Mcintosh-Bad customer service?


I was preparing to buy a new pair Mcintosh MC501's from an authorized Mac dealer. I have been doing some research and found some incriminating threads on Audio Asylum about Mcintosh. One very lengthy thread was about a seller on E-bay who was forced to pull his ad by a Mcintosh lawyer. Another was about a frustrated buyer who couldn't get support in Russia. There are always isolated instances, but I am very concerned now. One of my main concerns is that Mcintosh will not honor any warranties after you sell it. That means if I later try to sell my amps on audiogon, the buyer gets no warranty! What are your thoughts! I am used to unbelievable service from Pass labs, and even Krell. I refuse to spend that kind of money to a company that treats me poorly after the sale. Should I be concerned?
noonan
PLEASE!!! If you were to cost out every component that goes into a piece of "HIGH END" gear, factor in labor, R&D etc. we should be getting LIFETIME warrantes. My hats off to companies like Magnepan Bryston and Adcom who still have margins that are based in REALITY. Their warrantes are average their products WAY above average and they manage to stay in business year after year. I guess they must know something that the big boys don't
Thanks guys. I love the products. I just kinda like to think they appreciate their customers and will take care of them after the sale. I actually don't mind companies making good profit, but I do expect to be treated well when I pay well. Pass Labs will transfer warranties. They will actually fix things for free (minus shipping)beyond their warranty period, and regardless of where you purchased it. That is indeed rare. I honestly think the non-transferable warranties are designed to protect their dealers by discouraging buyers from buying on Audiogon.
I guess the proof is how long a company can hang on with or without warranty transfers. Three or four companies mentioned above have done that but not as long as McIntosh. If they didn't take care of things they wouldn't sell and thus go out of business. Some companies do not last longer than the warranties they issue. The jury on Pass Labs longevity is still out. I do hope they (like Mcintosh) will survive for a long time.
Every company puts a "warranty reserve" into their pricing so they know their potential outstanding financial obligation, so if you sell before the end of the warranty period, Mac, or whoever, gets a freebie against their warranty reserve. They must love it.
It's probably hard to reasonably defend such a practice, but they get away with it.
Thank goodness for Bryston et al.
Wow, wow. i'm kinda shocked that anyone even thinks a warrenty should be transferable. yes, i love to buy used gear and get a warrenty to boot! but from a mfg's point of view, why should they have to cover all that damage that occurs from shipping? what are you guys thinking? buying used gear is usually a steal. you know the unit's rap, your getting a steap discount, your not buying new from the mfg. and now you want the mfg to cover what is mostly (mostly, not entirely) shipping inflicted damage (either immediate or the slow slide), give me a break. GO CRY SOMEWHERE ELSE.

as far as Mac is concerned: my smaller downstairs system is all MAC (MR85, MC352, CR16, MC7205) and yes, I have had two issues. Both issues were handled promptly, and without question from my authorized MAC dealer. No hows, or no whys, just straight back to MAC, and straight back to me. With huge apologies coming and going. One issue was an acknowledged firmware bug in the MR85, and the other was shipping damage inflicted upon the MC352.

I am completely satisfied with the quality and service from MAC.

I appreciate the ability to buy used gear, but I don't expect the mfg to jump in and help me. Warrenty transfers are designed to help dealers with tradeins, not with Augiogoner's buying used gear. The list of mfg's still willing to transfer warrenties is getting slimmer by the day, and I fully support that slide, as we abuse its original intent here on this site.

To slight a mfg for not tranfering a warrenty is just bad taste.