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Note for those who buy used equipment...

I have obtained most of my equipment on the used market, and will continue to do so. However, today I ran into an issue that I had previously not encountered.

I was just about ready to pull the trigger on a used piece of Accustic Arts equipment when, in response to an inquiry about how to obtain any needed future service should that be needed, I received the following message from the Accustic Arts distributor in the U.S.:

"Thank you very much for your interest in ACCUSTIC ARTS products. My firm represents and distributes the brand in the USA and all responsibilities as it relates to repairs are through our firm.
We ONLY service products that are either bought from our firm or through an authorized dealer (similar policy to other manufacturers)".

After letting the distributor know that his policy ruled out any further consideration of Accustic Arts equipment for me, he sent the following:

"Our service policy is really no different than the vast majority of other manufacturer’s – in fact, just about nobody services or supports products bought and sold in the used market since we have no idea of how old the products are, where they were bought, how many times the items were bought and sold and how they were packaged etc. It would ultimately cause a huge liability for no reason. I suppose that is probably why most manufacturers will not support items bought and sold in the used market.
We carry ten (10) brands and we have one policy applicable to all."

So... before investing in something which may have very little re-sale value, and/or which has the potential to morph into a door-stop; do check on the manufacturer's/distributor's policy towards servicing used pieces of their equipment.

Rupe
rupertdacat

Showing 2 responses by newbee

newbee
4,794 posts
 
Someone commenting on this exact post on AA thought maybe one of the undisclosed/underlying reasons was they thought the amount of demands from 2d hand owners might swamp their repair facility. While that seems awfully cynical after I thought about it I think I agree that as a distributor he doesn't want to commit his time and resources to second hand repairs..

I've seen some real junk out there by reason of design or parts/construction quality that I sure wouldn't want to undertake the responsibility for effective repairs if it were 2d hand and I had no other connection to the owner or other reason.

Thanks for the heads up.

PS, according to the author's comments on AA he has clarified that the distributor will NOT accomodate repairs on ANY basis for 2d hand owners. You might like to refer to his comments there.
newbee
4,794 posts
 
Re grey market question. I think, for the most part, authorized dealers create the grey market by selling the product to an 'unauthorized' dealer w/o warranty obligations, in enuf volume to make up the difference in markup from the sale of one locally to the sale of many which would not impact on his local territory.

If this is so, and I think it is, the manufacturer could, if they wanted to, require the dealer to account for all sales. If they really wanted to. But why would the manufacturer really care. Where the product ends up doesn't affect their bottom line, at least to their disadventation. The only one who suffers is a legitimate dealer who loses a sale and the buyer who doesn't get a warranty. I've even heard of (and bought from) manufacturers who will sell product out the back door so long as its done in real green cash and no trail is created. Obviously w/out warranty.

FWIW.
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