Do not buy any Sonus Faber used

"It must be important for companies to protect their distributors and their territories.”

Agreed. And if there is a problem, then they need to tighten up their distribution chain. They simply cannot place that burden on the end user. They are the manufacturer. Every speaker out there was originally in their possession. They chose who to sell them to. If the distribution network is not functioning as intended, then it is their problem. Broaden your thinking and really consider the precedence, legal ramifications and potential for abuse. No contract can cover everything. People buy and sell things all the time based on very reasonable assumptions, including that a company's repair facility will offer repair. A buyer has certain rights based on nothing more that the reasonable expectations of “this is the way it’s alway been done”. And I suspect strongly that even if a company was allowed an exception, it would be with the responsibility of making sure that their oddball policy was well understood by every prospective buyer.

Phaelon - Your statement that they have just placed the burden on the end user is just not accurate. Sumiko and Sonus Faber have worked diligently to tighened up the distribution channel. The grey market problem is much less than it was 5+ years ago. They have worked this issue from several angles and seem to have reduced the problem greatly. In addition, they have warned the end user of the potential problems with dealing with the grey market - both on their website and here on Audiogon. Remember, these warning statements have been around for years.

I leave it to you to worry about the potential legal aspects of the issue. I will continue to support the authorized channel.

And I will be a destroyer of their interpretation of legal commerce and will support whoever offers me better terms.

Some companies provide a different model numbers for stores such as Sears, and Best Buy. Some also provide different model numbers (various items) for other countries, even when the power supplies will work at 100-240 volts, 50-60 cycles. Something like this might be a simple solution for making it easier on everyone. If you see a strange model number, that would tell you quick and easy. I'm sure counterfeiters can work around this, but they also could mark/stamp it into the wood cabinet, to make it hard for them.

So Inna, are you willing to pay $30K for a $40K pair of Strads, knowing that you cannot get replace parts if anything goes wrong? At some point service becomes part of "better terms".