Micron initially declined to replace a failed 4TB Crucial SSD under warranty, instead offering its owner a refund based on the original purchase price. After the complaint gained attention on Reddit, the company reportedly changed course and offered a replacement, highlighting how shortages and rising storage prices can weaken the practical value of a warranty.

The customer said they had paid about $200 for the drive, while comparable 4TB SSDs now cost more than $800. Micron’s warranty terms allow it to choose repair, replacement, credit or a refund based on the lower of the original price and fair market value; critics argued that this left the owner unable to buy an equivalent replacement during the current price surge.