Sony Read Error

tsk1979 · 29th August 2005, 10:31

this weekend my sony gave up completely and would play only some Audio CDs. Even branded BMG etc., wont play. So i traded it in for the Pioneer model 4750(One with milky white irritatingly white LCD front display). Trade in cost is 4000rs (2200 discount by giving in my sony). The guy will replace the lens for 1400rs and sell it for 4500-5000 as new one is 6K.
the sound quality is awesome and it is happily playing all kinds of CDs. that guy told me that since they give an "unofficial 1 year warrantly" on everything except the IC, he has had to replace lenses for free on half the Sony CD 5500FX he sold last year, but the new sony models have a different lens and does not go bad.

navin · 29th August 2005, 11:00

unofficial warranty? from whom? Pioneer? WOW! This is an altogether a new take on offering Serivce. Maybe Pioneer should advertise themselves as an Unofficial Company! :-)

tsk1979 · 29th August 2005, 11:13

Pioneer does not have authorized dealers in india. So most sellers who sell poineer import form dubai/singapore and then sell in india. If your set goes kaput, you are left with a dud piece. Same is the case with other players like JVC and Sony which are imported by these small shops and sold at half the price than the showroom price. So to ensure customer goodwill, they offer to get it repaired free of cost. The faliure rate of these systems is 1/50 for non sony systems.
Even for sony systems where 50% had their lenses failing within 1 year, the guy did not lose any money since they sell for about 1500 profit(6000rs player). If you include speaker etc., profit, the deal is actually good.
To put things in perspective, the system i got from bangalore was for rs 15500 in the authorized shop. I got it from unauthorized dealer for 7000. My lens failed. I talked to the guy through a friend. He offered to replace it for half the cost(750rs). But since sending my system to bangalore from delhi was a big hassle, i opted to sell it here. and i have a new system for 4000rs. Total money spent = 11K.

Also the systems retaling in india for 15000rs can be had for 80-100$ in sg/dubai.

The unofficial warranty these people refer to means that they will get the system repaired at their cost. They honour their commitment better than the authorized service centers i have seen.

navin · 29th August 2005, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Also the systems retaling in india for 15000rs can be had for 80-100$ in sg/dubai...

Wow! I paid about 20K for my 9833 in oct 2004. that works out to about $450. the same system sold at that time for about $300-350 in the US. Today the model is superseeded by the 9853 (the 9853 has the added function of glide touch) and retails for about $340-380 inthe US.

The reason 9830 and 9833 (and maybe even the 9835) are now available cheap in Bangalore is that they have been discontinued my Alpine is most countries. replaced by the 9847, 9851, 9853, and 9855. The later 2 offer glide touch which is great for ipod users but really difficult to use in a moving car.

Sam Kapasi · 29th August 2005, 11:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by navin

unofficial warranty? from whom? Pioneer? WOW! This is an altogether a new take on offering Serivce. Maybe Pioneer should advertise themselves as an Unofficial Company! :-)

Pioneer - Everything's unofficial about it.

tsk1979 · 29th August 2005, 12:52

From authorized dealers Sony 5500 was retailing for 15000rs. In the US price is 100-120$. At that time the price in grey market was 7500rs = 170$ approx.
I think you paid the money for a "without bill" transaction

.

navin · 29th August 2005, 13:18

I got an Alpine warranty and Bharat bill. In fact I had to submit copis of teh bills to my insurance agent when i got the systems insured.

Buffetfan · 30th August 2005, 00:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

this weekend my sony gave up completely and would play only some Audio CDs. Even branded BMG etc., wont play. So i traded it in for the Pioneer model 4750(One with milky white irritatingly white LCD front display). Trade in cost is 4000rs (2200 discount by giving in my sony). The guy will replace the lens for 1400rs and sell it for 4500-5000 as new one is 6K.
the sound quality is awesome and it is happily playing all kinds of CDs. that guy told me that since they give an "unofficial 1 year warrantly" on everything except the IC, he has had to replace lenses for free on half the Sony CD 5500FX he sold last year, but the new sony models have a different lens and does not go bad.

Pioner does sell "official" ssystems in india through Autocop...I bought one..they come with a 24 months System replacement *(at your home...) warranty and a one year theft insurance..though of course..the prices leave something to be desired

navin · 30th August 2005, 09:46

hey this is news. did they give you a warranty and bill? what were the premiums you paid?

Vivekphadnis · 30th August 2005, 14:13

Bangalore-based Methods Online also sells Pioneer with bill and warranty I think.

navin · 30th August 2005, 14:34

This is really good news. Vivek/Buffetfan what are the prices?

Vivekphadnis · 30th August 2005, 23:46

Oops! Sorry Navin. They used to advertise it on their website (www.methodsonline.com). They seem to have stopped selling Pioneer now. I will still try to find out.

Sam Kapasi · 31st August 2005, 13:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffetfan

Pioner does sell "official" ssystems in india through Autocop...I bought one..they come with a 24 months System replacement *(at your home...) warranty and a one year theft insurance..though of course..the prices leave something to be desired

No more. You are right, Autocop did take on Pioneer officially some time ago, but stopped a long time ago for obvious reasons. Or should I say the reasons mentioned in your last line.Failed miserably and recd no support from Pioneer.

navin · 31st August 2005, 14:45

that clears this or does it make things even more murky? so what happens to the poor souls who bought pio from autocop at those exhorbitant prices and are now left high and dry?

Sam Kapasi · 31st August 2005, 18:53

I dont know Navin. What i do know for a fact is that Autocop is no longer honouring their given warranties.

29th August 2005, 10:31	#31
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,695 Thanked: 23,484 Times View My Garage	Replacement got this weekend my sony gave up completely and would play only some Audio CDs. Even branded BMG etc., wont play. So i traded it in for the Pioneer model 4750(One with milky white irritatingly white LCD front display). Trade in cost is 4000rs (2200 discount by giving in my sony). The guy will replace the lens for 1400rs and sell it for 4500-5000 as new one is 6K. the sound quality is awesome and it is happily playing all kinds of CDs. that guy told me that since they give an "unofficial 1 year warrantly" on everything except the IC, he has had to replace lenses for free on half the Sony CD 5500FX he sold last year, but the new sony models have a different lens and does not go bad.
	() Thanks

29th August 2005, 11:00	#32
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,410 Thanked: 9,957 Times	unofficial warranty? from whom? Pioneer? WOW! This is an altogether a new take on offering Serivce. Maybe Pioneer should advertise themselves as an Unofficial Company! :-)
	() Thanks

29th August 2005, 11:13	#33
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,695 Thanked: 23,484 Times View My Garage	Pioneer does not have authorized dealers in india. So most sellers who sell poineer import form dubai/singapore and then sell in india. If your set goes kaput, you are left with a dud piece. Same is the case with other players like JVC and Sony which are imported by these small shops and sold at half the price than the showroom price. So to ensure customer goodwill, they offer to get it repaired free of cost. The faliure rate of these systems is 1/50 for non sony systems. Even for sony systems where 50% had their lenses failing within 1 year, the guy did not lose any money since they sell for about 1500 profit(6000rs player). If you include speaker etc., profit, the deal is actually good. To put things in perspective, the system i got from bangalore was for rs 15500 in the authorized shop. I got it from unauthorized dealer for 7000. My lens failed. I talked to the guy through a friend. He offered to replace it for half the cost(750rs). But since sending my system to bangalore from delhi was a big hassle, i opted to sell it here. and i have a new system for 4000rs. Total money spent = 11K. Also the systems retaling in india for 15000rs can be had for 80-100$ in sg/dubai. The unofficial warranty these people refer to means that they will get the system repaired at their cost. They honour their commitment better than the authorized service centers i have seen.
	() Thanks

29th August 2005, 12:52	#36
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,695 Thanked: 23,484 Times View My Garage	From authorized dealers Sony 5500 was retailing for 15000rs. In the US price is 100-120$. At that time the price in grey market was 7500rs = 170$ approx. I think you paid the money for a "without bill" transaction .
	() Thanks

29th August 2005, 13:18	#37
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,410 Thanked: 9,957 Times	I got an Alpine warranty and Bharat bill. In fact I had to submit copis of teh bills to my insurance agent when i got the systems insured.
	() Thanks

30th August 2005, 09:46	#39
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,410 Thanked: 9,957 Times	hey this is news. did they give you a warranty and bill? what were the premiums you paid?
	() Thanks

30th August 2005, 14:13	#40
Vivekphadnis BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 690 Thanked: 2 Times	Bangalore-based Methods Online also sells Pioneer with bill and warranty I think.
	() Thanks

30th August 2005, 14:34	#41
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,410 Thanked: 9,957 Times	This is really good news. Vivek/Buffetfan what are the prices?
	() Thanks

30th August 2005, 23:46	#42
Vivekphadnis BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 690 Thanked: 2 Times	Oops! Sorry Navin. They used to advertise it on their website (www.methodsonline.com). They seem to have stopped selling Pioneer now. I will still try to find out.
	() Thanks

31st August 2005, 14:45	#44
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,410 Thanked: 9,957 Times	that clears this or does it make things even more murky? so what happens to the poor souls who bought pio from autocop at those exhorbitant prices and are now left high and dry?
	() Thanks

31st August 2005, 18:53	#45
Sam Kapasi Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai (but wat Posts: 6,939 Thanked: 2,479 Times View My Garage	I dont know Navin. What i do know for a fact is that Autocop is no longer honouring their given warranties.
	() Thanks