Anyone ever receive a Crucial SSD with this kind of packaging?

[Flogger23m]

Ordered a Crucial MX500 1TB SSD about two days back on ebay and it arrived today. Noticed the packaging doesn't look like the one I ordered a few months back, also from an ebay seller, which had the typical Crucial retail box/packaging.

Just wondering if this is normal packaging now for new Crucial SSDs, or at least certain sellers. Just want to ensure I didn't get sent a refurbished or opened item.

 

[jboydgolfer]

reminds me of a bare-drive type packaging. maybe the seller want selling a BNIB, just a "BNIenvelope".

maybe it was never intended for retail sale, rather for sale to system builders, or tech/IT guys

 

[rtwjunkie]

That’s not normal for any crucial I have bought, ever. I also bought an MX500 just a couple months ago.

I’m not sure what you have there. Does it identify perfectly as a Crucial?

 

[HUSKIE]

Is it brand new? Try to check on disk info if it's used or not... Tar

 

[jboydgolfer]

could be an RMA, manufacturers often return RMA's in non retail boxes.

 

[cadaveca]

I've received RMA drives in exactly that packaging. It's simply non-retail boxing.

 

[natr0n]

100% normal

 

[Trompochi]

Ordered a Crucial MX500 1TB SSD about two days back on ebay and it arrived today. Noticed the packaging doesn't look like the one I ordered a few months back, also from an ebay seller, which had the typical Crucial retail box/packaging.

Just wondering if this is normal packaging now for new Crucial SSDs, or at least certain sellers. Just want to ensure I didn't get sent a refurbished or opened item.

View attachment 103889

Yes, I bought a brand new MX500 500gb from amazon and received it in a packaging like that. I used the crucial swoftware to see the S.M.A.R.T. stats and everything looked like new.

 

[Flogger23m]

Yes, I bought a brand new MX500 500gb from amazon and received it in a packaging like that. I used the crucial swoftware to see the S.M.A.R.T. stats and everything looked like new.

Probably going to give it a try. If it is a refurb would the SMART be reset at the factory or will it still show it is used? Also, anyway to check the warranty online via the serial number on Crucial's website? Didn't see an option in the support page but may I missed it.

Sent a message to the seller but received a reply with some fairly bad English. It sounds like they said they opened it "to see what is inside the package". The proceeding sentence seems to say it comes in a "different package from normal one". So I'm not too sure what it meant. They said to check the serial number on the website and I will see that it is genuine. Not too sure what to make of that so I asked them to clarify what they meant. Sounds like Amazon does send out some drives in that kind of packaging though.

 

[95Viper]

It is, more than likely, new...
If you check out this amazon uk listing... click on standard packaging (Item number CT1000MX500SSD1) you see a box in a picture for it and if you click on the frustration-free packaging (item numberCT1000MX500SSD1(Z) ) you will see the envelope.

 

[Flogger23m]

Yeah found that on Amazon.com as well. Looks like this is just one way they are packaged, "frustration free packaging". Now the seller apologized and claimed that they did open it. However, it doesn't show any signs that the package was opened prior if this is indeed standard packaging. Sounds like they are very confused.

This is the SMART data. Looks like a new, unused drive to me... how about to the rest of you?

 

[jsfitz54]

Sounds like they are very confused.

More like trying to cover their ass with Ebay if there is a claim against them for any issue or fraud. Ebay records all communication and if they said it was new VS refurbished you could document that to Ebay then the seller would be on the hook. Never transact any business outside the Ebay system.

Edit: newer firmware here M3CR022 : http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/support-ssd?cm_re=us-support-_-main-_-firmware-update-link

Edit2: newer CrystalDiskInfo 7.6.1 here: https://crystalmark.info/en/download/

 

[Flogger23m]

More like trying to cover their ass with Ebay if there is a claim against them for any issue or fraud. Ebay records all communication and if they said it was new VS refurbished you could document that to Ebay then the seller would be on the hook. Never transact any business outside the Ebay system.

Edit: newer firmware here M3CR022 : http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/support-ssd?cm_re=us-support-_-main-_-firmware-update-link

Edit2: newer CrystalDiskInfo 7.6.1 here: https://crystalmark.info/en/download/

Yeah which is what doesn't make sense. They are claiming they opened it prior to shipment. No idea why they would do that, it pretty much gaurantees I can get a full refund if I want. I looked up the z versions online, and it seems to be somewhat common for packaging:

https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41ibXilbARL.jpg
It is the CT1000MX500SSD1(Z), the CT1000MX500SSD1 has the regular retail boxing. I'll update Crystal Disk and post a new screen shot in a moment and will look into the new firmware. Based on the above screen shots though, does this look like a new drive? Power On Count was 2, 1 of which was likely a test at the factory. I recall my previous drives starting at 2 as well. Any other values that may indicate it was used? or a refurb?

Edit: CD 7.6.1 screen shot:

38GB of Total Host Writes. All I did so far was format it and power up my PC twice with it on. Not sure if that indicates it has been used outside of the factory.

 

[jsfitz54]

Should show, 0 /Zero, GB written on a new drive.
I just confirmed on a MX300 2TB.

 

[rtwjunkie]

Yeah which is what doesn't make sense. They are claiming they opened it prior to shipment. No idea why they would do that, it pretty much gaurantees I can get a full refund if I want. I looked up the z versions online, and it seems to be somewhat common for packaging:

https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41ibXilbARL.jpg
It is the CT1000MX500SSD1(Z), the CT1000MX500SSD1 has the regular retail boxing. I'll update Crystal Disk and post a new screen shot in a moment and will look into the new firmware. Based on the above screen shots though, does this look like a new drive? Power On Count was 2, 1 of which was likely a test at the factory. I recall my previous drives starting at 2 as well. Any other values that may indicate it was used? or a refurb?

Edit: CD 7.6.1 screen shot:
View attachment 103907

38GB of Total Host Writes. All I did so far was format it and power up my PC twice with it on. Not sure if that indicates it has been used outside of the factory.

A refurb may be able to reset the number of hours on and the number of times powered on, but it really can’t hide the amount of writes.

Looks like a used drive to me.

 

[cadaveca]

A refurb may be able to reset the number of hours on and the number of times powered on, but it really can’t hide the amount of writes.

Looks like a used drive to me.

Yeah, when I RMA'd my M4 drive I got my drive back in that same envelope, and it had everything reset except the write, like those images above. Good catch. They usually put a sticker on it that says "refurbished", and that's why the package was opened... so they could remove the sticker, IMHO.

Doesn't Crucial offer a way to check warranty status via serial number?

 

[Flogger23m]

Yeah, when I RMA'd my M4 drive I got my drive back in that same envelope, and it had everything reset except the write, like those images above. Good catch. They usually put a sticker on it that says "refurbished", and that's why the package was opened... so they could remove the sticker, IMHO.

Doesn't Crucial offer a way to check warranty status via serial number?

Don't see a way on the website.

Do know of someone in the UK who bought the 500GB model a few days ago and also received a similar package, although that is the UK and from Amazon.uk.

 

[Athlonite]

Don't forget if it is new those writes will be from the factory format process

 

[RejZoR]

This type of packaging is also known as "bulk". Not all stores mark their products as such. It's basically packaging meant for OEM's and sometimes such stuff comes to retail stores at a lower price because it's without fancy package.

It either comes in a plastic blister or an envelope and that's it. Surprised there is even manual with it...

 

[Assimilator]

38GB of writes is not that many on a drive rated for 100GB per day, but this definitely does not seem like a new drive. I would very carefully check the listing and make sure it explicitly states "new", because if it doesn't, you are s**t outta luck. (Perhaps you could link to the listing in question.)

If it is supposedly a new drive, provide the serial number to Crucial via email or phone (sadly they don't seem to offer a "warranty check"-type feature on their website) - that will tell you for certain. If Crucial confirm it isn't a new drive, but it was sold to you as new, claim your money back from the seller - this will probably fail because likely the seller will disappear as soon as they're notified of a dispute on their account, but in such a case Ebay themselves should step up. Oh, and also notify Crucial, because I imagine they will be interested to know that someone is getting hold of refurb'd drives and selling them as new.

 

[RejZoR]

Yeah which is what doesn't make sense. They are claiming they opened it prior to shipment. No idea why they would do that, it pretty much gaurantees I can get a full refund if I want. I looked up the z versions online, and it seems to be somewhat common for packaging:

https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41ibXilbARL.jpg
It is the CT1000MX500SSD1(Z), the CT1000MX500SSD1 has the regular retail boxing. I'll update Crystal Disk and post a new screen shot in a moment and will look into the new firmware. Based on the above screen shots though, does this look like a new drive? Power On Count was 2, 1 of which was likely a test at the factory. I recall my previous drives starting at 2 as well. Any other values that may indicate it was used? or a refurb?

Edit: CD 7.6.1 screen shot:
View attachment 103907

38GB of Total Host Writes. All I did so far was format it and power up my PC twice with it on. Not sure if that indicates it has been used outside of the factory.

You also benchmarked it using CrystalDiskMark. 1GB test file, 5 samples. That's 5GB per single test. You've done 4 tests (all the tests). That's 20GB give or take due to caching and optimizations. The rest is Windows install and updating. Sounds reasonable I guess. You'll always see such huge bump when you install system clean and do benchmarking, but then the writes will drop dramatically after all is done. Like by A LOT. It could take days, weeks or even months to consume 38GB again. So it seems the drive was new after all and all the writes were done by you. Only way to be sure would be to boot live Linux and check SMART there or use it as additional drive and check it with CrystalDiskInfo that way. But 38GB seems about what you were doing with it so it probably really started with 0.

 

[bug]

Yeah which is what doesn't make sense. They are claiming they opened it prior to shipment. No idea why they would do that, it pretty much gaurantees I can get a full refund if I want. I looked up the z versions online, and it seems to be somewhat common for packaging:

https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41ibXilbARL.jpg
It is the CT1000MX500SSD1(Z), the CT1000MX500SSD1 has the regular retail boxing. I'll update Crystal Disk and post a new screen shot in a moment and will look into the new firmware. Based on the above screen shots though, does this look like a new drive? Power On Count was 2, 1 of which was likely a test at the factory. I recall my previous drives starting at 2 as well. Any other values that may indicate it was used? or a refurb?

Edit: CD 7.6.1 screen shot:
View attachment 103907

38GB of Total Host Writes. All I did so far was format it and power up my PC twice with it on. Not sure if that indicates it has been used outside of the factory.

As long as it's still 100% good, you have nothing to worry about.

 

[Flogger23m]

38GB of writes is not that many on a drive rated for 100GB per day, but this definitely does not seem like a new drive. I would very carefully check the listing and make sure it explicitly states "new", because if it doesn't, you are s**t outta luck. (Perhaps you could link to the listing in question.)

If it is supposedly a new drive, provide the serial number to Crucial via email or phone (sadly they don't seem to offer a "warranty check"-type feature on their website) - that will tell you for certain. If Crucial confirm it isn't a new drive, but it was sold to you as new, claim your money back from the seller - this will probably fail because likely the seller will disappear as soon as they're notified of a dispute on their account, but in such a case Ebay themselves should step up. Oh, and also notify Crucial, because I imagine they will be interested to know that someone is getting hold of refurb'd drives and selling them as new.

Going to send them an email today then. 38GB seems like it would just be from the benchmark / factor as Rejzor put it, but I would like to be on the safe side. I've been busy the past two days and haven't plugged the drive back in yet.

 

[Flogger23m]

Alright bit of an update. Contacted Crucial support, which is live chat. No wait time, quick, proper spoken English and helpful. Drives with a product number ending in (z) do indeed get this type of packaging. Asked if they could check the warranty and gave them the serial number, and they claimed it still had the normal warranty. More or less confirmed it is a new drive.

Not too sure what to make of the sellers responses, but it seems like their English is simply terrible and they don't know what they're reading or saying. Drive seems to be working but if I have any issues I will be sending it right back for a refund.