Out of Touch with Second Hand HDD Prices - What's a Fair Amount to Ask?

justtoreply on 02/01/2025 - 21:27
Last edited 02/01/2025 - 22:29 by 1 other user

I'm going to be selling some NAS hard drives. Most of them have been used as offline backups so the run time is really low. Good old windows being a terrible OS did add a few start/stop cycles but nothing that's going to actually hurt.

I had a look at marketplace and there wasn't much to go by, actually I was surprised people were asking almost as much as for new drives (which of course is why they aren't sold yet).

So what do people pay these days?

8tb WD Red (4 of these. 35-75 days run time, 260-600 start/stop cycles)
10tb WD Red (1 of these. Didn't check run/cycles yet)
12tb WD Red (3 of these. Didn't check run/cycles yet)
6tb WD Green (130 days, 960 start/stop cycles)

Thanks

Computing Computer Component Hard Drive

Comments

  • CyberMurning on 02/01/2025 - 21:39
    +4

    When i buy hdd i will get second hand from that eastern shop from hong kong.
    Maybe check their prices and reduce yours accordingly

    • Clear on 02/01/2025 - 21:59
      +1

      East Digital are expensive af right now. The previously $256 16TB drives are now $312 :(

      • Clear on 03/01/2025 - 07:49
        +1

        $256 in July and now $314 each. The bad exchange rate plays a role.

        • A-mak on 03/01/2025 - 15:58
          +2

          I paid $245 in September for Seagate Exos 16TB (Factory recertified) it is currently $324 :O

          @justtoreply I guess it depends if you want to move them quickly or if you want to waste time sifting through all the scammers. If you are a member on OCAU forums you could end up with a good price without major hassle posting them to there.

          • justtoreply on 05/01/2025 - 03:15

            @A-mak: I am. Haven't logged in for many years. Tbh I figured Facebook marketplace would have killed the ocau sale forums

      • OZKap on 03/01/2025 - 17:23
        +14

        I think you might be confused. CyberMurning is not the OP, and is not looking for advice on selling drives.

        You may have mistakenly replied to the top comment instead of adding your comment to the post. To add a comment to the post, scroll to the bottom of the comments and there's a text box. Hope this helps.

  • CodeXD on 02/01/2025 - 21:56

    It really depends on the supply and demand around your area - if you want a quick sale make it like $20 lower than the lowest you can find and it should sell pretty fast.

    • justtoreply on 03/01/2025 - 01:06
      +1

      There's nothing local. Well, one at $250 for 8tb. But considering they are $270 new… there's a reason that listing is still available!

  • Wiadro on 02/01/2025 - 23:14

    free

    • MS Paint on 02/01/2025 - 23:42
      +9

      Hi Wiardo, is this still available?

      • Wiadro on 03/01/2025 - 00:10
        +9

        I just delivered them to someone 130km away for free. Sorry.

        • jackary on 03/01/2025 - 00:40
          +19

          But I already promised them to my son. He’s crying now.

          • websterp on 03/01/2025 - 00:54
            +1

            @jackary: Is that the one who works at the offshore oil rig?

            • CyberMurning on 03/01/2025 - 06:58

              @websterp: No, that is the son who got lucky and become prince of nigeria

        • bio on 03/01/2025 - 14:45
          +4

          Someone gave me a bad review after picking up something I gave away for free. Never again.

      • xylarr on 03/01/2025 - 10:59

        Can you install it in my Mac?

  • Snicko on 03/01/2025 - 07:44

    Hmm maybe keen depending on price!

  • Joey2scoops on 03/01/2025 - 07:52
    +19

    Didn't know there was a market for 2nd hand HDD. Personally, a big NO from me.

    • Drj55 on 03/01/2025 - 08:38
      +2

      Yeah I would have assumed they're essentially worthless? I thought most people will replace drives when they start to fail.

      • azonki on 03/01/2025 - 09:00
        +7

        Agree. Would not waste money on a second hand hard drive. The potential for failure is too high.

    • justtoreply on 03/01/2025 - 10:36
      -8

      I mean come on, I literally described the condition of mine as having been turned on for 1-3 months…

      You always want to check this info before buying.

      IYKYK.

      • jackary on 03/01/2025 - 11:47
        +3

        Pretty easy to fake some SMART data right?

      • 2025 on 03/01/2025 - 12:27

        Who even sells these? And worse, who buys them??

        Pull them apart, marvel at how shiny the platter is and how strong the magnets are.

        Seagate drive manuals state 60 days max unpowered storage, with this low running hours I’d be worried you’ve exceed that.

        Not sure what WD state, but yeah, IYKYK

        • bio on 03/01/2025 - 14:47

          Seagate drive manuals state 60 days max unpowered storage

          Huh? That's for SSDs. The OP is selling spinning rust.

          • 2025 on 03/01/2025 - 15:05
            +1

            @bio:

            Huh? That's for SSDs. The OP is selling spinning rust.

            I know that's what he's selling, that's why I was referring to hard disk product manuals, not SSDs.

            I’ve always assumed that the lubrication in these things might stick or dry out or something if not used.

            Maximum storage periods are 180 days within original unopened Seagate shipping package or 60 days unpackaged within the defined non-operating limits (refer to environmental section in this manual)

            Storage can be extended to 1 year packaged or unpackaged under optimal environmental conditions (25°C, <40% relative humidity non-condensing, and non-corrosive environment). During any storage period the drive non-operational temperature, humidity, wet bulb, atmospheric conditions, shock, vibration, magnetic and electrical field specifications should be followed.

            How's OPs climate control?

            https://www.seagate.com/www-content/product-content/barracud… page 16
            https://www.seagate.com/www-content/product-content/skyhawk/… page 17
            https://www.seagate.com/files/www-content/product-content/en… page 23

            • bio on 03/01/2025 - 16:30
              +3

              @2025: I stand corrected. Thanks.

        • spaceflight on 04/01/2025 - 10:03
          -1

          Seagate drive manuals state 60 days max unpowered storage, with this low running hours I’d be worried you’ve exceed that.

          That's for SSDs (and any flash storage , including SD cards USB drives etc) not platter drives.

          And even if they were SSDs, 60 days unpowered storage is to retain the integrity of the stored data which a buyer wouldn't care about as the drives would be formatted first.
          It has nothing to do with the integrity of the drive, you can keep the drives in unpowered storage as long as you want and the drive will still be fine.

          • 2025 on 04/01/2025 - 12:42

            @spaceflight:

            That's for SSDs (and any flash storage , including SD cards USB drives etc) not platter drives.

            Totally incorrect. I really do not understand some people’s compulsion to spread mis information. Please read the hard disk drive links, I shared 3 of them. They are straight from Seagate, who is coincidentally a rather large manufacturer of storage products, and not some random person on the internet. Or do you think the Skyhawk, Barracuda and Exos are SSD products lmao

            It has nothing to do with the integrity of the drive, you can keep the drives in unpowered storage as long as you want and the drive will still be fine.

            Suuuure, let’s trust you, when the manufacturer says in their own product manuals for HDDs something completely different. No offence, but I’d rather take Seagate’s word on what is acceptable for their platter drives versus you.

            I mean, Seagate do publish contact information, so if you feel that they are incorrect, reach out to their customer support and they may consider modifying the product manuals for you.

      • Assburg on 04/01/2025 - 20:15

        Yes but how has that impacted the warranty?

    • cfuse on 03/01/2025 - 12:41

      People get rid of perfectly good hardware all the time.

      • 2025 on 03/01/2025 - 12:52

        Yeah they do, but the majority of it is solid state and pretty hard to mishandle.

        I personally never touch second hand HDDs and camera lenses because of this.

        Even ignoring that, these drives are designed and marketed for 24x7 operation, and by OPs own admissions they’ve been operating outside of that, and is advertising that as desirable!?

        There is a market for these, maybe if OP listed one at 1/4 new price and it sells in 5 minutes, the price was too low.

        • Jzzzz on 03/01/2025 - 18:19
          +1

          There is sweet dickall difference in "24*7" marketed drives. Its pure marketing guffaw.

        • spaceflight on 04/01/2025 - 10:07

          these drives are designed and marketed for 24x7 operation, and by OPs own admissions they’ve been operating outside of that

          Using them less then 24x7 isn't bad. The drives are just marketed as warranted for continuous use.
          It's not a requirement of using them that they are used 24x7

          You can buy TVs rated for 24x7 use, so do you also think that using them less than. 24x7 is bad?
          https://www.midwich.com.au/brand-products/samsung/samsung-75…

          • 2025 on 04/01/2025 - 12:39

            @spaceflight:

            as warranted for continuous use.
            It's not a requirement of using them that they are used 24x7

            I demonstrated here with Seagate hard disk drives, unless you’re storing them at 25°C, <40% relative humidity they are only warranted for 60 days storage. Less than 2 months. Sure it’s not a requirement to run them 24/7, but it certainly is a requirement not to store them offline longer than 60 days if you can’t keep them at 25°C.

            You can buy TVs rated for 24x7 use, so do you also think that using them less than. 24x7 is bad?

            Totally different, how many motors, spindles, bearings do TVs have? Besides cooling fans and speaker cones, and maybe a relay or two, there are no moving parts in a TV.

  • Mechz on 03/01/2025 - 10:47
    +4

    $50 to $100 is the max I think you will get for the variety you have.

  • DingoBlue on 03/01/2025 - 11:57
    +2

    $10 per tb

  • solidussnake on 03/01/2025 - 14:16
    +3

    Or just put up a price and if it doesn't sell the market is telling you its too high….

  • freefall101 on 03/01/2025 - 14:58
    +2

    I'd try for $15/tb for the 12TB Reds if they're similar run time or lower than the 8TB, $180 is a good price for those.

    The smaller drives expect to get less, that 6TB will be lucky to get $50. People already have tonnes of storage if they want it.

    That said, the lack of a second hand market for drives is because people with a NAS will usually just cram more drives in there and run them until they die, or they're concerned about data security and just destroy it rather than sell it. Pretty rare to see 12TB used drives for sale. Odds are you'll get someone who wants to try find some interesting data on it and will then flip it again if you price it reasonably.

  • MetalPhreak on 03/01/2025 - 21:29

    Power on time is arguably less important than start/stop cycles in terms of wear. I've got some hitachi drives that have 10+ years of power on time with less cycles than yours. Drives are designed to be powered on for long periods and also daily usage with power on and off. Not sure if usage really correlates to a drive failing in the first few years.

    Either way, look at the price of the new ones, what is the warranty vs age, and price accordingly. $250 new, 2 yrs old, 5yr warranty, say $150 tops.

  • ripesashimi on 03/01/2025 - 22:02
    +10

    2nd hand HDD worths $0. Why would anyone take on that risk is beyond me.

    • juki on 04/01/2025 - 08:49

      young people with not a lot of cash, as a teen or young adult i would have probably considered it, besides people keep their linux distros and holiday pics online these days

      • 2025 on 04/01/2025 - 14:48

        young people with not a lot of cash, as a teen or young adult

        This. Used drives should be priced very cheaply, if not free.

        • juki on 04/01/2025 - 19:25

          they probably know more than i do about IT, my interest died about 20 years ago

  • simplystu on 04/01/2025 - 09:37
    +2

    drives may be good to use in a box - to use for torrents/etc … but not much else.

    certainly - wouldn't want any crucial data stored on them … NOR would use in a daily/main computer.
    OP should price accordingly + maybe market to those ppl.

    but IMO … not worth much $$$ at all.

  • The Value on 04/01/2025 - 09:46

    My personal criteria is $25 per TB brand new.

    The absolute max for used would be $20 per TB. and it would have to be "as new".

  • Darude Sandstorm on 04/01/2025 - 13:19

    Meh. I’d never buy second hand HDD for enterprise use. And for personal use I wouldn’t either, not worth the risk for the cost savings.

  • ArskinF on 04/01/2025 - 16:26

    Dust them off, hose them down, loosen and tighten some screws if you can.

    Now you can describe them as "refurbished" and charge a lot more than you otherwise might,

  • OzzyOzbourne on 04/01/2025 - 19:47

    Check second hand prices and price accordingly, basic stuff

  • justtoreply on 05/01/2025 - 03:11

    Wow so many on their soap boxes not being helpful at all. It was a request for pricing. Not to be attacked. I didn't ask for opinions I asked for help. Which maybe half the people here genuinely tried to provide. The other half.. well.

    The 10tb sold for $240. Half of the 8tb have sold for $190 each. The amount of buying interest is reasonable.

  • figarow on 05/01/2025 - 12:16

    Forget runtime/cycles majority dont care. Check eBay for "xtb" drive and price accordingly.

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