Is The Manufacturers Warranty for a 1 Week Old Garmin Watch Transferrable?

Hi everyone. First time I've posted on here but like many of you I check numerous times throughout the day.

I need your help.

Many times I've read "warranty not transferrable" throughout my life but I'm a little stuck on this one.

I purchased a one week old Garmin fitness watch on Gumtree from someone who found it too large for their wrist. I have the original receipt and the original owner has also signed the watch over to me and removed the device from their Garmin account.

Before I completed the sale I read Garmin's warranty terms and conditions (https://www.garmin.com/au/support/warranty) and they did not mention anything about the warranty being transferrable or not. So I called and asked their support staff who advised me that as I'd be the second person the device is registered to, I would not be covered under their manufactures warranty.

They directed me to the line "bought as a one-off from a private seller, for example at a garage sale or fete" found at: https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/consumer-rights-guarantees…. Which talks about consumer guarantees which I always thought was completely different to a manufacturers warranty.

I then called both the ACCC and my state Consumer Protection office who both said that all warranties are explained in the manufacturers warranty T&C's and that if anything along the lines of "warranty is not transferrable" is visible then obviously I would not be covered. They also said that if Garmin do not honour the warranty then this could be considered as misleading/deceptive T&C's and that I would be able to file for an investigation. They told me to communicate with Garmin over email from now on.

I emailed Garmin and received a response from their service manager of:

"As you have advised the purchase would be made by means of a consumer to consumer sale and not through a business by means of trade or commerce. Under these circumstances our warranty would not be transferrable unless subject to a product safety recall and not be covered under the terms and conditions of the Australian Consumer Law. If for any reason you feel this position contradicts advice provided by either the ACCC or a State consumer protection agency, we are happy to review their written correspondence prior to making any further determination."

So I'm being told some conflicting information from different departments and I was wondering if anyone has experience with this kind of thing. I'm pretty sure most people would "assume" such a new device was still covered under a standard manufacturers warranty unless otherwise stated in the companies terms.

Do I have a legal right to a manufacturers warranty?
Are Garmin just trying to get everyone to buy brand new devices?
Should I continue with Consumer Protection?

There is nothing wrong with the watch but it was expensive and this is purely for my own and everyone else's piece of mind. If it's not covered IMO they really need to say this in their terms.

Many thanks to anyone who read this far.
Regards,

Jim

UPDATE: The watch has been refunded to the original place of purchase. I then purchased the unit at a reduced cost so I'm actually in credit with a free watch. Consumer rights have been restored. Thanks everyone for the tips.

Comments

  • +1

    Do I have a legal right to a manufacturers warranty?

    You seem to have answered your own question by talking to the ACCC, reading the T&Cs etc.

    Your purchase is from a private person, 2nd hand ACCC rules apply (aka buyer beware) if the OEM is saying its not transferable. You didn't buy from the OEM or store acting on behalf of the OEM.

    There is nothing wrong with the watch but it was expensive

    Then why did you buy one 2nd hand if you are worried and it was expensive?

    I myself am wondering, why didn't the original buyer return the item as not fit for purpose and get the correct size, rather than sell it at a large loss?

    I'm assuming you 'saved' a large amount by buying 2nd hand, if you did't first mistake of buying 2nd hand, so really its a gamble if the product lasts longer than the warranty period and that's part of buying 2nd hand game.

    • Yes mate, a massive discount.

      • +1

        Yes mate, a massive discount.

        Then roll the dice, if if fails within the warranty period, you lost, if not, you won.

        • Yes I get all that and I'm willing to take the risk. I'm just surprised if a 1 week old device has no manufacturers warranty. If not stated in terms then IMO it shouldn't matter if a device has 1 or 20 owners, it's still under 12 months old.

  • I wonder how the warranty would work if the watch was gifted to you?? .. wink wink ;)

    • Yeah it was my first thought but Garmin can see it's been registered by 2 users as it sync's to them.

      • +3

        Your friend tested it before giving it to you as a gift.

        • UPDATE: The watch has been refunded to the original place of purchase. I then purchased the unit at a reduced cost so I'm actually in credit with a free watch. Consumer rights have been restored. Thanks everyone for the tips.

  • I honestly think you've just over-complicated things way too much.

    You have the item and the receipt, something goes wrong then you make a warranty claim - Start with the retailer first. Deal with anything else only IF it comes up.

    • Basically my only option. According to Garmin it won't be covered if something goes wrong as they cancel the warranty if it's had more than one registered user. It's more just a piece of mind thing as I'm unsure how legal what Garmin is saying.

      • +1

        Totally legal, as confirmed by ACCC. Manufacturer warranties can't limit your statutory rights. But you have no statutory rights in this situation as a private sale buyer.

        • UPDATE: The watch has been refunded to the original place of purchase. I then purchased the unit at a reduced cost so I'm actually in credit with a free watch. Consumer rights have been restored. Thanks everyone for the tips.

  • +4

    There is nothing wrong with the watch

    sigh

    All that and you're worried about 'what ifs'…

    Member Since
    5 hours 15 min ago

    Dammit!

    • It's a $1350 watch

      • +3

        It's a $1350 watch

        But what did you pay?

        • He was selling it for $1000, I offered $700 and he excepted. Replacement RRP being $1350

  • -2

    Your consumer guarantees are still covered under the ACL.

    Take the good back to the retailer and they may send it to the manufacturer for a replacement or a repair. You may also have the option to receive a refund depending on the condition of the defect.

    • +2

      Technically

      Rights to a repair, replacement, refund, cancellation or compensation do not apply to items:
      - bought as a one-off from a private seller, for example at a garage sale or fete (but you do have rights to full title, undisturbed possession and no unknown debts or extra charges)

      How does OP get his consumer guarantee from the seller (the 3rd party)?.

      IMO OP is reading too much into it. Hes got the receipt of sale. Just dont tell them that he bought it third party - he bought it, a friend tested it and now he has it

    • OP didn't buy from retailer, they have no rights against the retailer.

      • +1

        UPDATE: The watch has been refunded to the original place of purchase. I then purchased the unit at a reduced cost so I'm actually in credit with a free watch. Consumer rights have been restored. Thanks everyone for the tips.

  • +1

    One way or another, the boat has sailed.

    You've parted with coin.

    You've told Garmin what's happened who now presumably have a record of all of this on your file, in addition to presumably being able to see that a watch that may or may not come in for warranty repair has been registered to two accounts.

    IF you end up having a problem, you'll deal with the original retailer. They may or may not refer the matter to Garmin who may or may not pick up on the above. Welcome to the lottery of buying second hand goods (especially registerable electronics).

    • +3

      Welcome to the lottery of buying second hand goods (especially registerable electronics).

      …and grey imports.

      "Oh, this is cheaper… but there's some ambiguity with warranty. Bah, warranty is for suckers!"

      Something stops working…

      "I am a customer and I demand satisfaction!".

      • Hit the nail on the head. Again.

  • You purchased the watch and not the warranty. The warranty purchased by the original seller can not be on sold according to Garmins T&C's?

    • A manufacturers terms and condition cannot exclude a customer of their statutory consumer rights.

      Op may seek a remedy from the retailer if there is a defect good.

      • As OP confirmed with ACCC though, private sale buyers don't get any statutory consumer rights.

        • Statutory consumer rights are transferable. An example of that is Kia with their 7 year warranty. The current owner may sell their vehicle before the 7 years and the remainder of the warranty is then transferred to the new owner.

          • @whooah1979: Source, link?

          • +1

            @whooah1979: No they're not - the retailer has no relationship with the private sale buyer and the ACCC specifically says that that kind of buyer gets no rights.

            The KIA example is an expressly transferable manufacturer (not statutory) warranty.

            • @HighAndDry: Statutory consumer guarantees are attached to the good and not the purchaser. I have on many occasions purchased goods as a favour to a friend (consumer) or as a present to a recipient (consumer). They had no problems claiming a remedy from either the retailer or the manufacturer using the original tax invoice.

              • @whooah1979: I said this elsewhere - practically it wouldn't be a problem to claim under those warranties in this situation, it's just not a legal entitlement.

    • In Garmin's T&C's they don't state anything regarding change of ownership or losing warranty if transferred.

  • If it's not covered IMO they really need to say this in their terms.

    I mean, it should be the other way around - you should really check that you're covered and assume you're not unless they say you are.

    But FYI, even though they'll never say so, in 99% of cases they'll honour the warranty even for second purchasers/owners if you make a valid claim.

    • I'm willing to take the risk as I'm happy with the price I paid. In my experience T&C's are in favour of the manufacturer as much as possible under Australian law. There are many honest companies that do state in their terms if a warranty is not transferrable. So I feel if that's the case it should be stated. Just my opinion.

      • If you wanted the benefit of a transferrable warranty, it's on you to check that instead of assume that it would be the case. Still, depending on the discount you probably still got yourself a bargain.

        • I did check with ACCC and state consumer protection before the sale who both said a warranty is determined by the manufacturers T&C's and if it's not stated then it "could" be considered as misleading and deceptive. So after that I took the risk as it was a good buy for such a new watch.

  • UPDATE: The watch has been refunded to the original place of purchase. I then purchased the unit at a reduced cost so I'm actually in credit with a free watch. Consumer rights have been restored. Thanks everyone for the tips.

    • +1

      They said it couldn’t happen.

      It’s good to hear that you got the remedy you wanted.

  • How did you get a refund from the original place of purchase if the recept wasnt in your name?

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