Quote:
Originally Posted by jnewell
A scanner may be "new" even if it has an old date. FIFO inventory control doesn't always work.
On the other hand, I KNOW, because I have personally been handed such boxes, that RS re-sells open-box returns as new...which I thought was illegal. Other vendors resell it as "B" stock or "open box" and take a discount.
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I think it is important to note here that Ham Radio Outlet also sells returned (defective) merchandise as new stock. I purchased a PSR-600 for my office from HRO at their Salem, NH location and noticed right away that it had some unusual issues. I opened up a service ticket with GRE America, and after several inquiries from them (extremely prompt and professional by the way), they told me it was definitely defective and would need to be returned to the dealer and exchanged for a new one. He even questioned whether this first unit was brand new because the firmware had been "user updated". He said if the firmware was from the Factory, the version number would begin with an "F". If it had been User updated, the firmware version number would begin with a "U". My versions began with a "U".
I drove back to HRO within 2 days of my original purchase. I explained to HRO what happened with the original unit, I gave them a printed copy of the service ticket. They noted the service ticket number and all the information and entered it into their computer system along with the serial number of that unit. He printed out a copy of that and taped it to the box and wrote on it "Defective, Return To GRE".
I was very happy with the replacement, it performed flawlessly. I was so impressed with it's operation, I decided a few days later that I wanted a PSR-600 for my home also. I called ahead to see if one was in stock, and I also asked, "Are these Factory new units, not refurbished???" They emphasized that they ABSOLUTELY DO NOT sell re-packaged or refurbished units.
I drove back to HRO in Salem, NH a few days later, and on a whim, I stuck my receipt from my earlier purchase in my pocket before I left the house - clearly showing the serial number of the defective unit I had returned from the first purchase.
When the gentleman came back from the stock room with my "shiny new" (his words) PSR-600 - you guessed it - it was the very same defective unit I had returned a few days earlier. When I showed him my receipt showing that unit as having been returned as defective, he said, "Um... um.... it has been returned to the factory and repaired". I said I didn't think it was legal to sell refurbished goods as new. He said it's considered "factory new".
First of all, I seriously doubted it had been returned to the factory, repaired, tested, and returned to the dealer in that time span. Secondly, I took the radio out of the box, and the sticky note I had taped to the bottom of the radio referencing the service ticket number and the nature of the problem was still there. I was given another radio after refusing to accept that one.
I know what you mean about Radio Shack. It's hard to find anything on their shelves that hasn't been taped or stapled back together after having been previously purchased and returned, and more often than not the item that originally came in that package has been swapped out with a defective one by the previous purchaser.
GRE Scanners.
HRO is also re-selling returned goods as new.
Linear Mode
