Kenwood doesn't back up their radios again

[N9PAR]

Hello everyone,
I'm a little unhappy with Kenwood for their poor customer service.I bought a Kenwood TMV7A #from a buddy last year.The radio worked great for a while but then started to get lines in the display.I talked to alot of hams with the same prolbem I'm having with the radio.Kenwood will fix the radio free of charge if you bought it brand new.I understand that kenwood shouldn't cover prolbems with used radio usally but since there is such a huge prolbem they should just bite the bullet and admit they screwed up on the displays and fix them.They will fix the display for only $200 thats half of what the radio costed me.So I learned a lesson here. I'm done buying kenwood radios.So just a word of warning that kenwood really has no customer service.So judge for yourself.
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # 73,
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # N9PAR

[W8QF]

In my 30+ years in ham radio I have had more luck with Kenwood then any other radio.I have also had good luck with their service as well.Under normal circumstances I would say buy used buy someone elses problems.However if this is a established problem with the TM V7A I agree they should make it right.I personaly have had my TMV7A for 2 years and no problems.Dave AE8U

[K9ROD]

I have two TM-7v's - one I bought new and one I bought used. Both are still doing great after 1 year. With the used one, I don't expect the factory to cover any problems I have with it free. New is a different story. Big problem here is no recourse for a problem that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I recently purchased an antenna from Antenna Warehouse.....after one month in service it snapped in half. Found out this was a common problem. Company said "Too Bad". What can I do. Nothing short of a law suite that would cost money too. So, the root of the problem is business does not have to keep their word or worry about the customer....there is always another one around the corner. Too bad we can't go back to the days when your "word" ment something. Rod K9ROD

[KB3GUT]

Are you telling me that Kenwood does not honor the warranty if you are not the original owner, or was this radio out of warranty?

--KB3GUT

[N4FBI]

I have a Kenwood TM 241-A that I am using mobile. About a year ago the display went crazy, looked like Chinese writing. Now the display is totally blank, no figures, backlight or anything. IF I ever buy another radio...after reading this...it probably wont be a Kenwood.

N4FBI

[N8PDH]

The next time you buy a radio, buy an Icom ar Yaseu. I have not had a problem with either brand new or used.
About 11 or 12 years ago, and old ham friend of mine told me to stay away from Kenwood becuse of customer service problems.

I have only owned one Kenwood in my life. It was a TH-21. The case cracked. When I showed it to a Kenwood rep at a HamCom in Dallas, he sent me two new cases in the mail. Free. I would like to add that this Kenwood rep was a Japanese engineer who did not speak English. I showed him the problem and he sent me not one, but two new cases. The problem is Kenwood USA. I have heard MANY complaints just like the one stipulated by the poster of this article. All the complaints were made by people who complained of exhorbitant and astronomically high repair costs. And all of the complaints were resolved by the owners of the radios themselves selling all Kenwood equipment and replacing it with ICOM and Yaesu. Good old American business! Just look at the stock market! As anyone can see, thje chicken have come to roost. Now it is time to clean up our OWN act! As far as my own experience over the past 19 years is concerned, I have always used ICOMs. So far no problems. I am completely satisfied with ICOM.
-73 de Radioweenie-

[N7BJB]

All I can say is I have three radios in use in my shack - an Icom HF, a Yaesu dual bander and a Kenwood dual bander. I also have a yaesu UHF in the mobile and a Radio Shack HT. I don't have any toruble with any of them. I guess trouble is at least partly a matter of personal luck. Incidentlally, I also have Heath equipment that I no longer use much - not up to date all mode equipment - that also gives me no trouble. Maybe I just hold my mouth the right way or something. Moral of the story is don't blame a brand because an individual unit or an individual model is a lemon - it happens. When you look for something new, consider everyones equipment before you choose.

[KF4NI]

Hi all,
I too am unhappy with Kenwood service and their attitude toward their customers. I spent lots of money for their amateur products and when they needed repair I have found them to be very rude and not wanting to hear of the problem and then they charge excessive fees for work. After 20 years of Kenwood attitude etc...I decided to go to Yaesu and have found over the past 10 years they have superior products and I have not had to send in for repairs on HF (FT 1000D, FT 990ac) or VHF (FT 2200,2400, 2500, 8100, FT 470, VX-5r) radios and accessories I have. I know this seems unreal as from time to time everything breaks! I just like the Yaesu line for many reasons. I do hear horror stories about all manufactures but I believe Kenwood has the worst reputation. Just my 2 cents worth.

Ruby Byrd KF4NI

[KB2KAB]

Uhhhmmmmm! Let me see the facts here. You bought a second hand radio. And then after a while, the radio started to go south. Now you want the manufacturer to fix the radio for free! If they did that then they would not be in business for long. Not saying that you broke it but lets face facts, no company honors any kind of waranty to second owners. Once the product has left the orignal owners hands, the waranty becomes NULL and VOID. SHOW ME A COMPANY THAT WARANTIES THIER PRODUCT AFTER THE ORIGNAL OWER EITHER SELLS OR GIVE THAT PRODUCT TO ANOTHER OWNER, AND I'LL BUY THAT PRODUCT! YOU ARE UNDER A FALSE IMPRESSION. I have a TMV7A and it is fine for over 3 yrs. Great Product! Sorry that you have a bad radio. But either fix it or get rid of it!