[iAudio365]

If your serial number is a US serial your warranty is a US warranty. If the reseller is an authorized Focal reseller you’ll need to initiat your warranty claim through them. If the receipt is not in your name than you may have a difficult time receiving any warranty as the warranty is not transferable. The fact that it hasn’t been registered has little to do with your warranty only the duration. In addition, if the reseller knew he was selling to an Australian consumer, you may not have a warranty at all since that reseller would have known it was a grey market transaction.

I’m not sure if the seller was a authorized re seller I know they are an audio shop in texas however that sell high end audio eauipment. It was just a guy who purchaed them with the intention of using them but never did, traded to his friend for something and he didn’t want them and now has put up for sale, he is a respectable member of the community so no fishy business.

But I guess what your saying is focal warranty is trash and dont touch the headphones on the used market as they will just leave you hanging, even mr speakers doesnt do this and I have owned 3 pairs of his high end headphones and even sent one I purchased back for an upgrade that was used and he was happy to do it., amongst other customers of his that have purchased used had something come up and he was happy to fix.

So you spend 4k on utopia, decide to move on and your just stuck with them because focal doesn’t back their products unless it’s all done through the retailer as you’ve mentioned above etc. so even if I was to contact focal and say “hey one of the driver is playing up” and offered to pay for repiars going of what your saying because I’m not the original purchaser I’m not covered and they won’t do anything. Is that correct?

Do they not know about the secondary market? This has pretty much turned me off even getting them new, seeing as the next buyer if I ever wanted to sell them wouldn’t have any protection what so ever. I guess with focal its buy used at your own risk.

 

[TSAVJason]

I’m not sure if the seller was a authorized re seller I know they are an audio shop in texas however that sell high end audio eauipment. It was just a guy who purchaed them with the intention of using them but never did, traded to his friend for something and he didn’t want them and now has put up for sale, he is a respectable member of the community so no fishy business.

But I guess what your saying is focal warranty is trash and dont touch the headphones on the used market as they will just leave you hanging, even mr speakers doesnt do this and I have owned 3 pairs of his high end headphones and even sent one I purchased back for an upgrade that was used and he was happy to do it., amongst other customers of his that have purchased used had something come up and he was happy to fix.

So you spend 4k on utopia, decide to move on and your just stuck with them because focal doesn’t back their products unless it’s all done through the retailer as you’ve mentioned above etc. so even if I was to contact focal and say “hey one of the driver is playing up” and offered to pay for repiars going of what your saying because I’m not the original purchaser I’m not covered and they won’t do anything. Is that correct?

Do they not know about the secondary market? This has pretty much turned me off even getting them new, seeing as the next buyer if I ever wanted to sell them wouldn’t have any protection what so ever. I guess with focal its buy used at your own risk.

Use all the angry words you like but don’t attach me to something I never said. I didn’t say the warranty is trash, you did.

It’s been announced from day one the warranty is not transferable. I was trashed on headfi for nearly 6 months as a result of my efforts to make the warranty clear to all of you. Do what you like is what I’ve always said but if you get involved in a deal that goes bad because you didn’t buy new, this is on you not me or the manufacture.

 

[DivaFonda]

I’m not sure if the seller was a authorized re seller I know they are an audio shop in texas however that sell high end audio eauipment. It was just a guy who purchaed them with the intention of using them but never did, traded to his friend for something and he didn’t want them and now has put up for sale, he is a respectable member of the community so no fishy business.

But I guess what your saying is focal warranty is trash and dont touch the headphones on the used market as they will just leave you hanging, even mr speakers doesnt do this and I have owned 3 pairs of his high end headphones and even sent one I purchased back for an upgrade that was used and he was happy to do it., amongst other customers of his that have purchased used had something come up and he was happy to fix.

So you spend 4k on utopia, decide to move on and your just stuck with them because focal doesn’t back their products unless it’s all done through the retailer as you’ve mentioned above etc. so even if I was to contact focal and say “hey one of the driver is playing up” and offered to pay for repiars going of what your saying because I’m not the original purchaser I’m not covered and they won’t do anything. Is that correct?

Do they not know about the secondary market? This has pretty much turned me off even getting them new, seeing as the next buyer if I ever wanted to sell them wouldn’t have any protection what so ever. I guess with focal its buy used at your own risk.

It's all tied to money. You have not payed them directly. That's the real reason they wash their hands of their products even if they fail. They know it's their product but they don't view you as a real customer. Shortsightedness in not realizing that any used buyer can eventually become a new buyer.

On a side note, I went to Coach Store yesterday and a lady was saying how her leather tore at the strap. No third degree about where she bought it. They just treated her like a customer. There may be a fee or not, but the fact is they said they will fix it if she sends it off. That is the kind of company I'm talking about, who understands their product is still their product.

 

[iAudio365]

The warranty isn’t transferable but since they’ve never been registered you’re in luck since you’ll be the one registering them first. Also, ask for the sales receipt from the person you got them from.

I have the purchase receipt and no they’ve never been registered but I dont think the dealer is a “authorized” dealer they would have got them from the distributer though or “a” distributer.

But from what I’m hearing here this all means nothing if they haven’t been registered if they haven’t been purchased from a so called “authorized” dealer their considered grey market and focal won’t cover it so if something goes wrong your left with an expensive brick.

But based on the rest of the comments in this thread I think I will just not buy focals at all, seems poor form being you spend so much but are only really entitled if your the original purchaser.

Think of it like this your friend or family member is overseas traveling in the US or another country, sees the utopias in a shop, buys them for your for Christmas, you get them and there’s a driver issue. Your screwed.

Your mum, uncle, friend isn’t gonna go in and say “hey are you an authorised focal dealer”? Etc.

Yeh na, as much as I wanted a pair I now feel even buying brand new over here in AU at the current promo rate is a waste as the after market support isn’t there or I decide to move them on and after people find this thread I can’t see many buying focal used anymore. Warranty not transferrable, and then you have to chase down the original owners if there’s an issue and hope the retailer honors it. Just seems like a lot of work if you wanna buy a pair of used headphones.

Damn I really wanted some as well. Oh well I’ll have to think a bit more about it now wasn’t expecting all this honestly.

 

[TSAVJason]

It's all tied to money. You have not payed them directly. That's the real reason they wash their hands of their products even if they fail. They know it's their product but they don't view you as a real customer. Shortsightedness in not realizing that any used buyer can eventually become a new buyer.

On a side note, I went to Coach Store yesterday and a lady was saying how her leather tore at the strap. No third degree about where she bought it. They just treated her like a customer. There may be a fee or not, but the fact is they said they will fix it if she sends it off. That is the kind of company I'm talking about, who understands their product is still their product.

Apples & Apples please. Coach ownes that store, so they are responsible for their warranty.

 

[TSAVJason]

I have the purchase receipt and no they’ve never been registered but I dont think the dealer is a “authorized” dealer they would have got them from the distributer though or “a” distributer.

But from what I’m hearing here this all means nothing if they haven’t been registered if they haven’t been purchased from a so called “authorized” dealer their considered grey market and focal won’t cover it so if something goes wrong your left with an expensive brick.

But based on the rest of the comments in this thread I think I will just not buy focals at all, seems poor form being you spend so much but are only really entitled if your the original purchaser.

Think of it like this your friend or family member is overseas traveling in the US or another country, sees the utopias in a shop, buys them for your for Christmas, you get them and there’s a driver issue. Your screwed.

Your mum, uncle, friend isn’t gonna go in and say “hey are you an authorised focal dealer”? Etc.

Yeh na, as much as I wanted a pair I now feel even buying brand new over here in AU at the current promo rate is a waste as the after market support isn’t there or I decide to move them on and after people find this thread I can’t see many buying focal used anymore. Warranty not transferrable, and then you have to chase down the original owners if there’s an issue and hope the retailer honors it. Just seems like a lot of work if you wanna buy a pair of used headphones.

Damn I really wanted some as well. Oh well I’ll have to think a bit more about it now wasn’t expecting all this honestly.

Under your description you would not be screwed you would have the inconvenience of having to send them to the distributor it was assigned to if they are under warranty.

 

[iAudio365]

Use all the angry words you like but don’t attach me to something I never said. I didn’t say the warranty is trash, you did.

It’s been announced from day one the warranty is not transferable. I was trashed on headfi for nearly 6 months as a result of my efforts to make the warranty clear to all of you. Do what you like is what I’ve always said but if you get involved in a deal that goes bad because you didn’t buy new, this is on you not me or the manufacture.

Mate I’m not angry haha. Why you take all this so personal, you dont make the headphones.

Good for you for backing the warrantys etc, I’m not angry about it and no you didnt say the warranty was trash I did. Your decription of how they handle the warranty on a $4000 set of cans makes it appear to me like a garbage warranty. You didn’t write the warranty they did you just stand by it as a retailer, in “my” eyes and I’m sure many others now, the focal warranty is bad unless your the original purchaser but even then it’s bad because selling them used seemingly leaves the secondary owner with an expensive brick if something goes wrong, I’m not gonna hunt down re sellers on the used market who sell their focals second hand for warranty issues if ai have the original purchase receipt etc, why should i? If I’m willing to even pay for repair they still wont fix it, thats just a very bad warranty. And I will just avoid them now.

As much as I wanted a pair new or used there’s just to much risk involved, selling second hand of bought new is now a problem and buying used is an even bigger problem. Whether your smart about it or not, if you try to contact the original purchaser etc and they never respond your screwed.

There’s nothing personal here its just the first i’ve heard of it and maybe I’m to entitled when thinking about buying 4k headphones I don’t know.

 

[DivaFonda]

Apples & Apples please. Coach ownes that store, so they are responsible for their warranty.

She didn't say she bought it from their store. She could have bought it second hand. My point is they didn't ask her but just viewed her as a customer simply because she had one of their bags!

 

[dontfeedphils]

She didn't say she bought it from their store. She could have bought it second hand. My point is they didn't ask her but just viewed her as a customer simply because she had one of their bags!

She was at a Coach store, they sell the merch they make. When you buy Focal, you buy from a dealer, not the manufacturer. That's the difference you're missing.

 

[TSAVJason]

Mate I’m not angry haha. Why you take all this so personal, you dont make the headphones.

Good for you for backing the warrantys etc, I’m not angry about it and no you didnt say the warranty was trash I did. Your decription of how they handle the warranty on a $4000 set of cans makes it appear to me like a garbage warranty. You didn’t write the warranty they did you just stand by it as a retailer, in “my” eyes and I’m sure many others now, the focal warranty is bad unless your the original purchaser but even then it’s bad because selling them used seemingly leaves the secondary owner with an expensive brick if something goes wrong, I’m not gonna hunt down re sellers on the used market who sell their focals second hand for warranty issues if ai have the original purchase receipt etc, why should i? If I’m willing to even pay for repair they still wont fix it, thats just a very bad warranty. And I will just avoid them now.

As much as I wanted a pair new or used there’s just to much risk involved, selling second hand of bought new is now a problem and buying used is an even bigger problem. Whether your smart about it or not, if you try to contact the original purchaser etc and they never respond your screwed.

There’s nothing personal here its just the first i’ve heard of it and maybe I’m to entitled when thinking about buying 4k headphones I don’t know.

I’m willing to show the path to resolve to anyone with a justifiable concern. In fact I’ve done it for many people in other distribution territories that are not being treated correctiy. I’m disinclined to help those that spout litigious comments or make up rules simply because that is what they think is right.

 

[DivaFonda]

But when you try to get repairs, sounds like Focal wants to know where you bought it before repairing it. Seems that matters more than the product failing. That's my point. No questions asked on the part of Coach and Louis Vuitton and probably other high fashion houses. They just need to see the bag in person to make sure it's not counterfeit. Apple never asked where I bought my phone that got replaced due to bad wifi, just replaced it.

 

[TSAVJason]

But when you try to get repairs, sounds like Focal wants to know where you bought it before repairing it. Seems that matters more than the product failing. That's my point. No questions asked on the part of Coach and Louis Vuitton and probably other high fashion houses. They just need to see the bag in person to make sure it's not counterfeit. Apple never asked where I bought my phone that got replaced due to bad wifi, just replaced it.

I don’t sell coach or have a relationship with them so obviously I can’t comment. I do sell Focal and I understand their customer care process. I can comment on Focal and any brand I sell but I as a dealer always do my diligence and make sure I fully understand warranties and service avenues. That is what a dealer is for, to take care of customers with issues that are a pain in your butt to deal with. We dealers are supposed to be honest trained professionals.

 

[TSAVJason]

But when you try to get repairs, sounds like Focal wants to know where you bought it before repairing it. Seems that matters more than the product failing. That's my point. No questions asked on the part of Coach and Louis Vuitton and probably other high fashion houses. They just need to see the bag in person to make sure it's not counterfeit. Apple never asked where I bought my phone that got replaced due to bad wifi, just replaced it.

So let’s see, you’re asking Focal to perform as though they are making the same profit as Apple or Coach. Focal is much smaller than both these companies both in profit and distribution.

Yes Focal does pay out money to distributors to take care of their assigned product warranty so it seems perfectly reasonable to have the paid person responsible

 

[bflat]

OK, we have jumped the shark, beaten the dead horse, sun has set, case is closed. If the warranty policy still bothers you, please go to any Chord thread and complain to your heart's content. You may even get responses from Chord management. They tend to get pretty personal so it will be much more satisfying.

 

[csglinux]

OK, we have jumped the shark, beaten the dead horse, sun has set, case is closed. If the warranty policy still bothers you, please go to any Chord thread and complain to your heart's content. You may even get responses from Chord management. They tend to get pretty personal so it will be much more satisfying.

Chord?!?