| With so many data recovery companies out | | | | common for companies to lure customers in with |
| there, sometimes it's hard to determine which | | | | low prices, only to charge them for parts, |
| one is really best. While many consumers choose | | | | additional hourly labor, evaluation fees, etc. Make |
| a provider based on referrals, or just a general | | | | sure to have in writing, exactly what the charges |
| comfort level, others simply shop for the | | | | will be before you send the drive into them. |
| cheapest price, and are taken in by $299 or less | | | | 4) It is nearly impossible for any company to |
| data recovery promises. Ultimately, this can cost | | | | recover data for less than $350. Yes, you read |
| you not only more money, but most likely your | | | | right, it is nearly impossible for any company to |
| data. | | | | recover data for less than $350. That may be a |
| This doesn't mean you need to send your drive | | | | pretty bold statement, but it is absolutely true. |
| to the most expensive companies either. As | | | | Sure you can recover easy jobs that only require |
| many of them are way over priced. What we are | | | | simple software solutions, but to recover |
| talking about here is companies that charge $350 | | | | physically damaged drives, it's an impossibility and |
| or less for ANY type of recovery (including drives | | | | I would challenge any of these low dollar |
| that have physically failed). | | | | companies to prove me wrong. |
| To put it simply, data recovery is akin to major | | | | The reason for this is not only the time and |
| surgery. Choosing the cheapest doctor is not | | | | expertise that is involved but also the equipment, |
| always the best path when it comes to | | | | and even the parts. In nearly all cases where a |
| something as serious as heart surgery. In regards | | | | hard drive has physically failed, specific parts are |
| to data recovery, your life may not be at stake, | | | | needed in order to complete the recovery. This is |
| but your business might very well be. So why | | | | not just a matter of finding the same model |
| should you avoid some of the cheaper data | | | | drive. In most instances you have to find the |
| recovery companies? | | | | same model, same country of origin, close to the |
| 1) Many use "bait and switch" tactics. They will | | | | same manufacturing date, same firmware |
| lure you in with unreasonably low quotes, just to | | | | revision, and a host of other parameters. Unless |
| get the work in. Then when you have sent them | | | | you have every possible drive variation in stock |
| your hard drive you are told that the damage | | | | (which no company does), or you get lucky on |
| was much more serious and now the cost for | | | | Ebay, all of this translates into parts outsourcing, |
| the recovery is going to be 2 or 3 times what | | | | which means a company pays a premium for the |
| was quoted. | | | | parts themselves. |
| 2) It's all about volume. The vast majority of | | | | For example, looking at just one parts source, I |
| these companies are taking in as many drives as | | | | can see that they have a Western Digital 80GB, |
| they can, and recovering data from the easiest | | | | model WD800JB-00FMA0 with a DCM of |
| cases using simple software solutions. If a job | | | | HSBACTJCH and a manufacturing date of March |
| requires hard to find parts, or extensive work | | | | 2004. This simple 80GB drive is listed for $215.00. |
| with some of the more specialized tools of the | | | | Why so expensive? Because it is exactly what a |
| trade, then they simply proclaim that those drives | | | | company may need to complete a recovery. |
| are "unrecoverable". Untold numbers of drives | | | | Now using the example above, how can a |
| that contained vital business data, family photos, | | | | company guarantee a recovery price of $299 to |
| etc. have been tossed in the trash by their | | | | a customer for any type of recovery? What if |
| owners simply because one of these companies | | | | they didn't have a parts drive on hand? What if |
| told them that their data was unrecoverable. The | | | | the supplier above was the only one that had the |
| fact is, unless the platters of a drive are severely | | | | drive they needed? You can see how a company |
| scored, or the data itself is heavily corrupted it is | | | | would be inclined to deem this particular case |
| almost always recoverable. You just have to put | | | | "unrecoverable" as opposed to investing a lot of |
| in the time and effort necessary to do it. | | | | time and money into a job that would generate |
| 3) Watch out for hidden charges. It's quite | | | | very little, if any, profit. |