• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

I RMA'd my IBM 75GXP, they sent me back a refurb!

L

LickEmSmack

Senior member
I was completely stunned yesterday when I received a package from IBM only 6 days after I had sent out my old hard drive. I thought to myself, wow, IBM must really care about satisfying their customers! That's spectacular turnaround time for an RMA! Well, yes it was, but I'm not erally sure about the caring part anymore. When I opened the SEALED static bag, I took a look at the disk, and there's scratches on the top, like it's been in an enclosure of some sort. Also, It appears that the screws that hold the thing together have been taken out and replaced. It definitely does not look like a "new" drive. I belive it is a refurbished drive that they sent me. Futhermore, I'm not sure they even checked my HD that I sent them yet, rather, they just send out refurbs as soon as they get a package. To me, this seems shady. I bought a new drive only 5 months ago, and now I get a refurbished one back after it fails. Am I not entitled to a new drive since it is under warranty?

So, what do you guys think about this one? What should I do? Should I benchmark it and see how it performs? Should I write an email, or should I call IBM about this? I'm pretty ticked off. IBM is supposed to be one of the better hardware manufacturers out there, or so I thought. Seems to me, this is a stupid thing to do as they are trying to "pull a fast one" on their RMAs!
 
I would definitly call them up because you paid for a new drive not a refurbished one. I had to RMA a few months ago and it took two weeks before I finally received my new IBM hard drive.
 
IF you read the IBM RMA agreement, you will see that they can and most likely will send you a refurb and not a brand new one. I had an IBM drive that was acting strange, but when I saw the possibility that I could get a refurb, I decided not to RMA it. Sorry for the bad luck 🙁
 
Refurbished parts are almost always just as good as their new counterparts. The reason most parts get refurbished are little imperfections or small problems. The only way a refurbished part will be sold again is if it works just like new.

At least this is what I've heard and experienced (got a refurbished computer+monitor many years ago as my first computer- worked like a champ).

Don't worry about it. Give it a chance. 🙂
 
You think they just toss RMA drives in the trash? They fix them to keep a stock of drives for other RMA's

Just about any vendor will send out a refurb HDD on a RMA.

You do have a right to be mad if the refurb does not work.
 
I doubt it's possible to complaint and get you a new unit. The policy is usually stating that you'll get a new drive within 30 days of purchase(from the store where you buy it), otherwise IBM had the right to give you a refurb unit (of course, if they ran out, they'll give you a new one).
but your warranty is still as good as the old one (3 years since the day of manufacture of the original drive, 5 years for SCSI)

but if you have time, call their customer support and see.. I believe it's toll free anyway.. if you don't mind waiting on hold for a long time. 😀
 
So, one vote for benchmark prior to complaining...

I always thought that if you RMA'd you'd get a new drive. I suppose I was mistaken! Perhaps I'll forget to wear my static wrist guad this time when installing the HD and rub my feet on the carpet continuously while handling the drive outside my box... Naw, I'm not that shady!
 
Factory refurbs will preform as good as a new drive dont let cosmetic imperfections affect your opinion of the drive thats purly superficial. My RMA'ed seagate scsi drive came back in the form of a factory refurb and it preforms like a champ
 
That is standard practice.
My monitor company did the same thing.

I sent them my malfunctioning one and they sent me back a refurb right away.

Then when they have time they will examine my Monitor and repair it if they can or toss it out if they can't.

Would you rather wait half a year so they can thoroughly examine your drive to determine if it should be repaired or replaced?

No, they will send you a replacement, the replacement will work a well as a new drive, if it didn't when they examined it they would have tossed it.
 
All HD manufacturers I have dealt with (IBM, Maxtor, Quantum, and Seagate) all send out refurbished drives as RMA replacements, unless they're out of the refurbs.

This is with both IDE and SCSI drives.
 
Ok, a few more votes toward benchmarking (and useage)... Now I am seeing the big picture. It makes sense. I will test the drive and if it performs admirably, it will go into my system. (Cosmetic imperfections nonetheless) 😉

I guess if this is a standard priactice, and I was not screwed abnomally, then I might as well just let it roll. It's too bad, I like to have non-refurbed items...
 
yeah if they send it to you they consider it as good as new. ive never gotten back anything that i rma'd as new. always refurb. ocassionally have problems, got a dead maxtor refurb, and a geforce which the fan didnt work. getting mad and complaining won't help much, it's the standard. they'll just take your drive and fix it and pass it along to the next guy. drive should be fine, as whatever was wrong was replaced (bad disk, the disk was replaced).
 
I believe that's the common practice with all the companies. New drives for retail and refurbished for warranty replacements. I personally only RMA'd with Quantum before and they sent me back a refurbished one. I don't like it either but what can you do. Try calling them up and see what they say.
 
Of all the companies I have RMAd with, only seagate puts a sticker on the drive that tells you its a refurb. I think all companies should do that.
 
There's nothing wrong with a refurb. Before they send out refurbs they are tested to make sure they work. A new product is not. When new products are manufactured they do random quality control checks.
 
I get refurbished drives all the time...they work just fine. I had one in a system a couple years ago and it is still working just fine for the person that owns that system now.
 
I would demand a new drive. They shouldn't give you a refurb back. Refurbs should be sold as refurbs, like they do at ubid.com and places like that. In your case IBM made a faulty drive and now they want to give you a repaired faulty drive. No way.... demand a new one.
 
I don't think IBM owes you a NEW drive.. the drive you sent them is 5 months old.. why should they send you a NEW one.. you used it for 5 months.. If you buy a new drive, and it doesn't work, then of course you should get a new one.. but in this case you are returning a used drive, and getting a used factory refurbished one back.. that seems fair..
 
If a refurb has the same warranty a new drive would have, and it performs the same as a new drive would, what's the difference?

Modus
 
I think consumers that complain like this should be given the option of returning the refurb and then wait for their drive to be fixed. It seems that they would be much happier waiting a month to get your own USED drive back than getting a refurb within days.

Everything warranty I've read reserve the manufacturer the right to repair or replace. The drive was 5 months old. It was not new. A refurb is 'like' replacement.
 
It would be nice if they gave you a new drive but complaining won't do anything as if you read the IBM RMA agreement they state quite plainly that they reserve the right to give you a used refurbished drive in return.
Actually this is common practice among the majority of HDD manufacturers.

I'd be happy that you got a HDD so fast, that is a great return time. I've heard of people having to wait almost 15months in the past to get an RMA from IBM.
 
That sucks, now I don't want to rma my deskstar... Nm that thing makes too much noise, I would take any refurbished drive over this loud drive! Personally I don't mind refurbished as long as it gets hidden away into my case, but I would totally hate to get a refurbished monitor, that would suck.
 
the drive is fine and complaining for a new drive is ridiculous...that is, unless your refurbished drive has gone awry...

they're allowed, according to their warranty policy, to send u refurbished drives in place of faulty drives...it's perfectly sensible...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top