El Reg (http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2009/01/29/wd_q2fy09_results/) is reporting that their quarterly profits are down 95%!
Could this be the end?
Quote from: Rik on Jan 29, 2009, 12:03:26
Could this be the end?
Thanks Rik :eek4:
Maybe I will never get my HD replacement back?
Still a profit unlike Seagate's large loss,however I read Fujitsu and Samsung maybe quitting this sector(oops)
Apparently, Toshiba have bought out the business from Fujitsu.
It's quite worrying. I wonder why profits are down so much - more expensive material costs?
Hard drives have long been a commodity product. Like DRAM market is price/demand sensitive. Manufacturers are consolidating fast and the technology is waning as solid state enters with speed and durability. PC builders are drawing down excess inventories as sales sag. It is going to be a rough ride in the technology sector.
Good point. I should imagine that RAM manufacturers will be reporting drops in profits soon.
Will their warranty still stand if they go?
Im guessing so..
No, in a word, Sam, unless someone takes over the business and decides to honour the warranty.
Your contract and consumer rights are with your seller not the manufacturer. If the seller cannot provide proper support you are entiltled to suitable compensation. (My opinion, not legal advice).
Sound advice though, Dave, and legally correct.
Spooky!
After maligning WD over the last few days, I get an email this morning to say that my second replacement HD is about to be shipped. Coming UPS from Frankfurt so late next week at the earliest.
Maybe they read our forum :legpull:
They might do, JB. :)
Quote from: davej99 on Jan 29, 2009, 17:12:04
Your contract and consumer rights are with your seller not the manufacturer. If the seller cannot provide proper support you are entiltled to suitable compensation. (My opinion, not legal advice).
Technically, in the first six months of a 12 month warranty, that's correct: the retailer should give you a refund. After that point though, it's up to the manufacturer (this is based on my training at a discount shop back in 1994, but as far as I know, that's the generally accepted position)...
Have to argue with you, Phil. During the first six months, it's up to the retailer to prove there isn't a fault, after that it's up to the consumer to prove there is one, but the contract and liability remain with the retailer for the life of the product. For electrical goods, the figure of six years has been established, though with a sliding scale of compensation as the appliance gets older.
Maybe if they started making reliable hard drives (as they used to) they would be in better shape. I've lost count of the amount of Mybooks that I've had to do recovery jobs on, brand new drives with "weird" issues, and early failures (within 2 years) of desktop drives, both 7.2K and 10K variants.
Fortunately WD's online warranty system is very good, but with a high volume of returns, it's going to be hurting in the current climate.
Having said all that, I'm about to buy a velociraptor. :fingers:
Seb :)
I didn't know you could still get your hands on dinosaurs... ;D
Yes, and I'm hoping it doesn't face creeping extinction after purchase :eek4:
:lol:
FYI 10K spin speed not tonnage :grn:
I just wish someone else was making SATA 10k drives these days. I think only WD are doing them now :shake:
Seb :)
They're the only ones I've seen recently. We'll have to talk nicely to Seagate and Samsung. :)
What, you mean there are actually people you can talk to in these corporations?
Wow!
Seb :)
We talk to anyone, Seb. ;)
There's not big money to be had in 10k SATA drives, I'm afraid. In fact, despite me hearing rumours of a 20k RPM drive from WD, I think it's time to shift your eggs to the solid state basket.
Sony and Intel profits are also down a similar level. They're bigger companies of course.
Actually in the case of hardware like drives etc, the warranty is with the manufacturer. There is only a small legal period where the seller has to refund/replace it (which is up to the seller which) but after that the legal replacements come from the manufacturer.
This varies depending on product, but it's usually 30-90 days.
Warranties are always in addition to your statutory rights. In the UK, that falls under the Sale of Goods Act and gives you redress against the retailer for up to six years from the date of purchase.
Quote from: Vodor on Feb 07, 2009, 12:53:48
Actually in the case of hardware like drives etc, the warranty is with the manufacturer. There is only a small legal period where the seller has to refund/replace it (which is up to the seller which) but after that the legal replacements come from the manufacturer.
This varies depending on product, but it's usually 30-90 days.
:welc: :karma:
Rik is right (of course ;D). The retailer has the responsibility for all goods that fail although the manufacturer often gives a guarantee although that's additional and separate from our normal legal rights. This is unless the goods cause damage, ie a fire or something, then you ask the retailer for the manufacturer's details and deal with them. If the retailer doesn't know who the manufacturer is then it's the retailer's problem again.
Thanks, Ann. :)
I've had two items replaced direct from Logitech based in Switzerland. They never even asked me to return the speakers which were faulty. I had had them almost a year.
I also bought waterproof headphones on ebay and got them replaced again direct from manufacturer and was even given a better set.
I've also found Logitech support excellent. :thumb: