Buying from an unauthorized dealer.

[martybernal]

I had an opportunity to purchase a new Mesa M9 for $150.00 less than the manufactures price for a purchase price of 1050.00. The problem I had with the purchase was I would be unable to register the amp for Mesa's 5 year warranty because the seller was an unauthorized dealer. This would have been an eBay purchase and I have great experiences with eBay. But I just felt a purchase like this I would be better safe than sorry. If it had been a pedal, cable or something like that I wouldn't have worried about it. Any how I did purchase the M9 from a authorized dealer and am really anxious to plug it in. Anyone else have a good or bad experience with new costly purchases from unauthorized dealers.

[brendanbassist]

$150 out of $1,200 isn't really a huge discount, so I think you made the right decision. If something were to go wrong, you're MUCH better of buying from an authorized dealer.

[billfitzmaurice]

No warranty is the price you pay with gray market goods. Let the buyer beware.

[anderbass]

Did you already try contacting Mesa Boogie asking if you could register it for warranty?

I'm guessing the ebay seller bought it from an authorised Mesa dealer that bit the dust and there's probably quite a few that have now a days. I realise Mesa has fixed pricing but you'd think a company like Mesa would still honor their warranty, they had to of made their profit margin when the amp was originally sold to an authorized dealer right. (or do they wholesale to unauthorised dealers w/o warranties now?)

[martybernal]

Originally Posted by anderbass

Did you already try contacting Mesa Boogie asking if you could register it for warranty?

I'm guessing the ebay seller bought it from an authorised Mesa dealer that bit the dust and there's probably quite a few that have now a days. I realise Mesa has fixed pricing but you'd think a company like Mesa would still honor their warranty, they had to of made their profit margin when the amp was originally sold to an authorized dealer right. (or do they wholesale to unauthorised dealers w/o warranties now?)

Honestly I had not contracted Mesa. I also have a Walkabout/Scout combo that I purchased from an authorized dealer. And really liked the security of the 5 year warranty. You bring up some good questions. What made me wonder about this amp was how did the unauthorized dealer get it in the first place? However like you said maybe he acquired it from an authorized dealer. He was going to warranty the amp for 90 days. For $150.00 more I choose the 5 years. I did however about 4 months ago buy a new Fender Custom Shop Jazz Bass Classic IV from an ebay online store. I registered it with Fender for the full warranty with no problems.

[singlemalt]

I'd buy a used Mesa from TBer, and take my chances without a warranty. Mesa may honor the warranty either way, it is after all a new amp, they expect to fix or replace a small percentage of product. Better to have you satisfied than posting your woes on TB.

I'd take my chances, but then I would never buy an extended warranty. So, if the price of the warranty is $150, all things being equal, I'd go without it.

Its the Ebay part of the story that scares me. I've looked at that same ebay seller a couple times, I'm just not ready to move on an amp.

So, I'd love to hear a review on your new M9! What are you replacing? Why?

Best of luck, I hope its the amp of your dreams!

[martybernal]

Originally Posted by singlemalt

I'd buy a used Mesa from TBer, and take my chances without a warranty. Mesa may honor the warranty either way, it is after all a new amp, they expect to fix or replace a small percentage of product. Better to have you satisfied than posting your woes on TB.

I'd take my chances, but then I would never buy an extended warranty. So, if the price of the warranty is $150, all things being equal, I'd go without it.

Its the Ebay part of the story that scares me. I've looked at that same ebay seller a couple times, I'm just not ready to move on an amp.

So, I'd love to hear a review on your new M9! What are you replacing? Why?

Best of luck, I hope its the amp of your dreams!

I was really on the fence with this. I agree with everything you said, I guess I just figured for $150.00 I'll take the 5 year warranty and have no worries or concerns. I am actually adding the M9 for the medium to large venues. I have a Walkabout/Scout which I am keeping for the smaller jobs. Man I love that amp.

I also have a pair of Avatar cabs coming, one B410 and one B212. So I ready to stack it all up at take a listen.

I'll definitely let you know what what I think of the M9. Most of what I have read here has been very positive.

Marty

[singlemalt]

Cool, That should be a powerful rig, with some flexibility in the cab set up too!

Maybe some pictures?

[LSquared]

I don't know what business model Mesa uses, but I used to own a sewing machine store. We were contractually obligated to provide warranty service on machines we sold, at our cost. As well as training / support. It was our responsibility to build those costs into our selling price, along with all the other costs of running a brick&mortar store.

Gray market machines were pretty common. These were sold sold in violation of the individual dealers' contracts, without warranty / support, generally without sales tax (shipped). People would come to us and ask us to price match. Sales tax on a $5,000 sewing machine would be more than our profit, so we simply couldn't go there.

Then we had to decide what to do when a person brought a gray market machine for service. Option 1: help them (at our cost) and hope for future business (yeah right). Option 2: tell them to leave and insure there would be no future business. Option 3: (which is what we did) Charge for training / support, and tell them to take the machine back where they got it for warranty / service.

[martybernal]

Originally Posted by singlemalt

Cool, That should be a powerful rig, with some flexibility in the cab set up too!

Maybe some pictures?

Pictures would be no problem.