Humminbird MSRP Fact or Fiction?

[KAG]

Called about a Humminbird 1198 today and the guy told me Humminbird has a watch list out for any dealers selling below MSRP and if you purchase a unit for less than the MSRP they can and will void your warranty possibly. He said it was tied to the unit serial number. I know there are several that make their living on the various forums selling electronics on "sale" so to speak i have bought from them in them in the past. I called to possibly buy one and he quoted me $2799.00 on one........where as I see them for $2250 in other places.

Anyone actually know if this is fact.

[tsaints1115]

They can control MAP (minimum advertised price) but cannot tell someone the minimum they'll accept to sell it as long as its not advertised.
They certainly cannot void your warranty regardless as long as you purchased it legitimately.

[Redge]

KAG I was told the same story, I don't know if they can void the warranty or not. It would be nice to really know! It is funny that wasn't mentioned to me, until I had already spent a lot of dollars!

[KAG]

Agree the truth is a hard thing to get sometimes

[Cray]

They just can not advertise a lower price than MSRP. They can't void your warranty. Humminbird Greg even advises you to buy from your CDC spnser vendors.

[KAG]

They just can not advertise a lower price than MSRP. They can't void your warranty. Humminbird Greg even advises you to buy from your CDC spnser vendors.

Interesting

Considering who told me........

[Shellback]

Warranty can depend on the unit being bought from an "authorized dealer". I'd suppose if a shipment got into the wrong hands and a fly by night business started selling them, warranty could be denied. That's why many companies want a copy of your sales receipt.

[Cray]

KAG, just thinking out loud here. I have noticed that when you go to the outlet site it looks just like the one for Minkota and a couple of others. Just wondering if they are just some kind of Co. That is authorized to sell as a rep for factories. If so I can see where you might get a sales rep that would tell you something like that just to get the sale.
Like Shellback said, I would think they would have some provision for identifying stolen units and refusing warranty on them.

[ShilohRed]

Just make sure who every you buy from is a Dealer. If not then your warranty can go out the window. Say buying one off Ebay from one of those sellers that don't know the factory.
Pete

[Humminbird_Greg]

KAG,
I don’t know anything about a “watch list” for this but than I probably would not be told about one either – it’ not a part of my job responsibilities. Also, I only help out on the boards when I can get my normal job duties completed.

My two Lincolns on this:
As far as I know the only information we want the receipt for is to verify the date of purchase. As long as you buy a unit from an authorized dealer you should not have a problem. Second hand purchases are just that and will have no factory warranty (original purchaser only). Now I don’t know what contractual obligations a dealer has; but if there is someone out there not playing by the ‘rules’, than they should be stopped. As far as buying from a board sponsor that has the lowest price (and good service): that’s just a no-brainer to me.



Cray,
If you are talking about the on-line store on the Humminbird web site it is probably the same one for Minn Kota. We use the same company for this (Shopatron?). If I understand it correctly: when you put in an order, it gets passed to the various member companies who have a chance to fill your order (if they have it in stock and based on your location) before it is sent to Humminbird. All prices on that web site will be MSRP.