RPi Zero W with destroyed SD card slot

[MooseXMTP]

Hi,
So I bought a Pi Zero W second hand and got ripped of - there is no SD card slot and a couple of the pads are destroyed. Fortunately the test pads are in good shape.

I have no way of testing if it boots, but it does supply 5V and 3.3V on the GPIO pins.

Oh and another thing - the WiFi module is missing

I was wondering if I have some way of using the pads for a FlexPCB or something with the SD card slot. I can design it myself, but I'm not sure what pins are what.

Here are some photos: https://imgur.com/a/Oa0Z6RG

Thanks in advance.

[drgeoff]

If you have no comeback against the seller and want to try to make the board do something, the very first thing I would do is check if the SoC is still functioning.

Consult the "not booting" sticky thread and look for the specific Zero famiily test where you connect its USB data port to a computer's USB port using a normal USB to microUSB cable ("sync and charge"). No microSD needed.

[MooseXMTP]

Hi,
Unfortunately no sign of life. I'll try to contact the seller. There might be a chance that I could report this as he marked it as used, and only in the description does he say that he is selling it as broken.

[ejolson]

Hi,
So I bought a Pi Zero W second hand and got ripped of - there is no SD card slot and a couple of the pads are destroyed. Fortunately the test pads are in good shape.

I have no way of testing if it boots, but it does supply 5V and 3.3V on the GPIO pins.

Oh and another thing - the WiFi module is missing

I was wondering if I have some way of using the pads for a FlexPCB or something with the SD card slot. I can design it myself, but I'm not sure what pins are what.

Here are some photos: https://imgur.com/a/Oa0Z6RG

Thanks in advance.

Not all Pi Zero’s have WiFi. Presumably your used one never had WiFi. It’s possible to boot a Pi Zero without an SD card using rpiboot over USB. An example booting five Pi Zero’s from a Pi B+ to make a cluster is at

viewtopic.php?t=199994

There are many other examples on the web. See, for example,

https://github.com/thagrol/Guides

This, of course, assumes the only damaged component is the SD card slot.

[MooseXMTP]

Hi,
It is explicitly said that this is the Raspberry Pi Zero W V1.1 from 2016 (as seen in the photos). It's just that the wifi chip is desoldered.
Also, if you hadn't read my post, the Pi's dead, so there's nothing to test

[DougieLawson]

It's just that the wifi chip is desoldered.

There is no WiFi chip on the Zero W (from 2017). It uses an aerial formed on the circuit board.
https://raspi.tv/2017/pi-zero-w-wifi-on ... s-new-case

[rpdom]

It's just that the wifi chip is desoldered.

There is no WiFi chip on the Zero W (from 2017). It uses an aerial formed on the circuit board.
https://raspi.tv/2017/pi-zero-w-wifi-on ... s-new-case

You probably mean "There is no WiFi chip antenna on the Zero W". There most certainly is a WiFi chip (or should be).

[MiscBits]

Hi,
Unfortunately no sign of life. I'll try to contact the seller. There might be a chance that I could report this as he marked it as used, and only in the description does he say that he is selling it as broken.

If it's in the description I would think you have virtually no come back at all.

Technically you could argue 'other' would be more accurate (though it is 'used') though this can be used for 'returned unused / opened or damaged box / ex display stock' etc but the seller will be seen as taking the time to type out 'it is broken' in the text.

Any repairs you try to make will remove any chance you have of claiming money back (as they can counter claim you did the damage).

Caveat emptor I am afraid.

[MooseXMTP]

Ok, whatever this is is missing: https://imgur.com/a/vjHmxnk
I don't know if that makes any difference, but the antenna trace seems to be connected to that.

Regarding the returns - I'm using a very pro-buyer platform, so I still have some hope.

I tested the USB thing from the sticky on both a Linux and Windows computer and it doesn't show up, so it's almost certainly dead.

[drgeoff]

Did the seller post picture(s)? If yes, of the actual item you received or stock photos of a pristine ZeroW?

What you received was not "broken". The Wi-Fi chip can only have been removed as a deliberate act.

[MiscBits]

Did the seller post picture(s)? If yes, of the actual item you received or stock photos of a pristine ZeroW?

What you received was not "broken". The Wi-Fi chip can only have been removed as a deliberate act.

Unless the law has changed (UK view based on 'advice' 7-8 years ago) - broken does not necessarily mean 'accidentally' deliberate damage can class as broken.

Obviously if a pristine board was shown than the matter is different.

First recourse is seller then CC / PayPal / eBay rather than internet lawyers (myself included)

[MooseXMTP]

Hi,
I got my money back after the 14-day return time expired, and the seller didn't respond.
Thank you all for the help.

[MooseXMTP]

Hi,
Quick update
After the platform limited the seller's account (temporary ban from selling or something), he suddenly started responding after 19 days of silence. Not only did he falsely mark the state of the product, but the company agreed with him! They told me that the seller disagreed with the complaint and if I'm not satisfied with that result I can take legal action...

I'm shocked with this outcome as this platform has been quite pro-buyer but oh well. I'll try to sell this so I can get back some of my money.

[ejolson]

Hi,
Quick update
After the platform limited the seller's account (temporary ban from selling or something), he suddenly started responding after 19 days of silence. Not only did he falsely mark the state of the product, but the company agreed with him! They told me that the seller disagreed with the complaint and if I'm not satisfied with that result I can take legal action...

I'm shocked with this outcome as this platform has been quite pro-buyer but oh well. I'll try to sell this so I can get back some of my money.

Sorry to hear they took away your refund. I find that strange. If you paid with a credit card, legal action is to simply tell the card company what happened and contest the payment. From my point of view, the problem is not that the SD card slot was missing but that the rest of the circuit board was nonfunctional.

Given how unhappy the broken Zero has made you, I would suggest not trying to resell it as that will just repeat the story you've told with the roles reversed.

It looks like the Pi Zero will be one of the first back in regular stock, so maybe one can get a replacement at a reasonable price that is new. Good luck!

[MooseXMTP]

I have filled in a refund request form. They have three days to look into the problem. I actually have a Pi Zero now. It was slightly more expensive but a beginners' kit with everything ready. I paid about 30$ for it.

[ejolson]

I have filled in a refund request form. They have three days to look into the problem. I actually have a Pi Zero now. It was slightly more expensive but a beginners' kit with everything ready. I paid about 30$ for it.

The kit sounds fun. My experience is that the Zero needs more stuff that one might not have lying around anyway, so the extras can make sense.

[MooseXMTP]

They refunded me. I think it was easier for them to give me the money than put up with me constantly asking for an appeal.