How to RMA Seagate Hard Disk from the Philippines

If you own a Seagate drive and want to send it in for warranty replacement via Return Merchant Authorization (RMA), you'll need to check first if it still has a valid Seagate warranty here.

For the country, you need to choose the one where you intend to send and receive the replacement drive. If you bought it abroad and want to claim warranty in the country you're in, choose your current location.

If you bought your drive from a local PH store (you kept the receipt, didn't you?), you'll need to contact the store where you bought it from.

-------------  BLOG POST UPDATES -------------

Update as of January 2021:

If your drive was purchased abroad and still under warranty, but you're getting the "Regional Warranty Restriction" (or something similar), click on the "Contact Us" page and a Seagate rep will contact you. You can then ask them if they can transfer the warranty to your current region.  [Source; from TipidPC forum]

Update as of November 2020:

New Seagate Service Center [where to send drives for RMA. Pls follow instructions on Seagate website when you register and contact them before sending your drive.]

Primasiana Philippines Inc.

2nd Floor PC Gilmore Computer Center,

#19 1st Street Corner GiImore Ave., Brgy. Valencia, New Manila, Quezon City, 1112, Philippines

Operating Hours: 8:00 - 17:00 (Mon - Fri)

Phone Number: (02) 8527-1647

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Old Note during start of ECQ March 2020:

Seagate Philippines has a UPS collection point but it's currently closed from March 18, 2020 until further notice due to Enhanced Community Quarantine restrictions. Even Millennium and AGT Limited (listed below) are also closed.  [view official Seagate announcement here]

====================
Due to recent stricter implementation of OMB Regulations, please contact any of the authorized Seagate distributors below for warranty.  [view official Seagate announcement]

Millennium Computer Technology Corporation
Address: 53 Tangali St., Brgy. San Jose, Q.C.
Contact Person: Karen Jane Tan
Contact Number: 02-3637777. Local 226
Email: rma3@millennium.com.ph
Monday - Friday - 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.


AGT Limited
Address: Suite 1104 11th Floor Taipan Place Building Emerald Avenue, Ortigas, Pasig City
Contact Person: Ms. Amira Reyes / Benedick Arevalo
Contact Numbers: 0939-9186168 and 0917-8171279
Email: components_support@servimaxtech.com
Monday - Friday - 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Seagate Support  Toll Free Number: 1 800 1441 0356 (no charge)
Monday - Friday - 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Is your Seagate drive still under warranty?

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It's been a few years since I last did this (see my last blog post here).  I recently bought an external hard drive from eBay which was listed as used and found out after I received it that it was already recertified (etched onto the case).
,
I test every drive I buy with Seatools and HDTune or HDSentinel.  It's worth doing this every time before putting your precious data on any drive.
This one failed and can't even proceed with short & long generic tests.

*sigh*
----------------------

What to Do When Your Hard Drive Fails Testing?

1. Backup your data. NOW. 
2. Check the manufacturer warranty.

 Good thing mine still had Seagate warranty left (check here).

If your hard drive is within the warranty, you will see the validity date and a link that says "Create Return" which then leads you to the Seagate registration site for you to create an account.

Create return --> Sign up for Seagate account --> Get your RMA number --> Send your drive --> Wait for replacement

What's changed?

1. You need to create a Seagate account.  
2. UPS SCS Location -- back then it was at the Agility Center located near NAIA Terminal 1 which was more accessible that its new location at Cargohaus Building near NAIA Terminal 2 
3. External drive cases have the etching "Recertified"  

How to Create RMA Number?

1)  Click on the "Create Return" button, it will take you to Seagate's registration page.
Register as Consumer.

After filling in the drive details and your shipping info, you'll see this below.

2)  Make sure to choose Philippines in the dropdown menu where you will send the item.  

The most current address is the one listed at the time you are creating the RMA (it changes every few years).

Choose UPS SCS Philippines

current address as of 2019

You'll receive an Order Acknowledgment email.

Don't worry about the billing details. Seagate RMA is free if your drive is covered by the warranty. But you'll need to pay for shipping your drive over to them.

Oo, libre. 

Pero yung pagpapadala dun, ikaw magbabayad.

After creating the RMA number, you have 30 days to send the drive to the designated address.  

What do you need to send? 

You can refer to Seagate's instructions. 

Send your internal drive inside an ESD bag (that silver bag it comes with) or a drive clamshell. Wrap in 2 inches of foam then place inside a sturdy container (an icecream container works well).

For external drives, send the drive & ac adapter. I used the box it came in which had 2 inch foam. If you're sending via courier, secure the box with styrofoam and foam or bubblewrap (make sure it's snug and doesn't wiggle around inside the box). If for some reason, you can't find bubblewrap, you can use hard foam.

Tips for Sending 

• Pack the drive securely. Make sure it doesn't have space to wiggle around inside the box.
• Write the RMA number at the outside of the box
• Specify that they deliver on weekdays at office hours. UPS SCS is closed on weekends.
• Use a reliable courier that provides tracking and make sure to include insurance.
• Some use Grab Express for same day pickup & delivery, but take note that their insurance only covers up to Php 2000 only.  If you're using Grab or Lalamove or other courier, put in Attn: Seagate RMA as the contact person and UPS SCS landline number as the contact number.
• Expect to pay Php175-300 if sending via LBC or other similar couriers due to its bulky packaging.
• Styrofoam and bubblewrap can be found at National Bookstore for around Php 20-30.

Mini Rant

Use a reliable courier with tracking!  I've been using Xend for the longest time and would no longer recommend them because they don't give official receipts and do not encode tracking numbers with very poor customer service response time!

Where do I send it for RMA?

UPS SCS Philippines
Attn: Seagate RMA
2nd Floor Cargohaus Building
Old MIA Road, Barangay Vitalez
Paranaque City 1700
7915800


The Philippine address listed when you were creating the RMA  is always the most current one.  Apparently, it changes every few years.  I've dropped off a few drives over the years each in a different location (their current one is the farthest from me that's why I sent it via courier).

UPS is asking me for an OMB export permit? WTF?!!!

I haven't encountered this personally but I've read some forum posts of people being asked for this permit. Customs may do random checking of packages being sent or received and they will require this for any storage media and any items used for reproducing media (hard drives, SSD, USB flash drives, DVDs, CDs, Blurays, optical disc writers, tablets, phones, laptops, portable mp3 players, etc).

You can refer to this blog post for tips on how to get a permit from OMB

Do you need to get one before sending a drive for RMA? NO. If UPS sends you a notice then yes, if not, then don't. 

How do I get an OMB export permit?

     OMB website (click here).  You can also inquire via FB messenger (@OMBgovph)

     Legal ba 'to? You can refer to the OMB Memorandum 2005-008 (click here)

     What you will need:

1. Letter of intent  (download a letter of intent template here)
2. Copy of RMA notice or order acknowledgment receipt from manufacturer/store
3. courier waybill (if available)
4. official receipt for item
5. Scanned copy of your valid ID

Ok, I sent my drive. What happens next?

Logging in to your Seagate account will show when they have received the drive (usually next business day if you sent via courier). You will also receive a Receipt Acknowledgment email.  

I have noticed that the Seagate account is the first to be updated and there's a few hours delay before you receive the email notifications.

They ship out the drive/s the next business day and will send you another email with your UPS tracking number.

I sent mine last September 11. Appeared as "order received" on September 13. Drive shipped out on September 14.

How long do I have to wait for the replacement?

Post to be updated soon, as there's an impending super typhoon (Ompong) about to make its landfall as I type this.

Update:
Got mine in 3 business days.
It arrived at UPS SCS on September 12.
Appeared as received by Seagate the following day, September 13.
New replacement shipped out on September 14 Friday.
"Failed delivery" on September 15 Saturday (they probably cancelled deliveries due to the super typhoon)
Delivered on September 17 Monday

UPS needs an OMB import permit for my replacement drive. WTF?!!!

IF UPS sends you a notice requiring you to send an OMB import permit, you can refer to my blog post here for instructions on how to get one. The replacement drive/s are shipped from Singapore and if it's your lucky day and Customs decide to do a random check that includes your package, you will need to get an import permit from OMB.

Does this apply to all replacement drives from Seagate?
NO. But they seem to be implementing this strictly nowadays, based on forum posts.

Do you need to get one every time before your replacement drive arrives?
NO.  Again, only if you receive a notice then that's the time you get a permit or ask your UPS broker to handle it for you.

You can ask your broker about these requirements for OMB import permit.

You can refer to the comment below regarding someone else's recent experience with this. I also wrote a blogpost on my experience getting an import permit from OMB (click here).


If your receiving address is in Singapore, the item will be delivered by Tiong Nam Logistics (S) Pte Ltd. They will call you before delivery. (pls see blog comments section below from wickedchew).