I agree..Quote:
Originally Posted by thestaton
The flash should be free to all owners except to those with tampered serial numbers or those STi's Bel determines otherwise.
Printable View
I agree..Quote:
Originally Posted by thestaton
The flash should be free to all owners except to those with tampered serial numbers or those STi's Bel determines otherwise.
^ I agree.Quote:
Originally Posted by thestaton
I don't think that this list is there to say that the businesses are "evil" or not legitimate - rather, it exists to state openly that those businesses are not Authorized Retailers, per Bel.
And this, of course, is where things get tough for the end-consumer. One has to shop-smart, and make sure that one's going with an "Authorized Retailer" in order to preserve warranty.
I don't think that this is a great situation. I don't particularly like it. But on the other hand, I can understand the business aspects of this decision, too, and I don't particularly blame Bel for insisting on adhering to this procedure.
There are plenty of legitimate and decent companies on that list, like ABT and Abe's...the list isn't of "bad" companies, just those that are not authorized, have not made an agreement with belscort to sell at their minimum prices.Quote:
Originally Posted by thestaton
Of course bel has a lot to thank them for, as their low prices ultimately get Bel's into more hands and sell more units. This is the exact reason why I bought a Bel, when I did my research I saw the top three at the time were the V1 at $400 fixed, the 8500 at $330 fixed, but the Bel 980's prices were competitive, and I bought it for $250 from a barely-legit place in brooklyn. That $80 difference sold me on the Bel, and I have always been happy with it, works great to this day.
Many of these cheap places do this with many brands. If I suspect they do, especially if they are in any borough of NYC, I call them and ask if it includes full warranty. You would be shocked how many times they say it does not. They will then give you the price with the warranty, and at least you have the choice. If I'm buying something that has a low chance of breaking like camera lenses, I'll usually choose to save the $50. The brands can't hate this, as they are selling the product either way, and in fact don't even have to support it.
Thanks for the comments. This list is from a link that Radar Roy posted:
http://www.beltronics.com/unauthorized-list.html. Actually I have not had any business dealings with any of them. My point wasnt that they were bad, just unauthorized to sell Bel products and customers dealing with them MAY not get a satisfactory warranty or after sales service. And of course I was referring only to the sales of RDs. "Evil" is not a word I used.
Mike, I disagreeQuote:
if they run a great business then who else on that list does the same? it's a shame someone would have to pay to get the flash, just because the person they buy from may not be official.
A dealer is authorized once they agree to purchase the units from them or a licensed distributor and they agree to follow contractual and finacial obligations.
If you're ever along the Mexican border, make a stop inside one of those electronics shops. I've seen Escort, Bel and tons of other electronic goods that are repackaged and sold as new at half of my wholesale cost. Where do they get this stuff, from remanufacturing plants also headquartered in Mexico. (Where all those off brand warranty companies dump their stuff)
So by your theory, "blackballed dealer/distributor" who has been buying his units by the truckload from these electronic shops or remanufactures and then sold in the US, the manufacture should honor a warranty???? No way!
wait what? mexicans have the ability to re-manufacture an STi? As in physically update it? Or just make a new box with shrink wrap?
This industry is so crazy it's impossible to keep up, and I had no idea things like this went on. If that's the case then yes the warranty makes sense, but I think there should be an exception. If I buy an STi from an authorized dealer and register it with Beltronics, then later if I choose to sell it to a friend, it would be nice if I could transfer the warranty.
I feel like I have blinders on like a race horse and we only get to see a little bit. Had I known the whole picture it would make more sense.
There is nothing to prevent you from doing this, just give a copy of the invoice to your friendQuote:
This industry is so crazy it's impossible to keep up, and I had no idea things like this went on. If that's the case then yes the warranty makes sense, but I think there should be an exception. If I buy an STi from an authorized dealer and register it with Beltronics, then later if I choose to sell it to a friend, it would be nice if I could transfer the warranty.
Mike,Quote:
wait what? mexicans have the ability to re-manufacture an STi? As in physically update it? Or just make a new box with shrink wrap?
Do a google for electronics remanufacturing, there are tons of companies some who specialize with those "second tier" warranty programs where you buy those cards for warranty.
One of these companies is based in Florida and sends all their work to Mexico where the labor is pennies on the dollar.
They do not have the software to do updates and so on. They just replace what they can and send it back out the door.
This practice is across the entire electronics industry. You have "questionable" dealers getting these products from TVs, to cell phones, to what ever and selling them as new...
wow, thanks for the heads up Roy. I retract my comments about Bel and the warranty issue after reading this. that's disturbing...
The cost to do this would be negligible to the final price of the unit at its current market value.Quote:
Originally Posted by radarroy