Selling fake Intel chips is no yoke for Newegg

by Stevie Smith - Mar 9 2010, 06:40

Hardware and software retailer Newegg has been left wiping yoke from its public face this week after counterfeit Intel Core i7 microprocessors were sold through its popular online store.

Reversing an initial insistence that complaints regarding the sale of fake chips were down to the mistaken dispatch of “demo units” through the supply chain, Newegg conceded late on Monday that it had indeed received a shipment of fake Core i7 chips from its supplier IPEX.

Offering up an official apology alongside Intel’s confirmation of the fake processors, Newegg said it had promptly cancelled its supply deal with IPEX.

“Newegg is currently conducting a thorough investigation surrounding recent shipments of questionable Intel Core i7-920 CPUs purchased from Newegg.com,” explained a company spokesman in a statement.

“Initial information we received from our supplier, IPEX, stated that they had mistakenly shipped us with ‘demo units,’” he added. “We have since come to discover the CPUs were counterfeit and are terminating our relationship with this supplier.”

According to Intel, which is waiting for samples from Newegg to inspect for authenticity, shipment images it has already seen suggest that the CPUs are not demo units and are probably completely useless as processing platforms.

“Some of the photos of the processor look like it is a casting and not even a real processor of any kind,” offered the chipmaker in an official statement.

Newegg has said it is in the process of contacting all affected customers and will replace any counterfeit goods they have received as a result of the dodgy shipment.

“We have always taken pride in providing an exceptional experience for each customer, and we apologize for any inconvenience to our valued customers,” its statement added.

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