Two Empty Boxes, Two Days in a Row
A PC shop in New York has reported receiving two empty AMD Ryzen 5 9600X retail boxes from Amazon—despite ordering and paying for the processors. What makes the case unusual is that the store reordered the CPU after the first incident, only to receive another empty box the very next day.
A Redditor shared the story on behalf of the shop, PC Plug. According to the post, the first box arrived without the processor inside. The shop immediately requested a refund and ordered another unit with next-day delivery. The replacement order reportedly arrived in the same condition—prompting the user to call it the Ryzen 5 9600X “ghost edition.”
Sold by a Third Party, Fulfilled by Amazon
After checking the orders, the shop discovered that both Ryzen 5 9600X units were sold by a marketplace seller called The Tech Group and fulfilled by Amazon. The Redditor says the store normally orders directly from Amazon or manufacturers, but its inventory manager selected the third-party offer this time.
The shop says it records its hardware unboxings and had security camera footage covering both packages. According to the Redditor, PC Plug buys a large amount of hardware through Amazon Business and had generally had a good experience with the retailer before this incident.
A Growing Trend of Amazon Marketplace Scams
There is currently no evidence showing where the processors disappeared or who was responsible. The boxes could have entered Amazon’s fulfillment network without the CPUs, or the incident could involve returned inventory. The Reddit posts only confirm the buyer’s account and do not establish that the marketplace seller intentionally shipped empty boxes.
Unfortunately, marketplace seller scams are common on Amazon. Most recently, in June, an Amazon buyer reportedly found an Intel Core i9-10900K inside a sealed Ryzen 7 9800X3D box. Earlier cases included a Ryzen 9 9900X3D order containing an older Ryzen 9 3900X and a fake Ryzen 7 9800X3D sold in apparently sealed packaging.
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How to Protect Yourself
If you’re buying a CPU or other high-value component from Amazon, consider these tips:
- Check the seller—buy directly from Amazon or the manufacturer where possible. Third-party sellers may be less reliable.
- Record the unboxing—video evidence can help with refunds and disputes.
- Check the box weight—an empty box will feel noticeably lighter.
- Verify the CPU—check the markings on the processor before installing.
For now, PC Plug is working with Amazon to resolve the issue. The incident serves as a reminder that even with Amazon’s fulfillment network, third-party sellers can introduce risks.
Source: Reddit