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Hi!

I am looking to add a second-hand speaker to my system. I‘ve encountered multiple fraudulent offers on online market places. One of the quick and easy safeguards I have begun using to determine an offer‘s legitimacy and accuracy is the devices serial number - usually there is already a picture showing it, or sellers are readily sharing this information as it doesn‘t contain private information.

With the SN, I then contact Sonos support and get the date of first registration. A date, nothing else. No identifiable information. 

This worked twice in the past week. Customer service was fast, uncomplicated and helpful. Both times I (unfortunately) discovered that the sellers had provided false information on the device age (or to be precise: date of first registration - I‘m aware that I can read the manufacturing date straight from the SN without contacting support).

Today, two separate customer service reps have rejected my request, stating that this information cannot be provided due to Sonos’ data protection rules. So I‘m wondering: which one is it? Is customer service allowed to share this information, and if so, why isn‘t this known to all reps? Or is this not allowed, and then why do some reps share these data? I appreciate data protection, but I don‘t understand how the registration date compromises anyone‘s privacy. 

Please clarify Sonos‘ stance. I‘d appreciate to continue being able to get these dates - they prevent fraud and increase my willingness to extend my Sonos network with additional devices, be they new or used.

Thanks!

Why would you need a date of registration?  All information pertaining to generations of models are from date of manufacture. 


I believe the OP is trying to determine the “In-Service” date. Using the Play 1 as an example: *

  • Introduced 2013
  • In Service by original owner 2015
  • 9 Years (through 12/31/24) used or abused 😂

 * The OP has to take the seller’s word regarding used gear that they are the original owner


I believe the OP is trying to determine the “In-Service” date. Using the Play 1 as an example: *

  • Introduced 2013
  • In Service by original owner 2015
  • 9 Years (through 12/31/24) used or abused 😂

 * The OP has to take the seller’s word regarding used gear that they are the original owner

Correct, thanks for providing this example. The version and date of manufacture are indeed obvious. Where things become dubious is when sellers are claiming things like „barely used“, „purchased two months ago“. What you call „in-service“ date is my best proxy for use/abuse, and to confirm whether a seller is being honest with their statements. In both cases where I confirmed the registration dates, sellers had provided false information about the purchase dates. Manufacturing dates would not have provided any value added, as those dates were months/years before even the verified registration date. Besides wear and tear, the other aspect is obviously warranty. In both cases, sellers claimed that the products were in warranty, which they weren’t.

In any case, thanks for the feedback! 

By the way, I didn‘t mention this before: I actually got the idea to look into this from other posts in this community, so I suppose that my approach to verification is somewhat common for products which have been on the market for some years?


I’d doubt that Sonos would ever provide ‘in service’ dates, or even if they really ‘know’ that. Due to privacy laws across the world. 

I suppose you could get a 99% veracity due to the fact that a Sonos device needs to be registered before it can be used, but honestly, I couldn’t confirm that the device was ‘gently used’, no matter when it was registered. And I’d be willing to bet that they wouldn’t be excited to share that information. I can see the lawyers cringing already. 


Even if registration dates and runtimes were available, there would be no indication that the unit was subjected to potential life limiting events such as power line over voltage transients or temperature conditions.


I’d doubt that Sonos would ever provide ‘in service’ dates, or even if they really ‘know’ that. Due to privacy laws across the world. 

I suppose you could get a 99% veracity due to the fact that a Sonos device needs to be registered before it can be used, but honestly, I couldn’t confirm that the device was ‘gently used’, no matter when it was registered. And I’d be willing to bet that they wouldn’t be excited to share that information. I can see the lawyers cringing already. 

Thanks. Let me clarify: Sonos did already provide this information to me on at least two occasions. In fact I hadn‘t even considered that this could be controversial, and Sonos support reps gave me that info (once on the phone, once on the chat) immediately without further questions. 

The other time, they did not, citing data protection. 

This is why I would like to hear other users‘ experiences, and ideally have an official stance from Sonos as to what they are allowed to share/not share.

As to the information that can be derived from the in-service/registration date: agree that this isn‘t great info, but as it showed me in both cases that the sellers weren‘t being honest, it allowed me to step away from purchasing these devices without having to undertake more thorough checks. To that was clearly of value to me (and, looking at this community, apparently to other users before me).

Have a good day everyone, and thanks for providing your input!


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