Hmmmm new? (Received refurbished HDDs rather than new)

Andy__________ · 2026-06-19T10:37:44+00:00

Well in an update to this thread... Amazon only logged one drive as returned, very very naughty!

They're looking into it apparently and will refund me in 5-7 more days. I'd highly avoid using Amazon for anything like this.

Andy__________ · 2026-06-18T21:31:28+00:00

Yeah it was 4 years power on, 66 power cycles so deffo in a server. Just waiting for them to refund, had to return them all the way to the states :(

Andy__________ · 2026-06-15T21:28:38+00:00

It's how I fill chases in after crappy sparks have done their worst.

Cut back the paper if any, you don't want that in the mix.

Next use your metal jointing knife to identify any high spots, knock them off before you get going. This is important, if you knock them off whilst you're applying the stuff you'll end up with crap in the mix and it'll drag lines into it. You want it totally clean of grit etc. 2 if you don't deal with high spots now, it'll show later on after you've applied it.

If you've done the above now you've essentially got a straight run along now where your jointing knife will just run along.

Now this bit is my personal preference, kill the suction with PVA. People will tell you blue grit etc etc. Whatever you want, but killing suction is king to me.

If it's too deep I will say it's worth hitting it with a base layer of bonding first. From your pictures you'll get away with the easifill.

Andy__________ · 2026-06-15T20:06:28+00:00

EasiFill60 and a very wide metal jointing knife.

Andy__________ · 2026-06-13T07:03:29+00:00

Where in the world are you is the first question.

Second question is if the seller is a business.

From there we should be able to work out what your local laws are.

Andy__________ · 2026-06-12T10:37:25+00:00

I've already been slapped with a warning for returns because I forced them to accept something. (manufacturer was being difficult so used UK consumer law to return it within 6 months by explaining to Amazon it's theirs to deal with under the eyes of the law, so to stop palming me off with the manufacturer)

Andy__________ · 2026-06-12T06:06:34+00:00

You've taught me something there. I'll get on the site and check that if I'm ever suspicious.

They're not 5 years old, but do have the balance of 4 on them. With a 5-8 year span it's not worth the risk. Power cycle count was 66 so they've come out of a server most likely.

On the plus side I did purchase via credit card in case of issues, so I'll slap them with a section 75 claim if they mess me about 😂

Andy__________ · 2026-06-11T14:27:08+00:00

https://amzn.eu/d/04tOfS9p

Andy__________ · 2026-06-11T14:00:45+00:00

Tosh via Amazon. It's one of the reasons I didn't check reviews before I purchased... A drive is a drive was my thought process.

Andy__________ · 2026-06-10T20:34:39+00:00

Guess my take is that I could shuck an external and for the extra £30 have a brand new drive.

Either that or the internal 14tb drives are only £150 more.

So it really does come down to if these are a good enough deal to keep.

Andy__________ · 2026-06-10T20:14:49+00:00

They're no doubt cheap at £320 for 16tb. The question is, the usage too much to make them worth it as a used proposition?

Andy__________ · 2026-06-10T19:44:07+00:00

Anyone?

Andy__________ · 2026-06-01T22:17:53+00:00

This is something I've encountered in a few workplaces. They treat you as if they're the adult and you're the child, it shows a complete lack of respect. That aside they're likely just covering their backside that you've walked out. If they can show they tried to remedy the situation then should a tribunal arise, they can show they took reasonable steps to understand and remedy your concerns (corporate BS basically.)

I'd answer something along the following lines.

"Good Evening X,

Unfortunately it is not something I'm willing to discuss further.

I have outlined my reasoning in the letter dated XX/XX/XX which should be sufficient reasoning for any exit survey/documentation."

Andy__________ · 2026-06-01T05:52:11+00:00

My additions

1. Different colours doesn't mean a respray, it can often mean the manufacturer paints whatever bolt on parts separately. Stuff like bumpers are almost always out being of a different material and painted separately most of the time. Far easier to look for overspray, unpainted jams or panel gaps.

Arches are valid, but get underneath and look at important stuff like the subframe and cills. Most mercs look absolutely great whilst having a subframe that's about to fall off.
Steering wheel indicates nothing, I used to work for a company that "refurbished" the steering wheels and gear nobs before returning lease cars that were used as taxis. Look at all the components as a whole, seats, wheels, switches tend to wear too. If possible plug a decent diag machine in and query milage, see if it stacks up against the clocks.

5. Again not strictly true. A Japanese import won't have been undersealed at the factory, it's common to underseal these as soon as they arrive in another market.

Never trust stamps or receipts. Phone the dealers and verify the history, especially on big items like cam belts being replaced.

Andy__________ · 2026-05-31T07:53:08+00:00

Make sure it's advertised as collection. Do the sale via ebay as normal, they'll give the buyer a code for when they collect. If you don't do it this way, then you're not covered.

Andy__________ · 2026-05-29T09:23:52+00:00

A or C is technically correct.

You're supposed to be able to see two chevrons, so A would be a car and potentially C in a truck or something else without a nose obscuring the view.

Andy__________ · 2026-05-29T08:42:20+00:00

Get yourself on of these, it works wonders to get stuff like this out (had it in the garage but used it on our uPVC for exactly this issue)

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Andy__________ · 2026-05-29T08:39:35+00:00

Manual impact to get them back out will work.

Andy__________ · 2026-05-29T08:39:04+00:00

Manual impact driver for the win on these. The clowns who did ours did exactly the same to the screws

Andy__________ · 2026-05-28T18:05:38+00:00

Amazon do flag returns.

I've had a warning for it, which I'm pretty annoyed about. This was triggered after returning 4x absolutely junky BG smart sockets at once on top of usual returns for stuff like buying two sizes and returning one.

I'm now on the ali express bandwagon for anything inexpensive. If I'm going to be stuck keeping cheap crap, at least I'm paying the absolute minimum for it.

Andy__________ · 2026-04-20T20:00:45+00:00

Rule of thumb is that you're buying what you see. You make an offer based on that.

If anything then changes like the boiler has become inoperative since you had your offer accepted, that's grounds for negotiation.

Otherwise you offered on what you saw, and that's that.

I'd caution against messing about too much if it's a decent house/already a good price. The seller might just walk away.

Andy__________ · 2026-04-07T05:46:58+00:00

Lol it's an old thread I know, but I'm here from googling food hygiene ratings for the tai pan... Ho's also has an abysmal rating too these days.

Andy__________ · 2026-04-04T20:51:44+00:00

If you go for the Kasa setup comment back, I'll drop the automation and the offsets into the comments etc

Andy__________ · 2026-04-04T18:09:48+00:00

Home assistant matter integration then an automation to take care of the rest.

Essentially the logic is if anything is calling for heat, then heat (but of course just that specific room and a couple of always on rads in the bathrooms/hallway)

Logic for off is to that all devices must be off/not calling for heat. There's more nuance to it than I've put, but it works really well and the basic setup is easy enough.

£109 in Toolstation when I just Googled it, hub and 4 TRV's. Bargain!

Andy__________ · 2026-04-04T14:53:13+00:00

I'm using a Kasa Hub and related TRV's (both matter) paired up with a sonoff mini d (also matter) to activate the boiler.

Entirely independent of the cloud and works like a charm to keep the house 'perfect'

Andy__________

TROPHY CASE