Refurbed HDDs

[SocrPlyr]

I just so happened to read another post that mentioned a Refurbed HDD and i was wondering if anyone had any more information on the subject because while RMAing a WD HDD i just so happened to ask about what i would recieve (refurb or new) they said probably a refurb, a bit dissappointed i was going to return the drive to newegg instead (cuz i was still within the # of days and i would get a new drive back)... then the WD RMA person said it really doesn't matter whether or not the drive is refurbed because all that means is that the drive was returned they threw out the innards and kept only the shell of the drive, so in essence the drive is brand new...
i was just wondering if this was truely the case (which i expect it is cuz WD would have no reason to lie to me...)
just wondering if anyone else had some more info about it or comments
Josh

 

[lenjack]

I believe it is true. I just received an RMA'd Maxtor refurb made in January. I believe they're good as new.

 

[Carrot44]

I just got a Seagate 80 gig made the middle of Feb and it looks like new. Most HD's probably fail with in the first couple months. So they see little usage. The Big Parts such as case, cover head actuator parts are kept but platters bearings heads motors and electronics are either repaired or trashed. I know where I work when we rebuild a printer the motors are trashed and heads are torn down and rebuilt. Who knows..............

 

[CTho9305]

I get the impression samsung cuts corners. they replaced my drive with one that is VERY VERY loud. new drives of theirs are suppoesd to be 28-30db, yet this one roars. I emailed them back expressing my dissatisfaction. I should not hear the hard drive over music, ESPECIALLY if it is surrounded by noise insulation!

 

[Sundog]

<< I get the impression samsung cuts corners. >>


No surprise there.

 

[SocrPlyr]

anyone else?

 

[dkozloski]

I don't believe there is a precise, legal definition of what constitutes a refurbishment. It can be whatever the vender wants it to be. The factory is in the best position to do a good job because they get the best prices on parts. The only thing holding them back is their ethics. I have been dealing with a company called Computer Disk Service for years and they have never done me wrong. Find somebody you like and stick with them. I have gotten years of good service from refurb and overhauled drives and would not hesitate to suggest others do the same. I find the good sevices will tell you if some particular brand is a waste of time to fool with because they don't make any money on returns.

 

[MisterMe]

<< I don't believe there is a precise, legal definition of what constitutes a refurbishment. It can be whatever the vender wants it to be... >>



I would agree. Just because a product description says refurb don't think you're necessarilty getting the shaft. While a mfg might take the time to actually see if there is something mechanically or electronically worng with a product, I don't think a reseller does anything more than plug it in to see if the power led comes on. A refurb from Newegg for instance isn't probably naything more than a customer return...most likely because of preference rather than function...or they just couldn't get the thing to work. Now a refurb from like Maxtor or other mfg, that's where the thing has probably been actually fixed to resolve some sort of malfunction. I generally feel fine about getting refurbed products because 1) they cost less 2) usually have the same warranty and 3) they might have had a physical person check to see that the thing should work...

 

[Lvis]

Two or three years ago i rma'd a segate drive. (it was 6 months or so old) They sent me a refurb.

The first drive had a three year warranty, the refurb only one..... Not sure of the legality of this, but the refurb worked out ok.

Stayed away from seagate since though

 

[Yossarian]

I have never heard of a company doing something like that. Usually the original warranty applies from the date of purchase, no matter what you get back when you RMA.

 

[Fjive]

I rma my maxtor few weeks ago ( bad sectors ), it was only 3 months old and the technicians told me they will try to 'fix' it...then send me back my drive, only if they cant fix it ...i will get a new drive.
well...i got the same drive back...they manage to somehow cover the bad sector and the drive runs like a brand new one now...

 

[dkozloski]

When you buy a new drive and get a three year warranty it goes along with whatever they send you for a replacement. In other words the replacement is still the original drive as far as the warranty is concerned. Keep your records. The opposite would also be true. If your original drive had lasted 2yrs.,364 days and you got the refurb, its warranty would last one day.

 

[Drysdale]

<< When you buy a new drive and get a three year warranty it goes along with whatever they send you for a replacement. In other words the replacement is still the original drive as far as the warranty is concerned. Keep your records. The opposite would also be true. If your original drive had lasted 2yrs.,364 days and you got the refurb, its warranty would last one day. >>



Is this really true? If so, that completely sucks. I just got a replaced IBM drive (who hasn't...). Where can I find more information validating this comment on IBM's website???




<< (which i expect it is cuz WD would have no reason to lie to me...) >>



You shouldn't be so naive....there's not a company out there that doesn't lie to its customers in one fashion or the other.

 

[dkozloski]

Drysdale, when you pay for three years of warranty, that is what you get. It is the companies choice as to how they get you there. In the first case it was a used drived when it failed so you get a used drive to replace it. In the second case your warranty only had one day to run, so that is what you get. It seems fair to me. Buying one drive with one warranty does not entitle you to a lifetime of drives.