I recently made bought 2 WD500GB SATA hard drives from NCIX.COM online store through its St. Patricks Day sale @ $89.99 plus the extra shipping cost ($15). When I recieved my hard drives, I attempted to install and format them. One HD started up with the motor sound spinning up (louder than any drives I have ever used) and then seemed to power down after about 10-15 seconds. The LED disk activity light was solid bright on. The other HD powered on and stayed on, but when I tried formatting it, there was this constant "ticking" sound from the drive. After about 15 mins or so a message pops up saying "Windows is unable to format drive". I even tried downloading Western Digital's utility software from WDC.COM to perform a format and the same thing happened.

So, I contacted their CSR the very next day telling them that I received 2 DOA (Dead On Arrival) hard drives. They issued me the RMA (Return Material Authorization) so I could return the defective hard drives. HOWEVER, I would be responsible to pay for the shipping to get them replaced unless if I had purchased their "VIP membership" plan before buying the drives in which they will pay for the shipping returns.

THIS IS PLAINLY UNFAIR!!! I would gladly accept the shipping cost to ship them back if this was a warranty issue where it breaks down while being used within the warranty period. But I personally do NOT feel that I should pay for the return shipping if the products that were sent to me was broken in the first place, especially when I wasn't able to (nor did I) write/save data on those drives because they came broken, sealed in their packaging.

So, I have no other choice but to accept the shipping fees to return them (on March 18, 2008).

I haven't recieved confirmation of my returns yet, but the so-called money I saved from the purchase was used back on paying for returning them to get them replaced. Now it seems that I am paying more for the 2 hard drives (cost of HD + Shiping to me + Shipping to return, and the extra long waiting time) than I would of if I bought them at a local computer store.

Oh, and if I was to ask for a refund instead of a replacement, it'll cost me 15% restocking fee per item returned on top of the shipping fee to send it back to them. TOTALLY RIDICULOUS!!!