Misrepresented sales of used Seagate hard drives as new: Difference between revisions

Reports from consumers, as well as investigations by ''heise online'', describe an issue where used and refurbished Seagate hard drives are being sold as new. Many buyers reported receiving drives with extensive prior usage, despite being marketed and priced as brand-new products. The issue appears to stem from deceptive practices by certain sellers, rather than Seagate itself; though questions remain regarding how these drives re-entered the supply chain.

[https://www.heise.de/news/Gebrauchte-Seagate-Festplatten-als-Neuware-im-Umlauf-10254276.html Heise Online Report]

 

 

====Affected Models====

The primary models affected are:

Additional reports mention '''4TB, 10TB, and 18TB''' drives, as well as certain NAS-specific models.<ref name="heise-online-report" />

====Identifying Used Drives====

=====SMART & FARM Data=====

Many buyers identified the issue using '''SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology)''' and '''FARM (Field Accessible Reliability Metrics)''' values.

*SMART values are sometimes '''reset''' to give the appearance of a new drive.

*FARM logs still '''retain the true operational hours''', exposing the actual usage.

A consumer who purchased two '''ST14000NM005G (14TB)''' drives found they had already been used for '''10,000 to 15,000 hours'''. A replacement order for '''ST16000NM001G (16TB)''' drives revealed even worse results—'''22,000 operational hours'''.<ref name="heise-online-report" />

=====Manufacturer Warranty Checks=====

Many affected buyers found that when they checked warranty status on Seagate's website, they were '''redirected to contact their retailer'''. This shows that these were '''OEM models''', which do not include a manufacturer-backed warranty beyond the retailer’s return policy.<ref>[https://www.seagate.com/de/de/support/warranty-and-replacements/ Seagate Warranty Check]</ref>

===Responsibility & Supply Chain Concerns<!-- this whole section comes on a bit strong, with relatively little in the way of citation -->===

====Seller Fraud====

The primary '''responsibility lies with the sellers''' who misrepresented the drives as new.

*Some retailers sold OEM or '''recertified drives''' but '''failed to disclose this information'''.

*Some drives even exhibited '''physical wear''' such as scratches &  missing security labels.<ref name="heise-online-report" />

*Certain affected vendors have since begun '''accepting returns''', suggesting at least partial acknowledgment of the issue.<ref name="heise-online-report" />

Heise Online conducted an '''undercover test''', ordering two 16TB drives from a suspect retailer. The order was later '''canceled''' by the seller, who admitted that a "quality control check" revealed the drives were '''not actually new'''.<ref name="heise-online-report" />

====Seagate’s Role & Supply Chain Gaps====

While '''Seagate is not directly responsible for seller deception''', concerns remain:

*Seagate acknowledged that '''factory-recertified drives exist''', but they should be '''clearly labeled with a green-bordered sticker'''. Many affected buyers received '''drives without any such indicators'''.<ref name="heise-online-report" />

*The '''source of these used drives remains unclear'''—it is unknown how these high-hour drives '''re-entered''' the market.

*Seagate states that due to '''data protection policies''', they '''cannot disclose''' the original sale location of the affected drives.<ref name="heise-online-report" />

Even '''official Seagate distributors''' have been caught selling questionable drives, raising concerns about the '''integrity of authorized reseller networks'''.<ref name="heise-online-report" />

===Consumer Impact===

====Financial & Reliability Concerns====

*Consumers '''paid full price''' for drives that had already undergone '''years of usage'''.

*These drives were sold '''without manufacturer-backed warranties''', making returns and replacements difficult.

*Customers relying on these drives for '''data integrity and professional storage solutions''' are at risk of '''premature failures'''.

===Consumer Advice===

====How to Check If A Drive Is Affected====

*'''Run SMART & FARM Checks''' – Use smartmontools (Linux/Windows) or Seagate’s Seatools utility to check for '''high power-on hours'''.

*'''Check Serial Numbers''' – Check warranty status on [https://www.seagate.com/de/de/support/warranty-and-replacements/ Seagate’s official website].

*'''Check for Physical Wear''' – Look for '''scratches, missing seals, or inconsistent labels''' that indicate prior use.

*'''Request a Refund''' – If you purchased from an affected retailer, request a '''return or replacement''' based on misrepresentation.