Western Digital Drops a Warranty-Reducing Bomb on Everyone

Looks like future owners of some Western Digital hard disk drives won't experience the bliss known as three-year-long free product support anymore.

People who ever bought a Scorpio Blue, Caviar Blue or Caviar Green hard disk drive made by Western Digital probably know that they all have three-year warranties.

It so happens that WD decided it was time those product series stopped getting such long grace periods.

Starting in January, 2012, they will only have warranty plans of two years.

That is to say, any drive shipped to distributors starting on January 2, 2012, will feature the shorter warranty,

There will be a short period during which models with 2-year warranties will be sold alongside those remaining that figure under the 3-year plans.

“This new warranty policy will be effective for drives shipped from January 2nd, 2012. It is important that you take a moment to update your website(s) and collateral to reflect this change for effected drives shipped after January 1st, 2012,” SelectWD says in a letter to channel partners, according to The Register.

“All drives shipped to distributors prior to Jan. 2nd 2012 will retain the current warranty terms. Because of existing inventory in the distribution channel there will be a short period of time when some drives with a 3-year warranty will be sold at the same time as drives with a 2-year warranty.”

All things considered, 2 years isn't precisely a short time in and of itself, but customers may still end up jaded as they notice some sharp contrasts.

After all, one won't be that impressed by a drive with 2-year free support when the Scorpio Black and Caviar Black have plans of five full years.

Then again, the Black series are supposed to be high-end devices, so the extended warranty does make sense for them.

That still doesn't explain why WD decided to just up and modify the Blue and Green drives though.