Misrepresented sales of used Seagate hard drives as new
Reports from consumers, as well as investigations by Heise Online,[1] describe an issue where used and refurbished Seagate hard drives are being sold as new. Many buyers reported receiving drives with extensive prior usage, despite being marketed and priced as brand-new products. The issue appears to stem from deceptive practices by certain sellers, rather than Seagate itself, though questions remain regarding how these drives re-entered the supply chain.
Details edit
Customers who purchased Seagate Exos series hard drives from several different online retailers, including Amazon, JB Computer, Mindfactory, Reichelt, Alternate, Böttcher, Büroshop 24, Galaxus, Jacob, Kosatec, Maingau, and Proshop, reported inconsistencies in their drives.[1]
Upon inspection by users, these drives showed thousands of operating hours, suggesting they had been previously used despite being sold as new. Many had run for 10,000 to 50,000 hours, confirming they were repurposed rather than unused.
Affected Models edit
The primary models affected are:
- Seagate Exos X16 (16TB) – ST16000NM000J, ST16000NM001G
- Seagate Exos X14 (14TB) – ST14000NM001G, ST14000NM005G
- Seagate Exos X12 (12TB) – ST12000NM0127, ST12000NM0558
Additional reports mention 4TB, 10TB, and 18TB drives, as well as certain NAS-specific models.[1]
Identifying used drives edit
SMART and FARM data edit
Many buyers identified the issue using SMART (self-monitoring, analysis, and reporting technology) and FARM (field-accessible reliability metrics) values. SMART values are sometimes reset to give the appearance of a new drive, whereas FARM logs still retain the true operational hours, exposing the actual usage.
A consumer who purchased two ST14000NM005G (14TB) drives found they had already been used for 10,000 to 15,000 hours. A replacement order for ST16000NM001G (16TB) drives revealed even worse results: 22,000 operational hours.[1]
Manufacturer warranty checks edit
Many affected buyers found that when they checked warranty status on Seagate's website, they were redirected to contact their retailer. This shows that these were OEM models, which do not include a manufacturer-backed warranty beyond the retailer’s return policy.[2]
Responsibility and supply-chain concerns edit
Seller Fraud edit
The primary responsibility lies with the sellers who misrepresented the drives as new.
- Some retailers sold OEM or recertified drives, but failed to disclose this information.
- Some drives even exhibited physical wear, such as scratches and missing security labels.[1]
- Certain affected vendors have since begun accepting returns, suggesting at least partial acknowledgment of the issue.[1]
Heise Online conducted an undercover test, ordering two 16TB drives from a suspect retailer. The order was later canceled by the seller, who admitted that a "quality control check" revealed the drives were not actually new.[1]
Seagate’s role and supply-chain gaps edit
While Seagate is not directly responsible for seller deception, some concerns remain:
- Seagate acknowledged that factory-recertified drives exist, but said they should be clearly labeled with a green-bordered sticker. Many affected buyers received drives without any such indicators.[1]
- The source of these used drives remains unclear: it is unknown how these high-hour drives re-entered the market.
- Seagate states that because of data-protection policies, they cannot disclose the original sale location of the affected drives.[1]
Even official Seagate distributors have been caught selling questionable drives, raising concerns about the integrity of authorized reseller networks.[1]
Consumer Impact edit
Financial and reliability concerns edit
- Consumers paid full price for drives that had already undergone years of use.
- These drives were sold without manufacturer-backed warranties, making returns and replacements difficult.
- Customers relying on these drives for data integrity and professional storage solutions are at risk of premature failures.
Consumer Advice edit
How to Check If A Drive Is Affected edit
- Run SMART & FARM checks – Use smartmontools (Linux/Windows) or Seagate’s Seatools utility to check for high power-on hours.
- Linux Command: `smartctl -l farm /dev/sdX` - Compare results with `smartctl -a /dev/sdX`
- Check serial numbers – Check warranty status on Seagate's official website.
- Check for physical wear – Look for scratches, missing seals, or inconsistent labels that indicate prior use.
- Request a refund – If you purchased from an affected retailer, request a return or replacement based on misrepresentation.