Take this with a pinch of salt, but I think that under the Sales of Goods Act, you are anyway protected from any manufacturing defects whether the manufacturer gives a written warranty or not. It is your right as a consumer to not get defective, faulty, or hazardous goods. But practically speaking, it's easier to get the product repaired / replaced if you have a warranty card, because otherwise it would mean taking legal action against the company (i.e in consumer court) if the company denies you this warranty.
My personal take on the ICE market is that there is a plethora of shady dealers. That is where team-bhp would help you, i.e. in getting touch with a dealer / installer who is well recommended and honest and getting to know the right prices. That way at least you minimize your risk of getting a bad product when buying grey. And of course, like anything else you buy in India, if you forge a long cordial relationship with a dealer, he will think twice before screwing you over, and would also be very helpful in repairing / replacing the product even if you bought it in grey. On the other hand, if he thinks you are a patsy, he will screw you over. This is the unfortunate phenomenon in India called dukaandaari that pervades all aspects of transactions here.
The biggest advantage of buying grey, of course, is to get better stuff within your budget than you could get with B&W (and from what I have gathered from here, people have had very good experiences in general with not having a problem). But just be aware of the risks - namely, getting used, defective, sub-standard goods. |