WD RMA -do you have to pay shipping to return broken Hard Drive with bad sectors when under warranty?

[Butters]

I don't care either way just wondering so I am prepared.

[_I_]

yes, you need to pay for shipping, they will pay for return shipping

iirc they can cross or pre ship if you give them credit card info
(they will charge you if they do not recieve the drive in requested time)

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Warranty replacements = you pay for to ship back.

Now some brands offer "Advanced RMA" which allow you to get replacements faster.
This works by you giving them Credit Card info during your RMA process, they will ship you replacement right away. Then you have approx 30 days to get the old product sent back to them. Once they receive the product, the amount they designated for advanced rma will be lifted from your Credit Card. This is done just to ensure you send back the old product.

[rotNdude]

https://support.wdc.com/warranty/warrantypolicy.aspx#group1

Authorized returns are to be shipped prepaid and insured to the address on the RMA in an approved shipping container

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Also, DO NOT forget when making your return address label(s) to include the RMA# on it as well, or it will be denied or lost when reaching them.

[Butters]

Thanks!

How long does a WD Advanced RMA normally take?

I requested it Wed. morning but still no drive has shipped :(

[Bad 💀 Motha]

If you did Advanced RMA then you should have your replacement drive rather quickly; like approx 5-7 days or so and that's probably including delays if I had to say so.

As with regular rma, it can take weeks usually.

You can use the packaging that your replacement drive come in to package and ship the dead drive back to WD in. Just open it all up carefully enough so the drive protective casing and foam + box can all be re-used. Then remove all the old labels from the box before attaching your own and packing it back up. Print the RMA confirmation letter/email as well and include that into the box along with your dead drive. The print a shipping label with the provided Address for WD, including the RMA# clearly visible below the address on that label.

[rotNdude]

Originally posted by Max:

Thanks!

How long does a WD Advanced RMA normally take?

I requested it Wed. morning but still no drive has shipped :(

You should have asked them.