Get your Naim & Focal now - huge discounts...

[Kevy]

I note A2A have recently updated their website with a disclaimer that there is a ONE year warranty on the Focal products.

 

I recommend taking a screenshot of:

1. A2A website stating that they are the authorised reseller of all products they sell and carry. And that they are covered by full local warranty.

2. Consumer Law should protect those who purchased products that A2A should honour warranties that are in line with manufacturer warranty as that is the expected lifespan of the product.

[Neo]

  On 25/08/2023 at 12:58 AM, Kevy said:

I note A2A have recently updated their website with a disclaimer that there is a ONE year warranty on the Focal products.

 

I recommend taking a screenshot of:

1. A2A website stating that they are the authorised reseller of all products they sell and carry. And that they are covered by full local warranty.

2. Consumer Law should protect those who purchased products that A2A should honour warranties that are in line with manufacturer warranty as that is the expected lifespan of the product.

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Not a bad idea, but I don’t envy focal headphone owners once this “clearance” is over. In regard to warranty, that why I’m staying Clear

They will be referring all the claims to the new distributor, plain and simple. 

Neo

Edited August 25, 2023 by Neo

[Kevy]

Well A2A are saying on record they will now only provide a 1 year old warranty on items purchased after the sale. Which they didn't state when the sale went live ; only in the last 24 hours. So there is plenty of grounds for a Consumer Affairs complaint if you do need to claim something under warranty. 

 

Shame really as A2A locally has provided fabulous service and I am a long time customer.

 

Items purchased prior to the sale and them losing the distribution / authorised status remain under usual warranty.

 

Edit: I have a number of Naim/Focal products and so far they have performed well.

Edited August 25, 2023 by Kevy

[garetz]

That update that they added

"Compared pricing is from MSRP and not promotional pricing. 1 year warranty."

So buyers do not get full warranty after all, might be illegal under australian consumer law.

Edited August 25, 2023 by garetz

[Kevy]

Australian Consumer Law is independent of retailer declarations. So yes. I postulate is a number of buyers put a complaint in they will liaise with A2A and BusiSoft.

[garetz]

Under focals warranty conditions they refer you to the retailer you purchased from, they take no responsibility at all

https://www.focal.com/en/conditions-warranty

When you search for a dealer on their website and specify australia.
The message is:

"Focal products are not available in your country or this product line is not available yet. Please contact us so that we can find a solution together."

They may be pulling out of the market all together.

Edited August 25, 2023 by garetz

[Kevy]

Detracting from the fact these are great (if a bit warmer than I normally listen to) headphones ; it will be interesting to see where it goes. There were a number of online articles that seeking an Australian distributor has been difficult and / or maybe an Asian based distributor will be taking on.

 

Does this mean that Utopia purchased from stores at full RRP e.g. Minidisc are also affected?

[Guest]

  On 25/08/2023 at 1:44 AM, garetz said:

They may be pulling out of the market all together.

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They are actively seeking and engaging potential distributors right now. Many I know have said "thanks, but no thanks" for reasons I won't go into on a public forum. I have no doubt one will be appointed shortly though.

[Ccollins]

  On 22/08/2023 at 7:39 AM, Ehrmantraut said:

Indeed! Super tempting to buy up a heap of the super cheap stock and move onto other forums. Suspect there’ll be a load of “Near new”, “NIB” Focal headphones coming up for sale soon. 

Pity the new distributor - stock prices for Focals are too high, which is why there was always B stock specials. It’ll take 12 months and probably very low supply of new stock coming in to turn this around for the new supplier and SH stock on SNA. Buy NOW!

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[paranox]

  On 25/08/2023 at 1:40 AM, Kevy said:

Australian Consumer Law is independent of retailer declarations.

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In fact, retailers can't just water down the law when they feel like it.

 

Businesses can’t take away a consumer's right to a refund or replacement for faulty products or services. It’s illegal for businesses to rely on store policies or terms and conditions which deny these rights. For example, policies which say ‘no refunds’ or ‘no refunds or exchanges on sale items’.

https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/problem-with-a-product-or-service-you-bought/repair-replace-refund-cancel

[Neo]

Like I mentioned before, it will be an interesting conversation with warranty claims on your focal headphones. Also one year warranty on the utopia, really. 
Stay clear, resist. If they left with stock the only way for the price to go further down. Gotta feel for all those people who bought their headphones prior this clearance, cheaper than secondhand.
Neo

[TDX]

It’s seems you all are not happy with 1 year warranty. Can I know what was it suppose to be before?

[Neo]

Sennheiser do 2 year 

Neo

[TDX]

Right, I think two sounds right. 

[Ccollins]

Hifiman 3 years on upper end

 

 

focal had 5 years on earlier version of utopias as per a headfi post of theirs. But i did  not see much follow up on that on headfi. Except when they have new products

 

[Ehrmantraut]

The challenge with Utopias is that if one driver fails, both have to be replaced. The early failures of the OG design lead to the new voice coil. Pretty much everything else is the same. In the EU, Focal have a dreadful reputation for being very difficult to deal with. My brother still lives in the UK and has first hand experience. Doesn't stop me from buying and loving their headphones though. Especially at these prices!

[Neo]

Sennheiser much easier to deal with and all the parts can be ordered. With patience you can swap things yourself. Done it many times over the years with the sets I have. 
Neo

[Kevy]

Focal Warranty is two years for headphones ; extended to five years  for drivers on the Utopia OG due to concerns regarding driver reliability. Which were a small minority and the cause was not readily identified. 

 

The Focal Utopia construction isn't modular like Audeze. Driver failures usually require a matched pair to replace - you are often at the cost point where you may as well buy a new headphone as you're pretty much replacing most everything. 

 

The new Utopia is tuned differently from the OG. I have both. Warmer and smoother. They've tuned back the brightness in the treble of the Utopia OG (which many of us compensated with equipment or cable pairings ; if not EQ). 

 

 

 

 

[stereoman]

So will a2a be clearing Focal speakers at some point?

Or just the headphones

[Kevy]

Check their website. IF you've missed it ... you've missed it. There was still plenty of options a few hours ago.

[TDX]

  On 25/08/2023 at 12:06 PM, stereophile said:

So will a2a be clearing Focal speakers at some point?

Or just the headphones

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The sales is on. 
 

 

[Neo]

Wow, I don’t envy the new distributor if they find one

Neo

[Kevy]

Ironically ... Focal let me register a 2 year warranty on their online website and provided a warranty certificate. So it would be difficult for A2A not to honour at least 2 years warranty.

[Neo]

I suspect that A2A will refer you to the focal supplier for warranty, siting that they do not carry the brand. Either way a conversation I would not like to have. 
Neo

[Guest]

  On 26/08/2023 at 11:46 PM, Neo said:

I suspect that A2A will refer you to the focal supplier for warranty, siting that they do not carry the brand. Either way a conversation I would not like to have. 

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My vague recollection on how this works in a change over is the above would only happen if the outgoing and incoming distributors have an agreement on doing things that way - ie. handling ongoing warranty. The agreement would only happen if the terms are amicable and mutually agreeable, and usually see the incoming buying the outgoing's local stock too. In most distributor agreements the local distributors are solely responsible for all warranty (the manufacturer more often than not does not handle warranty claims at all, but makes parts available to the distributor). 

 

Sure, consumers have rights, but that doesn't mean it won't be a very drawn out, unpleasant experience.

 

All the distributors I have spoken with have said "no chance" at taking over these brands (granted, some might be bluffing). I understand their reasoning 100%. Let's just hope someone steps up and is willing to take a gamble on a lot of the obvious risk, as these brands are top of their game and it would be a real shame to see them either not distributed officially for a long time (further opening up parallel importing and grey shipping). Consumers deserve access to these brands in Australia and New Zealand, and with the confidence in warranty and after sales service.