• 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.

Warning: Seagates warranty fiasco strikes again

J

jonny13

Senior member
Okay, so I went out to CompUSSR tonight and bought me a nice new 400GB Seagate drive for only $199 after rebate. Since I have been reading that Seagate has been having some questions raised about their warranty, I decided to verify my drives warranty before installing.

I went to the site and typed in all of my info and low and behold, my warranty expires Feb 3, 2006. Wow, thanks Seagate. It says right on the box "Worry-free five-year warranty". Worry-free my ass. And another odd things is that the part number on the website doesn't even match the part number I just typed in. Even weirder is that the strange new part number shown on the website does match the box, just not the drive inside it.

I am hoping they just had a misprint or something or they screwed up somewhere, but I have a feeling I will be bringing this drive back in about a week. Anybody else with similar experience?

Jonny
 
If it dies and they don't honor the warranty, raise hell and have the box and reciept as evidence of the purchase date and warranty period.
 
Yes, i agree. Post online with the BBB if anything goes wrong, that should get them moving. Also, try to get something in writing now from them.
 
I'm sure their flagship new drive in a retail Seagate box has the 5 year warranty.
It is in a Seagate box right?

What is your part number and ser # ??
(The model # is ST3400832A)

Let me check.

 
Does the label on the drive have a manufacturing date on it? Warranty is supposedly 5yrs from that date. Not 5yrs from date of purchase.
 
Since I have been reading that Seagate has been having some questions raised about their warranty,
Click to expand...

Does the label on the drive have a manufacturing date on it? Warranty is supposedly 5yrs from that date. Not 5yrs from date of purchase.
Click to expand...

Okay, I was planning on pulling the trigger on a new Seagate drive first thing tomorrow morning for a friend of mine, but now I'm reading this stuff. What's the deal here? My main reason for choosing the Seagate over the other usual suspects was because of the warranty & competitive price (all else being relatively equal). So is Seagate's "5-year warranty" not really as advertised? What're the points of contention you guys have been encountering (if any)? This is the first I've heard of this.

PS: Pleeeeeeeeeze, let's not start a HD flame war about who makes the best drives and how Brand A "sucks" and Brand B "rules" or "kicks ass." Your eyes are getting heavy ... you are getting sleepy ... sleepy ... you will stay on topic ... on topic ... on topic ... on topic .... and when you awake, you will have posted a brilliant message on the A-tech forum. 😀
 
Yep! :light:

Thanks, Bozo. 😀
yes, please post the MODEL#, so we can give you a better answer
Click to expand...
Oops. Sorry about that. 😱 The one I'm planning to get is the ST340014A here. I was also considering this one, as it has an 8 MB buffer. But it's way too big for my friend's simple storage needs and costs quite a bit more (Best Buy has it for the same price).

Oh well, no worries ... Bozo's link eased my mind re the warranty sitch, so I'm goin' with the 40 GB one unless someone changes my mind tonight. Thanks, guys.

Ken
 
Originally posted by: Bozo Galora
Relax people.
All seagate internal drives IN A RETAIL BOX bought after July 26 -04 have a five year warranty.

http://info.seagate.com/mk/get...?_A=12127&_U=31934

got it?
Click to expand...

Mine was OEM and it's got 5 years too,so it's not limited to RETAIL only drives

All internal hard drives designed for PC?s, notebook and enterprise systems that are shipped through Seagate?s Authorized Distribution and Retail Channels.
Click to expand...
 
I recently ordered 2 Seagate 200GB drives and an 80GB about 2 months apart. Two retail and one OEM. All have warranties which expire in '09 which is all I can ask for! Seagate is #1! Quiet drives and the best warranty in the business!
 
I only have my model number here at work (ST3400832A), but I can post the serial when I get home. I have sent emails to Seagate and am waiting for them to reply. If I can't get it straightened out now, I am taking it back. I didn't pay $250 for it now just to have fight for a replacement if it fails in a year. I have never had a problem with any other warranties from WD or Maxtor, but this is my first Seagate and I am hoping they come through with an answer.

Jonny
 
Originally posted by: Bozo Galora
Relax people.
All seagate internal drives IN A RETAIL BOX bought after July 26 -04 have a five year warranty.

http://info.seagate.com/mk/get...?_A=12127&_U=31934

got it?
Click to expand...



Well, I know we should relax and assume it has a 5 year warranty, but when you type in your info and see 2006 as your warranty expiration, its kind of tough to relax and assume all is well. Its not like this would be the first time some hardware company is trying to screw people over. (not that I am saying Seagate is doing that, time will tell). But, if my warranty is screwed up, I am sure others are as well and they should be warned.

Jonny
 
jonny13

you have a Barracuda 7200.8 series 400GB PATA

your drive is indeed covered by a 5 year manufactuer warranty, but it is 5 years from the date of manufacture, and not the date of purchase.. if seagates online warranty validator is inaccurate, contact seagate and i'm sure they'll fix it..

http://www.compusa.com/product...=316153&pfp=BROWSE
(compusa's own site claims 5 year warranty on that drive)
 
Originally posted by: DrCool
jonny13

you have a Barracuda 7200.8 series 400GB PATA

your drive is indeed covered by a 5 year manufactuer warranty, but it is 5 years from the date of manufacture, and not the date of purchase.. if seagates online warranty validator is inaccurate, contact seagate and i'm sure they'll fix it..

http://www.compusa.com/product...=316153&pfp=BROWSE
(compusa's own site claims 5 year warranty on that drive)
Click to expand...



It is indeed a 7200.8 series 400GB PATA drive from CompUSA. I have emailed them and am awaiting their response. The thing that bothers me is that the part number on the drive doesn't match the part number on the box. I am assuming this is wrong. It is strange because when I go online and type in my model number and part number, it then shows the model number and seriel number matching the drive and box, but the part number is now matching the box and not the drive. So, somehow the part number on the drive is tied to another part number.
 
I found this article at the Inquirer and it sounds like they are having database issues.

That would explain the website error, but why are my part numbers different on the drive and on the box? Could somebody else who recently bought this drive comment on if the Part# on the box matches the part# on the drive.

Jonny
 
Originally posted by: jonny13
I found this article at the Inquirer and it sounds like they are having database issues.

That would explain the website error, but why are my part numbers different on the drive and on the box? Could somebody else who recently bought this drive comment on if the Part# on the box matches the part# on the drive.

Jonny
Click to expand...


Maybe it was returned and repackaged because someone wanted the rebate?
 
So i guess the problem is with Seagate's website, not with your drive and the warranty. You, and Seagate's reputation, are safe 🙂
 
I got an email from Seagate Warranty Support and the person said they are going to look into my problem. So, I should know something soon.

Jonny
 
Question guys:

Newegg sells most of their Harddrives OEM. On their product descriptions, they list "5 years" for say the 400GB Seagate model. How does it have 5 year warantee if it isnt from a B&M store coming in a retail box? I thought Seagate only gave 5 year warantees on Retail boxed harddrives no?
 
jonny13:
In the same boat as you. Bought the drive at CompUSA and Seagate's site is listing the warranty expring in Jan 2006. Let me know what happens with Seagate's customer response team.
 
You guys should e-mail TheRegister about this, they've been running a number of stories about people buying retail-kit boxed Seagate HDs and not getting the proper warranty. Sounds like a snafu at Seagate. It happens from time to time with those computerized warranty databases. Usually you can get it straightened out individually with a phone call and some sort of proof-of-purchase.
 
I emailed the the Inquirer and got an email from Mike Magee saying he has heard it was a database problem. I can completely understand that, but I just wonder why my part number on the box doesn't match the part number on the disk.

Jonny
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top