I'd like to appologize to Saps and his fellow mods for sneaking in a 95% OT question in his forum, but IMHO this is the best place to find knowledgable people

A friend of mine tried to upgrade a 900MHz Tbird system (GA7ZX1/SDRAM) with an XP 2000+/K7S5A/DDR (there's the CPU right there).

After a long time of testing/swapping it turns out the mobo didn't work (and neither could we get the old system to post in the new case)...so the mobo and case are going to get RMAd.

He talked to customer support, filled out the online RMA form and sent the case+mobo via UPS back to the online retailer (PC Supply).
He also paid S&H...and that's what nagged me...S&H on a 3.06 P4 is neglectable (considering weight and price range), but sending back a case and mobo can be expensive (didn't ask, so dunno how much).

My question is: how do RMAs usually work? Isn't S&H the stores problem? (their fault it didn't work) For that matter when do they send the replacement? (after they receive the faulty parts?)


*TOPIC ON*
Here's a hint for all you overclockers: never forget to plug in the CPU fan on a 2100+ The very same friend tested the above mentioned new 2000+ CPU in his system (he also has a K7S5A) to make sure the thing worked, then when he put his 2100+ back he forgot to hook up the CPU fan *OOOPS*...
His PC got all the way into windows before it locked up and started smelling (the bottom of the HS looked worse than the CPU :P).