Cisco wastefulness : 3845 fan module

Question

We had a fan fail on our 3845 edge router. No big deal; the other two fans kept the temperature easily within spec, and the module is a two minute hot swap. I opened a ticket, they sent me a replacement. Simple. (In fact, the router install docs note that the fans are essentially a "consumable" part, and will fail within a few years, depending on how hot and dusty your environment is.)
The fan module is actually the whole face plate of the router, blue plastic with a steel backing, status LEDs, and the three fans.
That is all fine. But, Cisco won't take the failed part back for refurbishment, which in this case would be simply to replace the fans!
The replacement part came with the standard Cisco return packaging: a sticker with an RMA #, a "manual" paper UPS label, and instructions to use their on-line tool ( www.cisco.com/go/logistics ). But, when I entered the RMA number, I got a pop-up saying it was invalid, and I should call Cisco Asset Recovery, whose 800 number is also on the sticker.
They told me that this part is not returnable; that the RMA is only to ID the shipment so they can confirm I got it. They told me to just throw it out. They would not provide a printable return shipping label.
I'd feel bad throwing out even the substantial cardboard and foam packaging of this part, let alone the assembled unit!
Hasn't Cisco heard that there is a general industry movement to cut down on electronic waste? With the removal of six screws, I could swap the failed fan out of this assembly and replace only the fan. I'm glad Cisco didn't ask me to do that level of repair, but I certainly think they should -- I'd assumed that the replacement unit I'd received was a return "refurbished" with new fans.
It seems a complete waste to just chuck out this whole thing.
Heck, even the tiny power supply bricks for the Aeronet APs have a little "no trash" sticker on them, with a link to http://cisco-returns.com . Why do they just dispose of router faceplace assemblies when the only issue is a fan that was expected to fail in the first place?
Anyone have a justification for this waste, or is it just Cisco being too big to care?
Attached photo shows the 3845 front piece, which is the fan assembly, and the package the replacement came in, which could be used to return this part, and then be reused. For comparason, the little black thing in front is an Aeronet 1131 power module, which has a Cisco Recycles sticker.

Answer 1

Stephen Bohrer wrote:It seems a complete waste to just chuck out this whole thing.
Cost effectiveness.
Basically, the fan unit is worth maybe, I dunno, $50 to manufacture? It'd cost Cisco probably $25 to pay the shipping back for the failed part, and then half an hour of someone's time to refurbish/clean/test the replacement unit - and, since they'd probably replace all three fans at the same time, you're effectively only sending them the mounting plate.
It's simply not cost effective.
HP have a similar process when it comes to failed memory modules - if they ship you a replacement memory module for, say, a laptop which has an issue, they don't bother having the dead one shipped back - it's simply not worth the shipping and handling costs to recover a part worth maybe $75.
It's harsh, and environmentally unsound, but Cisco is like most big companies - they're in it to make money, and wasting money like that simply isn't how John Chambers justifies his existence to the board!
Cheers.