WD in trouble?

Rik · Jan 29, 2009, 12:03:26

El Reg is reporting that their quarterly profits are down 95%!

Could this be the end?

JB · Jan 29, 2009, 12:09:39

Quote from: Rik on Jan 29, 2009, 12:03:26
Could this be the end?

Thanks Rik

Maybe I will never get my HD replacement back?

Steve · Jan 29, 2009, 12:13:07

Still a profit unlike Seagate's large loss,however I read Fujitsu and Samsung maybe quitting this sector(oops)

Rik · Jan 29, 2009, 12:19:19

Apparently, Toshiba have bought out the business from Fujitsu.

Sebby · Jan 29, 2009, 12:42:52

It's quite worrying. I wonder why profits are down so much - more expensive material costs?

davej99 · Jan 29, 2009, 16:24:59

Hard drives have long been a commodity product. Like DRAM market is price/demand sensitive. Manufacturers are consolidating fast and the technology is waning as solid state enters with speed and durability. PC builders are drawing down excess inventories as sales sag. It is going to be a rough ride in the technology sector.

Rik · Jan 29, 2009, 16:26:16

Good point. I should imagine that RAM manufacturers will be reporting drops in profits soon.

mrapoc · Jan 29, 2009, 17:06:24

Will their warranty still stand if they go?

Im guessing so..

Rik · Jan 29, 2009, 17:08:08

No, in a word, Sam, unless someone takes over the business and decides to honour the warranty.

davej99 · Jan 29, 2009, 17:12:04

Your contract and consumer rights are with your seller not the manufacturer. If the seller cannot provide proper support you are entiltled to suitable compensation. (My opinion, not legal advice).

Rik · Jan 29, 2009, 17:14:25

Sound advice though, Dave, and legally correct.

JB · Jan 30, 2009, 11:15:00

Spooky!

After maligning WD over the last few days, I get an email this morning to say that my second replacement HD is about to be shipped. Coming UPS from Frankfurt so late next week at the earliest.

Maybe they read our forum

Rik · Jan 30, 2009, 11:18:03

They might do, JB.

philnorton · Jan 30, 2009, 11:37:53

Quote from: davej99 on Jan 29, 2009, 17:12:04
Your contract and consumer rights are with your seller not the manufacturer. If the seller cannot provide proper support you are entiltled to suitable compensation. (My opinion, not legal advice).

Technically, in the first six months of a 12 month warranty, that's correct: the retailer should give you a refund. After that point though, it's up to the manufacturer (this is based on my training at a discount shop back in 1994, but as far as I know, that's the generally accepted position)...

Rik · Jan 30, 2009, 11:41:25

Have to argue with you, Phil. During the first six months, it's up to the retailer to prove there isn't a fault, after that it's up to the consumer to prove there is one, but the contract and liability remain with the retailer for the life of the product. For electrical goods, the figure of six years has been established, though with a sliding scale of compensation as the appliance gets older.

sebt · Feb 01, 2009, 16:11:19

Maybe if they started making reliable hard drives (as they used to) they would be in better shape. I've lost count of the amount of Mybooks that I've had to do recovery jobs on, brand new drives with "weird" issues, and early failures (within 2 years) of desktop drives, both 7.2K and 10K variants.

Fortunately WD's online warranty system is very good, but with a high volume of returns, it's going to be hurting in the current climate.

Having said all that, I'm about to buy a velociraptor.

Seb

Rik · Feb 01, 2009, 16:13:05

I didn't know you could still get your hands on dinosaurs...

sebt · Feb 01, 2009, 16:22:39

Yes, and I'm hoping it doesn't face creeping extinction after purchase

Rik · Feb 01, 2009, 16:26:39

sebt · Feb 01, 2009, 16:32:05

FYI 10K spin speed not tonnage

I just wish someone else was making SATA 10k drives these days. I think only WD are doing them now

Seb

Rik · Feb 01, 2009, 16:36:03

They're the only ones I've seen recently. We'll have to talk nicely to Seagate and Samsung.

sebt · Feb 01, 2009, 16:48:29

What, you mean there are actually people you can talk to in these corporations?

Wow!

Seb

Rik · Feb 01, 2009, 16:51:09

We talk to anyone, Seb.

esh · Feb 02, 2009, 17:26:21

There's not big money to be had in 10k SATA drives, I'm afraid. In fact, despite me hearing rumours of a 20k RPM drive from WD, I think it's time to shift your eggs to the solid state basket.

Sony and Intel profits are also down a similar level. They're bigger companies of course.

Vodor · Feb 07, 2009, 12:53:48

Actually in the case of hardware like drives etc, the warranty is with the manufacturer. There is only a small legal period where the seller has to refund/replace it (which is up to the seller which) but after that the legal replacements come from the manufacturer.
This varies depending on product, but it's usually 30-90 days.