kony <spam@spam.com> wrote in
news:0dqp43ldalkobpnr6us44rni55pr4ia50b@4ax.com:

> On Thu, 17 May 2007 21:00:50 GMT, Pecos
> <anortRemOveThIs&2on21@mindspring.com> wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
>>>>a program that would allow me to receive a hard drive via two day
>>>>air before returning the bad drive. They would also send the
>>>>packaging needed for returning the bad drive (which I need) and
>>>>prepay for the return shipping. This would cost $19.99.
>>>
>>> No you do not need to buy more packing material. When you
>>> get the replacement drive cross-shipped in advance, you can
>>> take the packing material from THAT drive and use it to pack
>>> your failed drive. I have done this many times (every time
>>> I could, actually) without problems. So the cross-ship
>>> means you have a limited time (think it's 30 days) within
>>> which to send them the failed drive or else you are billed
>>> for the replacement drive at that point. Your only cost is
>>> postage to return the failed drive to them.
>>>
>>
>>I wrote in my statement that they would send the return packaging
>>(presumably in the form of the box and rubber foam used to send the
>>replacement drive). Was my statement unclear?
>
> You are suggesting paying for packing material and prepaid
> shipping. It is an unnecessary cost. When they send you
> the replacement drive in advance, that replacement drive HAS
> packing material you can reuse to return the faulty drive to
> them. There is no need to pay $19.99, only to pay the
> shipping fee when you ship it which tends to be far less
> (depending on your location, but in the US it is typically
> about $6-8 via FedEx or UPS).
>
>
>>
>>And you are right, I do have 30 days to return the bad drive.
>>
>>With the Advanced Replacement option, the return shipping is prepaid,
>>as I stated above.
>
> Yes, but there is no reason to pay $19.99 for this.
> Recall that I have done as I described several times. They
> didn't reject the return from use of their packing material
> and they couldn't even reasonably argue that the packing
> material _they_ use is unsuited for shipping the same thing
> _to_ you that you are returning.
>

OK, I understand you. Unless I am missing something here, which is
entirely possible, Seagate/Maxtor *won't* preship unless you pay the
$19.99 for their Advanced Replacement program. Maybe someone can
follow-up here with a post if I am wrong about that.

Ideally, I would have just used the original box and packing foam that
the drive was shipped in to save a few bucks and sent it before
receiving a replacement. But the packing material that the vendor used
to ship my hard drive, which I still have, was Styrofoam peanuts and the
packaging guide clearly states that peanuts are unacceptable. I decided
that by the time I pay for shipping both ways and the *acceptable* foam
insert that I would have to find and buy up-front, I would be close to
$19.99 anyway.

I appreciate you trying to save me a few bucks though. Every little bit
helps. ;-) I will remember your tip for my next RMA and try to get the
item preshipped at no cost. Thanks.

Alan Norton
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http://www.mindspring.com/~anorton1/