Why is my HDD not eligible for replacement?

I bought a 320GB 7200RPM Scorpio Black from Newegg 8/19/09.

It is not apparently corrupted and needs to be replaced. I filled out the warranty replacement info on Western Digital's website and it is saying I am ineligible for a warranty replacement? I thought there was a 5 year warranty?

and I'm not eligible for a replacement from newegg because it has been 30+ days right?

 

That's weird. Email WD instead and see if you can get an RMA.

 

Already done. I was just wondering because its not like I did anything that would break the warranty.

 

Well keep us posted on how your RMA process goes.

I've never had to personally RMA anything to WD and they are the only conventional HDD manufacturer I recommend and purchase.

 

Western Digital is telling me that it was purchased from a Non-Western Digital Retail Box. So therefor they are not going to cover it under any warranty?

I bought it from newegg. Why is this happening?

 

You might have bought an OEM drive. Still should have the same warranty though..

 

It might me OEM for notebook manufacturers. Try sending the proof of purchase to WD. Once I bought OEM HDD from retail store and checked my drive was designated for notebook OEM so not covered under warranty.

 

Well it shouldn't make a difference. OEM drives have serial numbers just the same as their retail counter parts. You just don't get the fancy box and the software and manuals.

 

Aren't they only warrented for only 1 year?

 

Shouldn't be. Scorpio Black hard drives have a standard 3 year warranty.

 

Five years.

I'd expect the retailer to be responsible in this case. Isn't there a Consumer Advice website you can check out for more advice?

 

What the hell...newegg says 5 year warranty on "bare" drives for WD ... Contact newegg.

 

After 30 days Newegg isn't liable for it anymore. He has to contact WD for RMA information.

 

Sorry for the difficulties you are encountering with your WD HD. Please let us know what WD's response is to your RMA request. If they reject it, make sure WD provides an explanation for why your HD didn't qualify for warranty coverage.

 

I am currently in the process of getting an RMA. Anyone know how I can get a JPEG or GIF picture of my newegg receipt? They didn't accept me copying and pasting it...

IF I do get it replaced, should I expect a new or refurbished/recertified HDD from WEstern Digital?

 

Are you using Win7?

Use the snipping tool to make a jpeg file.

They will replace it with whatever they have on hand (most likely not new).

 

I am currently using my mothers work computer. Macbook Pro..

 

Try researching 'grab' for mac.

Good luck.

 

It is manufacturer's discretion as it is their warranty. Many hard drives for warranty work are refurbished.

 

Thanks grab worked perfectly. A little difficult to save a jpeg at first but I figure it out.

Hopefully they will accept that.

 

good luck OP! I'm actually very suprised with your case. Western Digital sent me an adapter for my external hard drive when it blew although there was no warranty cover in UK as my product was from india... I hope it goes well for you.

Good Luck
Leopard 2

 

It does make a differences. Consumers go with their computer's manufacturer for warranty issues with the computer's stock hard drives.

 

OEM drives warranty is provided by the OEM (warranty period shorter than retail drives and it is part of the system warranty not individual parts).
Retail Drives warranty is provided by the Harddisk Manufacturer.

 

They are liable if they sold something that was mis-advertised to the consumer though. If WD claims it has no warranty and NewEgg advertised a 5-year...then NewEgg is in the wrong.

 

I have purchased dozens of bare and OEM drives from newegg, and have had to RMA a few. All were covered under WD warranty. Only way it is not covered is if it is an OEM part in a laptop you bought from a manufacturer like Acer, Dell, HP, etc. It will then be warranted by those companies.

But as far as bare drives are concerned, I would ask newegg first, and let them know they are selling drives that are not covered under warranty despite what their site product page advertises. Let them work it out. It's their issue, not yours. It should be warranted and you should get a new replacement (at least I always have).

 

Talking to Newegg is the next step if they will not accept the jpeg screen shot of my newegg invoice.

As you said above is exactly what is going on. WD is claiming that it was sold in a computer when I bought it bare straight from Newegg. If it was the HDD that came with the computer I would have gone to Lenovo and would not be having this issue. It seems to me that the SN is the mix up and I am going to check that I gave the right one when I get home tomorrow afternoon.

Either way I bought it bare from Newegg and it should be covered by WD.

 

Wow that's real odd. Usually serial numbers don't get mixed up like that. WD didn't accept a picture of your Newegg invoice?

 

Did you buy this open box by chance?

 

I hope they would not get the serial numbers mixed up. I am saying that I might of mistyped when I entered the information however I don't think I did. I will check when I get home today just incase.

This was bought brand new from Newegg in August of 09.

 

Nobody mixed up any serial numbers. Newegg or their supplier for this drive messed an oops with their procurement and selling of drives intended to be put in laptops..

 

Sounds like this is the case.

 

I've gotten an RMA number and it has been shipped.

Should I expect a new one or refurbished/re-certified? If it is refurbished/re-certified I may buy the 500GB off newegg and sell the one I receive on ebay.

 

Well that's really good, WD is still in my good graces.

Most likely you will receive a re-certified drive from WD. It's their warranty and their terms. Now you may get lucky, but almost everything is refurbished these days.

 

Should I be concerned installing a refurbished HDD? This is going to be my main and only computer next year.

Also, I am a regular on ebay and have no problem turning it around and selling it on ebay. If I was going to sell, I plan on getting a 500GB 7200RPM drive. Probably WD again. Any other suggestions or should I stick with WD?

 

One thing I don't like my new Scorpio Black 500GB is the noise and vibration. Not to the point of annoying or unbearable but is very noticeable comparing with a 7K320 in another machine(yes, the chasis may be a factor too but still).

 

I've always received new, in a retail package no less.

 

No re-certified sticker on it? Usually they have a small sticker on the drive, they can repackage in an anti-static bag no problem.

 

No, I meant boxed retail package. To be honest, I think with hard drives they just scrap and recycle them. Too much time and effort and money to investigate issue to make sure they meet standards. Tons of ways a drive can fail. Unless its a very expensive drive, they won't bother.

 

The one time I rma'd a hard drive, one of the two I ever bought retail, I got back one in OEM packaging. This was with Seagate in '03. The drive I got back still works though.

 

Oh well that's good. Actually it really depends on what is wrong with the drive. Usually they will refurbish it and resell it as OEM drives to manufacturers as replacement drives. Trust me, I have replaced over 500 bad hard drives official at my job and a good 80% of them were refurbished from the manufacturer.

 

And that may be for a corporation too. I dunno. Maybe it's one thing I've had good luck with, if its any luck at all.

Just recently in the last six months or so, I RMA'd several things. Over five year old 2x1GB DDR RAM from Kingston (thank you lifetime warranty! ). Same thing with an SSD (OCZ), Kingston VX Nano mouse, and a DVD writer. All in brand new retail packaging. Last hard drive I had to return was from a couple years ago. I RMA'd a WD Passport external drive and a WD Scorpio Blue laptop drive. Both came back in retail packaging.

Either way, a refurb isn't a bad thing either. Just means it probably got more special attention to make sure it works properly than a production part anyhow.

 

Heh well you are lucky. Manufacturers have every right to give you a refurbished item, if you read your warranty fine print. Oh and "lifetime" warranties vary greatly, and you get "one" replacement and that is it for most of them.

And I would stay away from refurbished hard drives, like I would trust all my hard work downloaded torrents to a refurb drive (and their warranty is different too and shorter)

 

The original warranty should still apply to any replacement product. Also refurbished computer products have a much lower failure rate than new products because they undergo much more scrutinous testing.

 

I agree with this. When I bought a 500GB 5400RPM 2.5" Toshiba drive off Newegg, I ended up getting one that seemed used (wasn't in the original packaging; just an ESD bag). I tried it out, wary at first, but it was completely fine and is currently in the M15x I'm typing on.

It also seems most faulty drives fail quite quickly (getting a refurbished/used on means it made it past this). Two of my friends had Seagates fail over and over as they got replaced.

 

I guess it's all anecdotal evidence, but my friend has RMA'd his Seagate Barracuda drive like 6 times, all were refurbished not counting his original. All failed within 2-54 weeks.

As for the warranty it really varies manufacturer to manufacturer.

 

You will usually see a refurbished/recertified sticker or stamp on the hard drive if it is.

 

Quick question. I got my replacement HDD today and I am trying to figure out if it is new or refurbished before I open it. Is there anything specific I should look for?

 

You have to open it to see... ?

Does the paperwork offer any insights?

 

The paperwork says nothing that obviously says new or refurbished. It is more of a packing slip with customer order #, date, etc.

It is in a Electrostatic bag that is easy to see through. If there was a sticker to look for or something I'd probably be able to find it if it was there.

 

See if you can see Certified Repaired HDD on the sticker similar to this