Yamaha Terminates Transshipping Dealers

Company States that Changing Product Serial Numbers No Longer Helps Transshipper Avoid Detection, $25,000 Reward Program Continues [The following is a release from Yamaha Electronics Corporation]

January 28, 2008

Yamaha Electronics Corporation, USA, today announced the completion of the latest phase of its on-going campaign to stop the transshipping of its products to unauthorized Internet sellers. The company recently terminated a number of dealers who resold Yamaha products to unauthorized resellers. These terminations were made possible by Yamaha’s new highly accurate procedure to trace products from the factory all the way to where they are sold, through legitimate dealers or otherwise. “Until now, transshippers have covered their tracks by replacing the manufacturers’ real product serial numbers with inaccurate ones that were difficult to trace,” said Yamaha spokesperson, Tom Graham. “Now, even if phony serial numbers are used on Yamaha products, we know with absolute certainty to which dealer those products were originally shipped.” In addition to its new product tracking procedures, Yamaha continues to offer a $25,000 reward for information leading to the identification and prosecution of individuals who are modifying Yamaha consumer audio products by opening cartons and changing Yamaha factory serial numbers. Graham said the reward program will continue at least through Spring 2008. Yamaha affirms its commitment to ensuring that its customers receive only the best in sales and service by ensuring that its products are sold only through retailers authorized by Yamaha. The company will continue its campaign to stamp out transshipping as long as necessary to protect Yamaha’s customers. “Altering a product’s factory serial number is so serious because it defrauds consumers and voids the product warranty to which they are entitled,” said Graham. “We clearly know we still have a substantial amount of work to do. We won’t reduce our efforts until the job is finished,” said Graham in conclusion. For more information, write Yamaha Electronics Corporation, P.O. Box 6660, Buena Park, CA 90620; telephone (714) 522-9105; email infostation@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamaha.com/home.

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