Serial Numbers on Refurbished Goods

LadyDee

I haven't a clue where to put this, and it's just a query about something stated by a company that sells on Amazon, Ebay and has their own website, selling refurbished goods.

(PLEASE NOTE: we are required by the manufacturer to remove the serial number from all products prior to resale, this does not affect your consumer rights in any way and is not required in order to claim on the (company name) 12 month guarantee)

I don't think I'd be happy buying an electrical item with no serial number, and I can't imagine why a manufacturer would require its removal.

Just interested really to know the reason.

[Deleted User]

LadyDee wrote: »

I don't think I'd be happy buying an electrical item with no serial number, and I can't imagine why a manufacturer would require its removal.

They just don't want fake claims against the manufacturer's warranty.

If you're not happy buying refurbished goods (it's always a bit of a lottery what you end up with) then save up and buy new..

LadyDee

Thanks for that unwanted piece of advice.

I have no intention of buying a refurbished item, I was just curious as to why a manufacturer would have this requirement (if indeed they do).

unholyangel

I'm actually not sure about this one.

For one thing, it would make knowing whether your item was subject to a recall near impossible and that has major safety implications.

It also seems to conflict with several other areas of law. I mean there are a LOT of directives for nearly every industry (even toys!) about traceability/origin and every single one of them requires the serial number be included because its the serial number that you can trace a product. And it applies equally to manufacturers, importers, authorised representitives and distributors (with the latter being anyone who makes it available to the market).

I can't think of any valid or innocent reason they would have for removing the serial number. I don't believe it would create false warranty claims as just need to ask for the original receipt (and serial number will confirm which retailer received that unit).

[Deleted User]

LadyDee wrote: »

I have no intention of buying a refurbished item

Which beggars the question of why you were browsing a site which (apparently) sells refurbished items!

unholyangel wrote: »

I it would make knowing whether your item was subject to a recall near impossible and that has major safety implications.

Good point.

JReacher1

It's because you don't get a manufacturers warranty. By getting rid of the serial number it means you can't claim.

Alternatively of course it could be nicked.

LadyDee

unholyangel wrote: »

I'm actually not sure about this one.

For one thing, it would make knowing whether your item was subject to a recall near impossible and that has major safety implications.

It also seems to conflict with several other areas of law. I mean there are a LOT of directives for nearly every industry (even toys!) about traceability/origin and every single one of them requires the serial number be included because its the serial number that you can trace a product. And it applies equally to manufacturers, importers, authorised representitives and distributors (with the latter being anyone who makes it available to the market).

I can't think of any valid or innocent reason they would have for removing the serial number. I don't believe it would create false warranty claims as just need to ask for the original receipt (and serial number will confirm which retailer received that unit).

.

We seem to be on the same page:)

bris

A manufacturer who sells warranty returns to refurbishers can insist the serials are removed so they can reject any further claims on them. It's a way to clear their warehouses of all the returns they get with no chance of ever having to handle them again.


As already said, removing the serial number would have more negatives than positives as it's no longer traceable but the manufacturer doesn't care because it's not their problem any more.


Not all will insist on this but there may be a few who do, certainly nothing wrong or illegal about it.

paddyrg

JReacher1 wrote: »

It's because you don't get a manufacturers warranty. By getting rid of the serial number it means you can't claim.

Alternatively of course it could be nicked.

Or it's fake.

[Deleted User]

paddyrg wrote: »

Or it's fake.

Well, it's unlikely that a serial number will be removed from a fake, but I know what you mean...

paddyrg

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

Well, it's unlikely that a serial number will be removed from a fake, but I know what you mean...

Ha! Yes, I mean they're supplied without serials because they're fake/factory seconds/rejects bodged in a back alley/whatever, so it's just a case of saying some words "I have to remove the serial numbers because <reason>" to increase the persevered value ;-)