2. misc-audio
  3. 1116690841

DOA- do we need to redefine the 'A'?

Goners,

There was a thread recently posted by a seller who was in a disagreement with his buyer about financial responsibility for fixing a malfunction that occured about six months after the sale. Most people agreed that asking a seller to help pay to fix a component that he had sold in perfect working order six months before was unreasonable, but that had the component arrived at the buyers doorstep dead, or had it broken within a short period of time, financial compensation or refund might have been in order.

Here's my question: should audiogon define a 'warranty' period that goes along with used sales? Even just 10 days or something like that? It really would stink to get a piece of gear, use it for a week, and have it die. But according to the policy that the seller is responsible only in cases of DOA, the buyer would have to front the whole bill for something like that. Having a specifically defined warranty period (which would, and should be quite short) might avoid a lot of potential conflict. Thoughts?
lousyreeds1

Showing 1 response by newbee

newbee
4,794 posts
 
Traditionally, all used products, not just audio products, sold used are sold as is unless they have been described.

When described they must then meet the description made by the seller. That is why a prudent person making a purchase asks a lot of questions before buying and not just making a lot of assumptions about the meaning of generalized statements made by the sellers.

For example "in good working condition" means next to nothing, in fact it suggests to me that it will turn on and play but has some defects otherwise the seller would say in perfect operating condition or something to that effect. In that case I would ask very specific questions about what made the operation less than perfect. The answers you get will then serve to set some parameters for the sellers obligations should the unit not work when it arrives or fail shortly thereafter.

IMHO, a seller is never responsible for problems which arrise in used equipment of which he had no knowledge at the time of sale unless he has misrepresented the condition of the unit to the buyer. As always, caveat emptor!
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