Do you have the unit now and did you register the warranty? From your question it seemed like you were interested in buying one but wanted a couple reports on it first. I can understand them wanting to check the old one out first. They certainly can't be sending a transducer out to everyone who calls. One time I was having a problem with a brand new unit which they wanted me to send in. As I didn't want to be without a finder, I gave them a CC# to charge, and they shipped me a new one right out, and then credited the card when they received my old one. I thought that was a fair deal. Maybe if you didn't have a CC, you would be screwed.