A lot of associates sell themselves on the fact that they are an authorized dealer of the products they sell. But what is an authorized dealer exactly? Why does it matter? And does it as a matter of fact advantage consumers to make sure they buy from one?
Short answer: Yes. It as a matter of fact does matter.
If things all the time worked out like we'd like them to, every item we purchased as consumers - like watches, headphones, Tvs, toys, and computers - would work perfectly and without defects. They would function for as long as their general beneficial life. There would be no glitches, crashes, or breaks. And we'd have no complaints.
But this is the real world.
And in reality, things don't all the time work as they should. Pieces break. They stop working. Or sometimes, we simply open a box and find a piece missing.
When any of these things happens, it's nice to know that we can call the maker and have them make it right.
Herein lies the question in dealing with an unauthorized seller; the maker has no relationship with them or operate over the products they sell. They may sell items with missing serial numbers. They may be selling damaged or used items. Or pawning off refurbished items as new.
Any, or all of these practices can void a manufacturer's warranty. Naturally, this is going to limit your chances of finding a resolution to anything product issue you experience, especially if the unauthorized seeder doesn't offer aid either.
It's a frustrating, expensive, and unfortunate scenario that happens much more often than it should.
The lowest line? Do your investigate and when applicable, make your purchases from an authorized dealer. It's best way to safe your investment. These retailers are held to definite standards of institution and service that unauthorized associates are not. Plus, you can rest easy knowing that your item is covered by the manufacturer's full warranty, and that you'll have preserve after the sale is made.
Check with a company before you buy. And if the item you're buying is especially expensive or requires a significant level of support, check with the maker for their list of dealers first.
Authorized Dealers - What is an Authorized Dealer?