Change In Warranty Policy?

[bernie]

I have just been told by a Yamaha dealer here in the U.S. that Yamaha has recently decided not to honor warranties on its digital pianos sold in Canada or overseas to U.S. residents. While the hardware may be identical, the software sets are different and it's possible to identify the intended market with a few key entrys.

Is this dealer's information correct? Or is he blowing smoke because he has a vested interest in not loosing a sale?

I live in the Detroit area and shopping in Windsor, Ontario is a common practice. Since I'm in the market for a 207/208 or maybe a 209/210 I was about to go across the boarder to check prices. If the warranty policy really has changed, it might affect my decision.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

bernie

[danielsanderson]

Your dealer is correct, Yamaha US will not honor warranties for pianos sold outside of the US. Yamaha calls these "grey market" pianos, as if to imply there is something illegal about buying their product outside of your country of origin. (There isn't.)

Yamaha US has been revoking dealer licenses of anyone in the US that honors a warranty on a non-US piano. They've also been revoking licenses to give some dealers a geographical monopoly in their area, presumably so they can charge more. Yamaha has a list of implausible reasons they tell customers to explain this unfriendly practice.

(While these are monopolistic price-fixing behaviors, it's hard to describe them as such in legal terms [I think], as they are simply price-fixing their own product, not all digital pianos, and there is little barrier to entry in the market of digital pianos as a whole. But they do so knowing that Clavinovas are considered a superior brand. Some may argue that makes it right for Yamaha to encourage higher selling prices of their products. It could also be simply that Yamaha US is a separate corporate organization from Yamaha Japan, and they're looking out for their own interests...? Makes me wish I knew more about US franchise law, or whatever would apply here...)

[bernie]

Thanks for the reply. It confirms what I expected.

I found a similar thread in the 200 Forum indicating that Keyboard Centre in Canada will honor a warranty claim for U.S. residents that purchase from them. I'd like to find out more on how that is handled (shipping it back to them, or what).

bernie