My
Product Isn't Covered?!? Why not?
updated
2/19/19
(READ
READ READ - Product Warranty Information page link is at the bottom - or CLICK
HERE)
Congratulations!
You got a really great deal on your new product using the internet!
On-line
sales are the new way to buy - that is for sure! I am guilty of it as well as
I have purchased a few things from on-line dealers and sometimes, I really do
get a miracle purchase! However, there were a couple of instances where I feel
"bait and switch" tactics were executed but for the most part, purchases
have been some-what satisfying.
Consumers
can purchase many things easily with just a click of the mouse. Instant gratification!
Low priced items are available on-line because the virtual dealer, most likely,
is running their business out of a small warehouse or their home - hence, low
overhead and the savings are passed on to you. The total cost of an item purchased
on-line was about half as much as it would have been at [big box music emporium]
or a "brick and mortar" store - which included free shipping! Heck!
No need for business owners to spend money on the high price of leasing retail
space when they can have a killer web page to impress us!
Too
good to be true? Read on...
We
have had a few instances where customers had purchased units from so-called
internet music warehouses that sold stuff for less than suggested wholesale
cost. Unfortunately, this type of sale MAY or MAY NOT qualify for warranty service
as those entities MAY or MAY NOT be authorized dealers
of those particular products.
Now,
some time has past and that "great deal product" needs to be repaired
and you bring it to an authorized service center.
They immediately reject the repair because you cannot provide PROPER paperwork
or the service center informs you that the manufacturer will not honor the warranty
because they cannot verify the legitimacy of the transaction.
Frustrated,
you contact the on-line "dealer" that sold you the item and find out
that they are no longer in business or the phone is out of service and / or
will not return your emails. You phone the manufacturer and they tell you the
machine you purchased is not covered because that "dealer" was not
authorized to sell it to you.
Congratulations!
You now have a door stop.
Legitimate
Transaction:
A transaction seen by the manufacturer as the sale of an item from a authorized
dealer to a consumer also known as the original
owner.
Authorized
Dealer:
A dealer that has been contracted by the manufacturer to sell
their goods for fair market value.
Original
Owner:
The FIRST consumer that purchased an item or unit from an authorized
dealer.
Authorized
Service Center: A
repair station contracted by the manufacturer to perform warranty service and
assist the needs of thier customers or users of thier products.
So,
what happened?
Keep reading..
A
possible scenario:
A small town mom and pop music store purchased a pallet or "lot" of
new-in-box (yet out of date), packed units from another music store or warehouse
that has gone belly-up (out of business) OR an unknown or virtual source (on-line
auction, internet estate sale, overseas shipping container thieves, abandoned
storage unit hunters, etc). The
store employee posts every product from this "lot" using an on-line
middle-man like eBay, Amazon or Craig's List as NEW products and you buy one
of them. Later, the unit fails and you cannot get it repaired because Mom and
Pop Music were not an "authorized dealer"
and therefore the manufacturer deems the purchase to not be a "legitimate
transaction." Now you cannot get it repaired and want someone at
the store to replace it or give you your money back but they will not because
your purchase has passed their 30 day "no questions asked" return
policy period.
-
Mom and Pop Music may have unknowingly purchased stolen equipment.
-
Mom and Pop Music had no idea that the NEW products were not covered because
they were not authorized dealers.
-
Mom and Pop Music were just trying to be competitive with [big box] music store
without having to floor a considerable amount of product purchased from a manufacturers
sales representative (that could get really expensive for the smaller music
stores!).
You
start making phone calls and typing emails to the manufacturer.
What
they may do:
1.)
Absolutely Nothing.
2.)
Ask you for the serial number and base the warranty off of the date of manufacture
BUT if the unit is considered "old stock" and is considered to be
"out of date","end of life" or obsolete (5 to 7 years old),
you will most likely get stuck with the repair tab.
3.)
If the unit is B-Stock, forget it. You won't get any warranty -- maybe 90 days
from the day it left their warehouse.
What
the store should have done:
This
store should have listed the items as "Surplus" or "New Old Stock
- NOS" or "AS-IS" Even though the units are in new condition,
they should have stated that these particular products may have no manufacturers
warranty.
What
you could have done to prevent this:
Send
an email to the store and ask questions like: "are you an authorized dealer
for that product?" or "I understand that these units are new but how
do I know I can get a manufacturers warranty with purchase?" or "What
will you do for me if this unit fails to work after a certain amount of time?
--- can I get my money back or a replacement?" Whatever the response these
sellers give you, it comes down to YOUR option to buy in the first place - you
need to understand what you are up against when purchasing products on-line.
Remember:"when
in doubt --- call them out!"
Send
an email or call the manufacturer and they will tell you if a particular dealer
is authorized or not . If not, well, you can take the chance and get something
really cool that is in new condition for a great price and hope that it doesn't
fail. Why not spend a few more bucks for piece of mind knowing that you purchased
the unit from [big box store] --- don't forget the smaller stores who are authorized
to sell you those products as well!
Why
do manufacturers require "authorized" dealers?
There
is a good reason for this and it mostly has to do with inventory and price control.
Having authorized dealers helps prevent fraud and helps control prices so their
products are not sold irresponsibly. The last thing a manufacturer wants is
for thier products to get priced out of the market or have their products sold
far below the suggested retail price. Inventory control minimizes issues within
a closely knit group of representatives and dealers. They can easily solve issues
regarding warranty service, improve marketing, use copywritten materials (logos
and such) for advertising and give customer product support.
Thanks
for reading!
-
Marty Futara
Email
us with your questions or comments!
service@futara.com
copyright
- martyfutara of futara electronics company: 2019