. Personally I like the managment and record keeping aspect of buying from as few places as possible. I can log in to Newegg and see at least 90% of the parts I've ordered in the past few years. If the prices were 30% higher, I'd reconsider.

this is easily accomplished with PayPal.com assuming you are ordering from places that take PayPal