25 year warranty – thoughts invited


I've often wondered why despite mega-bucks and assuming mega-reliability why warranties on audiophile gear are so time limited. Surely if the maker, or more relevantly the dealer had true confidence in both the brand and the model they’d be keen to offer something exceptional. However, they rarely do.

So I was surprised and pleased to spot this morning that one of LFD Audio’s retailers is at no extra charge providing a 25 year parts and labour warranty to buyers of new amplification and phono stages. http://lfd4u.com/our-2-service-levels/our-prices-gold-standard/

Apart from Bryston (I think) no one else is offering this. Isn’t it time they did? So why aren't they?

LFD don’t produce anything with movable parts so I guess they wouldn’t get snookered into a 25 year warranty on a laser assembly. Also, if I've read the text correctly the warranty is transferable to each new owner in the 25 year period. Is this a new paradigm, an offer too good to be true – or what? Thoughts invited. Thanks
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Jmcgrogan2....better parts does not always ad up to better sound. Have you opened up a Bryston amp lately and looked inside? I would guess that the parts quality is just as good if not better than most gear costing considerably more.
Like roof's, a warranty is really useless unless it comes with a 'bond' issued by an insurance company. Companies come and go, but an insurance company tends to last a 'lifetime'.
Gentlemen: Perhaps this thread could benefit from a bit of mid-course correction? So if I may, can we re-visit the initial thought and correct a few misinterpreted facts:

1. It’s not LFD audio who are offering the 25 year warranty. It’s their (apparently) principal retailer LFD4U doing this. Logically there’s no reason why another retailer for this brand or indeed any other brand doesn’t do likewise – unless of course that brand sees end-users as ‘walking wallets’ through the deliberate policy of not keeping spares for discontinued models. Incidentally this retailer offer an alternate no-frills service with the standard 24 month warranty at a discounted price. Better to have a choice than not I guess. Right?

2. Really – does it matter who pays for the extended warranty? Look at it this way; an extended warranty from a retailer selling at RRP i.e. not bigging-up the sale price can only mean good for the end-user by reducing depreciation during resale.

3. The key element is surely the transferability of that warranty to subsequent owners?

4. A ‘communist proposition – surely some kinda joke, right?

5. Any maker viewing the responses so far, which (a) might not be representative of forum members and / or (b) not representative of the upscale target market might erroneously conclude that encouraging their retailers to offer zero-cost extended warranties is a fruitless pursuit. If so, then this is a retrograde step. Buyers bang on about demanding better customer service. Looking here though one might conclude that there’s no sincerity behind the much repeated mantra.

6. Much has been made here of the ‘business case’. However a point overlooked so far is this. No intelligent maker will want the parts and labor cost of repairing work under warranty – especially a 25 year one. Thus, as far as I can see, LFD build to last i.e. they get it right first time and so far one, just one dealer has translated that fact into a tangible buyer benefit. Any guess how many more will follow? I'm not holding my breath.

7. In conclusion then, either bash the maker or the retailer or preferably both merely for (a) having the temerity of being in business (b) looking at the world through buyers’ eyes.

Next?
It’s not LFD audio who are offering the 25 year warranty. It’s their (apparently) principal retailer LFD4U doing this.

I like having options, but I wouldn’t pay extra for an extended warrantee from a third party online retailer who has no skin in the game and has less of a chance than the manufacture of surviving 25 years in the audio distribution space.

This is not a reflection on the quality of LFD products, it a comment on the marketing strategy employed by LFD4U.
So BRF - it seems you want massive discount PLUS 25 year warranty. Are you serious? How long would such a retailer stay in business if adopting your approach? Not long I guess. So where would you be then, once your short-terms aspirations were met and, err .. there was no mid-term let along long-term support?

Yes indeed, a brilliant strategy for any Kamikaze-like retailer. There must still be a few around. Shortly, if such a process were continued then we’d all be left with Amazon, WalMart and not much else. Not a thought I relish. I congratulate LFD4U for pointing the way. Clearly you don’t. Fortunately, despite appearances to the contrary, not all specialist retailers are re-born market-traders.