Packing material to mail hard drive for rma?

[Helenihi]

I'm finally getting around to sending back my dead IBM drive to Hitachi for a new one. The only problem is, they seemed fairly strict about what I can ship the drive to them in without voiding the warranty, and I can't find either of their suggested packing materials.

1. Foam rubber block with a cutout for the drive. My new hard drive came in one, but unfortunately I threw it out sometime in the last few months. Can't find this anywhere, checked local office supply stores, mailboxes etc. type places. fry's, etc.

2. Clamshell type thingies. Holds onto each end of the hard drive, can't find these either. Figured the other type would probably be easier.

They specifically say no packing peanuts, no styrofoam, nothing that I can find easily. Are they really serious about these requirements? Is there some place that has them that I'm missing?

Here's a link to their packing instructions, with a link on that page to what is allowed.

http://www.hgst.com/warranty/jsp/arma25h.jsp

 

[TonyB]

see if you can get an advanced shipment, then when you get the replacement drive, send back the old one with the materials that came with the replacement. THats what I do.

 

[RalfHutter]

Originally posted by: TonyB
see if you can get an advanced shipment, then when you get the replacement drive, send back the old one with the materials that came with the replacement. THats what I do.

Unfourtunately IBM/Hitachi doesn't do advanced replacement RMAs any more. I just sent a 75GXP back to them last week and had to scrounge all over to find a piece of foam to pack it with. I've heard they're pretty srict about this so I've always packed my IBM RMAs exactly per their detailed instructions.

 

[techfuzz]

HGST Approve Packaging for Hard Drives - Can be bought here

techfuzz

 

[tigerwannabe]

thanks for the link--i could use some of the same stuff

 

[techfuzz]

Originally posted by: tigerwannabe
thanks for the link--i could use some of the same stuff

No problem, always willing to lend a helping hand.

techfuzz

 

[Helenihi]

Originally posted by: techfuzz
HGST Approve Packaging for Hard Drives - Can be bought here

techfuzz

Damn, 7 bucks just for packing material. Guess its a pretty good price to pay for a new HD though. Thanks for the help.

edit: gah, that doesn't even include shipping. 6 bucks to ship some foam? 14 bucks total? Damn, there's got to be some B&M place that sells this crap.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: Helenihi

Originally posted by: techfuzz
HGST Approve Packaging for Hard Drives - Can be bought here

techfuzz

Damn, 7 bucks just for packing material. Guess its a pretty good price to pay for a new HD though. Thanks for the help.

edit: gah, that doesn't even include shipping. 6 bucks to ship some foam? 14 bucks total? Damn, there's got to be some B&M place that sells this crap.

comes with a new drive purchase..

 

[techfuzz]

Originally posted by: Helenihi
Damn, 7 bucks just for packing material. Guess its a pretty good price to pay for a new HD though. Thanks for the help.

edit: gah, that doesn't even include shipping. 6 bucks to ship some foam? 14 bucks total? Damn, there's got to be some B&M place that sells this crap.

Hey I didn't say it was cheap to buy it, I just provided the approved packaging link that HGST recommends to its customers. You might try going to CrapUSA or someplace similar and checking with them for some extra packaging. It's not likely they keep stuff like that around, but it may be worth a try. I would think that smaller computer parts suppliers in your town would probably have stuff like that laying around in the back room that if you asked nicely they would fork over, maybe with a "small purchase" to intice them.

techfuzz