Bought Seagate Externall HDD, No HDD Inside.....

[FISHRULE]

Hi guys,

I bought a Seagate 160 GB external hard drive from Wal-mart (yes laugh if you want too, but their price was better that BBs). Anyways, I open up the package with glee and notice the housing seems light.... to light, but ignore that and install the drive on my computer.....

Then problems start. My computer does not recognize the drive! Woes me I think; I work on the problem for 2 hours. Then I get a bad gut feeling and pull apart the drive. To my utter HORROR there WAS NO HARD DRIVE INSIDE. IT HAD BEEN REMOVED.

How is this possible!? The quality seal was untouched and the package was shrinkwrapped! What should I do?! Do I contact Seagate, Wal-Mart!? What could have caused this!? All I know is that Wal-Mart will hear from me tommorow!

My main worry is, how will these guys believe me. They will shrug off resposibility, each of them. Anyways has anyone heard of this before? What should I do? Similar experiences and opinions appreciated. Thanks.

 

[SrGuapo]

Are you syure you didn't just buy the external casing? If you actually bought an external drive, Walmart should replace it with no problems.

 

[kobymu]

Originally posted by: FISHRULE
My main worry is, how will these guys believe me. They will shrug off resposibility, each of them. Anyways has anyone heard of this before? What should I do? Similar experiences and opinions appreciated. Thanks.

i have not had the same experience BUT, is these kind of situation i find that the most productive attitude when approaching the customer support is to be very politely angry while spitting out 120 words per second. in most cases after a couple of minutes you will get what you want.

 

[Oyeve]

That sux. It happened to me with a few DVD movies. Both a movie, go home, no DVD inside. Went back to store and had a really hard time convincing them that the dvd was not inside. They most likey thought I took out the dvd and kept it. The only thing that convinced them was the fact that i still wanted the movie. If I had asked for my money back they probably would have said no.

 

[imported_Phil]

If you've broken any seals on the housing, you'll most likely be SOL.

 

[dcdude]

no they have to take it back

its wal mart, thats what most likely happened in the first place

theres no way they can just not accept it back and give you your money

 

[FISHRULE]

No I am positive its the the hard drive kit... even says the drive specs and size on the box. I'm not a n00b with hardware so I would not make that mistake. I find this very odd. Could Seagate have simply forgot to put a HDD inside the housing? I mean the box was sealed when I got it, so if some Wal-Mart punk stole it it must've been resealed with a machine they have or something.

This reminds me of the time I bought Operation Flashpoint from Best Buy and there was a CD in it... but it was actually just an Earthlink CD very cleverly and professionaly sticky labeled over. Ugh....

 

[Zepper]

You should have noticed it was light when you picked it up at the store. HDs are pretty dense little puppies.
. It's a shame, but I've started opening things at the store to make sure it's complete before taking stuff home. I take it to the customer service desk and tell them what I intend to do - never get any hassle about it...

.bh.

 

[ChicagoPCGuy]

It's Walmart. You should have no problems returning it.

 

[SrGuapo]

Originally posted by: FISHRULE
No I am positive its the the hard drive kit... even says the drive specs and size on the box. I'm not a n00b with hardware so I would not make that mistake. I find this very odd. Could Seagate have simply forgot to put a HDD inside the housing? I mean the box was sealed when I got it, so if some Wal-Mart punk stole it it must've been resealed with a machine they have or something.

This reminds me of the time I bought Operation Flashpoint from Best Buy and there was a CD in it... but it was actually just an Earthlink CD very cleverly and professionaly sticky labeled over. Ugh....

Sorry, didn't mean to insult you, I know I have made alot of stupid mistakes like that (buying a HS without a fan, etc.). As long as you are persistent and not insulting the teenager/manager you should be fine. Remember, it is not their fault, so don't accuse them, just explain what happened. If they refuse, then start getting angry. This is coming from a person who has worked in fast food for a while and knows how a customer should complain as to not piss me off...

 

[Zepper]

Ad it's possible that if those are displayed out on an open shelf that the HDs themselves are stored separately to reduce the temptation to pilfer. Some places use a "dummy box" for display that actually has nothing in it, and when you buy they give you the real package from the stock room.

.bh.

 

[FISHRULE]

Well I just got back from Wal-Mart (And spent over an hour and a half arguing with people). Basicaly they said that since the package was sealed and I opened it it was no longer their problem. No surprise they blow me off. Anyways they just ended up basically walking away from me and let me leave with my useless hard drive cage.

I am writing Seagate an email now, complaining about this problem. I know I am working from a weak position, since I have no way of proving my (I admit it is a STRANGE) claim. Who the hell has ever heard of a sealed product coming only partially complete? That would be like me saying my Ipod never came with a hard drive inside. This is starting to look pretty hopeless....

 

[XMan]

Take it back to a different Wal Mart and play dumb? Say, "this doesn't work on my computer, I think there's something wrong with it. I'd like to do an even exchange."

Playing dumb has always worked for me in the past . . . it helps if you're built like a defensive tackle, though.

 

[Zepper]

If it was assembled in Mexico then I wouldn't be surprised if an assembler walked off with your drive. I've heard that "shrinkage" is a real problem down there.

Did you escalate your complaint to the store manager? If so and you got no, escalate to the zone or area manager. It might be one of their employees - heck, even I know how to take stuff out of a Maxtor box w/o breaking the seal.

.bh.

 

[Steven the Leech]

Originally posted by: Zepper
If it was assembled in Mexico then I wouldn't be surprised if an assembler walked off with your drive. I've heard that "shrinkage" is a real problem down there.

Did you escalate your complaint to the store manager? If so and you got no, escalate to the zone or area manager. It might be one of their employees - heck, even I know how to take stuff out of a Maxtor box w/o breaking the seal.

.bh.

 

[RobCur]

Originally posted by: Oyeve
That sux. It happened to me with a few DVD movies. Both a movie, go home, no DVD inside. Went back to store and had a really hard time convincing them that the dvd was not inside. They most likey thought I took out the dvd and kept it. The only thing that convinced them was the fact that i still wanted the movie. If I had asked for my money back they probably would have said no.

There is no refund on opened software or movies

 

[eurovw]

why did you open it instead of returning?

 

[RobCur]

You got what was coming to ya. It's risky buying from retailer, to hell with them.
It's expensive buying locally no matter how cheap you think it is.
It is possible that someone bought it before you, took it out shrink wrapped return it as new and asked for refund or the manufacturer forgot to put in the hd, duh!
Either way you screwed, and I mean screwed real good.
If you were smart I would just return it in the same condition, stfu about what's inside and hope for the best they don't notice.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: X-Man
Take it back to a different Wal Mart and play dumb? Say, "this doesn't work on my computer, I think there's something wrong with it. I'd like to do an even exchange."

Playing dumb has always worked for me in the past . . . it helps if you're built like a defensive tackle, though.

QFT

 

[theMan]

Originally posted by: X-Man
Take it back to a different Wal Mart and play dumb? Say, "this doesn't work on my computer, I think there's something wrong with it. I'd like to do an even exchange."

Playing dumb has always worked for me in the past . . . it helps if you're built like a defensive tackle, though.

thats actually a good plan. just say you put it in, and i didnt work, so you want to exchange it. or, you could just try to return it, and say it wasnt what you wanted.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Listen, this is what you do. (FIRST OFF THOUGH, please refrain from buying computer hardware from Wal-Mart, you wouldn't go to CompUSA to buy groceries would you?) OK, so what you do is take it back into the store & just tell them it doesn't work. If they ask any questions just tell them I don't know, it just wouldn't work. "I plugged it in & I couldn't transfer my files." They won't check to see if the drive is there anymore than you did so no worries. Next time go to a computer store when buying equipment please...lol

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: Tiamat

Originally posted by: X-Man
Take it back to a different Wal Mart and play dumb? Say, "this doesn't work on my computer, I think there's something wrong with it. I'd like to do an even exchange."

Playing dumb has always worked for me in the past . . . it helps if you're built like a defensive tackle, though.

QFT

Hey, look, assuming the guy is being honest, he didn't get what he paid for. If he tells them it's defective they're not going to put it back on the shelf. Wal-Mart sends it back to Seagate and gets a refund. Seagate looks at the serial number and figures out that somebody on their assembly line is pocketing drives.

 

[RobCur]

Originally posted by: eurovw
why did you open it instead of returning?

Not the brightest bunch eh? a few more points higher IQ and he wouldn't need to post here asking what to do

 

[RobCur]

Originally posted by: FISHRULE
Well I just got back from Wal-Mart (And spent over an hour and a half arguing with people). Basicaly they said that since the package was sealed and I opened it it was no longer their problem. No surprise they blow me off. Anyways they just ended up basically walking away from me and let me leave with my useless hard drive cage.

Why did you open it??? idd you think you can fix it? would take a hd apart and try to have the manufacturer fix it even thought it say opening it would void warranty?

I doubtt the csr are walmart would know anything about a hd inside then you do, mentioning it makes them think that its was done intentionallly soy ou can keep the hd and get a notehr one at no cost to you.

 

[akugami]

Where was the quality seal on? On the external housing for the HD or on the box package? If it's on the housing then that was a dumb move to open the case anyways. If the seal is intact you can easily get a replacement. If it was on the package, then it's hard but not impossible someone opened up the package without breaking the seal and getting the HD out. As for shrinkwrap, please. Every large retailer has a shrinkwrap machine in the back for returned products that are still in working condition.

Assuming you are not trying to scam the retailer, go back and ask for a replacement. If they don't, ask to see a manager. Make enough noise and eventually a manager will come out to see you. If they still won't replace the product then tell them you will be picketing outside their store every day for the next month along with your friends and family.