I recently purchased a Wireless Linksys Router on eBay.    I won it at auction for considerably less than retail.  The product arrived in new in box - fully shrink wrapped, software was not opened and all stickers etc were in place - It was a brand new product.

I went through the instructions to a T, but when I plugged in the new router all of the lights for the four ports were illuminated - this is not normal  - only the port that you plug into the back should illuminate.  I continued only to find out that my computer would not connect to the router.

I called Linksys technical support and after a bit of troubleshooting it was determined that the item needed to be replaced.

They connected me to customer service where I was to obtain my Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) so I could send the unit to Linksys for replacement.

The agent asked me where I purchased the item.  I told them eBay.  She asked me was it an auction or "buy it now".  I replied "Auction".  She said that because it was purchased at auction, I needed secondary approval from headquarters.  I had to fax my PayPal receipt to them requesting an RMA.

An agent from headquarters called me the next day and stated that my warranty was void.  That they would not replace my unit.  That the warranty does not cover purchases on eBay auction, UNLESS I could provide the original receipt from the store where the unit was purchased.  If my seller was willing or able to produce this receipt, I would be able to get the RMA.

I stated that the item was new in box, had not been opened tampered with nor ever used before.  That if they checked the serial number, they would also find the item was not registered.  Why would they not honor the warranty.  The agent stated that I paid much less than retail and that Linksys would be losing money.  I then stated that if the item was stolen from linksys they should be able to detect that by the serial number.  If it was not stolen then SOMEBODY has already paid Linksys their asking price.  The person that sold the item to me on eBay may have needed the money more than the item and sold if for less than retail - the seller is the person that has lost money on this unit not Linksys.

The agent then stated that the Warranty specifically states:

Linksys warrants to You that, for a period of three years (the “Warranty Period”), your Linksys Product will be substantially

free of defects in materials and workmanship under normal use. Your exclusive remedy and Linksys' entire liability under

this warranty will be for Linksys at its option to repair or replace the Product or refund Your purchase price less any

rebates. This limited warranty extends only to the original purchaser.

My reply was "I was not able to read the warranty until after I purchased the unit", to which her reply was "The information is online and available for you to read, you should have come across this when you did your research on the item".  To which I said "I read everything that was provided to me about the unit, I did not goto your website for the information, because it was provided to me on the auction page".  To which she said "The information is on our site for you to view" 

I then asked her what the definition of original purchaser was and that I purchased the item new in box -  it was not a used item - I am therefore the original purchaser.  She stated the original purchaser is someone that buys it from a retail outlet.  I then stated that the retail outfit is really the original purchaser and that every warranty would then be void.  I also asked if there was a list of retailers and resellers and did not get a response.

I then asked if I could send the unit for repair and she stated that they do not repair these units.

I asked her what my course of action should be.  She said obtain an "Original Receipt" or return the item to the seller for a refund.

Fortunately for me the eBay seller replaced the unit and I got a working one.......

HOWEVER - If this replacement unit ever breaks down, it is not covered under the warranty.

IF WARRANTY is important to you as a buyer,  DO NOT purchase any LINKSYS products at auction.

Thanks,

Donald Peters