This was posted 5 months 9 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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WD 18TB Elements Desktop External HDD US$264.49 (~NZ$443.68) Delivered @ Amazon US

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WD 18TB Elements Desktop External HDD US$264.49 (~NZ$443.68) Delivered @ Amazon USAffiliate
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ace310 on 19/11/2023 - 18:22 amazon.com (365 clicks)
Last edited 21/11/2023 - 11:58 by 1 other user
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These are shuckable and they most likely have Ultrastar inside.

About this item
* High-capacity add-on storage.Specific uses: Business, personal
* Fast data transfers
* Plug-and-play ready for Windows PCs
* WD quality inside and out

Thanks to @jedmeister, can be had for US$256.5
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1604997-REG/wd_wdbwlg…

Update : Out of stock at Amazon, still available at BHphotovideo

Price History at C CamelCamelCamel.
This is part of Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals.
Computing 18TB Black Friday External Hard Drive Western Digital

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Amazon US
Amazon US
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closed Comments

  • Gractus on 19/11/2023 - 20:41

    Wow, that's the best deal I've ever seen on a hard drive! If only I actually needed more storage…

    For shucking, does anyone know if these have the 3.3v pin issue/feature that stops them working with a regular PSU?
    Easy enough to work around if it does but thought it's worth mentioning in case someone gets on of these and it doesn't seem to work.

    • Moodkiller on 19/11/2023 - 20:51
      +1

      Apparently these are just rebranded HC550's, which do not require the pin mod… but DYOR
      https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R25CMJT5MLQOJU/re…

    • Nil Einne on 19/11/2023 - 23:27
      +2

      Nah, this deal is still the gold standard https://www.cheapies.nz/node/40143

      That said, it's widely believed that was probably a pricing error Amazon decided to fill. Also, probably in part since they're internal drives and even with Seagate's packaging it's still not as robust as an external, a bunch of them arrived DoA and at least for Kiwis, this generally either mean paying to send them to Seagate or returning them to Amazon for a refund and missing the deal. Still for those who did get their HDs without problem it was an excellent deal probably not going to be repeated any time soon. Frankly I probably should have gotten more than I did.

      Even if we can buy 30TB+ HAMR drives in the future, I suspect it'll be a while before we get similar $/TB to that previous deal. Even more if the NZD remains low and given the state of the world, I wouldn't be surprised if it does.

      • ace310 on 19/11/2023 - 23:56

        Kicking myself for only getting one 12tb.

        • Nil Einne on 20/11/2023 - 00:21

          I got 2x16TB but only one was for me. Took too long to decide and the 18TB was out of stock but probably should have gotten 3 or 4 instead of 2 either way anyway. (I think the 20TB was still available but decided wasn't worth the extra /TB.)

          I was originally going to get several of the Barracuda/SMR 8TB as I decided I was fine with the SMR and I'd recently got a computer which could fit them. Then when the Barracuda went out of stock the other ones were still quite a good deal but not as good so I wasn't sure if I wanted to spend so much but in retrospect should have realised not likely to see anything as good anytime soon.

  • Moodkiller on 19/11/2023 - 20:41
    +2

    Bit the bullet and bought 2. Current price per TB in NZD as of 19.11.2023 from Amazon listings:

    Size (TB) NZD Price per TB
    18 $348 $19.33
    16 $437 $27.31
    14 $434 $31.00
    12 $400 $33.33
    8 $267 $33.38
    6 $217 $36.17
    10 $397 $39.70
    4 $170 $42.50
    • Gractus on 19/11/2023 - 21:09

      I'm not seeing the same prices you are? How'd you get to $348 NZD for 18TB?

      Don't forget to factor in GST, real price/TB is more like $24 NZD.

    • L3tstaxth1s on 19/11/2023 - 21:27
      +1

      Includes GST?

    • Moodkiller on 19/11/2023 - 21:35
      +1

      The NZD price is purely the list price on Amazon's page (so no gst / shipping / etc)

  • jedmeister on 19/11/2023 - 21:20
    +1

    It's cheaper here…and no GST added either.

    https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1604997-REG/wd_wdbwlg…

    • ace310 on 19/11/2023 - 21:22

      Shipping kills it. Total is around US$282.

      If you get 2 it's US$514, which is cheaper. Can't get 3 as it will be more than $1000nzd

      • jedmeister on 19/11/2023 - 21:25
        +1

        I don't believe you are correct. This is my checkout page…
        Subtotal: $229.99
        Shipping: $26.50
        You Pay: $256.49

        And, no GST either, so this is more than 15% cheaper than the amazon deal.

        You can't go over $1000 though.

        • ace310 on 19/11/2023 - 21:28
          +1

          Correct. Didn't go all the way to final checkout. Yes cheaper by $7.

          Still it's not 15% cheaper.

          • jedmeister on 20/11/2023 - 09:06

            @ace310: I need to read better haha. Not much difference at all, but if you do go over $1000 then Amazon is better.

            Bestbuy are selling the 18TB for $200 but they don't ship to NZ. I'm waiting for Friday to see if a similar deal comes up on B&H / Amazon.

            • ace310 on 20/11/2023 - 09:09

              @jedmeister: My understanding is, there won't be further discounts on this drive. Normally, I have seen prices going up during black friday/cyber monday when you see significant discount just prior to that. In saying that you might get deal on different drive.

            • Nil Einne on 21/11/2023 - 09:44

              @jedmeister: Didn't expect them to be doing 18TB at that price so soon, thought we'd see 16TB first. Unfortunately from my experience the Easy Stores (at BB) tend to have deals like that at least a few months before we see anything similar to Elements (at Amazon etc). IIRC this happened for the 10TB, 12TB and 14TB.

              For whatever reason WD seems to give them the best deals sooner. It may be part of the reason they made the Easy Stores in the first place so they can offer them at better prices sooner and don't have to worry about others they supply complaining if hey have MFN type clauses or whatever. (And I guess they can also more easily monitor and see if a lot of them make it to the resale market and complain to BestBuy.)

              Still it might mean we'll be seeing 18TBs at about this price on Amazon sometime in the next 6 months.

        • L3tstaxth1s on 19/11/2023 - 21:29

          Nice!

  • L3tstaxth1s on 19/11/2023 - 22:15

    Thanks OP - have ordered one. Cheers

  • Wakrak on 20/11/2023 - 03:50

    OzB post
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/813123

    • Nil Einne on 21/11/2023 - 10:30

      Interesting, seems you can get an Australian power supply for free there. More details here https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/13167999/redir

      Has anyone ever tried this here? We tend to get shafted on those sort of things e.g. I know people are forced to send their HDs back to Hong Kong (or something) for warranty unlike Australia where they can send them locally (although it sounds like sometimes they have forced them to send them elsewhere). OTOH, it seems they're sending them from outside Australia anyway so maybe you can get them?

      Note that as I understand it, you will likely need to register it with WD for this including supplying a receipt/proof of purchase. This might reduce the warranty since it will be recorded as from when you purchased it.

      When they only have the serial number, WD tends to add 3 - 6 months (I've seen this myself for 15? years or longer) from when they ship the drives to the wholesaler or retailer to account for the time it spends in the supply chain. Since Amazon drives don't tend to spend very long before they're sold, this generally means you get slightly longer than you should if you only go by serial number.

      If it isn't long enough, you can always show your receipt/PoP when it comes to making a warranty request so it's sort of a net loss. However might be worth it for the proper NZ plug PSU if you don't have any spares. Especially if you don't even have proper travel adapter and are relying on those cheap Chinese crap.

      • wellydeal on 21/11/2023 - 11:09
        +1

        I have done this for multiple drives from WD - you fill out the form with the serial number and they send you the adapter. Super easy. I think it took about 2 weeks to show up

        • Nil Einne on 21/11/2023 - 15:20

          Thanks never knew you could do this. I have at least one drive that is still under warranty I think, although over a year old, I'll see if I can do it with that one

        • L3tstaxth1s on 04/01/2024 - 16:38

          Could you share the link to the registration form for the adaptor?

          I see a WD home/support/production registration page but no specific mention of an adaptor for NZ/Australia?

          Cheers

          • Moodkiller on 04/01/2024 - 17:11

            @L3tstaxth1s: Looks like you have to make / have a WD account and then as per the first couple of lines from that link above:

            register the drive case serial number and you might see a comment associated with the drive like “out of region” or similar.
            Open a support case on the drive using the external case serial number, not the drive’s serial number if you have already shucked!

  • Cselbert0612 on 21/11/2023 - 11:36

    is this deal still going? I'm not able to add to cart :(

    • ace310 on 21/11/2023 - 11:54

      Looks like expired.

    • ace310 on 21/11/2023 - 11:57

      Still available at bhphotovideo

      • Cselbert0612 on 21/11/2023 - 13:03

        thanks for the reply… this is now showing as $540 NZD :(

        ah well, will keep my eyes out

        • ace310 on 21/11/2023 - 13:09

          Did you try to checkout? Price is still lower then amazon.

          Select I'll handle tax myself.

          https://www.cheapies.nz/comment/204002/redir

          My total currently in USD
          Subtotal: $229.99
          Shipping: $26.50
          Duties & Taxes: Due Upon Delivery
          You Pay: $256.49 (~ NZ$427)

          • Cselbert0612 on 21/11/2023 - 13:27

            @ace310: Ah, cool thanks.
            I had the more expensive shipping clicked… but also mine is showing duties/fees of ~$70 NZD.

            i only need it for PS5 games, so might just look for a cheaper one. thank you though!!! :)

            • Nil Einne on 21/11/2023 - 15:19

              @Cselbert0612: Yes you need to select the I'll handle tax myself. I don't recommend you chose the other options because while I don't encourage GST avoidance, frankly I have strong doubts tax is actually going to the NZ government when you chose the other with B&H Photo. It's really unclear what they're doing.

  • MonolithNZ on 23/11/2023 - 18:32

    Back in stock at Amazon! Purchased 2x

    • L3tstaxth1s on 01/12/2023 - 21:04

      Any shipping update on your Amazon order?? Mines is expected Boxing Day but not shipped yet.

      • MonolithNZ on 02/12/2023 - 17:25

        Nah no updates either. They haven't even charged me yet :/

  • Moodkiller on 23/11/2023 - 18:39

    Interesting experience. I placed an order for 2x through Amazon on the 18th Nov, total coming to $903.65 NZD (shipping, tax,etc). The order is still the "ordered" state and no money has been deducted. ETA says 22nd Dec to 1st Jan…

    I ordered the exact same 2 drives via B&H on the 20th, paid $877.00 NZD (shipping etc) and they freaking arrived today from the states via DHL… So yeah. Go B&H for cheaper and faster

    • L3tstaxth1s on 01/12/2023 - 21:04

      Any shipping update on your Amazon order?? Mines is expected after Boxing Day but not shipped yet.

      • Moodkiller on 01/12/2023 - 21:15

        Thanks for reminding me! Current status is still on "Ordered", ETA is "Arriving December 22 - January 1" and payment is still to be taken from my account…

        Interesting, and when did you place your order? And has payment been taken?

        • L3tstaxth1s on 01/12/2023 - 21:19
          +1

          I ordered on the day that Ace posted.

          Nope. But that's not unusual. I find they (sometimes) take payment once shipped.

          Better ship soon to get here by Boxing Day

          • Moodkiller on 01/12/2023 - 21:21

            @L3tstaxth1s: Fair enough, haha well this could be an interesting race! I also bought mine on the same day as OP's post.

            • MonolithNZ on 13/12/2023 - 16:38

              @Moodkiller: Any updates? My two still haven't shipped

              • Moodkiller on 13/12/2023 - 16:53

                @MonolithNZ: @MonolithNZ - Nope, still nothing from my side (must be waiting for stock or something?). That said, I ordered 2x WD 16TBs on special a week later and they have shipped now - seems like the ETA gets changed toa fixed date

                • L3tstaxth1s on 14/12/2023 - 21:28

                  @Moodkiller: Shipped yet?? Mines is due 26th Dec to 2nd Jan but no new shipping update.

                  • Moodkiller on 16/12/2023 - 13:16

                    @L3tstaxth1s: Nope, still not yet :( the progress bar shows very close to the "Shipped" stage (before it was halfway between "Ordered" and "Shipped". ETA is 22nd Dec - 1st Jan. The 2x 16TB drives have just cleared NZ Customs as of Friday 15th Dec (yesterday), so those should be here this coming week.

                    • L3tstaxth1s on 17/12/2023 - 15:52

                      @Moodkiller: My progress bar shows close to shipped as well… Have you tried asking on chat for an update?

                    • MonolithNZ on 21/12/2023 - 21:22
                      +1

                      @Moodkiller: We expect to ship your order in time to be delivered between Tuesday, December 26, 2023 - Monday, January 15, 2024.

                      Hence, I personally recommend you to wait for some additional days. I understand this point of time asking for waiting further days can be frustrating but, looking our delivery estimates, I would like you to know that the original order still reach to you by the delivery estimate date listed on order. I will appreciate your understanding and co-operation in this matter.

                      As an apology for this, Once you receive the order and the tracking is updated as delivered, Please let us know we will issue a $40 gift card in your amazon account.

                      • Moodkiller on 27/12/2023 - 12:55

                        @MonolithNZ: Congrats on getting the gift card! That's pretty generous - perfect for the next special. What did you say to them in your original message?

                        Update on mine - the original order placed on the 18th November for 2x 18TB WD's (i.e this posts special) has now been split into 2 separate items and billed individually to my bank account, resulting in ANZ blocking my card due to "suspicious activity" lol… ETA says "Arriving Monday", which Monday? Who knows.

                        The 2x 16TB's I ordered on the 1st of December has been updated to a delivery of 8PM today. Yet, that one I havent been charged for at all… Honestly no idea wtf is going on.

                        @L3tstaxth1s - tagged for an update

                        • Moodkiller on 30/12/2023 - 16:58

                          @Moodkiller: Update 2: The 2x 16TB drives I ordered on the 1st December have arrived. Shipping box was pretty mangled and there was no bubble wrap inside (HDD boxes could only slide about 10cm in a straight line but still, pretty shocking).

                          In jokers field, the 2x 18TB's (ordered 18th November) suspiciously had their ETA changed from the 1st of Jan to the 11th of Jan after my contact with Amazon support.

                          • Moodkiller on 04/01/2024 - 12:24

                            @Moodkiller: Update 3: Spoke to Customer (we dont) Care again on the 2nd to organise a refund as the items had not arrived - only to be told that the ETA for delivery is the 11th of Jan so they wont do anything before this…

                            Low and behold, the drives arrived today… but they were not in any kind of box or packaging and just had the shipping label stuck to the outside of it for full advertisement. Honestly, what a joke.

                            • Dunno on 04/01/2024 - 13:43

                              @Moodkiller: iirc amazon(US) is trying to avoid box waste by shipping some goods in their retail packaging because the goods are insured under their carrier contract anyway and amazon packages are heavily targetted by porch pirates in the US.

                              • Moodkiller on 04/01/2024 - 14:46

                                @Dunno: Interesting! Good to know. These 2 18TB's did come from the US, but what is even more fascinating is the fact that the 2x 16TB's came in a cardboard box together - granted no bubble wrap / protection inside whatsoever, very inconsistent

                            • L3tstaxth1s on 04/01/2024 - 16:33

                              @Moodkiller: Same here. Got this yesterday. Just a shipping label slapped on the original WD box… for the whole world to see (and steal). Hopefully not damaged during transit!

                        • L3tstaxth1s on 04/01/2024 - 16:35

                          @Moodkiller: Thanks for the update! Finally got mine yesterday. Do you have a link to the WD registration form for the NZ adaptor?

                          • Moodkiller on 04/01/2024 - 17:07

                            @L3tstaxth1s:

                            @Moodkiller: Same here. Got this yesterday. Just a shipping label slapped on the original WD box… for the whole world to see (and steal). Hopefully not damaged during transit!

                            Yeah this is what I thought too - did you buy one or two? Just curious about the payment if it was two and how it was charged.

                            @Moodkiller: Thanks for the update! Finally got mine yesterday. Do you have a link to the WD registration form for the NZ adaptor?

                            Welcome! Glad to hear. And no I dont have it on hand - iirc one had to email support?? But not 100%. A quick google didnt help either :(

                            • L3tstaxth1s on 04/01/2024 - 17:18

                              @Moodkiller: Bought one. Didnt want to risk getting my order cancelled due to being sold out.

                              They offered me a $10 discount for the delays.

                              • Moodkiller on 04/01/2024 - 17:32

                                @L3tstaxth1s: Fair play. And you're lucky re: the credit. I cant get anything out of them even though their stupid split payment caused ANZ to temp block my card.

                • MonolithNZ on 19/12/2023 - 10:34
                  +1

                  @Moodkiller: Still hasn't shipped for me either mate

              • L3tstaxth1s on 14/12/2023 - 22:12

                @MonolithNZ: Shipped yet?

                • MonolithNZ on 19/12/2023 - 10:34

                  @L3tstaxth1s: Nope, not yet. Progress bar sitting close to shipped. Due 15th Jan at the latest. Hopefully we don't get cancelled and refunded…

                  • L3tstaxth1s on 19/12/2023 - 11:16

                    @MonolithNZ: Mines is still showing at 26th Dec to 2nd Jan… Have you tried asking via Live Agent chat? I don't think we've been charged yet?

                    • MonolithNZ on 21/12/2023 - 21:21

                      @L3tstaxth1s: I've contacted Amazon, "We expect to ship your order in time to be delivered between Tuesday, December 26, 2023 - Monday, January 15, 2024.

                      Hence, I personally recommend you to wait for some additional days. I understand this point of time asking for waiting further days can be frustrating but, looking our delivery estimates, I would like you to know that the original order still reach to you by the delivery estimate date listed on order. I will appreciate your understanding and co-operation in this matter.

                      As an apology for this, Once you receive the order and the tracking is updated as delivered, Please let us know we will issue a $40 gift card in your amazon account. "

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