Hello Martin & everybody
I'm told that the various models are packaged in regional operations centres.
Yamaha Europe is, for example, based in Germany. They box them as they receive
the various models from the Yamaha production centre in China.
The suppliers buy them in bulk , and wholesale them to the sellers around
Europe. The UK model is unique in as much as it is supplied with 2 power
cables; this is because the UK uses a different form of power outlet to
continental Europe. Our plugs are configured in a triangular formation where
the left-hand pin is neutral, the right-hand pin is live (where the fuse is
located) and the top pin is the earth terminal.
The European plugs use two round pins which are interchangeable. The earth,
where it's used, is via the outer casing of the plug itself and there is no
fuse in the plug.
I believe that the US and Canada, along with Australia, New Zealand and Asia,
receive their imports direct from the main factory in China. I am not sure how
they handle their packaging because obviously the US and Canadian power
supplies are different. I'd imagine it's the same supply, but with a couple of
modifications to accommodate the different power settings.
Australia does things the sensible way, as we do and most of the rest of the
world does. We all use the same power configurations which I'm sure makes
things easier for manufacturers.
Although the plug configurations are different, that doesn't really, I'd
imagine, pose much of a problem since the only differences would be in the
manufacturing of the power cables which would be done in bulk anyway probably
by a different company.
Anyway, as I said, I used the Yamaha website. I don't particularly fancy
incurring the expense of having to make lengthy phone calls overseas. That was
my initial tripe, which it seems others don't agree with. Maybe I'm just more
fussy; maybe I just watch the pennies more than some. But I did not see why I
should have this mess to sort out. Under UK law, the seller has an obligation
to ensure that defective, missing or wrongly included components are replaced
as per the consumer's request. The consumer has the right to cancel the
contract of purchase within 14 days if they are not happy with their product
for any reason.
The seller has the right to insist that the goods be returned to them in
saleable condition. However, in the case of sealed plastic packaging, anybody
with a grin of common sense can see that it just isn't possible to return them
as they were originally packed. Perhaps predictably, the Yamaha and other such
items all ship with plastic-packaged power cables, antenna leads, remote
controls, etc. None of which can be opened without damaging the packaging
material. Therefore, when you return them, they are not in saleable condition
and its quite common for sellers to either charge the consumer to have the
items re-packaged or to reject them on the grounds that they cannot sell them
again.
In our case, the box was slightly damaged when we were unpacking the item. My
fault, as my finger accidentally caught part of the package and it tore about 2
inches of cardboard as I lifted the machine itself out of its box. It was
encased in polystyrene and for obvious reasons it was very tightly packed. But
we're hoping that this can be resolved without having to return the unit to
base. I'm perfectly happy to accept a new AC adapter, rather than having to
replace the entire package. I'm not trying to be unreasonable and I do
understand that this wasn't the fault of the seller. It was a sealed package so
how could they possibly be expected to know!
All I'm asking is what I'm entitled too as a paying customer. This item cost me
in excess of £340.00 Sterling which, in these difficult financial ties, is not
a small amount of money. It isn't to much to ask that after-sale service be
provided where required.
I was accused of such things as "Making mountains out of molehills". Well, to
be honest I don't consider a missing component as a small matter when you're
talking about that kind of outlay. It's also a pretty poor advertisement for
Yamaha's quality control at their European packaging centre in Germany. A power
supply is a pretty major item within the context of the unit as a whole; don't
you think? Had it just been a cable that was missing such as, for instance, the
power cable, I don't think I'd have been too worried. The power cable itself is
just a standard two-pin cable as used on most portable devices and even some
video machines and hi-fi units. I'd have just laughed that off and said OK,
it's not there; but it's not worth getting in touch with them about other than
to make a general comment. The cable is easily replaced, we have quite a few of
them kicking around. But the AC adapter, that's a very different matter. It's
system-specific it seems, as it's apparently an intelligent supply. So
therefore, you have no option but to use theirs.
Anyway, I've made my point I think. I understand why some people may consider
my complaint trivial. perhaps to them, it might be. That's fair enough; just
depends on your outlook. I totally agree that it isn't exactly life and death
and it's not the end of the world. But within the context of the unit, it's
critical. That was my only point; along with the fact that I could have done
without the hassle.
I'm sure that, one way or the other, we'll end up with a working unit and I am
sure Gordon will be thrilled to bits with it. It's just the short term
inconvenience.
Lynne
On 23 Nov 2011, at 15:21, Martin McCormick wrote:
• I bet the sound systems come from Yamaha's factory and
the power supplies come from other places depending upon who
Yamaha contracts to build their power supplies for all the
various world markets. Even if that's not the case, they may
ship the correct power supplies all over the plannet so that a
reseller needs only grab one sound system off the shelf and a
power supply off another shelf and they are good for their part
of the world.
Making one call Yamaha seems like an extra hassle, but
that may be some form of quality control that Yamaha enforces so
that they know when there is a problem. If that is the case,
they may turn right around and contact your seller to get them
to send out the UK supply to you.
It also may be that none of this is true and that retail
sales folk are as stupid and clueless as they sometimes appear
to be and there is no good reason at all for this.
There. I've covered all bases. I certainly don't see
anything amusing about situations like this. I haven't had many
things of that type happen, but it is so utterly annoying when
they do.
Martin
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