Blue smokin' Brutus - info, please;

[theCybe 5,000+ posts]

Why is everyone so cynical about this?

My position is that the amplifier crapped out before it should have; I don't expect it to last forever, but a year would be a reasonable minimum.

 

[Decipha 10+ year member]

i feel your lose, i haven't had an amp crap out on my yet but when i do im probably gonna be pissed.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Apparently what I need is proof-of-purchase from an authorized dealer.
Strangely, that's their only requirement for replacement.

Anybody got one?

I take it the amp was purchased unathorized??

Now you know the reason I always recommend an authorized dealer over buying unauthorizided off the net //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[tRiGgEr 5,000+ posts]

My position is that the amplifier crapped out before it should have; I don't expect it to last forever, but a year would be a reasonable minimum.

True. As any consumer should expect.

My amp "crapped out" in one day. It happens.

Did you buy it un-authorized?

 

[Trancer 10+ year member]

Sometimes I wonder what the difference is between authorized and unauthorized dealers. The manufacturer is still getting a profit, but im sure there is a reason that I cant think of off the top of my head.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Sometimes I wonder what the difference is between authorized and unauthorized dealers. The manufacturer is still getting a profit, but im sure there is a reason that I cant think of off the top of my head.

Plenty of reasons. For one, when you purchase authorized, the manufacturer can guaranty (and hence warranty) that the item is brand new and free of any defects. If it's not, then give it back and get a new one. If you buy unauthorized, the manufacturer can not guaranty the items past history or that the item is brand new and free of defects (a lot of unauthorized online sellers sell b-stock items), since they (the manufacturer) was not the source of the product. Second, most companies require that an authorized dealer be properly trained on the use and features of their products to provide the best support possible. They also typically require that the authorized dealer can offer competent support of the product (i.e. some unauthorized dealers may not have any clue about car audio). Those are just a few of the differences......

 

[GCAdidas13 10+ year member]

Plenty of reasons. For one, when you purchase authorized, the manufacturer can guaranty (and hence warranty) that the item is brand new and free of any defects. If it's not, then give it back and get a new one. If you buy unauthorized, the manufacturer can not guaranty the items past history or that the item is brand new and free of defects (a lot of unauthorized online sellers sell b-stock items), since they (the manufacturer) was not the source of the product. Second, most companies require that an authorized dealer be properly trained on the use and features of their products to provide the best support possible. They also typically require that the authorized dealer can offer competent support of the product (i.e. some unauthorized dealers may not have any clue about car audio). Those are just a few of the differences......

And you just made me want to never by unauthorized, ever again.

 

[theCybe 5,000+ posts]

I can relate on a few levels.

However;

( re: guarantee product is new and free of defect )

Often, a serial number also indicates the date of manufacture;

So if a product, a non-perishable product, by the way, has a manufacturer's serial number, then the manufacturer can reasonably infer the date of purchase; that's how we do it, anyway.

( re: authorized dealers )

I don't see the difference between me having a skid of new amplifiers vs. an audio shop having a skid of new amplifiers. When sold, the amps are still new in the box, and should perform like-new, and carry a like-new warranty.

( re: product training )

As far as product knowledge, let's face it - just because Circuit City is an authorized Pyle dealer, doesn't mean the chump that sells you one has any idea what it does. The seller isn't operating the equipment, he's selling it for a profit.

( re: disposition )

But tr123i12ger, why so apathetic? Did you just shrug it off, like "it happens," when you spent your hard-earned loot on a defective product? Better luck next time?

( re: buying authorized )

I don't know of ANY authorized dealers for Hifonics.

You'll notice the website's dealer locater has read "coming soon" for a year, at least.

Perhaps I should inquire as to what exactly makes a dealer authorized? Purchasing power, would be my first guess. It surely doesn't involve any certification or testing.

So if I absolutely had my heart set on a product, and there were no authorized dealers in my area, and no information from the manufacturer on locating one - should the manufacturer not honor my warranty if I purchase it from a non-authorized dealer?

Regardless; It comes down to the product underperforming, and me switching to another brand.

 

[theCybe 5,000+ posts]

Hifonics — Power from the Gods is our slogan. As most car audio buffs know, our names are derived from gods and goddesses. Hifonics products are powerful, strong and most importantly, of the highest quality.

Warranty: a usually written guarantee of the integrity of a product and of the maker's responsibility for the repair or replacement of defective parts

Quality: The totality of features and characteristics of a product orservice that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied

needs.

Strong:synonyms STRONG may imply power derived from muscular vigor, large size, structural soundness, intellectual or spiritual resources. STOUT suggests an ability to endure stress, pain, or hard use without giving way. STURDY implies strength derived from vigorous growth, determination of spirit, solidity of construction. STALWART suggests an unshakable dependability. TOUGH implies great firmness and resiliency. TENACIOUS suggests strength in seizing, retaining, clinging to, or holding together.

The end.

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

Transhipping is the number 1 reason not to buy from unauthorized sources....the product simply gets put into more transit than one picked up by a dealer from his distributor or company direct. We are not talking about glass here, but a circuit board is what it is.

Then the real world. We all know the product is cheap, nothing impressive about the build quality. And everytime a thread pops up like this is more of a reason to feel the product its not even worth the price of admission, even as cheap as it is. The number one reason to buy into an amplifier company should be based on reliability. These dont appear to be built to last.

 

[theCybe 5,000+ posts]

Then the manufacturer should represent the product accurately, accordingly. You'll never get a MaxxSonics rep to say on the record, "Yeah, these are just cheap amps - don't expect much."

Instead, you'll get - "Our top quality amps are reliable, and also affordable!"

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

I can relate on a few levels.
However;

( re: guarantee product is new and free of defect )

Often, a serial number also indicates the date of manufacture;

So if a product, a non-perishable product, by the way, has a manufacturer's serial number, then the manufacturer can reasonably infer the date of purchase; that's how we do it, anyway.

Who cares about a serial number?? If you buy unathorized, the manufacturer can not guaranty that the item hasn't been previously used, abused, damaged, fixed by an unathorized agent (read: some guy in their garage who thinks they know electronics), etc etc. It has NOTHING to do with the date of manufacture, but rather guarantying the products history and that the product is NIB and free of defects. They CAN NOT do this with an unathorized dealer. Heck, with an unathorized dealer, they can't even guaranty you are buying a "genuine" product and not some cheap knock-off (every seen how many "look a like" Kicker subs are on ebay? Not hard to throw a logo similar to Kicker's on the cone and start selling them as L7's).

( re: authorized dealers )
I don't see the difference between me having a skid of new amplifiers vs. an audio shop having a skid of new amplifiers. When sold, the amps are still new in the box, and should perform like-new, and carry a like-new warranty.

BUT THE MANUFACTURER CAN NOT GUARANTY THAT YOU, THE UNATHORIZED SELLER, ACTUALLY HAS NEW IN BOX, UNDAMAGED, NOT PREVIOUSLY USED PRODUCTS.

Read above. The manufacturer has not way of guarantying or warrantying the items previous history like they can with authorized dealers. Hence why one is authorized and one is not.

( re: product training )
As far as product knowledge, let's face it - just because Circuit City is an authorized Pyle dealer, doesn't mean the chump that sells you one has any idea what it does. The seller isn't operating the equipment, he's selling it for a profit.

Is every shop/store perfect? No. But I can guaranty you that the employees at CC/BB/local shops have more product-specific training than ANY unathorized internet seller.

( re: buying authorized )
I don't know of ANY authorized dealers for Hifonics.

You'll notice the website's dealer locater has read "coming soon" for a year, at least.

Well, tough luck is all I can say there //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif Not all products are available to everyone in the country.

Perhaps I should inquire as to what exactly makes a dealer authorized? Purchasing power, would be my first guess. It surely doesn't involve any certification or testing.

I already stated this. They adhere to the specific guidelines of a given manufacturer, and the manfacturer can guaranty and warranty the history of the items they sell.

So if I absolutely had my heart set on a product, and there were no authorized dealers in my area, and no information from the manufacturer on locating one - should the manufacturer not honor my warranty if I purchase it from a non-authorized dealer?

Correct. They should not offer a warranty on unathorized purchases. If you don't have availability to a specific product in your area, urge your local dealers to carry them or atleast become authorized to sell them on a special-order only basis (so that they don't have to add an entire new lineup to their displays).

There are tons of products I wish I could obtain here locally. Rainbow, Arc, Zapco, DLS, etc etc. But, I can't. So, guess what I don't have in my car right now //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

Regardless; It comes down to the product underperforming, and me switching to another brand.

More power to ya //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif I'm not a huge Hifonics fan anways.....