Used memory, selling it as new.

[studiot]

People will know its old if the serial number is dated, say 2004.............
or it's made by a now defunct manufacturer.........

You might catch some little old lady who doesn't know any better,
but not a competent amateur let alone a tech.

Shame on you.

 

[ITG Tech]

What I usually do with the used RAM is to upgrade some of my client’s computers at no extra charge. For example while under the hood and I notice that a system has minimal RAM and I happen to have used RAM sitting around that has been pulled, I will install it for free and just let the client know that I increased the performance of the machine a bit, and it was included in the price of the original work being done. Just a value added feature that I do for my loyal clients that keep me in business. The few extra dollars that I could have charged is not missed when you consider that I can sleep at night, and that I have a happy client that thinks they are getting a real deal. If the clients wants and requests a memory upgrade then they get NEW memory and I charge the appropriate amount for the RAM, installation and testing.

 

[seedubya]

Cue, there really is no point in arguing this. I understand where you're coming from, you see no difference from your point of view since you're willing to offer lifetime warranty. However, if you turn it around and try to imagine the reaction of a customer whose techy friend opens up their computer and then tells them that the "new" ram they paid for is not, in fact, new you should see where the problem lies.

 

[PatrickB]

Here's another twist to this thread -- for anyone. Where does pulled RAM come from?

Has the customer given the old RAM to you, or has it simply been kept after being replaced with larger RAM -- or worse, removed half of the RAM while working on other issues?

-- Patrick B.

 

[Rider]

If you lie about RAM being new how do I know that you aren't also lieing about your warranty? If I have to question your credibility about one thing then it forces me to question your credibility about everything. Ask a lier if he's a lier and he's going to tell you no, do you believe him?

Will you get away with it? Maybe, but all it takes is one time for your word/work to come into question.

Bottom line is it's dishonest. If you value your own word so little then odds are nobody is going to change that. Buyer beware.

Rider

 

[Cue]

but this whole thread hasnt done anything for you at all, because I have a feeling that it isnt about whether its used or new, its about the profit margin, you just wanted to see what the general consensus was on it and whether it was morally acceptable.

Well thank you for telling me what im doing and what I think and what I have gotten from this discussion.

If you don't mind just talking about the facts, don't go thrashing me like you know me or where I come from.
I will simply tell you those facts if you care to ask.

 

[Cue]

People will know its old if the serial number is dated, say 2004.............
or it's made by a now defunct manufacturer.........

You might catch some little old lady who doesn't know any better,
but not a competent amateur let alone a tech.

Shame on you.

Perhaps the memory was just from a old stock I bought from eBay.
All sealed, just old.

Please read entire thread, I was simply asking a question.
Need to know what everyone thought about this.

Shame on me for what?

 

[Cue]

Cue, there really is no point in arguing this. I understand where you're coming from, you see no difference from your point of view since you're willing to offer lifetime warranty. However, if you turn it around and try to imagine the reaction of a customer whose techy friend opens up their computer and then tells them that the "new" ram they paid for is not, in fact, new you should see where the problem lies.

I do, I was hoping everyone could get passed arguing and judging me and simply discuss, like you are doing.

But most of the other techs here just like to argue, they don't even read the entire thread before posting.
Just want everyone to know how morally high minded they are.

 

[Cue]

If you lie about RAM being new how do I know that you aren't also lieing about your warranty? If I have to question your credibility about one thing then it forces me to question your credibility about everything. Ask a lier if he's a lier and he's going to tell you no, do you believe him?

Will you get away with it? Maybe, but all it takes is one time for your word/work to come into question.

Bottom line is it's dishonest. If you value your own word so little then odds are nobody is going to change that. Buyer beware.

Rider

A lier is a killer, he just did not commit it yet?

 

[Rider]

A lier is a killer, he just did not commit it yet?

That's not even close to what I said. A lier is a lier. If someone lies about the RAM I have to assume they will lie about the MB, the HD, the CPU, the warranty, the diagnosis, etc. It doesn't mean I believe my PC tech is going to kill me.

Do you think a customer is going to tell his friends "Hey, use Cue. He'll treat you right...well, my 'new' RAM was used but everything else is top notch." No, he's going to tell his friends "Go someplace else, Cue can't be trusted."

And what do you say when you get caught? "OK, you caught me. The RAM is used but everything else is legit, I promise. Thank you, come again." Or do you tell another lie to get out of the original lie? "Hmmmm, the guy I bought if from told me it was new. I'll fix that for you with some more 'new' RAM." It doesn't matter, your credibility is shot.

Rider

PS You said this is hypethetical. Please take my responses as such. I have no reason to doubt you, purely hypethetical.

 

[Davis Computer Services]

Perhaps the memory was just from a old stock I bought from eBay.
All sealed, just old.

Please read entire thread, I was simply asking a question.
Need to know what everyone thought about this.

Shame on me for what?

Shame on your for KNOWING it is a crime and not caring.

I am judging you, because that is what we do to crappy techs.

 

[Cue]

That's not even close to what I said. A lier is a lier. If someone lies about the RAM I have to assume they will lie about the MB, the HD, the CPU, the warranty, the diagnosis, etc. It doesn't mean I believe my PC tech is going to kill me.

It´s true, if a shop got caught doing something like this it would be the end. especially in my little community.

I meant:
Its something that escalates, start with memory then whole cars.
Its the same as a thief steels something then someone is killed, and everyone assumes it was the thief.
He just moved one step up the ladder (or down, more like it).

 

[angry_geek]

I tried to hold off on this thread, because it is obviously just such a low thing to do, but I can't hold it anymore. Just tell the customer it is used. If they don't want used, sell them new ram at the new ram price. It's up to them. Selling them used parts with even the impression they are new or not telling them they're used is akin to stealing from your customer. This is not rocket science or even a great moral dilemma, it's common sense. If you did this to me, I would be telling every person I talked to what you did and try to get you prosecuted. Note, I didn't say sued, but prosecuted.

 

[Cue]

Shame on your for KNOWING it is a crime and not caring.

I am judging you, because that is what we do to crappy techs.

Woa your fast to judge!

The law is a finale truth?
In some of your states abortion was legal and some it was not. What is right?
The law is not finite, it has to be valued constantly.
If its wrong it has to be changed.

In by this I mean do what is right by you and your follow man. Not blind abeyance to the law.

 

[angry_geek]

Woa your fast to judge!

The law is a finale truth?
In some of your states abortion was legal and some it was not. What is right?
The law is not finite, it has to be valued constantly.
If its wrong it has to be changed.

In by this I mean do what is right by you and your follow man. Not blind abeyance to the law.

First off I love it when uninformed people from other countries try to criticize and explain US law to us poor dumb Americans. We don't try to explain your laws to you. The Roe v Wade & Doe v Bolton decisions were made at the Supreme Court level. This federal ruling supercedes the state laws. Each state still has their own laws involving parental consent and other details.

Secondly, what does abortion have to do with selling used parts as new? What you're talking about doing is wrong, period.


Off topic. If a law needs to be changed, then fight it. Don't break it just because you or a group of people think it's wrong. Is it ok for people to sell dope on the street just because some think marijuana should be legalized and it's a stupid law?

 

[Cue]

First off I love it when uninformed people from other countries try to criticize and explain US law to us poor dumb Americans. We don't try to explain your laws to you. The Roe v Wade & Doe v Bolton decisions were made at the Supreme Court level. This federal ruling supercedes the state laws. Each state still has their own laws involving parental consent and other details.

Secondly, what does abortion have to do with selling used parts as new? What you're talking about doing is wrong, period.

Sorry about that.
I was attempting to give an example in your own law system (because you know it) about how law is not always right and blindly fallowing or believing in the letter of the law is not always correct.
This I was saying because "Davis" sad that I should be ashamed for braking the law...
Do you get it?

Off topic. If a law needs to be changed, then fight it. Don't break it just because you or a group of people think it's wrong. Is it ok for people to sell dope on the street just because some think marijuana should be legalized and it's a stupid law?

I agree, but don't judge me to hard until I actually commit the crime.

 

[Davis Computer Services]

Woa your fast to judge!

The law is a finale truth?
In some of your states abortion was legal and some it was not. What is right?
The law is not finite, it has to be valued constantly.
If its wrong it has to be changed.

In by this I mean do what is right by you and your follow man. Not blind abeyance to the law.

So you are comparing outright lieing to customers purely for your financial gain, with no value given to the customer... to abortion?

Can you give me one reason why it is even reasonable to ask this question in the first place. There is absolutely no value given to your customer by charging them new prices for used RAM. There is no way to justify what you want to do.

I feel sorry for your customers. I only hope that you will be found out sooner rather than later in your local community.

 

[Cue]

So you are comparing outright lieing to customers purely for your financial gain, with no value given to the customer... to abortion?

Can you give me one reason why it is even reasonable to ask this question in the first place. There is absolutely no value given to your customer by charging them new prices for used RAM. There is no way to justify what you want to do.

I feel sorry for your customers. I only hope that you will be found out sooner rather than later in your local community.

Are you insane?
Don't you read?

 

[Kenhelms]

Well thank you for telling me what im doing and what I think and what I have gotten from this discussion.

If you don't mind just talking about the facts, don't go thrashing me like you know me or where I come from.
I will simply tell you those facts if you care to ask.

That is my point, the facts do not need to be discussed, its simple common business ethics. Everyone knows, you do no lie to a client, whether you can get caught for it or not. So either you are extremely naive, or its just what I said. There cant really be any other option.

I'm actually so flabbergasted by this that I am at a loss for words, I mean are you serious with this whole thread, or is this a joke? If you are serious, then what you are suggesting and discussing is the epitome of everything that gives tech, and even business owners a bad name.

 

[Davis Computer Services]

Are you insane?
Don't you read?

No, I am not insane and yes I do read.

You know it is illegal to do sell used parts as new. Why would you do it? There is not one legitimate reason for you to do it. It horrifies me that you are in business. The worst part is you don't see a problem with it. It is gross negligence on your part to leave your customers uninformed.

You aren't serving your customers. You are preying upon their ignorance.