Packaging advice for RMA

[chrisk]

I have to RMA a Seagate 1TB drive. I have obtained an RMA number, and the following was indicated in the RMA email:

"- Enclose each drive in an ESD (electrostatic discharge) bag or in an anti-static plastic shell (SeaShell).
- Secure each unit in 2 inch-thick foam rubber in a corrugated box. Do not use peanuts, bubble wrap or newspaper. "

All I have for packaging is the "Seashell" and the foam peanuts. You think I should use this anyways, or will they reject my RMA? How picky are these companies with this?

If you think I am taking too much of a risk here any suggestions where I can get some thick foam rubber? Tried a few places already but none available where I have looked.

Thanks for any advice or experience you guys may have had with this.

[werty316]

I would follow their instructions and refrain from using packing peanuts as it would be kinda pointless for a company to set a RMA guideline if it wasn't followed by an end user.

Its better to be safe than sorry.

[Jon_di2]

Originally Posted by chriskwarren

"- Enclose each drive in an ESD (electrostatic discharge) bag or in an anti-static plastic shell (SeaShell).
- Secure each unit in 2 inch-thick foam rubber in a corrugated box. Do not use peanuts, bubble wrap or newspaper. "

What the hell is foam rubber.... wouldn't it either be foam or rubber...

I'm guessing it is this crap... but I don't exactly see how it is rubber...which I would think wouldn't be cheap to buy.
http://foamsupport.com/index/Medical.../eggtopper.JPG

I would call and ask them about it, because that seems very unnecessary to ship in in that stuff, 1st off all it is already not working, but really as long as you get insurance, if anything happens to it, it is covered anyways. Somehow I dout they would pay for that foam if you bought a hard drive from them that they shipped to you.

ps. I do have some of that stuff that you could have but I'm in toronto (near dvp&gardner)... not exactly close to ajax.

[chrisk]

I once had a laptop rma and there was this grey, foam rubber-type stuff surrounding the laptop so I guess its similar. Funny thing is, I had kept that stuff for a few years in case i wanted to use it for shipping but last spring I threw it out (small apt and the missus was sick of the space it was taking up in our closet).

So I have a hdd I need to send, but no material to use as per rma policy. Funny thing is that I have the plastic shell and packing peanuts that would have been used by a company like NCIX to ship it to me new but is no good to ship when broken...

I have actually thought about driving it out to Burlington (the rma address...40 mins away) lol but have no time and would be kinda silly.

I was just wondering how strictly they adhere to rma shipping policies and if I am missing an obvious supplier of said material. I have tried Walmart, Post Office, Zellers, UPS Store, Shopper Drug Mart, Home Depot, and Canadian Tire. All I can find are the peanuts and the 'air filled' pouches. I even tried a local computer store and they knew about the stuff I wanted, but had none on hand.

[MAKAVELI]

their shipping instructions at http://www.seagate.com/support/service/pdf/pack.pdf say that you can use a seashell to ship 3.5" drives ...

do they have different instructions for 1tb drives or something?

[chrisk]

Originally Posted by MAKAVELI

their shipping instructions at http://www.seagate.com/support/service/pdf/pack.pdf say that you can use a seashell to ship 3.5" drives ...

do they have different instructions for 1tb drives or something?

If you read my post at the top (which you clearly didn't) I said that in the email they sent for the RMA they want the esd bag OR the sea shell in the rubber. The seashell is not a replacement for the rubber.

Also, on the 5th page of the link you submitted (which I already saw...thanks) it clearly states to place the seashell in a box with 2in rubber foam which i am currently looking for.

Posted this to see if anyone had tried an RMA with Seagate without the rubber foam they seem to make a big deal about that nobody seems to stock (except the suppliers they give for the products that ship from the US...would rather not pay $15US plus shipping and duties for freaking rubber lol)