Jim H wrote:
On Mon, 7 Jan 2019 20:09:55 -0800, in , T
wrote:

Ignore MBTF and use warranty instead.

Provided... that drives with a longer claimed warranty really last
longer. If they just cost more without lasting longer, then the mfgr
is just recouping his expected warranty cost at time of sale.

This is how some car batteries are marketed. If you compare two
batteries with the same ratings and one costs more and has a better
warranty, weigh them. If the more expensive longer warranty battery
isn't heavier, then you're paying for the warranty up front... and it
isn't worth it because the warranty is based on the original purchase
price while the cost of a new battery X years later has risen
considerably. They actually make a nice chunk of change on such
warranties.

In the case of hard drives, the prices for a same size replacement
seem to be dropping... provided that size is still available. Tried to
buy a 1 GB drive lately?

The warranty issue is "simple math". You work out the
price to provide the service, and add it to the price
of the drive.

On hard drives, your replacement drive is not a new drive.
It's a used drive that has been re-certified.

Maybe you're made to pay for shipping, to get it.

Then, there is the "serial number barrier" where you
enter the serial number into the web site, and magically,
the serial comes back as "bad". And the drive now has
no warranty. This happens more often than you'd think,
and would appear to be yet another scam.

It's one thing to not offer warranties on gray market
or shucked drives, but it appears perfectly valid
retail drives are getting the ole heave ho (#sn not valid).

Paul