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I know the warranty is for only 1 year, but as my luck would have it one of my Amps just stopped working will not power on. So I called support knowing it would be bad news, but thought hey since my wife wants me to remove all Sonos speakers after the app update since she hates the new app and I know it’s a huge big issue for a lot of people, so I thought maybe Sonos would send me a refurb replacement once I shipped my broken one back. That seemed fair to me and my wife will not see I had to spend money on any Sonos products and everything would be back up and working for me. However, I was met with strong push back that all Sonos could do is give a 30% discount. Again, totally get it and hey 30% is better than nothing, but right now when the company is trying to keep any loyal customers they still can (and boy am I loyal I have my entire house all rooms with Sonos and I also did my parents house the same way as well) and thought maybe they would be more flexible with their warranty during this time to be nice. But maybe I’m just crazy in thinking that way and I just should be looking for a replacement system 

The situation will depend on where in the world you are, but consumer protection laws in many countries mean that a poor warranty period (Sonos’ 1 year warranty is not good) is not the end of it.

In the UK and Europe, consumer rights legislation allows for a “reasonable lifetime” of up to 6 years, depending on the item. The Amp is an expensive piece of equipment, and I doubt that any expert on consumer electronics would agree that a working life of just over a year is acceptable.


The situation will depend on where in the world you are, but consumer protection laws in many countries mean that a poor warranty period (Sonos’ 1 year warranty is not good) is not the end of it.

In the UK and Europe, consumer rights legislation allows for a “reasonable lifetime” of up to 6 years, depending on the item. The Amp is an expensive piece of equipment, and I doubt that any expert on consumer electronics would agree that a working life of just over a year is acceptable.

Isn’t this though why some users opt to buy ‘extended warranties’ to cover for the situation outside the manufacturers warranty period. If the law covered these things for us, no-one would ever sell, or purchase, the extended warranty insurance. 

You can often buy such policies online, at any point during the manufacturers warranty period too. I tend to cover expensive items with such insurance cover at least for a 5 year period from date of purchase. I have my TV covered and our Home central heating system covered, just as examples.


Of course, you can pay for an insurance policy if you want.

But the statutory right is there and the extra cost to the consumer, assuming that the underlying fault is manufacturing/design fault, is zero.

Personally I never pay for extended warranties, because within the price of the warranty you pay for the average repair cost across all items of that type, plus the overheads and profit margin of the insurance company that sells the warranty. I would rather set some of my own money aside, and pay none of those overheads/profits.


Check the credit card you used to buy your Amp. Some cards double the warranty offered by the manufacturer. 


The situation will depend on where in the world you are, but consumer protection laws in many countries mean that a poor warranty period (Sonos’ 1 year warranty is not good) is not the end of it.

In the UK and Europe, consumer rights legislation allows for a “reasonable lifetime” of up to 6 years, depending on the item. The Amp is an expensive piece of equipment, and I doubt that any expert on consumer electronics would agree that a working life of just over a year is acceptable.

Isn’t this though why some users opt to buy ‘extended warranties’ to cover for the situation outside the manufacturers warranty period. If the law covered these things for us, no-one would ever sell, or purchase, the extended warranty insurance. 

You can often buy such policies online, at any point during the manufacturers warranty period too. I tend to cover expensive items with such insurance cover at least for a 5 year period from date of purchase. I have my TV covered and our Home central heating system covered, just as examples.

Unless you bought from Sonos direct, your contract (in the UK at least) is with the retailer, which presumably is why the better retailers such as Richer Sounds or John Lewis offer longer warranties by default on certain items. Richer Sounds for example include a 6 year warranty on most of the Sonos range, excluding portables.


Ugh first Harmony remotes and now Sonos speakers... I really wish APPLE would just purchase Sonos and Harmony and take over the home theater multi-room audio category!!! I am no longer ever going to be loyal to a consumer electronics company ever again! 


Isn’t this though why some users opt to buy ‘extended warranties’ to cover for the situation outside the manufacturers warranty period. If the law covered these things for us, no-one would ever sell, or purchase, the extended warranty insurance. 

You can often buy such policies online, at any point during the manufacturers warranty period too. I tend to cover expensive items with such insurance cover at least for a 5 year period from date of purchase. I have my TV covered and our Home central heating system covered, just as examples.

Unless you bought from Sonos direct, your contract (in the UK at least) is with the retailer, which presumably is why the better retailers such as Richer Sounds or John Lewis offer longer warranties by default on certain items. Richer Sounds for example include a 6 year warranty on most of the Sonos range, excluding portables.

Yes I do (always) look for such deals - Smart Home Sounds is another retailer here in the UK, but where there’s no such retailer policy in place (and the item purchased is expensive to replace) I wouldn’t hesitate to take out extended warranty cover, personally speaking,  especially where electronic components are involved.

I guess you pay your money and take your choice, but for me, I would rather have a longer warranty cover period than say any discount etc. I covered my TV for 5 years and my central heating has 12 years of cover. I covered an iPhone/iPad for 4 years (just as examples).


Ken - your point is irrelevant to the OP. He has a broken Amp.

No insurance company will sell him an insurance policy for it, because it’s already broken.


Ken - your point is irrelevant to the OP. He has a broken Amp.

No insurance company will sell him an insurance policy for it, because it’s already broken.

No, I guess the OP is likely out of luck, assuming they have chosen to not cover their product whilst it was within the manufacturers warranty period. I’m just pointing out that’s why such ‘extended’ insurance cover ’exists’ and is available to people who opt to pay the extra cost to get their devices covered after the manufacturers earranty has expired.

In the UK there is the option of taking the matter to a ‘small claims court’ to try to recoup some of the cost, depending on it’s use and other factors, but obviously it’s usually much easier to purchase an extended warranty …and the court will take things into consideration, including if there was an extended warranty considered/offered at the point of sale, how the product was used/stored (type of surge protector in use, if any) etc. 


We don’t know what country the OP is in but, in the UK, going to court isn’t the only thing you can do to exercise your consumer rights.

The first step would be to go to the retailer that sold you the item, to explain the situation and invite them to respond accordingly. Many retailers will cooperate.

Then you have the option to send them a “letter before action”, stating your intention to use the courts if they don’t meet their obligations in law.

But I’m not sure why you suggest that a court would care whether an extended warranty was available or not at the time of purchase. As far as I’m aware, that is completely irrelevant to your rights as a consumer.


We don’t know what country the OP is in but, in the UK, going to court isn’t the only thing you can do to exercise your consumer rights.

 

Profile of OP says he’s in the US.

 


I like my odds and go without an extended warranty on my gear but every Sonos I gift someone gets a 4 year plan included.

Extra “insurance.” - I also ship them a good Tripp-Lite single outlet surge suppressor that includes replacement insurance for any connected device.


...I’m just pointing out that’s why such ‘extended’ insurance cover ’exists’ and is available to people who opt to pay the extra cost to get their devices covered after the manufacturers earranty has expired.

Yep, why they exist in the UK at least is to sell to people who don’t know their actual consumer rights.  In fact, a manufacturer’s warranty doesn’t mean much, purchasers’ contracts are with the retailer they buy from.  A warranty may give protection for a price but doesn’t in any way reduce one’s rights granted by law.

Having said that, I don’t know any decent retailer that doesn’t provide a TV with a 5 year warranty - why anyone would pay for one is truly beyond me.  I like that they do though - I like to think it helps keep prices down for others - a bit like all the suckers who stay with the same insurance companies year after year accepting the renewal price, subsidising others who don’t.

My parents used to buy those warranties until I pointed out how many times over they could have replaced things with the money they’d spent.

For the OP, I’d suggest calling again, expressing your disappointment in the failure - ask them directly if they feel it’s reasonable that their not inexpensive Amp only lasted such a short time.  If they feel it’s reasonable then ‘wow’ - if they don’t then push for a more reasonable resolution - i.e. a replacement.


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