JohnCalderwood said:
In the UK, we are restricted with the Official Rockwell Supplier, Routeco.
We get preferential discounts, and if we were to buy on the grey market from other places, we are told that the warranty would not be valid...but how would they know where we bought the item from..?
For Ireland,
Hanley Automation are the only Authorised Rockwell Automation Distributor in the country and have been for the last 30 years. We usually get up to 15% discount on most new items, especially controllers and drives. It's hard to beat that anywhere else, even online.
Although I've never been advised by them not to buy AB products or RA software from anywhere else, I cannot in my current role. Our company stipulates that we must buy from an Authorised Distributor.
For online shopping, this is also out of the question for me. I do not have direct purchasing powers. For all orders, I must raise a Purchase Requisition which, once authorised, must then raise a Purchase Order number. I could not setup online accounts for any of our suppliers and buy direct, even if it was less expensive for the company.
If they were in the practice of voiding warranties on any products bought "elsewhere", then one way they may possibly be able to keep tabs is the product serial numbers against purchaser. But I don't think that this or similar is actually the case. What happens when an integrator has purchased a product for a contract but later a fully entitled TechConnect end-user presents with the product for warranty cover? Is there a "paper trail" at the Distributor to link these two together? I'd doubt it?
I'm sure distributors do keep a record of what has passed through their system but would they go as far as requesting serial numbers off of valid customers before they will honour a product return under warranty? That has not been my experience.
Rockwell Automation do acknowledge the existence of non-Authorised Distributors and Resellers, but they do make it clear that all terms and conditions put forward by such sellers place no burden of liability on Rockwell Automation themselves...
Rockwell Automation said:
Terms and Conditions of Sale
These general terms and conditions of sale only apply to purchases of Allen-Bradley and Rockwell Software branded products and related services made directly from Rockwell Automation. Purchases made from appointed distributors or other independent resellers will be subject to terms and conditions of sale as may be separately established by each such distributor or reseller, which will in no event be binding upon Rockwell Automation unless otherwise expressly agreed to. However, Rockwell Automation extends its standard Manufacturer’s Warranty to customers purchasing Allen-Bradley and Rockwell Software branded products and related services from their local authorized Allen-Bradley distributor. Such Manufacturer’s Warranty is in lieu of all other warranties, which are expressly disclaimed.
...
Full T&C can be read here:
https://www.rockwellautomation.com/...=legal&docid=198528fc3229c170dfd6764621cc27f8
Unless an online or even offline AB/RA sales entity is actually Authorised, the T&C's will vary from seller to seller, but there will be no Manufacturer's Warranty, unless Rockwell Automation has expressly agreed to this. Just something to be aware of when looking for that cheaper option online or otherwise. This, of course, may also go for other product brands on the "open" market.
But that interesting question does still stand? How do they know the product has been resold in an unauthorised manner?
Regards,
George