I went back to Costco yesterday. I returned my 5th one and got another. I now always inspect before leaving the store. Costco people are pretty great in my book. It had about 7 additional tech programs on and asked if I wanted to write to CD. I called Averatec support and he said it seemed obvious "it had been tampered with" and he would return it or send it in for repair. The two employees that observed this with me were very surprised. They gave me another. This one had even more programs on it - about three columns. I did not call support on this one. So we packed that one up. They called another Costco that had 8 in the computer and sent me off. When I got there, the guy in electronics said the computers are in lock-up and not to be sold as none of them have pens. They are waiting for them to arrive.

So - that makes 7 computers I have been through.

I think it was just my luck as they had about 40 they thought for the Denver area and someone said six were returned.
Now 8 are still in lock-up and all the stores are out except perhaps for the demos. I think the majority of the tablets are in happy homes. I do not feel Costco is reselling the returned ones. Each of my problems were unique and they did not return them to inventory and it seems they have a catagory for retuned items. But, they must inspect them first or how would they know the pens were missing - unless the first one for demo was short so they just continued to open. I spoke with one other Costco here that said their shipment was lacking pens as well but they called and had them two days leter. Costco also is not eating the returns but returning them to some one/place. So ther would be no incentive to fudge it.

I placed a call to the company today and I had sent a copy of my previous post to customer care on Sunday. I have not heard back yet. I think they are good people but someone in final QC needs a stronger job description.

I am still excited and looking forward to my 3500 that will stick!