dont buy Furuno

[timevans2000]

I bought a Furuno 1623 radar from a south coast dealer at the boat show. My boat is located in Pwllheli, North Wales. I installed it myself, which took me about 1 day. It worked perfectly when I switched it on but this weekend I turned it on and it was not working. I ran it through the diagnostics and it suggests there is an antenna fault. I first spoke to the dealer I bought it from who said post it back or try the local dealer who could look at it under warranty. Furuno do not have a dealer in North Wales!
The nearest Furuno dealer is in Liverpool. He will not go all the way to Pwllheli because he only gets paid for 2 hours work on a warranty claim.

If I knew this prior to buying a Furuno product I would have bought a Raytheon radar instead.

I am now faced with removing the whole lot to send back to Furuno and then having to reinstall it all when it comes back!
I spoke to Furuno again today. Their attitude is crap.

The dealer from Liverpool will come and look at it if I pay him

Basically. Dont buy a Furuno product unless there is a furuno dealer near your boat otherwise it will cost you both time and money. Furuno say they have not had a dealer in North Wales for 2 or 3 years because there is no demand. I can see why


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[robp]

Buying anything that might require after sales service, remote from your home or it's installation is a risk. When you bought it, did you think that Furuno or a dealer would travel to your boat to fix any problems?

One of the attractions of Raymarine products is their claimed on site warranty service anywhere. However if you knew nothing of this or Furuno's policy at the time of purchase, I don't think you can assume it will exist.

Maybe if you had bought it from the dealer in Liverpool, their willingness to sort it out on site would be enhanced?

Many people buy remotely for a better price. I am not saying that is what you did but when we do that (and many of us do), we have to expect that the product might need to be returned for repairs or service. Incidentally, Mail Order companies have some obligations in respect of returns.

I don't think Furuno can be blamed in this instance.

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[timevans2000]

The point is if you are in North wales you will not be able to get any on site dealer imput without paying, even for a 1 week old product that is clearly a warranty issue. I want every potensial Furuno perchaser to be aware of this so they dont end up with the same problem I have encountered.

There is a very good marine electronics repair company in Abersoch but they are no longer a Furuno approved repairer because Furuno removed their dealership status because they did not sell enough of them! Catch 22 for me.



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[robp]

I do take your point about not having a facility in the area. You do say "if I had known" etc. but unless you ask the question what happens if....?, at the time of purchase, I don't think it fair to say don't buy Furuno.

Even if there was a Furuno dealer nearby, they would still spend their two hours trying to fix it and then maybe return it to Furuno.

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[timevans2000]

The difference is that the dealer could test the installation on site and if it could not be fixed, I would only have to send back the part that was faulty. Furuno want me to send back the dome, the display and the cable because they dont know which bit is at fault. My cable is 15 metres long and is installed down the mast, through a deck gland, into the boat threaded through various bulkheads, lockers etc. It is all smartly clipped in place and took a considerable amount of time to get right.

I am now going to have to do it all again.

I still maintain that if I was aware ofhow poor the dealer network was I would not have bought a furuno product, especially one that requires a considerable amount of installation.

Mu fault for not checking. Hopefully by this post others will think before buying.

In hindsight I would have bought the Raytheon as there is a dealer in Pwllheli

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[richardandtracy]

Try rejecting it as not of merchantable quality (consumer protection legislation) and get your money back. You would have to stick to your guns and reject it within a reasonable time - usually a month for expensive equipment in consumer cases. The manufacturer will inevitibly try to wriggle out of it, but do some research on the legislation first - there must be contributers to this site who know more than I do about it.

Regards

Richard

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[Trevor_swfyc]

Have you removed a plug from the cable in order to put the cable down the mast and through the deck gland?

Is it possible that if you have a short, even one strand touching can cause loss of the signal. No doubt if you are at fault you will be posting an apology to Furuno.

Remember we are here as a forum to help not to set ourselves up as judge and jury.
Good luck.
Trevor

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[timevans2000]

I didnt remove the plugs or cut the cable. With such a complex cable it seemed better to me to leave it well alone. Cable is undamaged and carefully installed.

No apologies to Furuno from here

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[Trevor_swfyc]

Just trying to help, clutching at straws on my part maybe.

Trevor

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[timevans2000]

Sorry if I sound like Mr Angry.

launching my boat next week and just dont need the hassle of new equipment going wrong and unsympathetic manufacturer who couldnt give a stuff

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[omega2]

Could it be that the scanner was frozen? ours was last week end, but as the temprature rose it started to work again, have you tried it since it as become warmer? or am I just adding to the confusion.

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[byron]

<font color=blue>It's a bummer I know. I contacted Furuno for a new 'banner' for the Radome and was literally (by email) passed all around the world to get one. Only to be told that
I had to contact the first person I contacted, this I did who... tried to send me all round the world again net result - I still have the old faded Furuno banners on my Radome.
Moral of the story? Well! if they can't be bothered to supply stickers which promote themselves, do you really expect them to do anything that costs them something?

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.alexander-advertising.co.uk

 

[timevans2000]

I would be seriously worried if your scanner was frozen! Electronics and ice/water dont mix.

mine is definately not frozen. Weather was mild last weekend.

All I want is somebody to test it so I dont have to strip it all out needlessly. No dealer therefore no testing therefore unhappy customer. There is a perfectly good repair guy 5 miles from my boat but Furuno will not use him any more because he only does repairs and doesnt sell the stuff so he lost his dealership.

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[robp]

Is it possible that the Radome be detached leaving the cable up the mast? Maybe you can persuade Furuno to lend you a Radome to try? (On say a credit card surety).

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[david_e]

Have you put the proposition to Furuno that if they pay for the Abersoch engineer to check it out it will be cheaper for them than sending it back.

You are aware that if you allow the seller the opportunity to repair the goods you lose the right to reject them.

Bearing in mind your feelings about it I would reject the goods and demand a refund. Record everything in writing, get post receipts etc.

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[tome]

I would remove the radome and display unit and send these back. If these are found to work then you can worry about the hassle of removing or fixing the cable.

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[Observer]

Several comments mostly about other comments.

1. I don't think you can reasonably seek to reject the goods (at this stage) under SoGA. It is feasible that the fault is due to your installation and the seller has to have the right to inspect the goods and verify (or not) your complaint.

2. Note that any SoGA claim can only be against the supplying dealer - not against Furuno (who I assume are offering a manufacturer's warranty).

3. Although you've said the dealer (or is it Furuno) want display, radome and cable, I think it is reasonable for you to suggest, firmly, that they should test the display and radome first before putting you to the time and expense of de-installing the cable. You could, if necessary, argue that the process of de-installing the cable may damage it.

Good luck.



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[jimi]

Without wishing to be too simplistic,and I am sure you have checked this, could it be that the unit is not getting enough power? Have you tried it with the engine running?

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[jfkal]

Take your pick. They are all the same. I could write a book about Raymarine.........

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[colin_jones]

Just as a point of information

Furuno, like a couple of others, now offer a 2 year 'no quibble' warranty on all products purchased through their dealers in UK (ie not grey imports)
- but -
all their equipment needs to be installed by one of their own engineers or verified as in working order by one of their engineers before the warranty is valid.

They have a dealer in N Wales.

Posted without prejudice because I have no connection with Furuno and even though I know their equipment quite well and admire much of it I do not have any Furuno gear on my boat.

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