[Info-vax] SDLT 1 tape cartridge longevity?

[Richard B. Gilbert]

David Mathog wrote:
> Resuscitating an old thread from Apr. 2007.
> 
> Yet another Quantum SDLT 1 cartridge failed today.  Same as always, it 
> started having write failures.  This cartridge has not seen a huge 
> amount of use, as it has been in a slow backup rotation, having been 
> through the drive about 40 times, and even then only using a method 
> where it is either streaming or stopped, so no scrubbing at all.  After 
> the failure the drive was tested with HP's ltt software with a brand new 
> cartridge and there were no issues - so clearly a problem with the 
> failed cartridge.  (For whatever it's worth, we also have some Maxell 
> SDLT 1 cartridges, and none of those have failed.)
> 
> So, since the cartridge has a "limited lifetime warranty", I tried to 
> RMA it, as had been done previously for tapes of this type with the same 
> failure. Pulled up the RMA website, filled it out, and this time it 
> rejected the serial number.  Called the 800 number, and found out that 
> Quantum has retroactively changed the meaning of "Lifetime Limited 
> Warranty" to mean "from manufacturer's defects", as in, and this is 
> verbatim, covering only "out of the box failures".  I suspect this is 
> probably Quantum's position on all of the older DLT cartridges now.
> 
> Which makes me wonder, is it legal for a company to renege on a lifetime 
> warranty, other than by declaring bankruptcy?
> 
> Regards,
> 
> David Mathog

Methinks you are tilting at windmills!  Try a different brand of tape or 
a whole different technology if you can find such.