Crucial Technology — What's Our Story?
The Crucial story starts with Micron Technology, Inc., one of the largest dynamic random access memory (DRAM) manufacturers in the world and the only one based in the U.S. Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Micron manufactures DRAM chips and assembles them into high-quality memory modules for sale to original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs") worldwide.
For nearly three decades, Micron has learned that when you make some of the very best memory in the world, lots of companies want it, from computer makers to wireless device manufacturers to printer producers. (And we're really glad that they do!)
But then Micron asked, well, what about the end user? What about the everyday folks who want to upgrade their existing systems with OEM-quality memory — the home desktop user, the IT network guy, the student notebook user? Why don't we offer our memory to the public, at factory-direct pricing?
So in 1996, Micron responded to a growing demand for high-quality memory upgrades among end users who wanted the best possible performance from their systems. Micron launched Crucial Technology in September of that year, and for the first time, end users had the opportunity to buy directly from the manufacturer the same memory modules bought by the world's major OEMs for original installation in their systems.
Having a direct sales division focused on selling Micron's DRAM to the public was apparently an idea whose time had come, and 10 successful years later, we have expanded our product line to include flash cards and readers, and USB flash drives.
Why is Crucial thriving? We offer our customers a number of clear advantages over our competitors.
High quality
As the only consumer memory upgrade supplier that's part of a major DRAM manufacturer, we sell high-quality memory that has been qualified and approved by all major original equipment manufacturers. Unlike other memory sellers, we ensure testing for 100 percent of the modules that go out our doors. That's important to customers who need quality-assured memory for mission-critical applications.
Large selection and guaranteed compatibility
We carry over 217,000 upgrades for more than 27,000 desktops, notebooks, servers, printers, routers, and other electronic devices on our Web site, www.crucial.com.
Our site is designed to teach novice users what they need to know about upgrading memory in their systems. Our award-winning
Crucial® Memory Advisor™ tool makes it simple for users to find the right module for their Mac, Linux, or PC systems in just three easy steps by entering their system manufacturer and model. For PC users who don't know their manufacturer and model, the new
Crucial System Scanner tool makes analyzes a PC's system configuration and automatically recommends compatible memory. Crucial guarantees that the recommended upgrades will be compatible with your system, or we'll give you your money back.
Superior support
Besides offering a technically superior product, Crucial Technology takes great care to provide renowned service and support,
receiving awards such as the BizRate.com® Circle of Excellence Platinum Award for the past four years in a row (2001-2005) and being named to Computer Shopper magazine's "28 Top Shopping Spots" in May 2006.
For all our customers, we offer the following competitive advantages:
- 24-hour secure online ordering at www.crucial.com
- Contact options including fax, e-mail, and toll-free phone
- Free live support chat through Expert Online (during business hours)
- Award-winning customer service
- Free technical support
- Free shipping on qualified orders
- 30-day money-back compatibility guarantee
- Product warranty (limited lifetime warranty on flash and DRAM products; one-year warranty on graphics cards)
- Competitive pricing
International reach
In March 1999, Crucial Europe opened for business at
www.crucial.com/uk and
www.crucial.com/eu to offer end users outside the U.S the same reliability, performance, savings, and convenience, as well as the ability to purchase in £ and €.
European demand for Crucial memory upgrades has grown rapidly since the Crucial Europe launch. The Crucial name has already become synonymous with superior quality — in 2005, Computeractive readers nominated Crucial as a Best PC Accessory Company, and PC PRO magazine readers voted Crucial as "Online Vendor of the Year" in both 2003 and 2004.
As Crucial continues to grow, we are committed to taking care of our customers through superior products, world-class service, and expert support.