Will Maxtor not honor my warranty if I DON'T ship the HD in the styrofoam?

[MichaelD]

Didn't want to take up too much subject line. Maxtor's warranty page states (words&pics) "you must ship your drive to us in the foam packaging it came in or your warranty won't be honored."

I know they do this to prevent people from shipping them a HD inside a regular paper envelope.

I am planning on shipping them my HD as follows. HD inside:

1. Anti-static bag
2. Wrapped in bubble wrap.
3. Inside small box with styro peanuts.
4. Inside bigger box with styro peanuts.

Obviously, I'm overdoing it, and for a reason; I want them to fix my damn HD. Am I good to go?

 

[Adul]

yes you are just fine with that.

 

[toant103]

last time, i packed mine with a lot of newspaper. They accept the drive

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the reply.

Nice to see you, Adul. Welcome back. I saw the pic you posted earlier of yourself and your overseas flame. She is very pretty. You did good.

 

[JSang]

ive had drives sent back to me that werent properly packaged....even though they were...just not in the packaging i had out of the box...so be careful

 

[Adul]

thanks michael

 

[JW310]

What I did was just use the Maxtor advanced RMA and have them ship me a new drive first. Then, I just shipped back the old drive in the same packaging the replacement drive was sent in. The way I look at it is if it's good enough for them to be sending out replacement drives in, it should be good enough for them for having the old drive sent in.

I would re-read the instructions for sending the drive back to them (from Maxtor's site):

Proper shipping for individual drives:
[*]The drive must be placed in an anti-static bag, similar to the silver bag that the drive originally came packaged in.
[*]The drive must be surrounded on all sides with solid foam cushioning, a minimum of two inches thick. Do NOT use Styrofoam peanuts or bubble wrap.
[*]The drive must be sealed in a sturdy cardboard shipping container. The original retail box the drive came in would be an ideal shipping container.

So it almost appears as if the drive's going to be rejected the way you packaged it, with the foam peanuts. Not 100% sure about that, though.

JW

 

[MichaelD]

HI JW310,

Thanks for taking the time to look that up. I read that page about 10x last week...I just don't have two-inch-thick styro laying around you know? I know it says no peanuts, but if you could see the size of the box the drive is in, you'd agree it's safe. I'm hoping for the best.

I packed it as per my original post:

1. Anti-static bag
2. Wrapped in bubble wrap.
3. Inside small box with styro peanuts.
4. Inside bigger box with styro peanuts.


The big box also has crumpled-up newspaper along the sides. When you shake the big box, nothing rattles at all. It's in there. Let's hope Maxtor thinks so too! Thanks.

EDIT
The reason I didn't do the advanced RMA is that this drive is my spare backup drive. I'm not hard-up for it right now. I can wait. When it comes back, I'll be installing it probably in a third box to be that systems' main drive/backup drive for my main rig. Norton Ghost over Network is a beautiful thing.

 

[Adul]

<< HI JW310,

Thanks for taking the time to look that up. I read that page about 10x last week...I just don't have two-inch-thick styro laying around you know? I know it says no peanuts, but if you could see the size of the box the drive is in, you'd agree it's safe. I'm hoping for the best.

I packed it as per my original post:

1. Anti-static bag
2. Wrapped in bubble wrap.
3. Inside small box with styro peanuts.
4. Inside bigger box with styro peanuts.


The big box also has crumpled-up newspaper along the sides. When you shake the big box, nothing rattles at all. It's in there. Let's hope Maxtor thinks so too! Thanks.: >>

i have done a worse packaging job and had it accepted. dont worry.

 

[JW310]

Okay... I wasn't sure, as this was the first time I had to send a drive back to Maxtor myself and didn't know what they'd accept and what they wouldn't. Main reason for me to do the advanced RMA is so that they'd send me packing materials (yeah, I'm too lazy and too cheap to go out and buy them myself). Although I did want to have my MP3 drive back in service as soon as possible, too. I shipped my drive via DHL express. For the drive the way I had it packaged, it cost $7 for overnight, insured shipping from Albany, NY to their RMA receiving in TX. Sent the drive out Tuesday morning, and it arrived Wednesday morning. Can't ask for better than that!

JW

 

[MichaelD]

<< Okay... I wasn't sure, as this was the first time I had to send a drive back to Maxtor myself and didn't know what they'd accept and what they wouldn't. Main reason for me to do the advanced RMA is so that they'd send me packing materials (yeah, I'm too lazy and too cheap to go out and buy them myself). Although I did want to have my MP3 drive back in service as soon as possible, too. I shipped my drive via DHL express. For the drive the way I had it packaged, it cost $7 for overnight, insured shipping from Albany, NY to their RMA receiving in TX. Sent the drive out Tuesday morning, and it arrived Wednesday morning. Can't ask for better than that!

JW >>



Hey, I'm cheap too! What a coincidence! Hahahah! I always keep a couple of small boxes w/packing materials from stuff I've bought over the net, lying around. I happened to have the box my mobo came in from Newegg, complete w/the peanuts, in my closet. I know how much a box and a bag of peanuts costs...like $10 or so. NO way I'm paying that.

I was/am very nervous as well as this is my first time RMAing a HD. One cool thing; Irving TX is a 4-hour drive from me (South Texas.) So, I send it regular 1st class insured, it should get there in two days tops. Hopefully, Maxtor just sends me a new one.

The one that fried is a 45GB model (7200RPM). It's the five-platter one (I think) and I've read that some folks have had probs w/them. I'd be happy with a new 40GB model.


Adul: Thanks for the reassurance.

 

[JW310]

Yeah, I have a nice supply of boxes and packing material back home, unfortunately that doesn't do me much good when home is 300 miles away (away at college right now).

My drive that died was an old 10GB hard drive that I keep all my MP3s stored on. I was surprised to see that it was still in warranty! I was hoping they'd send a bigger drive, but they sent out the same model (and size) hard drive as the one that I RMA'd.

JW

 

[Pliablemoose]

I just RAM'd a Maxtor, sent them a 30 gig 5400rpm, & they sent back a 40 gig 7200. I didn't follow the RMA packing instructions to the letter, but there was no problem. They used UPS ground for return shipping & it took about a week to get to me ( I live 40 miles or so from Irving)

Be sure to get tracking on the package you send them, Hercules lost a RMA'd video card once & I didn't have tracking on the package, took a week of arguing to get them to send me a new one.

 

[MichaelD]

<< I just RAM'd a Maxtor, sent them a 30 gig 5400rpm, & they sent back a 40 gig 7200. I didn't follow the RMA packing instructions to the letter, but there was no problem. They used UPS ground for return shipping & it took about a week to get to me ( I live 40 miles or so from Irving)

Be sure to get tracking on the package you send them, Hercules lost a RMA'd video card once & I didn't have tracking on the package, took a week of arguing to get them to send me a new one. >>




Ah; I will ensure that I get a tracking number. I guess I'll send it Certified/Return Receipt, if I can do that on a box. BTW, how are you and Mrs. Pliablemoose doing? I ask b/c I remember you mentioning "Mrs. PliableMoose" about a year ago and I just laughed so hard I tore my pants in two.

Anyway, I can only hope they send me a "better drive", but the one I'm sending them is a ATA100, 7200RPM, 45GB model. I'm sure they have a few laying around., I'm worried that they will send me some Frankenstein-bolt-together-freak-job-from-pieces HD. I wouldn't mind at all if they send me a NEW 40GB drive. 5 gigs...who cares, you know?

Nice chatting w/you.

 

[gopunk]

i dunno, i would just go and buy the packaging if i were you. shouldn't cost too much, and it will insure that they will accept it.