Seagate advanced replacement...just use it... RMA fun

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
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I'm sure you've seen the commercials, "if it fits, it ships." Flat rate is great for small heavy stuff.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
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what are commercials?;)

anyways apparently i did pay flat rate, the free agent drives are not small, the stupid requirements for 2 inch packaging protection on all sides means it was bumped to a large flat rate.
 

RebateMonger

Elite Member
Dec 24, 2005
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I always advise friends to use Advanced Replacement. It's hard to ship much of anything for less than $10. Not to mention the strict (on paper, at least) RMA shipping requirements of hard drive makers. With Advanced Replacement, you get your replacement quickly, everything is taken care of for you, and you're sure you'll meet the RMA requirements.
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
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Small box is $4.85 or, if they want to play games and insist on 2" packing, wrap 2" of bubble wrap and put it in a large Envelope for $4.75. I'm thinking you didn't send it at the post office. Hell, even a medium box which is way huge for a HDD, is only $10.80
 
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RebateMonger

Elite Member
Dec 24, 2005
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Here's Seagates' RMA packaging instructions.

http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.j...toid=5c3a8bc90bf03210VgnVCM1000001a48090aRCRD

"Use original packaging when possible, such as packaging sent with Advanced Replacement Order:

Enclose each drive in an ESD (electrostatic discharge) bag, in an anti-static plastic shell (SeaShell) or anti-static bubble wrap.

Secure each unit in 2 inch-thick foam rubber in a corrugated box. Do not use popcorn, peanuts, bubble wrap or newspaper. If packaging more than one drive, use a separate container for each drive.

For more information on how to pack your unit, please view: http://www.seagate.com/support/service/pdf/pack.pdf "


The above link has more details on how they want an external disk packaged.

Reality seems to be that Seagate WILL accept lesser packaging. They won't admit it, but they'll probably accept it.
 
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0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
Small box is $4.85 or, if they want to play games and insist on 2" packing, wrap 2" of bubble wrap and put it in a large Envelope for $4.75. I'm thinking you didn't send it at the post office. Hell, even a medium box which is way huge for a HDD, is only $10.80

small box isn't going to happen, i think ur thinking of a bare drive. with the base a freeagent drive is a space hog.

and as said above, u need the 2" all around and that blows it anyways.
http://www.usps.com/prices/priority-mail-prices.htm
medium doesn't cut it unless u forgo packing. its insufficient in one dimension or another.
 
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Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
2
81
I always advise friends to use Advanced Replacement. It's hard to ship much of anything for less than $10. Not to mention the strict (on paper, at least) RMA shipping requirements of hard drive makers. With Advanced Replacement, you get your replacement quickly, everything is taken care of for you, and you're sure you'll meet the RMA requirements.

Most important part bolded.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
lawl...
after a long long time they sent me back.... a drive that fails seatools diagnostics.
so win is seagate.
 

daw123

Platinum Member
Aug 30, 2008
2,593
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That is what pissed me off was when I had to return two DOA HDDs back to an online retailer. The packaging I had to use to return the HDDs, because of the requirements I had to meet, was better than the packaging I received the HDDs in. Plus the physical size of the package is significantly increased, therefore costing you more on shipping, due to the thickness of the bubble wrap they expect you to use.
 
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0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
Yea the box they use was rather small, all they used was a formed cardboard egg carton like spacer inside.