RMA thoughts

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If you RMA a component, what happens to it? It seems like such a waste to just throw all the technology away.

Wouldn't it cost companies a lot to replace a component if quite a lot of them failed? I've seen quite a few people in the GFX card section with problems and just RMA'ing them.
 
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Depending on the problem i beleive the manufacturers either replace/refurbish them, strip them for spare parts for other RMA'd units, or break them down for their componant materials (usually outsourced to a specialist company).

For example if you RMA a videocard because it's got a problem with it's cooling it might get repaired by the manufacturer and sent straight back to you (after testing).

If you RMA a faulty hard drive the manufacturer will check it, and if it's say a problem with the contol PCB they may take that off and replace it it with a good one from another drive (or new), then use the refurb drive for future RMA stock.

It all depends on the value of the item and how cost effective the various options work out compared to that value.
 
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Werewolf said:
Depending on the problem i beleive the manufacturers either replace/refurbish them, strip them for spare parts for other RMA'd units, or break them down for their componant materials (usually outsourced to a specialist company).

For example if you RMA a videocard because it's got a problem with it's cooling it might get repaired by the manufacturer and sent straight back to you (after testing).

If you RMA a faulty hard drive the manufacturer will check it, and if it's say a problem with the contol PCB they may take that off and replace it it with a good one from another drive (or new), then use the refurb drive for future RMA stock.

It all depends on the value of the item and how cost effective the various options work out compared to that value.

Also depends on where you bought it from. I get the feeling that the biggest companies tend to do a quick test before they ship out a new one. My guess is that they throw it away after that :D
 
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Stelly said:
Seagate do refurbished... and so so WD as well... that annoys me

Stelly


And the chances are the refurb hard drives from WD/Seagate etc (they all do it), are at least as good as a "new" drive in terms of performance/reliability.
Before any of the drive manufacturers send out a refurb drive it has to pass the same (or possibly even stricter?) testing criteria as a new drive.

If you wanted a garunteed new drive everytime your consumer level drive had to be replaced under warrantee (5 years iirc for seagate) it would cost a lot more than it does now, as part of the reason they are able to offer the warrantee they do is because they can often refurbish many "faulty" drives (a lot aren't).
 
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