FYI - Cardo Scala Rider refuses to warranty their products

[Clovis]

Scala boast how their products have a 2 year warranty.

Unless you buy directly from them or a "brick and mortar" store they will refuse to honor their 2 year warranty.

One of my G9 units (nearly $300 in 2013) died, won't charge, ect. I emailed their support. They requested my contact info, proof of purchase, ect.

Sent that to them and got this response.

Why on earth would the average consumer not expect there to be a warranty because they buy it online? All I can say is I am returning the new G9x powerset I just bought yesterday, ditching all of my scala rider stuff and switching to SENA!

Hello Justin,

Thank you for contacting the Cardo Systems Support Center.

Unfortunately we cannot provide direct assistance in this case as we do not provide warranty support for Amazon purchases and we do not authorize any of our resellers to sell products on Amazon. You will need to contact the reseller that the product was purchased from and work directly with them in order to obtain support. If the reseller isn't willing to provide assistance but didn't list that the product warranty is void if purchased on eBay, Amazon, or other similar online sites, you may want to consider contacting Amazon or your credit card company about a fraudulent sale.

To avoid potential problems and to receive our support and warranty coverage, we strongly recommend buying our products only from authorized Cardo dealers. Your favorite brick-and-mortar store, or if authorized, the store's own website is always your best bet. Generic online resellers such as Amazon or online auction sites such as eBay are not among Cardo's authorized dealers, and purchasing our products from such sites will be at your own risk.

Cardo strives to provide quality products and exceptional customer service. We select dealers who share that vision. Buying grey market items from unauthorized dealers on the Internet is counterproductive and also adversely affects unsuspecting online consumers who may be purchasing used, counterfeit or defective products or devices whose warranties are void. Protect your investment by purchasing genuine Cardo and scala rider® products only from authorized dealers.

http://www.cardosystems.com/us/where...ortant-message

Please feel free to contact us if we can assist you with any other questions.

Best Regards,

Geoff Grey
Customer Service
Cardo Systems, Inc.

+1 412.788.4533
+1 800.488.0363
support@cardosystems.com

[madvlad]

Sena is the way to go for sure

[big_sur]

So did you contact the amazon seller? They are legally obligated to warranty it for at least a year (google warranty of merchantability)

[Jmetz]

Yep Cardo sucks.

[Clovis]

I contacted the seller (about 10 minutes ago). Haven't heard back yet... don't really expect to.

I replied to the Cardo guy to have his supervisor call me.

[Jmetz]

Sena is the way to go for sure

Speaking of Sena..

[Clovis]

I have a Sena SM10 that I picked up recently for my radar detector. Works great. Wish I had all Sena units...

[madvlad]

Speaking of Sena..

I haven't forgot I swear lol, I got you this Friday metz. Thanks for the patience breh

[Jmetz]

No worries man.

[asp_125]

Good to know! I know who I'm switching to when our Scala units expire.

[Ezzzzy1]

Anyone have a Sena that they want to get rid of?

Metz, what were the ones you group bought? Model number

[Clovis]

Ordered a pair of sena headsets.

[Jmetz]

Anyone have a Sena that they want to get rid of?

Metz, what were the ones you group bought? Model number

The SMH10's, if there is interest I can look into another buy.

[Kim-n-Dean]

Why on earth would the average consumer not expect there to be a warranty because they buy it online? All I can say is I am returning the new G9x powerset I just bought yesterday, ditching all of my scala rider stuff and switching to SENA!

You should always check to see if you are buying from an authorized dealer or reseller. The internet is full of 'grey market' items. Buyer beware, buyer be smart and make sure you're buying from an authorized dealer. I ALWAYS check before buying ANYTHING on-line!!

Hello Justin,

Thank you for contacting the Cardo Systems Support Center.

Unfortunately we cannot provide direct assistance in this case as we do not provide warranty support for Amazon purchases and we do not authorize any of our resellers to sell products on Amazon. You will need to contact the reseller that the product was purchased from and work directly with them in order to obtain support. If the reseller isn't willing to provide assistance but didn't list that the product warranty is void if purchased on eBay, Amazon, or other similar online sites, you may want to consider contacting Amazon or your credit card company about a fraudulent sale.

To avoid potential problems and to receive our support and warranty coverage, we strongly recommend buying our products only from authorized Cardo dealers. Your favorite brick-and-mortar store, or if authorized, the store's own website is always your best bet. Generic online resellers such as Amazon or online auction sites such as eBay are not among Cardo's authorized dealers, and purchasing our products from such sites will be at your own risk.

Cardo strives to provide quality products and exceptional customer service. We select dealers who share that vision. Buying grey market items from unauthorized dealers on the Internet is counterproductive and also adversely affects unsuspecting online consumers who may be purchasing used, counterfeit or defective products or devices whose warranties are void. Protect your investment by purchasing genuine Cardo and scala rider® products only from authorized dealers.

http://www.cardosystems.com/us/where...ortant-message

Please feel free to contact us if we can assist you with any other questions.

Best Regards,

Geoff Grey
Customer Service
Cardo Systems, Inc.

+1 412.788.4533
+1 800.488.0363
support@cardosystems.com

Their response sounds extremely polite and to the point. Not their fault you didn't check to see who they authorize...

For those of you who care about warranties, just about anything bought on-line and coming from New York is most likely 'grey market'. No warranties and usually it's a refurbished item.

[TFOGGuys]

I'm an authorized dealer for both Cardo and Sena. They both have policies in place to protect brick-n-mortar retailers including Minimum Advertised Pricing policies, so if you see products like this discounted more than 10% online, you're either buying from an unauthorized dealer, a dealer that is in violation of their MAP agreement and most likely NOT going to be a dealer much longer, or buying a discontinued item that is no longer subject to MAP. Note that the MAP policies don't restrict what the dealers can actually SELL the items at, they just can't advertise the item below a certain price, nor can they use language like "call for best price" in their advertising. That being said, there's nothign to prevent one from contacting an authorized dealer to see if there's some wiggle room...

[Clovis]

Update:

I get the reason for a policy... to protect the brick and motar retailers but (and correct me if I'm wrong) a company can't refuse to warranty a product it makes just because you bought it online, right? That would be like GM having a policy that a warranty only applies if you buy direct from the factory. As a consumer, how would you reasonably know this is their policy? All they have is an obscure link on their website (now "Important Message") that I had never seen until the rep referenced in the email above.

Bottom line, it's their product, they manufactured it. They can check the serial number to confirm, heck I even registgerd the headsets when I purchased them.

Update: So a supervisor called me. Very rude and combative. Basically he told me to pound sound and actually taunted me that he wasn't going to do anything. I was stunned.

Apparently this guy has no manager, he runs the show!

So I asked for his legal corespondance address. He wouldn't provide to me at first but then reluctantly gave me the corporate address. He refused to to tell me who the CEO of the company is let alone a phone number.

So I went to the PA Sec of State and looked it up.

I'll pull a Hans Blix from the UN and write him a very angry letter.

Business Name History
Name	Name Type
Cardo Systems, Inc.	Current Name
Business Corporation - Foreign - Information
Entity Number:	3902199
Status:	Active
Entity Creation Date:	8/27/2009
State of Business.:	DE
Registered Office Address:	100 High Tower Boulevard, Suite 101 Pittsburgh PA 15205 Allegheny
Mailing Address:	No Address
Officers
Name:	ABRAHAM GLEZERMAN
Title:	President
Address:	STE 101100 HIGHTOWER BLVD PITTSBURGH PA 15205-1155
Name:	ABRAHAM GLEZERMAN
Title:	President
Address:	STE 101100 HIGHTOWER BLVD PITTSBURGH PA 15205-1155

[Clovis]

Looks like they're incorporated out of Wilington, DE... like 90% of the credit cards out there.


Entity Details

---

THIS IS NOT A STATEMENT OF GOOD STANDING
File Number:	4672348	Incorporation Date / Formation Date:	04/02/2009 (mm/dd/yyyy)
Entity Name:	CARDO SYSTEMS, INC.
Entity Kind:	CORPORATION	Entity Type:	GENERAL
Residency:	DOMESTIC	State:	DE
REGISTERED AGENT INFORMATION
Name:	CORPORATION SERVICE COMPANY
Address:	2711 CENTERVILLE RD SUITE 400
City:	WILMINGTON	County:	NEW CASTLE
State:	DE	Postal Code:	19808
Phone:	(302)636-5401

[birchyboy]

Their written warranty doesn't specifies that it has to be purchased from a registered seller for the warranty to be applicable; it only specifies a receipt from your store and it not be from an online auction. I don't think they can exclude you from warranty service.

This is what I get from their warranty on a Scala Rider (not sure if this is your exact model or not):

This warranty also becomes void if:a. any of the seals on the case or battery are broken or Product or battery show signs of tampering,
b. the battery is used in equipment other than the equipment for which it was intended.
c. the Product is used in contravention of its intended purpose
d. the Product was purchased from online auctions

[koop]

I do warranty law. I have to run out but I'll look into it later. Anyone have a link to Cardo's written warranty?

[Clovis]

I found this on google. Product is registered btw.

http://www.cardosystems.com/user_fil...d_warranty.pdf

Prior to contacting us, make sure you have the product serial number available.This can be found on a white sticker on the back of your product. The serialnumber consists of a single letter followed by nine digits. Service is provided underlimited warranty. To receive warranty service, your Product must be registered.Please present the Product, along with your serial number, bill of sale (receipt) atany authorized Service Center or at the store from which you have purchased theProduct. Cardo Systems, Inc. will only accept Products returned in compliance withour Warranty Provisions and submitted with a Return Authorization Number issuedby a Cardo authorized service department. The Company retains the right to return all

shipments not in compliance with our Warranty Provisions.

[bulldog]

Yeah this is pretty common for Amazon and Ebay. You always have to look for a authorized dealer if not they will not honor it. I swear I looked at these before and no only did it say Cardo does not warranty units bought on Amazon, it even states you cannot return to Amazon because it contains flammable gas and liquids

Yup, here is the one I read: http://www.amazon.com/Scala-Rider-G9.../dp/B007Y8XZ58


Special Shipping Information: This product cannot be returned to Amazon.com because it uses flammable liquids and gases, is classified as a hazardous material, or meets other criteria.

Does Cardo honor warranty with you selling units? Dec 26, 2013

No. Cardo does not cover units sold by amazon

I'd still check with seller though as they are usually down to honor it themselves. I have had them cover me before on a similar issue

[Clovis]

I called agian. Asked for the CEO by name. Guy wouldn't transfer me so he took down my name and number.

I sent an email to the likely email addresses of the CEO as well. We'll see if he responds.

In either case, I'm done with Cardo. My new G9x unit will arrive today but it's going right back. I ordered a pair of Senas that will come tomorrow.

Sena has a 2 year warranty as well but they don't try and pull the grey-market purchase BS.

[TFOGGuys]

I do warranty law. I have to run out but I'll look into it later. Anyone have a link to Cardo's written warranty?

http://www.cardosystems.com/user_fil...d_warranty.pdf

[bulldog]

I do warranty law. I have to run out but I'll look into it later. Anyone have a link to Cardo's written warranty?

Their written warranty doesn't specifies that it has to be purchased from a registered seller for the warranty to be applicable; it only specifies a receipt from your store and it not be from an online auction. I don't think they can exclude you from warranty service.

This is what I get from their warranty on a Scala Rider (not sure if this is your exact model or not):

My search gave me this http://reseller.cardosystems.com/

Welcome to the Cardo Systems Dealer Registration Program

To ensure end users purchase only from Authorized Dealers capable of delivering our unique benefits, all US Direct and Indirect Dealers are required to complete this Dealer Registration Program process and execute a revised Dealer Agreement in order to be considered for authorization with Cardo Systems. Only Authorized Dealers will be allowed to purchase Cardo Systems products effective June 1, 2012. In addition, certain products introduced in 2012 will only be sold to authorized dealers who have registered and been approved by Cardo.

http://www.cardosystems.com/where-to...ortant-message

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO END-USERS ABOUT
PURCHASING FROM AUTHORIZED DEALERS

To avoid potential problems and to receive our support and warranty coverage, we strongly recommend buying our products only from authorized Cardo dealers. Your favorite brick-and-mortar store, or if authorized, the store's own website is always your best bet. Generic online resellers such as Amazon or online auction sites such as eBay are not among Cardo's authorized dealers, and purchasing our products from such sites will be at your own risk.
Cardo strives to provide quality products and exceptional customer service. We select dealers who share that vision. Buying grey market items from unauthorized dealers on the Internet is counterproductive and also adversely affects unsuspecting online consumers who may be purchasing used, counterfeit or defective products or devices whose warranties are void. Protect your investment by purchasing genuine Cardo and scala rider^®products only from authorized dealers.

Sorry Clovis, not trying to be a dick, just showing you what I saw and pretty sure this is why Cardo will not warranty it. Although per this statement sounds like the issue is with the seller doing this when they know they are not authorized...which kind of seems Cardo does not authorize. Again go after the seller!