Info Don't make my mistake. Warranty denied cause I took off the sticker from my M2 Drive. (Samsung 980 PRO)

[sonofjesse]

I like to share things so others maybe don't have to suffer though a bad experience.

I purchased a 980 Samsung Pro 2TB back earlier in 2021. The drive failed (tried several tools to help it, a lot of orphaned files and corrupt sectors, could not format it, put it in another system just locked up). Way under the 1200TB written.

I'm the original purchaser of this item with original sales receipt. I had a picture of the drive with sticker. I removed the sticker, and installed a heatsink.

Samsung would not warranty the drive, cause I had removed the sticker, they said it was not needed to remove the sticker to install a heatsink. They said the drive should say void if removed (it don't, I have the picture). They said the warranty says you can't remove the sticker. The only thing the warranty paperwork says is "altered product" well to me the product is not the sticker. The product itself was not altered. Anyway they would do nothing to help. I have purchased several drives over the year and paid the Samsung "tax" . Just a bad customer experience, having a drive that is 7 months old that was almost 400 dollars. This is my first SSD/M2 drive failure.

I know in years past with Seagate, Maxtor, WD. I don't remember them ever denying a warranty claim.

I know I will get responses of you should known better. Well I looked at the label had no warning. Some things will say warranty void if removed this drive does not.

I don't know if all SSD's have this same policy or if it varies. Just something to be aware of , if installing a heatsink I guess just leave it on.

I'm just going to get warranty, much like insurance first strategy is to DENY the claim, find the loop hole etc. I find this to be unethical, I'm sure their are people to try to "Game" the system, but when an SSD craps out, no physical damage, you have the receipt, its under 1 year with a 5 year warranty, I think the company should stand behind it.

The older I get, the word warranty to me means like nothing. Cause good luck ever getting it. I guess the days are gone of "Craftsman" warranty, where you just take the item back and you get a brand new one.

I hope everyone is backing up their drives, and testing that backup plan. (I'm learning ways to improve my own strategy)

I guess this could have happened with any SSD and any company, I just expect a good customer service experience if I'm paying top dollar for the "best" product. YMMV, but I was not a happy customer after this.

Good luck.

Thanks

[Moderator Note: Moving post from Storage to Opinions and Experiences.]

 

[kerberos_20]

Samsung would not warranty the drive, cause I had removed the sticker, they said it was not needed to remove the sticker to install a heatsink. They said the drive should say void if removed (it don't, I have the picture). They said the warranty says you can't remove the sticker. The only thing the warranty paperwork says is "altered product" well to me the product is not the sticker.

its written on every samsung M2 product that warranty is void if label removed, on yours drive its on back side

 

[sonofjesse]

Thanks for pointing that out. I see that now, but I did not remove the REAR label its present on the drive. , but the front label does not have that. I think they need to say warranty void if "labels" removed, or put that warning on both labels. They need to be VERY clear if their going to deny warranty. Makes zero sense to me since you can't change the SN of the device and if you have receipt.

I think their just trying to save money and deny as many as they can.

 

[kerberos_20]

removing identifying labels from almost everything you buy pretty much voids warranty

 

[sonofjesse]

But does removing a label really void a warranty? Does the Magnuson Moss warranty act offer anything for consumers I wonder?

Trucks that carry rocks, say stay back 100 feet, not responsible, but that sticker means zero legally.

Just seems like company's would be held to a higher standard. Very odd to me.