Please anyone thinking of buying sonos please don't make the same mistake I did! Play bar went dead in less then 2 years. They only have one year warranties. I spent $800 some dollars on this thing and now it's a dead unit! They offered to replace it for $200!! What a joke!!! Seen around the Internet a lot of people are having the same issues! Please don't buy this people!
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DON'T listen to this guy!
Only 25% of the purchase price to replace an item a full year out of warranty? I dare say you just gave Sonos a free plug for their generous customer service!
I thought I would stay completely 'objective' here and so decided to search Google, Bing, Yahoo, Ask and the Internet Archive ...and a few other search engines. I must admit, I really CANNOT find the 'LOTS OF PEOPLE', who have the 'same issues', as mentioned by Donmega884... so this looks to be a completely malicious post... or one that has been exaggerated, so as to be vindictive.
Note also that Donmega884 is shown on this forum as a 'novice user' and has never replied to a post in the past etc; so has never raised any support issue here either, probably in the past two years etc.
I think people can draw their own conclusions from this thread.
It certainly has not put me off buying any Sonos equipment and the Sonos offer of a replacement PlayBar for $200 is a remarkable bargain to replace a piece of hardware that cost $800 two years ago, for a quarter of the price.
Personally, I would have spent the further $200 and been extremely grateful for the very kind offer from the Sonos Support Staff.
THAT is exactly what thought first came to my mind, and from Ken's followup, I see I am not alone!
And that there is no satisfying some people.
I suppose it's at times like these then that I'm glad in the UK where we obviously have far great consumer protection laws.
While it may be that Sonos are prepared to replace the item (not with a new one I'd wager), the real issue is that an $800 item has broken in less than 2 years and no matter what some may try to say, that's poor by any standards.
My Delonghi coffee machine broke about 3 months ago. It was 2 1/2 years old but came with a 2 year warranty (although people also need to appreciate the difference between a manufacturer's warranty and your rights as a consumer - and in some cases maybe simple moral obligations of a manufacturer...).
I contacted them and they said as it really shouldn't happen after such a short time they would repair it free of charge. I sent it away but heard nothing for a couple of weeks so called them. They apologised as there had been a mix up at the repairers and two weeks was too long to be without coffee... I received a brand new one two days later.
That's customer service!
While it may be that Sonos are prepared to replace the item (not with a new one I'd wager), the real issue is that an $800 item has broken in less than 2 years and no matter what some may try to say, that's poor by any standards.
My Delonghi coffee machine broke about 3 months ago. It was 2 1/2 years old but came with a 2 year warranty (although people also need to appreciate the difference between a manufacturer's warranty and your rights as a consumer - and in some cases maybe simple moral obligations of a manufacturer...).
I contacted them and they said as it really shouldn't happen after such a short time they would repair it free of charge. I sent it away but heard nothing for a couple of weeks so called them. They apologised as there had been a mix up at the repairers and two weeks was too long to be without coffee... I received a brand new one two days later.
That's customer service!
Completely agree, there's no way less than 24 months is an acceptable lifespan for an item costing as much as the Playbar does.
Perhaps Sonos should offer a longer guarantee if they have confidence in reliability, which I'm sure they do. But one common reason for failure of sensitive electronic equipment is electrical surge, and few people seem to use surge protection.
I think the charge of $200, which probably includes packaging & shipping costs abroad to another country, was a fair offer after two years ....and even as a 'protected' consumer in the UK, I would have taken that 'reasonable' option, rather than seek to battle things out in a claims court. Donmega884 had already had two years of use out the PlayBar, more than double the guarantee period.
Even if the Court ruled that such electrical items ought to last 6 years or more ... I don't think that a court would see $200 as being 'unreasonable' to cover the two years of previous usage and the shipping etc.
However more importantly, I personally don't think the 'vindictive' opening post above, is a way to begin any constructive negotiation or dialogue with any company... especially as there appears to be some 'exaggeration' or possible 'lies' in the post that's intended to cause others to avoid Sonos products.
If I were a UK Judge, I would likely find in favour of Sonos in this instance.
Even if the Court ruled that such electrical items ought to last 6 years or more ... I don't think that a court would see $200 as being 'unreasonable' to cover the two years of previous usage and the shipping etc.
However more importantly, I personally don't think the 'vindictive' opening post above, is a way to begin any constructive negotiation or dialogue with any company... especially as there appears to be some 'exaggeration' or possible 'lies' in the post that's intended to cause others to avoid Sonos products.
If I were a UK Judge, I would likely find in favour of Sonos in this instance.
He said "less than two years" though Ken. I don't think it would ever need to go to court however and there's plenty of UK specific stock available to avoid the need for shipping from abroad, so I don't think that argument stands up. Less than two years is covered by UK consumer law as far as I know, it should be a no quibble replacement over here but the US is obviously different. Don't be surprised if the UK goes the same way if we vote to leave the EU incidentally. Little bit of politics there ladies and gentlemen!
Ken, I agree with you that the OP's post is no way to open any form of 'constructive' dialogue - but the rest of your post regarding 'Court' rulings and proceedings is ill informed and makes me thankful you're not a real judge 🙂. The offer from Sonos is neither 'remarkable' nor 'very kind'. Pretty unremarkable for me. In my position regarding my coffee machine earlier, I viewed the service I received as absolutely first class and will make me use and recommend Delonghi in the future - but I'm not even sure I'd use 'remarkable' there either.
A common misconception, but businesses in the UK are under no obligation at all to offer any warranty. None. All of your rights are given to you under law and no warranty can remove or reduce those rights. What a warranty can do though is give you piece of mind - and even help make a decision right at the time of purchasing. It can even give you the assurance that the manufacturer has such confidence in their products compared to others and is literally putting their money where their mouth is - but again, it doesn't actually affect your consumer rights.
Whether a court would see an offer of $200 to replace as fair would only come into play after they have answered a simple question. 'Is it reasonable for this premium branded Sonos Playbar to only last two years?' Based on your final statement, your answer is obviously 'Yes, it is reasonable to only last two years.'. As we know, the law says that for certain items that is far longer - so you haven't applied the law. - and would hopefully be struck off :)
Now for different items, the meaning of 'reasonable' can vary depending on the item and its use - for example a washing machine used 7 days a week - but for a piece of equipment such as this, it would be considerably longer than two years and I'm absolutely 100% confident any small claims court judge would agree (except you 🙂 )
As for taking the offer instead of a 'battle' in court, it really isn't any kind of battle - but believe me though, I would be astonished if it got anywhere near that far in the UK. Once you inform Sonos this is the route you would be taking (independent report - at their cost should you win) - they could not honestly say that they themselves believe two years is a reasonable life for a premium product - and would resolve the issue. When you start getting nearer the statutory limit - say five or six years, then there is room for talk and negotiation and you could maybe accept the offer of a replacement for that price - but at two years old? Seriously?
In this case I personally feel Sonos should get the Playbar back and investigate the issue and then decide on the course of action. I have no clue of the internals of a Playbar - but maybe $200 for a replacement internal fuse isn't suck a kind offer either?
A common misconception, but businesses in the UK are under no obligation at all to offer any warranty. None. All of your rights are given to you under law and no warranty can remove or reduce those rights. What a warranty can do though is give you piece of mind - and even help make a decision right at the time of purchasing. It can even give you the assurance that the manufacturer has such confidence in their products compared to others and is literally putting their money where their mouth is - but again, it doesn't actually affect your consumer rights.
Whether a court would see an offer of $200 to replace as fair would only come into play after they have answered a simple question. 'Is it reasonable for this premium branded Sonos Playbar to only last two years?' Based on your final statement, your answer is obviously 'Yes, it is reasonable to only last two years.'. As we know, the law says that for certain items that is far longer - so you haven't applied the law. - and would hopefully be struck off :)
Now for different items, the meaning of 'reasonable' can vary depending on the item and its use - for example a washing machine used 7 days a week - but for a piece of equipment such as this, it would be considerably longer than two years and I'm absolutely 100% confident any small claims court judge would agree (except you 🙂 )
As for taking the offer instead of a 'battle' in court, it really isn't any kind of battle - but believe me though, I would be astonished if it got anywhere near that far in the UK. Once you inform Sonos this is the route you would be taking (independent report - at their cost should you win) - they could not honestly say that they themselves believe two years is a reasonable life for a premium product - and would resolve the issue. When you start getting nearer the statutory limit - say five or six years, then there is room for talk and negotiation and you could maybe accept the offer of a replacement for that price - but at two years old? Seriously?
In this case I personally feel Sonos should get the Playbar back and investigate the issue and then decide on the course of action. I have no clue of the internals of a Playbar - but maybe $200 for a replacement internal fuse isn't suck a kind offer either?
Let me start by saying that I would, like I bet all of you, be very upset if my Playbar lasted under 2 years. But let's step back. There are a lot of unanswered questions...
1) Did it truly die? Or is there potentially user and/or network error? I am NOT trying to point the finger at the OP. But it is extremely common on this and other boards to see "Sonos doesn't work" accusations only to find out that the user bought a new router, moved the speaker out of range, etc. I would assume that Sonos at least attempted to troubleshoot before making the $200 offer. But to me, it is an unanswered question.
2) What is the environment like where the Playbar is being used? Is it a bedroom directly near a bathroom, potentially exposed to humidity every day? How is the electric in that particular house, and is it prone to spikes? Were there recent brownouts or blackouts? Did someone, even if the OP doesn't realize it, spill water on it? Again, a bunch of unanswered questions.
3) Was it really "under 2 years"? Again, I am NOT trying to say that the OP is not being truthful. But when upset, stories do tend to get exaggerated. Was it new or bought used? Was it abused in any way (dropped during a move, played at 100% for hours on end, etc.)?
It stinks. It really does. But electrical components do sometimes die unexpectedly. Sonos has a very good reputation of long-lasting equipment, and this poor experience is much closer to an exception than a rule.
The fact that Sonos would replace it for $200 actually sounds reasonable to me, but that is subjective, and I won't argue that some think it is absurdly low. It ultimately might be a way for the OP to at least cut his losses and move on. $200 (total of $1,000 spent) for a working Playbar vs having an $800 paper weight seems like a no-brainer to me, even if he turns around and sells it (say $500) to recoup some money and get out of the Sonos system.
1) Did it truly die? Or is there potentially user and/or network error? I am NOT trying to point the finger at the OP. But it is extremely common on this and other boards to see "Sonos doesn't work" accusations only to find out that the user bought a new router, moved the speaker out of range, etc. I would assume that Sonos at least attempted to troubleshoot before making the $200 offer. But to me, it is an unanswered question.
2) What is the environment like where the Playbar is being used? Is it a bedroom directly near a bathroom, potentially exposed to humidity every day? How is the electric in that particular house, and is it prone to spikes? Were there recent brownouts or blackouts? Did someone, even if the OP doesn't realize it, spill water on it? Again, a bunch of unanswered questions.
3) Was it really "under 2 years"? Again, I am NOT trying to say that the OP is not being truthful. But when upset, stories do tend to get exaggerated. Was it new or bought used? Was it abused in any way (dropped during a move, played at 100% for hours on end, etc.)?
It stinks. It really does. But electrical components do sometimes die unexpectedly. Sonos has a very good reputation of long-lasting equipment, and this poor experience is much closer to an exception than a rule.
The fact that Sonos would replace it for $200 actually sounds reasonable to me, but that is subjective, and I won't argue that some think it is absurdly low. It ultimately might be a way for the OP to at least cut his losses and move on. $200 (total of $1,000 spent) for a working Playbar vs having an $800 paper weight seems like a no-brainer to me, even if he turns around and sells it (say $500) to recoup some money and get out of the Sonos system.
My replacement Play-5 sent to me in the UK came from the Netherlands ... and my returned item (also paid for by Sonos) was shipped back to the Netherlands.
They send out a new item in a box ... You test it and then put old item in box and print out a shipping label and take it to the nearest drop off point for shipping.
That's how they did mine LHC, as there are no repair centres for Sonos here in the UK... They simply replace the items and if they are 'substantially' out of the guarantee period, then there is a set replacement charge for each product... Inside the guarantee period, the entire service is free of charge.
Wow! A year out of warranty and you're complaining about a charge of $200?
+1, $200 is reasonable imo, even more so if they are covering shipping.
Interesting dichotomy between UK and US warranty attitudes. Not critiquing either, but you could write a thesis on the societal conditioning on display.
No, we're complaining that an $800 premium electronic item hasn't lasted two years. That's unacceptable, however you look at it. Would you be happy having to pay $200 every 18 months to replace your Playbar if they all lasted that little time? Because that's what you seem to be suggesting.
Compared to some UK companies, Sonos are an absolute dream to deal with... I guess I have become accustomed to poor service here in the UK. Personally I cannot fault the Support I have received from them thus far ...and I am comparing that to my years of experience in dealing with large companies over here, such as Currys/PC World etc.
And do you know when I phoned a 'local' recommended engineer here in the UK about my faulty Play-5 speaker some months back, the first words out of his mouth were that it was unusual for a Sonos Speaker to suddenly become faulty... Which immediately shows the reputation the products have over here.
The turnaround time on my replacement from Sonos was first class too... and sending me a new product BEFORE I returned the faulty one, is a service almost 'unheard of' by manufacturers and suppliers here in the UK.
I both agree and disagree with a few things said here in this thread, but I can say that Sonos certainly has my vote for its after-sales service.
And do you know when I phoned a 'local' recommended engineer here in the UK about my faulty Play-5 speaker some months back, the first words out of his mouth were that it was unusual for a Sonos Speaker to suddenly become faulty... Which immediately shows the reputation the products have over here.
The turnaround time on my replacement from Sonos was first class too... and sending me a new product BEFORE I returned the faulty one, is a service almost 'unheard of' by manufacturers and suppliers here in the UK.
I both agree and disagree with a few things said here in this thread, but I can say that Sonos certainly has my vote for its after-sales service.
I would
Sorry errant thumb on mobile interface caused that post. Doh. I wouldn't be happy, but I kind of see the way they do replacement out of warranty as similar to other extended warranty programs such as Apple care. The big difference here is you only pay the fee if you need to access an out of warranty replacement and Songs seems to replace really old items too. Any cheaper could invite abuse imo
Certainly it's great when you've got a ten year old zp80 that's failed and they'll replace it with a connect cheaply, can't argue with that but a Playbar should last a lot longer than two years, end of story.
Totally agree is should last. But we also have not heard from the OP as to why/how it died. He posted the complaint, and has not contributed at all. I am not saying that there are 2 sides to this story...but there might be.
Totally agree is should last. But we also have not heard from the OP as to why/how it died. He posted the complaint, and has not contributed at all. I am not saying that there are 2 sides to this story...but there might be.
Sure but as a hypothetical case it's worth discussing, he may have no idea why it's failed or he may be sitting there thinking "what the he'll have I unleashed here?".
Sure thing, LHC. I know this doesn't cause me to worry about my Sonos equipment. I just enjoy it every single day.
also regret purchase. my two paly1s drop constantly. mostly end up using a BT speaker instead. half the cost, portable and never drops
Have you contacted Sonos support? If so, what was the outcome? Chances are good....VERY GOOD....that the issues are with your network and not the Play:1s.
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