The original post: /r/datahoarder by /u/HopWorks on 2025-05-31 01:34:03.
I would have tagged onto a previous post here "New External Hard Drive Dropped By Delivery Man" but it was archived.
I just noticed on my Ring camera my UPS delivery of my new mechanical hard drive that it was dropped on my porch. It was not a large distance, but it made an impact sound and I can see that it dropped 8-12 inches. I would not even care about this, but since there are warranty concerns, longevity, and how fragile mechanical drives can be, I worry about the slightest shock of my new drive. After all, they are still expensive.
To be honest, who even knows how my package has been played Hacky Sack with all through the UPS distribution. What comes to mind is the opening scene in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. LOL
So I ask, since this HAS to be a nagging issue with these devices being delivered, and how they are handled, when dealing with warranty issues... have they found a way to place a shock sensor in these drives that can be accessed via the Smart data protocol? Or maybe in the box itself?
If they do not have it yet, they should.
I know that the parking of heads has been an issue when people disconnect their drives from power before shutting down. I also noticed that Western Digital finally bought a clue and included a short-term power backup to allow the head to park before power runs out. I don't know if it is capacitor-based or an actual battery back up, but I turned power off on my drive before I shut it down and freaked, but I heard the head park even after power was disconnected. WTG Western Digital!!
Anyway, with shock sensors being real and actively in distribution, I just figured the hard-drive peeps would include it in their devices to see if the drive was actually dropped, for warranty concerns.
Yeah, my paranoia knows no bounds. If none of this is in place at all...
Should I consider my drive mishandled and file a claim, have UPS pick it back up and have a new drive delivered? Had that driver known what we all know, that box would have been gently placed on the ground surface and this event would be a moot issue. But he didn't, and I worry.
Should I worry?
Thanks for your patience and time reading my long-winded question!