How much did you really spend on T:V? (upgrades)

You can have that too if you know how to work the CompUSA system.

You couldn't do it to a more deserving company !
:cheers:

[Cliffnotes below for the ADHD]


ok, it's called a T.A.P Warraunty at CompUSA.


You may turn in your old card and get store credit for the amount you orginially paid to go towards a new product of the same type. This is important because there is a huge difference between getting credit for the amount you orginally paid ($400 for my g4 4600) compared to how much it costs when you cash it in ( prob around $180).

In my example, i orginially paid the $400 for a geforce 4 ti 4600 about 3 years ago or so. I paid the then-$8 lifetime TAP wty on it, meaning that my TAP wty would last as long as the product lasts (not that bullshazbot lifetime = shelvetime = 6 months wty's you read about). About last spring, it was aging so i took it into my compusa for the TAP wty usage. I showed them my saved receipt from 3 years back saying that the card had indeed cost $400. I give them my old g4 with the original box and some of the orginial manuals, and boom, i had $400 accredited to me at compusa. I put that $400, plus an addtional $100 of my own wallet, for the then-$500 9800xt. Since i ofcourse want this wty to continue, i renew it for a year (they changed the structure of the wty. what was once $8 lifetime, is now a $48 one year wty for my $500 bracket product). I walked out of the store with a brand new 9800xt for only $148 ($48 wty extention, $100 to upgrade to XT) and the loss of my g4.

So, here it is end of september, 2004. I say that my 9800xt is 'broken' and they say sure, come on down. So i show then my receipt of wty purchase, hand in my 9800xt, and i get $500 store credit. I use that credit towards a new $500 6800Ultra. I leave the store with a brand new 6800U having only paid my $48 wty renewall for an additional yr (expiire exactly one year after i purchase the wty, so it expires 9.25.05).


Breakdown of the TAP wty.:

It dictates that if:

1. The wty is still in session
2. The Card that you bought the wty is 'broken' (ha, yeah right)
3. You have the proof of purchase of the wty (receipt)
4. CompUSA no longer sells the 'broken' product.
5. You must turn in your 'broken' product.

Then: You can get a new card for the price you orginally paid free.


If you bring back your broken 9800xt (an example i am using for this 'product') while compusa is still selling the 9800xt, they will just do an exchage. You onlyget the store credit if they aren't selling the same card class (9800xts).

PRO:
--Free Upgrade, minus wty extension offer (getting higher and higher each year)
--Every year, you get a brand new card for what you paid orignially for only a mere fraction of the cost

CON:
--You card must not be sold at the compusa for you to get a new one
--You are limited to only what that CompUSA has in stock. This is not newegg here. If they only have 5 graphics cards, then you can only choose between 5 graphics cards. Shop around which compusa near you (via the website) has upgrade card you want and go there.



*** Just one special word of warning. If you do this 5 times a month, they are going to know something is fishy and look specfically at what you are doing. But as long as you do this only once per wty year (g4 4600 --> 9800xt --> 6800U. Three wty's, three trade-ins), then you are go for launch.***


Note: I do not know how many things the TAP wty extends too. I knwo for a fact that it extends to graphics cards. It might even extend to CPUs, ram, and mobos. That would be really tight if it did, i will ask them the next time i am in there. How would you like a brand new computer every year for the small cost of 4 wty extention buying ( 4 wty's would be gpu,cpu,ram,mobo)?




Cliff Notes
1. Go to compusa.
2. Get product that a TAP wty can go for (ask an emp. for help)
3. Enjoy product untill a new one comes out.
4. Redeem TAP wty for old card, get a brand new card for the price you orginally paid. Surrender your old card.
5. Pay extension wty $$$
6. Chill and game, knowing that you just got a brand new card for only the fraction of the price.



Any quesions?

AMD 64 3200+
Asus K8V Deluxe
512 Corsair pc3200
Evga 6800gt
Hitachi 160gb sata
530w Fortron Source power supply
Coolermaster Praetorian case
NEC 8x dvdrw
Viewsonic p95f+b 19" monitor
Logitech mx510 blue mouse
cheap ass black keyboard

i guess thats about it... it seems like alot more when you are paying for it :(
its a nice machine though

$203.00 FX5900 128mb 256 bit running 450/950
$77.00 Enermax Noisetaker 420w Power supply
$10.00 92mm thermaltake case fan
$185.00 1gig (2-512) pc2700 Kingston Hyperx Dual Channel ram
$50.00 Tribes Vengeance
___________
$525.00

Thanks for the details Rev_Night. I've shopped CompUSA and it seems that the first hurdle I must overcome is their high prices relative to what I can find on-line. You did well obviously but from what I've seen the stuff they stock technology-wise is more mainstream lower end merch like sub $300 vid cards and things - maybe it's a local franchise thing though.

Last week I purchased an HP Printer for my wife - a $150 model ($75 less than the top of the line in it's HP class), then went to Costco next door and got the top of the line model for the same price of $150 (promptly returning the CompUSA unit). In some respects such as graphics cards, mainboards, CPU's and especially cables (of any sort) they are way overpriced and their 15 day limited return policy is much too constrictive for my needs. Good luck keeping the cycle going....I might try it on a DVD DL burner or something a bit less expensive (after rebates).

yes, compusa is more expensive and the selection is alot less then what i am used to at newegg. But, short term losses mean long term profits tho. YOu can do a store search on the www.compusa.com website to see which store nearest you has what you want.