Bought a nas drive, a "clip" (which secures a disk drive) had broken off. Retailer refuses.

smithereens

Hi there, I have a NAS drive. 10 months later, a clip (which secures a drive) has broken off. The NAS still works, and still reads the connected drive; however, a movement to the unit leads to the drive slipping out of its connector.

This is still under the 12 month guarantee; however, the retailer says this is accidental damage and therefore will not proceed with any guarantee. I don't know if this is accidental damage, as I don't remember doing anything particularly outlandish with the clip. I didn't think the clip was fragile, seems like it was made of metal, and seemed quite robust. Clearly not the case.

Any advice? Thanks.

davidmcn

Ultimately would be up to you to prove on the balance of probabilities that it was inherently defective. How much money are we talking about?

smithereens

davidmcn said:

Ultimately would be up to you to prove on the balance of probabilities that it was inherently defective. How much money are we talking about?

286 quid (inv vat).

davidmcn

smithereens said:

davidmcn said:

Ultimately would be up to you to prove on the balance of probabilities that it was inherently defective. How much money are we talking about?

286 quid (inv vat).

Presumably for a brand new replacement of the whole thing? There's no cheaper option to repair or a spare part available?
The 12 month guarantee isn't your statutory rights (against the retailer) but if it's a manufacturer's guarantee you may be better trying them.

MattMattMattUK

When you say the NAS drive has a broken clip what do you actually mean. The NAS is a network device, the hard drives in side it can be separate or might be fitted in a way they can not be changed. From what I understand from your comment I suspect that you have the type where you can change the hard drives inside? How often did you change the drives inside the NAS and how did the clip break? Is the clip part of the NAS itself, part of the rails which you have to attach to the drive etc? Model would be useful. 

mattyprice4004

I've got a NAS drive that sounds similar, and the only way you'd snap a clip off is by trying to force the drive out before you've disabled the locking mechanism. 
Sounds like this might be accidental damage to me - how exactly did it happen? 

smithereens

mattyprice4004 said:

I've got a NAS drive that sounds similar, and the only way you'd snap a clip off is by trying to force the drive out before you've disabled the locking mechanism. 
Sounds like this might be accidental damage to me - how exactly did it happen? 

I think I was trying to get a drive out, I wasn't sure whether to press down or up. Obviously I pressed too hard, I didnt realise how fragile it was, thought it was made of some kind of robust material. Well. Perhaps it is accidental damage then. An expensive lesson.

smithereens

MattMattMattUK said:

When you say the NAS drive has a broken clip what do you actually mean. The NAS is a network device, the hard drives in side it can be separate or might be fitted in a way they can not be changed. From what I understand from your comment I suspect that you have the type where you can change the hard drives inside? How often did you change the drives inside the NAS and how did the clip break? Is the clip part of the NAS itself, part of the rails which you have to attach to the drive etc? Model would be useful. 

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-get-started-synology-ds218

See second picture -two clips that say "Push". One of them snapped off.

MattMattMattUK

smithereens said:

MattMattMattUK said:

When you say the NAS drive has a broken clip what do you actually mean. The NAS is a network device, the hard drives in side it can be separate or might be fitted in a way they can not be changed. From what I understand from your comment I suspect that you have the type where you can change the hard drives inside? How often did you change the drives inside the NAS and how did the clip break? Is the clip part of the NAS itself, part of the rails which you have to attach to the drive etc? Model would be useful. 

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-get-started-synology-ds218

See second picture -two clips that say "Push". One of them snapped off.

You could try taking the drive apart and gluing the bit back on if you still have it, it is a fairly easy disassembly. Alternatively you might be able to rig something yourself if you do not have a the bit that snapped off. From the look of it there is nothing that would cause it to pop out and the SATA connection should have enough resistance to hold it in place with everything connected, looking at the design the clip does only seem to apply minimal pressure. 
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/SYNOLOGY+DS218++:+a+complete+disassembly+in+rules/112475

Unfortunately it does not look like Synology offer that part as a replacement themselves.
https://www.synology.com/en-uk/products/spare_parts?search_by=product&model=DS218+

Your other option might be to keep an eye out on eBay for one being sold for parts/spares.

smithereens

MattMattMattUK said:

smithereens said:

MattMattMattUK said:

When you say the NAS drive has a broken clip what do you actually mean. The NAS is a network device, the hard drives in side it can be separate or might be fitted in a way they can not be changed. From what I understand from your comment I suspect that you have the type where you can change the hard drives inside? How often did you change the drives inside the NAS and how did the clip break? Is the clip part of the NAS itself, part of the rails which you have to attach to the drive etc? Model would be useful. 

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-get-started-synology-ds218

See second picture -two clips that say "Push". One of them snapped off.

You could try taking the drive apart and gluing the bit back on if you still have it, it is a fairly easy disassembly. Alternatively you might be able to rig something yourself if you do not have a the bit that snapped off. From the look of it there is nothing that would cause it to pop out and the SATA connection should have enough resistance to hold it in place with everything connected, looking at the design the clip does only seem to apply minimal pressure. 
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/SYNOLOGY+DS218++:+a+complete+disassembly+in+rules/112475

Unfortunately it does not look like Synology offer that part as a replacement themselves.
https://www.synology.com/en-uk/products/spare_parts?search_by=product&model=DS218+

Your other option might be to keep an eye out on eBay for one being sold for parts/spares.

Ok. thanks anyway mate,