It would be pretty easy in court to prove one bought from LP was built by Dive Rite. I doubt you would need that paper trail. Buy one from a "Authorized dealer" and run an Analysis of the Nylon, Bladder material, and Steel. If they match on a Gas test. It's gonna be hard to convince a jury that it wasn't made by Dive Rite. Also, LP could be forced into court to reveil there source. If it's an "Authorized Dealer" Or in some way it get's back to Dive Rite in any way, They're in deep do do. And I'm sure Dive Rite knows this. And if someone runs a Gas Test on it and brings in LP it's gonna be a huge case against Dive Rite. The only way they could keep themselves out of this scenario is to service faulty equipment. If there is any shadow of a doubt that it could be there's. They better fix it. They can write stuff all they want about not honoring warranty stuff but I'd bet the farm they are gonna cave on that statement. I'm sure they're lawyers have advised them of this. Lawyers talk alot but just because it's there belief doesn't mean that the judge and jury would see it there way. If you hold my BC up to a "Authorized Dealers" BC in a court of law. No jury would buy Dive Rite's bull. Also, Dive Rite has insurance to cover such a law suit. The Insurance company would be the one's who tell dive rite to put out a statement like this. But if a BC comes in that's questionable I doubt the insurance company would want to risk a Lawsuit on replacing a BC that probably only costs Dive Rite $100 to build.
This is from the warranty page on there site.
Please Note: Only products purchased from factory authorized Dive Rite dealers are eligible for warranty coverage. Items purchased from any source other than an authorized dealer are considered are considered used equipment and are not covered by warranty.
Make certain the "Dive Rite" products you buy are 100 percent genuine Dive Rite and covered under warranty Purchase them only from an authorized Dive Rite dealer
Warning: Unauthorized Dealers May Cost You Money
Unfortunately, not every business that advertises itself as selling Dive Rite products is a legitimate Dive Rite dealer. Why is this important? If you purchase what you think are Dive Rite products from other than authorized dealers, there is no way we can guarantee:
That the items you are spending your good money on have not been previously used
That something other than Dive Rite parts have been substituted for the original
That important serial number information has not been removed from the product in an effort to prevent us from tracking unauthorized product distribution
That what you are getting is evenly remotely a Dive Rite product! ("Bait and switch" is a common tactic among shady retailers.)
It's important you understand that, for these reasons, Dive Rite cannot provide warranty coverage for items purchased from other than authorized dealers. To help you avoid such purchases, we maintain a list of businesses we are aware of that are not authorized Dive Rite dealers, even though they may advertise our products.
Basicly they are saying they'll service it but not for free. They think of it as used gear. No where on there site do they say that they won't service it. Just that it's not covered by warranty. And if LP was buying seconds that Dive Rite had Rejected Dive Rite would still be liable. They are supposed to make sure they are destroyed. Since they are a device you're life depends on.
In the industries I've worked in. They are very picky about destroying things they could be liable for. Even if you pulled it out of the trash at there place and died using it. They'd still be in trouble.
And after saying all of this. I don't know anybody that has needed service on there BC within the Warranty period. If something is screwed up with it. You'll notice the first dive. Then just send it back to LP and they usually ship you a new one. I shipped mine back because it didn't fit. They shipped me a new one. No questions.
