This topic provides answers to some frequently asked questions about the billing of Data Transport.
How do I choose between the pay-by-data-volume and pay-by-lease-days billing methods?
You can select an appropriate billing method based on the read throughput of the origin server.
If the read throughput of the origin server is stable and data migration is estimated to be complete in one month, select the pay-by-data-volume billing method.
If the read throughput of the origin server is unstable or other uncontrollable factors exist, we recommend that you select the pay-by-lease-days billing method.
We recommend that you select the pay-by-lease-days billing method because it has a finer billing granularity. Before you place an order, carefully evaluate the volume of data to be migrated and the use days of the device. After you place an order, you are not allowed to change the billing method. You cannot request a refund even if you return the device in advance. For more information about billing methods and fees, see Billing rules.
When I select Lease Days as the payment option, what is the start and end time of the leased service?
Regions in the Chinese mainland.
The leased service starts 24 hours after you sign for the delivery of the Data Transport device.
The leased service ends when you notify Alibaba Cloud technical support to collect the Data Transport device.
Regions outside the Chinese mainland
The leased service starts 5 calendar days after you arrange the logistics service to collect the Data Transport device.
The leased service ends 5 calendar days after you notify Alibaba Cloud technical support of the completion of data migration.
Do I need to pay for logistics?
If you use a Data Transport device in the Chinese mainland, you do not need to pay for logistics in most regions. The order amount does not include the fees for the mailing and retrieval of the device in Hainan, Qinghai, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, and Xizang.
If you use a Data Transport device outside the Chinese mainland, you must arrange logistics by yourself and pay for it.
What do I do if the lease term is insufficient?
If you do not hand over the device to the logistics partner of Alibaba Cloud within seven calendar days after the end of the lease term, the device is deemed lost and you must compensate for the lost device. For more information, see "What do I do if I lose or damage the device?" We recommend that you carefully evaluate the number of days required for data migration before you place an order. If more days are required after the end of the lease term, place another order.
What do I do if I lose or damage a Data Transport device?
If you lose a Data Transport device or cause irrecoverable damages to the device, you must compensate for the device based on its model.
Data Transport Micro: USD 5,714.29 per device
Data Transport II: USD 14,285.71 per device
Data Transport III: USD 64,285.71 per device
How long does it take for the Data Transport device to arrive after I place an order?
After you place an order, our team will confirm it within one business day and start preparing the device, which takes about one to three business days. This may take longer if the device is out of stock or needs to be transferred from another region. For orders in the Chinese mainland, logistics are included. Shipping to your data center takes about five days for inter-province delivery and two to three days for intra-city delivery. For orders outside the Chinese mainland, logistics are not included, and you will need to arrange for pickup at the address provided.