I'm interested in buying a MSC-400 online from an authorized retailer. I've found Surf, but they have a 10% restocking fee I'd rather avoid if I have to return the gear. Other authorized retailers I've found don't have the MSC-400. Any suggestions?

Thanks

Find a dealer in your area to get one from. You are going to need someone to program it because the software is only available to dealers, not end users.

The thing about the 10% restocking fee, is that the company that is selling it can't sell it as new. Would you buy a used or even open box for 10% off? I think that is very fair.
As for the online dealers. Here is a link to urc's online dealer list.

[Link: universalremote.com]

Thanks for the link. The restocking fee is for any returned gear. 85$ to restock something I don't open is pretty steep.

Sure 85 bucks might seem steep to you for a restocking fee but why would you order one, not open it and then return it anyway? Wait until you are ready to buy and install one for sure and then complete the transaction. As stated above you may want to find someone local for programming on site for this unit. You can contact these guys for a local retailer/installer/programmer:

Nystrom, Henderson and Associates
3545 Cruse Road
Building 1, Suite 104
Lawrenceville , GA 30044

(P) (770) 923-0231
(F) (770) 923-0310
[email protected]

It will be cheaper in the end to buy it from a local dealer that can program it instead of online. Any dealer worth calling will charge you extra to program something you bought somewhere else, costing more in the end than any savings you get from buying online.

Besides, after doing a quick google search for the 400, any online sellers I found were selling the thing for about $200 more than CI's would be selling it for right now.

On the contrary, any authorized dealer that will sell it can provide the software.

You can certainly purchase it authorized online, Surf Remote is great, however whether or not it's worth it is a different story.

That's exactly the reason for the restocking fee, which in our case only applies to expensive items (over $500) that are hard to resell. It does not apply, of course, to defective products.

I agree with contacting your local dealer/installer if you're not going to program it yourself. The MSC-400 is the least user-programmable product URC makes and at it's price level, you want to make sure it's done right. I wouldn't program an MSC-400 locally if it's been purchased elsewhere. Many dealers do the same or, as mentioned above, charge more for programming. It's also a PITA to fool around with if you're not doing the rest of the system as well.

Mike
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

I agree with Mike. You should always give your local dealers first shot even if he's not programming it. It benefits you in the long run. If they're a jerk, then you have Plan B setup already online.