Reports are surfacing about new Seagate hard drives, predominantly sold through Chinese online marketplaces, exhibiting suspiciously long power-on hours and high usage statistics despite being advertised as new. This suggests potential fraud, where used or refurbished drives are being repackaged and sold as new. While Seagate has acknowledged the issue and is investigating, the extent of the problem remains unclear, with speculation that the drives might originate from cryptocurrency mining operations or other data centers. Buyers are urged to check SMART data upon receiving new Seagate drives to verify their actual usage.
This Heise online article reports on a growing concern surrounding potentially fraudulent Seagate hard drives, specifically focusing on drives exhibiting unusually long runtime counts despite being advertised as new. These drives, predominantly purchased through online marketplaces like AliExpress and eBay, are raising red flags among buyers who are discovering SMART data indicating significantly higher operating hours than expected for a brand-new product. This discrepancy suggests that the drives may not be new at all, but rather refurbished or used drives being deceptively marketed as new.
The article highlights several key aspects of the alleged fraud. Firstly, it points out the widespread nature of the issue, with numerous reports emerging from different users experiencing the same problem. This suggests a systematic issue rather than isolated incidents. Secondly, it underscores the financial implications of this deceptive practice. Consumers are paying for new, premium-priced hard drives but receiving used products with potentially diminished lifespans and reliability. This represents a clear violation of consumer trust and a potential breach of sales contracts.
The article delves into the possible origins of these fraudulent drives, pointing towards evidence suggesting a connection to China. While not definitively pinpointing the source, the prevalence of affected drives originating from or transiting through Chinese distribution channels strengthens this hypothesis. The article mentions a potential scenario where used server hard drives are being relabelled and sold as new consumer drives. This is particularly concerning given the heavy workloads server drives typically endure, leading to increased wear and tear compared to drives intended for consumer use.
Further contributing to the complexity of the issue is the difficulty in definitively proving fraud. While the unusually high runtime counts raise strong suspicions, it remains challenging to unequivocally demonstrate malicious intent. This ambiguity complicates efforts to hold sellers accountable and obtain refunds or replacements. The article emphasizes the importance of vigilance when purchasing hard drives, particularly from online marketplaces. It advises consumers to be wary of suspiciously low prices and to utilize tools to check SMART data upon receiving a new drive to verify its actual usage history.
Finally, the article mentions the potential long-term consequences of this alleged fraud, both for consumers and the storage industry as a whole. Eroding consumer trust could lead to decreased sales and damage the reputation of reputable hard drive manufacturers. The article implicitly calls for increased scrutiny of supply chains and stricter measures to combat fraudulent practices in the online marketplace.
Summary of Comments ( 2 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42991006
Hacker News users discuss potential explanations for unexpectedly high reported runtime hours on seemingly new Seagate hard drives. Some suggest these drives are refurbished units falsely marketed as new, with inflated SMART data to disguise their prior use. Others propose the issue stems from quality control problems leading to extended testing periods at the factory, or even the use of drives in cryptocurrency mining operations before being sold as new. Several users share personal anecdotes of encountering similar issues with Seagate drives, reinforcing suspicion about the company's practices. Skepticism also arises about the reliability of SMART data as an indicator of true drive usage, with some arguing it can be manipulated. Some users suggest buying hard drives from more reputable retailers or considering alternative brands to avoid potential issues.
The Hacker News comments section for the submitted article "Hard disk fraud: long runtimes on new Seagate hard disks" contains a lively discussion revolving around the potential fraud, its implications, and personal experiences with Seagate drives.
Several commenters express skepticism about the "fraud" claim. One prominent argument is that the observed high runtime hours could be attributed to Seagate repurposing returned or refurbished drives without properly resetting the SMART data. This theory suggests that the drives aren't necessarily counterfeit, but rather used drives being sold as new, which is still deceptive but different from outright counterfeiting. This explanation resonates with several other users who have observed similar discrepancies in SMART data.
Another commenter questions the methodology of the investigation, pointing out the small sample size and the lack of clarity about the source of the drives. They suggest that the drives might have been purchased from less reputable resellers who could be tampering with them rather than Seagate directly. This raises the concern that the article might be prematurely accusing Seagate without sufficient evidence.
Some users share their own experiences with Seagate drives, with mixed results. While some report having had numerous Seagate drives fail prematurely, others state they've had long-lasting and reliable experiences with the brand. This anecdotal evidence highlights the complexity of the issue, suggesting that while there might be a problem with some Seagate drives, it's not necessarily a widespread or systematic issue affecting all their products.
One commenter draws a parallel to the practice of "mining" with GPUs, where the cards are subjected to heavy workloads for extended periods, impacting their lifespan and potentially being resold as new. They suggest a similar scenario could be occurring with hard drives, where they might be used for tasks like cryptocurrency mining or other intensive operations before being repackaged and sold as new.
The discussion also touches on the legal and consumer protection aspects of selling used drives as new. Commenters discuss the difficulties of proving such fraud and the importance of purchasing from reputable vendors. Some suggest checking SMART data upon receiving a new drive and returning it immediately if discrepancies are found.
Finally, a few comments offer technical explanations for how SMART data can be manipulated or misinterpreted, further muddying the waters and adding complexity to the already multifaceted discussion. This reinforces the notion that while the high runtime hours are undoubtedly suspicious, definitively concluding fraud requires further investigation and more robust evidence. The overall sentiment seems to be one of cautious skepticism towards the "fraud" claim, with many users advocating for further investigation and due diligence when purchasing hard drives.