[comp.sys.mac.hardware] Hard Drives International selling Used Drives?

keith@ux.acs.umn.edu (Keith MaloneyHuss) (01/07/90)

I have ordered several drives from Hard Drives International (HDI)
and have been reasonably satisfied with their service.  Twice they
shipped the wrong mounting kit, but small errors like that are
easily forgiven -- at their prices I can't expect perfection.

HOWEVER, my last order from them for a Quantum ProDrive 80 (I know, I've
read the net complaints about these drives, but we never shut down our
Macs and the Quantums we have are flawless) was for a MacIIcx kit.
It arrived with the wrong mounting kit (AGAIN!) and with an installation
manual for Seagate and MiniScribe drive instalation in PC/XT/AT/386 and
compatibles.   Oh, well...  It gets worse.  I wouldn't waste the net space
if these were my only complaints.

The Quantum drive that was shipped is USED and HACKED.  How can I tell?
The connector for the LED drive access indicator is melted and the two
prongs on the connector have short pieces of wire soldered to them!
Someone apparently installed this drive and soldered wires to the connector,
then instead of unsoldering them, simply cut them off with wire cutters.
I might be able to clean up the connector with a soldering iron, but
should I have to do this with a "new" drive?  

I called HDI and they offered a new drive -- how nice of them.
I have often wondered what becomes of the drives that come back to them
on their 30 day 'worry free' guarantee...

The customer service person explained that this probably happened during
testing of the drive -- Yeah, got any more bridges for sale?

It may have been an honest mistake.  I have been reasonably happy with
their service before this.  Has anyone else had such an experience?

--keith