I feel like URC got off covering my remote on a technicality. The power on the remote would come off and on intermittantly. Shaking it and pushing on the batteries would make it come on. I opened the remote to see if something was loose. Oddly, the plastic case was partially melted where the battery terminals are. This caused the terminals to come loose. This seems like a flaw or defect, almost like its overheated or something.

So, in the end URC wouldn't cover it because I opened it. I understand companies need to have policies, but it seems like they weren't really concerned about the issue but basically throwing their hands up and saying "sorry, too bad".

Is this typical? Anything else I can do? Be warned...


TIA,
Kevin

If you open any other device and then send it in for warranty, is it covered? I don't know of a single company that will cover an item once its known to have been opened. The problem is they no longer can confirm it is a manufacturer defect, and not something cause after being opened. I think its a pretty standard policy.

If you were a company regardelss of the issue I doubt you would replace something that was opened by the customer for any reason. I know I wouldn't. Its the chance we take when instaling emitters, or trying to find a defect. The best thing to do is re-package and RMA.

I've had a lot of times over the years where a manufacture has said they don't *have* to honor the warranty for various reasons (its in the fine print) but did anyways when something was clearly a defect or flaw.

There's always exceptions to the rules.

So the fine print says we do not have to honor the warranty if you open the product. You then opened the product and feel they should honor the warranty because "there's always exception to the rules?" Should they then honor the next guy's warranty that opened his remote? And the next guy, and the next guy, and the next guy, and the next guy...?

Actually I opened it after I was told about the policy, so I didn't do it knowingly. Nuff said I guess. Hopefully this will save someone else from being excluded from support by URC.

I probably won't buy another one of these models anyways. While the button layout is nice, the remote has a cheap cover plate that breaks off if the remote falls on the floor. Guess the cover plate tabs aren't very strong. Don't get me wrong, I love the URC remotes, and like how you don't have to connect a usb cable and go online like you do with Logitechs'. But my experience with this model has left me with a sour taste.

What model did you get? I am assuming a basic consumer level remote if you do not require a PC to program it. If you want a really sturdy remote, look at a MX850. It's an older model, but built like a tank. Next time, I suggest simply sending the remote in, no matter what manufacturer, rather then opening it yourself.

yeah, you are right.  it is obviously defective and not having problems caused by being dropped on the floor.     

reminds me of the time i bought a defective ice cream cone.  when it fell on the ground it no longer tasted good, so I demanded a replacement.

Ok, haha. So, following your logic, if you drop a remote on the floor (which I'm sure everyone does) then its ok for the battery compartment to overheat and partially melt? Does that seem like an acceptable result to you?

Can't believe everyone's being such URC fanboys and not interested in the more important question of why this happened in the first place.

It happened because of a very simple rule, "shit happens!!!"

Unfortunately it is the truth. The issue here is that you did not allow the manufacturer to solve the issue, circumvented the system after you yourself claim you checked to see if you could do so, and are now upset that they will not fix your issue. Seriously, what is your real issue here? They are simply enforcing their policy that they informed you of.

I have been working with URC for approximately 6 years. In those 6 years, I have had 3 remotes go bad. One had a line on the LCD that went out, one had an issue with the zero button not functioning (an easy DIY fix, but I sent it in to retain the warranty, and one that was simply eating through batteries quickly. All three were handled properly, and repaired or replaced because the proper steps were taken. Because of this, and the overwhelming reliability of the product, I am LOYAL to the brand, not a fanboy as you call it.

You simply had an issue with a product and are hell bent on making the manufacturer look bad, despite the fact you have NOT taken the proper steps to remedy it.

What is the model of remote?

I already asked him that but for some reason he doesn't want to say

yes I know, but it was passed over, now your last post just buried my attempt to get the answer.

Sorry, hopefully he will say.

Sorry for the delayed response.........its the R50.