BFG Tech now in liquidation

[silenthill]

Everybody remembers DOOM 3 but do you remember BIG FUC...ING GUN well that’s what always came to my mind when I bought a BFG graphic card well it seems that the company has gone bankrupt and there is no more big guns to save it now and consumers are now reporting that their broken products are being sent back and not repaired and letters are sent out:

BFG Technologies, Inc. is winding down and liquidating its business. Unfortunately our major supplier would not support our business. As a result we are returning your graphics card without being able to repair it. We apologize for the inconvenience.

So guys no more BIG FUC....ING GUNS

 

[alienware]

Unfortunately our major supplier would not support our business.

Eeeee I wonder who that could be.

I would say "that'll teach them to be f4n8ois" but I tell you man, my heart goes out to BFG. XFX and other groups are nowhere near as loyal.

This happened because when Nvidia got trapped in Fermi they could not afford to produce any 200 series cards and basically left loads of companies in pergatory. And when you only sell Nvidia and are loyal to the brand that leaves you nothing to sell.

Oddly this all coincided with the bad driver that killed thousands of cards leaving BFG doing nothing but replacing cards at their expense (Fedex).

I will always have a place in my heart for BFG. I have had a good few of their cards and each was backed up by exceptional service.

Still, I suppose Nvidia had no choice. I just wonder how long they can go on making big mistakes and living to tell the tale. Maybe some of you should read into the depths of the quagmire they are in before investing in big expensive cards. You certainly don't want to end up with a Voodoo 5500 on your hands (IE an expensive paperweight).

Turn it all on !

 

[silenthill]

If you go on eBay now you will find a lot of BFG cards listed for spares and parts, I really feel sorry for these guys because some of these cards were bought for around 450£ like the 9800 GX2 but that's just how the computer industry is and there is no one immune.

 

[WC Annihilus]

Thanks for the heads-up.

Front paged

 

[alienware]

If you go on eBay now you will find a lot of BFG cards listed for spares and parts, I really feel sorry for these guys because some of these cards were bought for around 450£ like the 9800 GX2 but that's just how the computer industry is and there is no one immune.

It's criminal man.

I've said it elsewhere, but people are beginning to find out now how bad heat will screw components. Obviously when the 8800GTX and higher products released every one went "wow these get hot !" but they did not see what serious implications that has on the internal components.

When I got my 280GTX the temps scared the crap out of me. I know every one was saying it was fine and that the card could operate up to 107C but it obviously wasn't fine because it died 7 months in. And it was the bad driver that caused it and I lost £50 when I got skanked by the place I got it from (I got a 5770 for the trade in, seriously bad).

BFG were known for their massive clock speeds and warranty. You over paid so that you didn't have to get your hands dirty and it was all backed up with a solid warranty. But when you're being handed bummy cards (in more than one way !) you can only go on dealing them for so long.

Problem was the 8800 GTX knocked ATI for six. They had ruled the roost with the 9700 and 9800 for so long that Nvidia came from nowhere. The 9800GX2 was faster than the 3870x2 (though admittedly far more expensive) so people all rushed out to buy those. God, imagine if you dropped a bolack on a BFG 295? What were they? £650 or something mental?

My bowels would be loosening as we speak.

 

[Taurus]

Real shame as I have had BFG cards in the past and one of the main reasons for purchase was the warranty service.

I will also always have a place in my heart for BFG, as they always offered OC versions and were all backed up by exceptional service.

Goes to show that fermi wasn’t just late but helped kill off one of the best card makers!

 

[tinytomlogan]

I think the major supplier was the reason it went under in the first place. IE a rather overdue product....

 

[silenthill]

Funny thing though PC WORLD are still advertising them on their website seems like they want to get rid of all BFG stock which got me thinking there is going to be a lot of warranty issues.

 

[JN]

Really sad story. Although we had little to do with BFG here at OC3D I still admired their company and cards.

What I do wonder though is how they stand legally rejecting RMA's. I thought BFG cards came with a 'lifetime' warranty? In which case even if the company goes bust they must have a procedure in place for upholding this agreement.

 

[alienware]

They changed their lifetime to a 10 year 1st owner after 2006. If a company liquidates it doesn't have to offer bugger all IIRC.

EDIT. Ten year if you reggyed, or 3 years if you didn't? something like that.

Unlike PNY who also offer a lifetime warranty*

The lifetime of the card whilst Nvidia still make it, so about two weeks then

BFG's CEO could be seen ripping PNY to bits on Youtube IIRC.

 

[FragTek]

If worried about a company going out of business when making a card purchase there are some solid companies that you should have no fear of dropping out. Obviously the bigger mobo manufacturers such as Asus and MSI are sure bets. Sapphire is a sure bet for ATI cards I would reckon. They've been around a long time and have a good track record. These other companies come and go. Seems like every month there's a new brand I've never heard of making cards.

 

[JN]

They changed their lifetime to a 10 year 1st owner after 2006. If a company liquidates it doesn't have to offer bugger all IIRC.

From sale of goods act iirc:

5. If a warranty has been provided by a company which goes into liquidation, and the warranty is not backed by independent insurance, and the company is not in a position to honour the warranty, any claim by the consumer will be considered an unsecured, non-preferential debt (the consumer would need to make their claim known to the liquidators and would join the queue of creditors).

So effectively everybody who has a faulty BFG card could essentially band together and join the list of creditors. Although the chance of getting any money back is extremely small, if there are enough people it may make its way to the top of the liquidators lists??

 

[alienware]

BFG have been around longer that Sapphire dude. Infact, going by your logic they would have been a sure fire bet for safety.

My first BFG card was a Asylum Geforce 2. Circa 2000 IIRC. My second was a 5900FX,circa about 2003. Both had to go back and I had the brand new one back the next day.

 

[mayhem]

And another one Bites the dust.

What a dammed shame i loved there products and have a few cards my self all though i never used a warranty as i also blew them up due to it being my fault not there's ....

Shame to see them go down but i dont expect them to be the last neither ...

Hard times we are in and this will happen.

 

[Bungral]

This is rather cack news.

I really liked BFG as mentioned for their great warranties. They replaced a couple of my cards very very quickly with no fuss or hassle. Also the fact they had a UK RMA centre was very good.

Who will be next....

 

[alienware]

From sale of goods act iirc:

5. If a warranty has been provided by a company which goes into liquidation, and the warranty is not backed by independent insurance, and the company is not in a position to honour the warranty, any claim by the consumer will be considered an unsecured, non-preferential debt (the consumer would need to make their claim known to the liquidators and would join the queue of creditors).

So effectively everybody who has a faulty BFG card could essentially band together and join the list of creditors. Although the chance of getting any money back is extremely small, if there are enough people it may make its way to the top of the liquidators lists??

Well that offers some hope. Little I suppose, but some. Just another ruse by the government to make it sound like they're doing something I suppose. I remember years ago if you liquidated you could just walk. Same went for going bankrupt (7 year messed credit but no further implications).

TBH if I was in a position that the BFG owners are I would not blame nor chase BFG. This is clearly the fault of ONE company, and we all know who that is.

Personally I would go after them.

 

[FragTek]

BFG have been around longer that Sapphire dude. Infact, going by your logic they would have been a sure fire bet for safety.

My first BFG card was a Asylum Geforce 2. Circa 2000 IIRC. My second was a 5900FX,circa about 2003. Both had to go back and I had the brand new one back the next day.

 

[JN]

TBH if I was in a position that the BFG owners are I would not blame nor chase BFG. This is clearly the fault of ONE company, and we all know who that is.

Personally I would go after them.

Quite true. Especially the owners of BFG cards that are running at Nvidia clockspeeds.

 

[lasher]

Hmmmm. i guess i now do not attempt to stick my water block on my GTX280OCX again.

Balls, always got exceptional service from BFG. Great customer service. 2 rma's handles in the most efficient manner.

What we also got to bear in mind is the potential loss of jobs from the RMA depot in Wales ( i think )

I know a few companies in my line of business who have gone under and i personally am dealing directly with a liquidator of one of them. That tax man comes first then if there's any money left they ex - employees might get something... Poor sods.

Anyway back to me! Better handle my baby with kid gloves now and stop nuking the hell outta it with folding

 

[alienware]

Lasher at last attempt by me (a few months back) to contact the Wales plant there were only two people working there. Firstly was the receptionist and then the manager. I got a brand new sealed 8600 GTS from Ebay for £17. It was DOA. I sent it back once and they sent a 8600 GT (no good as I was SLIing) and then on the second attempt I got a 8600 GTS in poor shape.

I knew then something was effed up because BFG always sent me new and better cards than what I had. Not worse.

Shortly after they announced their demise of the UK division but I guess the US was still getting blueballs from Nvidia.

Now this is in contrast to the BFG who, when my 5900 died replaced it overnight. Infact, IIRC they sent the new one before I had even sent it back and sent me a 6800 in place. Not only that but when I phoned them and was talking to them they connected me to their London office to speak to them because I used to live in the same town they were based in.

Seriously, if you bought a card from BFG you became a friend, not a customer. This really REALLY sucks