Do not buy any Sonus Faber used

Here's more of the note posted by Sonus Faber:

WARNING

IF A SONUS FABER PRODUCT IS:
1. Directly imported by you from another country, OR
2. Purchased directly from a dealer OVERSEAS, OR
3. Acquired by you from an UNAUTHORIZED North American based re-seller,
ALL SONUS FABER PRODUCT WARRANTIES ARE NULL AND VOID

In other words, you will only be provided a North American warranty on Sonus faber product purchased from a SUMIKO authorized Sonus faber dealer.

IN ADDITION, SUMIKO WILL NOT SUPPLY PARTS AND/OR SERVICE FOR ANY SONUS FABER PRODUCT WITHOUT PROOF OF PURCHASE FROM A SUMIKO AUTHORIZED DEALER IN NORTH AMERICA.

PLEASE CONTACT SUMIKO FOR A SONUS FABER DEALER IN YOUR AREA,
OR TO DETERMINE IF A DEALER OFFERING SONUS FABER IS AUTHORIZED.

Note in the third to last paragraph they say that it has to have been purchased from an authorized dealer not that YOU have to have purchased from an authorized dealer. This is most likely aimed at the grey-market but I would check with them to be sure if I was about to buy used. After all, you don't really know where the seller originally purchased the product.

Here's another angle on this discussion. What's a person who bought new SF product supposed to do with it if they buy another SF product? Stick it in the closet? Are all SF dealers willing to take used equipment bought from them back in on trade? What do they then do with the used equipment; sell it used? Will SF warranty it then?

I understand protecting your dealer network by prohibiting gray-market goods but the used market in legitimately-purchased product is different. I have said before that the used market can actually HELP equipment companies. There is a certain segment of the audiophile population that prefers to buy new. What do they do with their current equipment if they want to buy again and the dealer won't take trades? Toss it? The closet again? The dealers will sell more new equipment if the prospective buyer can recoup some of their investment in the equipment they have by selling it on the used market. There is a synergism between the new and used markets that shouldn't be ignored. If not for the used market, the market for new equipment would be substantially smaller.

Dtc,

You may not have seen my original post above but that was my interpretation of the more complete version of what the OP quoted.

I certainly understand that it's a company's right to determine how they do business. If they want to honor warranties only for the original owner then that's fine. Indeed, if they want to only sell parts to the original owner then that's their right too. I was just pointing out that, in my opinion, it is short-sighted for a company to try and hurt the used market because their new business, at some level, depends on the ability of owners to recoup some of their investment by selling their current equipment. It's they law of unintended consequences at play.

Dtc,

12-05-11: Dtc
Djohnson54 - This is about grey market speakers, not ones from authorized dealers.

I believe I said as much above:

Note in the third to last paragraph they say that it has to have been purchased from an authorized dealer not that YOU have to have purchased from an authorized dealer. This is most likely aimed at the grey-market but I would check with them to be sure if I was about to buy used. After all, you don't really know where the seller originally purchased the product.

At least you understood my second point. I'm glad to hear that Sumiko is not that shortsighted.

Dtc,

No offense taken. I just wanted to make sure that you understood I was not attacking Sumiko/SF. My comments were just comments (not an attack) and were aimed at any manufacturer that makes a decision not to support gear purchased on the used market that originally came from an authorized dealer. Again, I understand the need to protect dealer networks as much as possible. Market forces will ultimately decide what works but I believe that a company that doesn't warranty such product will eventually be forced to change that policy or go out of business.

To extend the car analogy - imagine if, when you wanted to buy a new car, you had no market for the old one. :)

Phaelon, I think this should be a lesson to buyers and sellers alike. Buyers should get the original sales receipt and sellers should make sure they keep up with it to provide their buyer with some protection. Maybe it's just me but it amazes me how many ads I see that say they can't find the manual or this or that accessory. If they can't do this what's the chance of them having the sales receipt? Sheesh.