*ATTENTION* Bought a PC from PC Byte? Read This!

spackbace on 22/08/2016 - 13:14
Last edited 22/08/2016 - 13:29

It's become apparent by a few members in my PC deal Post that PC Byte have incorrectly fitted the wrong Power Supplies in a few builds recently. The PSU's are vastly inferior to what should have been put in the systems. Now there is some blame passing, but PC Byte are coming to the party on replacements, but only when informed of the issue! They're not contacting purchasers to rectify it, they're leaving it up to the purchaser to contact them!

  • The problem:

    • In pre-built systems, the power supply has been advertised as '600W', when in actual fact, '600W' is the model number! The PSU is actually rated to 220W!

  • How to check:

    • Refer to this image
    • You can see it states "Model: 600W", but then further down under "Combined Wattage" it states "Max 220W"

  • Solution:

    • If you have one of these inferior PSU's, contact PC Byte immediately!
    • Some members have been quoted around $40 more for a proper replacement - corsair vs550, with no need to return the inferior PSU.

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Comments

  • oscargamer on 22/08/2016 - 13:24

    image not showing

    • spackbace on 22/08/2016 - 13:29
      +1

      Working here :/

  • Axelstrife on 22/08/2016 - 14:01
    +5

    wow i wouldn't let that thing anywhere near my computer.

    Pays to build yourself.

    • spackbace on 22/08/2016 - 14:04
      +1

      Pays to build yourself.

      Really shouldn't have to though :/ They should be able to just give you a list of what will be included

      This was the package I bought 2 years ago. Everything listed, knew what brands we were getting

      • Axelstrife on 22/08/2016 - 14:09
        +3

        It wouldn't look as good if they listed "Tsunomi" for the psu then. haha

  • fruit on 22/08/2016 - 15:20
    +8

    Please report this to ACCC

    • ProjectZero on 22/08/2016 - 16:32
      +2

      LOL wake up mate, if PC Byte is rectifying the issue, I don't see why you need to contact ACCC since they acknowledged an issue and is currently willing to assist with fixing it.

      • fruit on 22/08/2016 - 17:49

        I dunno mate.. maybe the misleading advertising.

        • ProjectZero on 22/08/2016 - 17:53

          It seems they acknowledged it as a mistake seeing as they are willing to fix the issue

        • Top G on 22/08/2016 - 17:59
          +2

          @ProjectZero: No they aren't they forced me to upgrade otherwise I would be without a computer for a month. Furthermore the manager,(chinese dude who called me) tried convincing me 600W was an upgrade over 550W and I should be happy as that is what was advertised. True scumbags in every shape and form and did not try and remedy the issue.

          WTF they sent me the wrong item and the only option given was be without a computer for a month, while I sent off the old PSU and they "tried" to sort out a generic one when my tsunami arrived to their warehouse. Furthermore I would have to install myself which was included in the original cost because they failed to provide the correct product. Considering the problems I had with PC-Byte's ship times no way would a sane person do that.

        • Axelstrife on 22/08/2016 - 18:00
          +3

          @ProjectZero: most people who buy prebuilt pcs are not inclined to open their pc up and won't know the psu is not what they paid for.
          and since pc byte are not actively trying to contact their customers to rectify the issue id say this is very bad on their part.

        • ProjectZero on 22/08/2016 - 18:06

          @Axelstrife: I suppose that is a fair point, but i still don't think contacting ACCC is necessary though.

        • ProjectZero on 22/08/2016 - 18:08

          @hcetigol:

          No they aren't they forced me

          Could you not have said no and cancel your order? You can't be forced to do anything, if they weren't willing to give you a refund for giving you the wrong product, then you have a case against them for ACCC.

        • Top G on 22/08/2016 - 18:19

          @ProjectZero:

          The PC has already arrived like all the others and the hassle of organizing another one and installing windows and shipping the old product back is not worth my time. I have no idea why the idiots didn't just ship me the PSU I paid for and then afterwards I would ship back the old shithouse one. Logic must not be their strong point. They have not contacted others about the issue after knowing about this, this clearly demonstrates their dodgy practices. The eBay listing looks exactly the same, my bets they are still using the 220W PSU in current batches.

        • FiveDarrah on 23/08/2016 - 09:36

          @ProjectZero:

          They are being intentionally misleading. It's no accident they chose a PSU with a name like "600W" when it actually supplies less than half that (if it is even to be believed).

          Are you suggesting people just suck it up and let them continue this practice?

        • ProjectZero on 23/08/2016 - 10:02

          @FiveDarrah: No, the advertised PSU is 550W so either way they made a mistake…

          It is an honest mistake, one I won't make considering I actually look at the wattage properly lol but nevertheless it seems to be a mistake on their part. To say they deliberately did this when they are going to rectify it seems a bit pessimistic is all.

          There is an issue with not contacting the customers that have purchased this PC which seems odd but there is also a possibility that they made this mistake with some of the batches only? Condemning a business that provides us with many bargains even after they've acknowledged the issue and is trying to rectify it seems like burning bridges to me.

          @hcetigol: I understand what you are saying with

          I have no idea why the idiots didn't just ship me the PSU I paid for and then afterwards I would ship back the old shithouse one.

          So that is a fair call, have you tried contacting them on ebay? Get a conversation going, and if they are not willing to send you a new PSU and organise for the old one to be shipped back to them, try going through ebay and/or paypal.

  • SydStrand on 22/08/2016 - 15:27
    +6

    the power supply has been advertised as '600W', when in actual fact, '600W' is the model number! The PSU is actually rated to 220W!

    How the hell is that legal? It causes so much ambiguity and dodginess like this.

    • stratbargain on 22/08/2016 - 18:07

      I'd call that brilliant marketing :)

      • SydStrand on 22/08/2016 - 18:13
        +1

        It's like making a shitbox car but calling it the model '300BHP' so you can theoretically sell a '300BHP car'

        • StewBalls on 22/08/2016 - 18:24
          +1

          Stick SUV on the end & a whole bunch of halfwits would still buy it…

      • Top G on 22/08/2016 - 18:23
        +1

        too bad it says 600W model number but advertised as 550W, they don't even match, scumbag PC-Byte tried lying to me saying I had been upgraded when a 550W tsunami doesn't even exist!.

    • rompastompa on 23/08/2016 - 10:10

      Suzuki did it years ago with their GSX250F. The Suzuki across is a 250cc with X913 decals to make it look bigger than it was. At the time, most manufacturers had their cc range as decals on their bikes.

      The Suzuki Across featured X913 decals, which caused a lot of speculation as to its origin, it has been confirmed that the X913 was in reference the project name of the motorcycle during its development cycle, early test bikes featured the decals and they eventually made it onto production bikes.

  • dazweeja on 22/08/2016 - 15:53
    +4

    Just to confirm the facts: PC Byte advertised a 'Generic 550W PSU', shipped a 220W PSU, were made aware of this, and are not contacting the people they ripped off?

    That is both illegal and completely disgraceful.

  • ramb9 on 22/08/2016 - 16:49

    Wow, that is quite possibly one of the worst PSU's I've ever seen in my whole life. I actually think my P4 @ 1.8 GHz ran on like a 300W PSU from about 10-15 years back.

    What on earth is that thing?

    • Axelstrife on 22/08/2016 - 16:57

      "What on earth is that thing?"

      A disaster waiting to happen that's what it is.

    • stratbargain on 22/08/2016 - 18:12

      edit….

  • c64 on 22/08/2016 - 18:26
    +1

    i'm very surprised the pc even runs.

    • stratbargain on 22/08/2016 - 18:33

      A computer like the one they were selling would be lucky to hit 100W under load. Probably idles closer to 20-30W So if it was actually rated at 230W + it should be fine.

      Although most of those cheap/crappy PSU's have dodgy ratings anyway.

      • scrimshaw on 22/08/2016 - 20:22

        Even though it's rated at 230 watts, that heap of junk is probably not even 70 percent efficient. Could only be supplying 160 watts tops.

        • Axelstrife on 22/08/2016 - 21:09

          id be more worried about it screwing up and blowing your pc components up.

  • shadowarrior on 22/08/2016 - 23:36

    I wouldn't touch that PSU with a 10 feet pole!

  • DARK KHAOS on 23/08/2016 - 09:39

    I included quite a few of the tsunami cases for entry level systems.
    They were a nice stylish case and I haven't had a singe power supply fail.

    Actually my workshop pc is an amd quad core with this power supply.

    So as long as you don't run discrete GPU (additional power requirements) then you should be right.
    In all honesty if you are building a gaming rig then you would not use the default PSU that comes with a cheap case anyway.

  • l005e on 23/08/2016 - 09:50

    Wow PC Byte just went down a notch in my book

    Puts them at -1

  • Diji1 on 23/08/2016 - 13:57
    +1

    Given that this store has already sold me items on eBay and then immediately messaged me to inform me that I won't recieve them until they have stock - meaning they had zero intention of shipping it by the eBay ETA while they just use my money for other things - this doesn't surprise me. If you search Ozbargain you will find other people that have the same issue.

    Given the above I'll draw my own conclusion which is that this is a deliberate act on PC.Bytes's behalf and they are simply running a scam - and then to avoid any kind of prosecution they're fixing up the consumers that noticed and enjoying the ill gotten gains from the others.

    Oh but of course apparently they tried to upsell someone on another power supply rather than fixing the "mistake" if we are to believe the comments above.

    Screw PC.Byte: they behave like scammers.

  • edshays on 25/08/2016 - 10:16

    Received my corsair PSU a couple of days ago and installed it myself, replacing the Tsunami. Straight to the bin for the 220W PSU I guess. Can't think of any reason someone would want to buy a 220W so can't sell it.

    Quick history. I am the one who first noticed this issue and brought it to light. When I realised, I asked them to at least sell me the upgrade to the Corsair for the listed price. They initially said they wouldn't sell me the Corsair at upgrade price, and that the generic Tsunami was indeed 600 watts. I asked them to put in writing for me that the generic PSU was indeed 600watts. They genuinely may not have known the error, and realised it after my initial phone call. Instead, a few hours later, they emailed and said they'd sell me the Corsair at upgrade price. Probably realising their error, and knowing putting untruthful information would be a huge legal risk, they decided to offer me the upgrade (cost me $39 with the 20% off eBay).

    I called them straight away as their email communication is very poor to confirm I will pay for the Corsair vs550. I asked "So does that mean I was right about the 220W PSU?" He said something like "Oh well, probably because it's a cheaper generic it would max at maybe 400W, so not 600W". Couldn't even admit the truth. I can't give the benifit of the doubt this time as they most definately had realised their error. This solidified how shady PCByte seem to be.

    I am happy with my build now with the new PSU, and it was a great price, although I won't be recommending them to friends as lying seems to be a common occurrence with them.

    I encourage everyone to check their PSU's if they didn't upgrade at time of purchase.
    If you are planning to buy a PC from these guys despite this debacle, and a generic PSU is fine, ask them to send a photo of the PSU that will be installed BEFORE purchasing. I get the feeling that once they have your money, they aren't going to bother replying to you with further detail that doesn't result in an up-sell.

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