Purchasing Gray Market Yamaha Clavinova Products

[wally]

To: CVPUG Members and Visitors
From: Yamaha Corporation of America (YCA)
Re: Purchasing Gray Market Yamaha Clavinova Products

While Yamaha recognizes that this user group is a private forum for
Clavinova users, Yamaha believes that recent postings to the site by
users are misleading current and prospective users with respect to the
applicability of US warranty coverage for gray market purchases. Since
consumers acting on the basis of such misleading information will not
have the positive experience that Yamaha would like them to have, we are
posting this information to correct the records.

1. Any consumer thinking of purchasing a Yamaha Clavinova from any
source other than an authorized Yamaha Corporation of America (YCA)
dealer should first visit http://www.yamaha.com/warranty_safety.asp to
obtain the correct information on warranty support. Consumers should
know that:
a. If you purchase a Clavinova that was not built for the US
market, it may be constructed to run on 220/240v, and may come with a
power cord that does not fit US outlets. Using a power converter,
and/or a plug adapter, may cause the unit not to operate correctly, and
will void whatever foreign warranty coverage may otherwise have existed.

b. It very definitely will NOT be covered by any US warranty.
c. Your unit will arrive unassembled.
d. It will not have the US Edition software upgrade on it.
e. It may not have a bench.

2. The link on Yamaha's site found at
http://music.yamaha.com/registration/
has nothing at all to do with warranty coverage. It is merely a site
where you, as an individual, may register with Yamaha to be placed on
Yamaha's distribution lists for marketing information. Postings to the
contrary are wrong.

It is the goal of YCA that every Clavinova purchaser have an
exceptional, positive experience shopping for, purchasing, and playing
his or her Clavinova. YCA and its US authorized dealers work hard to
provide that experience. We hope that with the benefit of the correct
information, Clavinova users will understand the advantages of
purchasing only from our authorized U.S. dealers. If anyone has
questions, they can be directed to Yamaha's attention via e-mail
addressed to infostation@yamaha.com

[Sunny]

Thanks, Wally, for posting YCA's reponse to some of our concerns (specifically about the US warranty issue).

So, Yamaha USA does monitor this forum... Very well, then. But have you noticed how YCA's response is so self-centered? Its primary concern seems to be focused on NOT losing any market share to those so-called gray market dealers. How about addressing the other concerns posted by CVPUG members?

Firstly, about the "positive shopping experience". If YCA dealers could provide that positive shopping experience, why are there so many postings from disgruntled and frustrated buyers in US? (Strange -- very few complaints from outside of US market, eh?) If YCA could really provide that "positive shopping experience" through its dealers, prospective buyers would not be driven away to those gray market dealers in the first place. This is definitely an area where YCA should concentrate on improving first.

Secondly, I think many users may have been unwittingly duped into registering online just to be on "Yamaha's distribution lists for marketing information". This is akin to volunteering to sign up on Yamaha's spam list! Although Yamaha may not have spammed its user list yet, at least Yamaha could have used the list to do something positive for its users. For a start, how about informing its registered users about the availability and the purpose of the firmware upgrades? This would at least be an incentive for users to register with Yamaha (if it's not for warranty purposes).

There were many other issues posted by various members previously. Perhaps this is your opportunity to vent? (... now that we know YCA is at least listening quietly, if not addressing our concerns directly...)

[willjohn]

Wally:

Woud you mind sharing with us from where this letter came and the name of the auther and his position (if known). Was it an email to you or what?

Thanks.

John

[wally]

The letter came to me via YCA's legal councel. I have no idea who -- at YCA -- monitors our forum.

[MeGaBiT]

I understand the warranty issues, but what's the downside of not having the US Edition software?

I've seen these pianos on the internet, and was interested, but ended up buying mine from a local "authorized" store anyway.

[raktron]

Originally posted by Sunny

Firstly, about the "positive shopping experience". If YCA dealers could provide that positive shopping experience, why are there so many postings from disgruntled and frustrated buyers in US?


I'm glad to know I'm not the only one turned off by YCA's tactics.

I had very mixed feelings when buying my CLP-175. I love the product, but Yamaha's "control freak" attitude toward the US market is irritating, with it's tight-fisted rule over dealers and excessive US mark-ups. How frustrating it is to research a purchase when the only prices you can find are inflated to comic proportions, and nobody is allowed to even hint at actual street prices for fear of being shut down.

Yamaha, if you are reading this, please know that I will probably buy an acoustic piano a few years from now. The opportunity to impress me has come and gone.