Thanks for the suggestion guys. I took a look at the SM3 and it seems really expensive (EUR345 on their website). Since I can't test it out where I live, it'll be a huge risk to buy it without first auditioning it. I do find them curiously similar to the UM3X in terms of looks though.   ...

Thanks laxlife, sonically what's the advantage of the Westone 3 to the UM3X?   Any input from other H-Fiers are also much appreciated!

Unfortunately I seem to have lost my UM3X on the bus this week which really sucks for me since they're only a year old and I loved them. Well, you know what they say: "Out with the old and in with the new!" It's time to get a new pair of IEMs and I want to know your opinions on what to get based...

@dreamer08: No offense taken. But my beef with Shure lies beyond their warranty policies. I am more upset with the way they handled the situation than anything else. BTW, Welcome to Head-Fi, and sorry about your wallet! (That's a standard Head-Fi greeting.) @Arjisme: Thanks for the info. I...

Well I've finally received a replacement pair from Shure Asia, thanks to Francis who was very professional and actually addressed my concerns rather than provide irrelevant cut-and-paste answers like the other customer service staff in Shure Asia or completely ignore them like Shure USA. I...

Update: Francis from Shure Asia has inspected my E500s and agrees to replace them with a new SE530 as "courtesy replacement". However, he claims that the replacement will not "carry any further product warranty". I'm miffed about this because if there's a problem with new set, I'm back to...

@headfever: As I have mentioned, this cable breaking problem is well-known to Head-Fiers. Sugarfried (Shure's rep on Head-Fi) has also acknowledged that Shure is aware of this issue and will repair or replace E500s with such problems even if they are out of warranty.

Quote: Originally Posted by Cyric From what you posted, it seems to me that you can't believe that the local retailers make a loss should they sell it at the price you got it for or at least close to your price. Like I said, it's entirely up to trust. Because there's no way I can make...

Quote: Originally Posted by Cyric Bro, actually, if you consider exchange rate and shipping costs, plus GST, the price you got for your set, is something none of the local resellers can ever sell it at. Not because of price control, but because if they sold it at that price, they make a...

@iriverdude: May I suggest that you spend a few minutes to read the thread and fully understand my beef with Shure before you make disparaging comments?

@PolloLoco: I see your point. However, Shure can see from the price on my receipt that it's most likely not a used unit. I know the saying "There's a sucker born every minute" but I don't think anyone would be dumb enough to buy a used unit at only a few dollars less than a brand new set. And if...

@PolloLoco: Yes you are correct in that second-hand means used. However, I'm not sure how Shure can conclusively verify if the E500s I purchased were second-hand considering I've used them for nearly two years. Plus it makes no sense whatsoever; If the earphones I purchased from bobsound1 were...

@MaoDi: I'm sure that if Shure, or any other manufacturer in the world, would consider warranty to be null and void if they were to discover their products were dipped in acid or any liquid. Plus if I had purchased a DOA earphone on eBay, my first course of action would be against the eBay...

I just got an email from Francis from Shure Asia. Basically I had to escalate this matter to their legal department to get their attention, which is pretty ass-backwards. Shure is now no longer denying my claim that I'm entitled to warranty, and they have asked me to send in the E500s to Shure...

Update: After waiting for nearly a week for Shure to respond, they have replied with the same old "non-authorized distributor purchases are not eligible for warranty" line, which completely ignores the fact that my warranty card shows otherwise. Shure only offered to give me a one-to-one...

@fzman: I know where you are coming from and I understand full well that you should never expect service from a distributor you didn't purchase from in the first place. That is not what I did. What I did was purchase an original pair of Shure earphones and when it broke due to a manufacturing...

@Cyric: Thanks a lot for offering to help, I appreciate it since you are not obliged to do so and I understand you are simply doing it out of goodwill. I will forward you the receipt. Thanks again.

@Yikes: If you have read my posts you would see that I have NEVER asked Shure's Singapore distributor to solve the problem for me. I went straight to Shure because I didn't purchase the E500 from the Singapore distributor, hence I know they have no obligation to help me on this issue. That's why...

To everyone: The reason I have not sent in my E500 into Shure Asia yet is because I want clear confirmation that my earphones will be repaired under warranty before I send them in. Otherwise there is a strong possibility they will be sent right back to me, not repaired, at my own cost. As...

Here's an interesting twist: Shure HK originally told me that they would not warranty my E500 because, and I quote, "According to Shure policy, the 2-year-limited warranty only grants to earphones which were purchased from authorized distributors or resellers. Please be advised that to read and...

I sent the link to this thread to Matt (Sugarfried) and he was kind enough to reply to me. However, his reply was basically a nicer version of "Sorry but you're screwed" (I won't post what he wrote since it was via PM). Here's my reply to him: Hi Matt, I appreciate your reply. I am quite...

I'm done with Shure. Their "customer service" completely reeks of sheer incompetence and ineptitude. After waiting for a reply from Dan from Shure USA for a whole week (while sending him reminder emails nearly daily), I still have not received any response. Finally I fire off another email to...

@HeadphoneAddict: Thanks for the info and glad to hear that you managed to get yours fixed. Unfortunately since I live in Asia, I cannot send my E500s to Shure USA and I have to send them to Shure Asia. The problem is that Shure Asia is sticking by their "policy" and refusing to honor the...

@leveller1642: Thanks. Was the eBay seller you bought from an authorized Ety dealer? If Ety is willing to stand by their own products even if bought from an unauthorized dealer, that makes them a worthy company to deal with in my book.

Update: Shure HK offered to repair my E500s for a fee, which I have not accepted. So far it has been nearly one week and still no answer from Shure USA. In my case I really don't see the "excellent customer service" that some have raved about Shure. Even Shure themselves said they would respond...