I bought a digital camera for a friend for Christmas. This friend has been especially helpful to me this year and I know she desperately wants a camera. Voila. Perfect gift to say “thank you and YOU ROCK”. Cameras need memory cards so I ordered a memory card from Overstock.com to go with the camera. What I got in the mail from Overstock.com was a memory card floating around in an envelope. Open. No packaging. Used? As this is a gift, it’s kinda lame to give someone potentially used or flawed tech stuff. So, I went to the web and used their online live chat to find out the deal. Join me, won’t you?

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Welcome to Overstock.com Live Chat, you will be joined with a chat representative as quickly as possible. Welcome to Overstock.com Customer Service, you are now chatting with Dane.

Dane: Thanks for visiting Overstock.com, this is Dane, how can I help you?

you: Received the SanDisk 4gb SDHC card I ordered, it was not in a sealed package, it was just floating around in the envelope. Is it used?

Dane: Hi there.

Dane: I will be glad to check and help you with this.

you: thanks

Dane: Can I have your order number or the registered email address please?

you: order #XXXXXXX

you: as it’s a gift, not having it in the packaging is a bit…ghetto.

Dane: For your security purpose please confirm your full name and the complete billing address.

you: Jean XXXXXX

you: XXXX XXXXX Address XXXXX

you: that was shipping address

you: billing is XXXX XXX Address XXXXX

Dane: Thank you.

Dane: Is it the ‘SanDisk 4GB SDHC Memory Card’?

you: yup

Dane: Please give me 2-3 minutes while I check this for you.

you: ok, thanks

Dane: Thank you for holding.

Dane: Is the item damaged?

you: I haven’t put it in the camera, as it was to be a gift.

you: Sort of like giving someone unwrapped candy (ick).

Dane: I am sorry for the inconvenience this caused you, I will go ahead and issue $2 as in-store credit back your account.

Dane: Is that okay with you?

you: No, not really. Was this item actually bought & shipped by Overstock.com or was it some used crap that a 3rd party vendor sent out under the umbrella of Overstock? Again, as this is a gift (with a camera that I bought for my friend) giving her some thing that’s open and floating is really bizarre. SDHC cards come in a blister pack from the factory.

Dane: No, this is the factory made item. [Note: Duh, I  didn't think it was homemade from Etsy...]

Dane: If you wish I can setup the replacement for this item.

you: I’ll just return it. I can’t understand how/why Overstock.com thinks it’s acceptable to sell openbox merchandise as though it’s new. Kind of like buying an open package of nasty hotdogs at the grocery store. You just wouldn’t want to go there.

Dane: I am sorry, would you like to have the replacement or refund?

you: Definitely don’t want a replacement if it’s coming openbox again. As I’m giving her this gift tomorrow I’ll have to go to Best Buy and buy one. I’ll just return/refund. Waste of time.

Dane: Thank you.

Dane: We will setup a return for refund.

Dane: Please continue to hold onto the damaged item for 10 business days. This will allow the carrier time to inspect the item. Once 10 business days have passed, you may dispose of the item.

Did you read the last instruction?

WTF am I supposed to do?

Carrier? Dispose? Light a candle? Dance a jig?

This is how an SDHC memory card is merchandised:

Here’s what I got from Overstock.com:

Now don’t get me wrong, I hate plastic and packaging. That said, when I’m giving someone a GIFT I want to know that the item – especially if it’s tech-related, is NEW and not some open-box-bottom-of-the-factory-floor crap.

Overstock = Gift Fail.