Headphones and Headphone Amps

Headphone Safe Buying Guide

How to avoid fake and grey import headphones

1) Buy Only From Authorised Online Dealers

Purchase only from authorised online dealers, which ensures you will receive a genuine product and receive high levels of pre and post sales service.

When you buy from an authorised dealer, whether at a shop or online, you can be sure you're buying a genuine, factory-new product.  Authorised dealers will have access to the latest product knowledge and be able to offer a full warranty service in the event of problems.

See the list of manufacturers below for lists of authorised dealers.

2) Buying Safely From Amazon, eBay, Playtrade, etc.

While Amazon themselves are an authorised online dealer of many headphones brands, many resellers who sell through Amazon are not. When purchasing, it is important to note where the product is being "shipped from and sold by," which is stated clearly in the header for each product on Amazon.

Many resellers on eBay selling headphone products are not authorised dealers, but instead are individuals or traders who do not provide the level of before and after sales support that is expected by headphone manufacturers.

3) If In Doubt Ask

If you are in any doubt about the retailer you are considering purchasing from please check the manufacturer links below.  If you are still uncertain contact the manufacturer directly to check before you purchase.

Understand The Risks

If you purchase headphones from an unauthorised online reseller you risk the possibility of receiving faulty, fake or even stolen goods with little hope of obtaining warranty support in the event that the product develops a fault.

Unfortunately, headphone products are sometimes sold by companies that are not authorised dealers.  Goods sold by these unauthorised companies may come from a variety of sources, including:

• Purchased via a grey secondary market (often from outside Europe that will not have warranty cover).
• Fake goods not produced by the manufacturer.
• Damaged, defective or so-called “B” grade stock.
• Stolen goods.

Many of these unauthorised resellers list products via Amazon Marketplace, eBay and similar sales outlets, but there are also more established retail stores who obtain stock via these unauthorised channels.

Due to the nature of the goods sold by unauthorised resellers and their business practices, it is very unlikely that a manufacturer will offer warranty support for products purchased from these sales outlets.

In many cases unauthorised resellers frequently change names, website addresses and locations to avoid dealing with customer problems.

If you suspect that a reseller is not authorised to sell a manufacturers products consult the manufacturers authorised dealer lists or contact the manufacturer directly for confirmation before purchase.

Where To Buy Headphones Safely Online

Before purchasing a pair of headphones online it’s strongly recommended that you check that you are purchasing from an authorised online dealer.

Below is a list of links to manufacturers' UK authorised online dealers, as well as blacklists of unauthorised dealers:

Audio-Technica

Lists supplied by: Audio-Technica Europe

Authorised Dealers

http://eu.audio-technica.com/en/contact/buy.asp
http://www.henleydesigns.co.uk/dealer_results.asp?County=&Brand=39

Unauthorised Online Dealers

The following websites are known resellers of fake Audio-Technica headphones:

headphones-best.com
headphonestore.org.uk
headphonesale.co.uk
headphoneshop.uk.com
kingspecssd.com
soundsgreatuk.com
traders-market.co.uk

The following websites are non-authorised resellers of Audio-Technica headphones and Audio-Technica strongly recommends European customers do NOT purchase from these stores:

accessoryjack.com
eeepcssd.com
hammerjack.co.uk
iheadphones.co.uk

In addition, Audio-Technica strongly advises customers against buying from eBay, or from any website where the price appears unusually low.

Beyerdynamic

Authorised Online Dealers

TBC

Denon

Authorised Online Dealers

TBC

Etymotic

Authorised Online Dealer list

http://www.etymotic.com/dealerlocator/

Unauthorised Online Dealer list

http://www.etymotic.com/dealer/unauthorized.html

FiiO

List supplied by: James Zhong (Director of International Sales)

Authorised Online Dealers

http://www.fiio.com.cn/where/index.aspx

Unauthorised Online Dealers

iheadphones.co.uk

iheadphones (via Amazon)
mymemory (via Amazon)
shwelone (via Amazon)

Grado

List of authorised dealers (with map) here.

Jaybird

Authorised Online Dealers

5050.ie - http://www.5050.ie
Advanced MP3 Players – http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk
Advanced Headphones – http://www.advancedheadphones.co.uk
Amazon – http://www.amazon.co.uk
BestBuy – http://www.bestbuy.co.uk
BestDigitalMarket – http://www.bestdigitalmarket.com
Comet – http://www.comet.co.uk
Dixons – http://www.dixons.co.uk
Gum Mobile – http://www.gummobile.com
Harrods – http://www.harrods.com
HiFi Headphones – http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk
Home & Office Innovations – http://haoi.co.uk
Instock Direct – http://www.instockdirect.com
Play.com – http://www.play.com
The MP3 Company – http://www.themp3company.co.uk

Phonak

Authorised Online Dealers

http://www.audeoworld.com/en/GB/Wheretobuy/WheretoBuy.htm

Shure

List supplied by: Shure UK

Authorised Online Dealers

If you come across a dealer selling Shure earphones, headphones or microphones and you are not sure whether they are authorised or not, refer to the below link, or call 01992 703058 for clarification.
http://www.shure.co.uk/meta_en/where_to_buy/dealer_locator

Unauthorised Online Dealers
Shure UK would advise you NOT to purchase from these companies:

4gadget.co.uk
accessoryjack.com
coolmart.co.uk
eeepcssd.com
hammerjack.co.uk
iheadphones.co.uk
simplyelectronics.net

The following websites are known resellers of fake Shure products:

kingspecssd.com

Shure UK would also advise against buying from any company where the price seems unusually low.

SoundMAGIC

List supplied by: Michael Lin (SoundMAGIC International Sales Manager)

Authorised Online Dealers

Advanced MP3 Players – http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk
Advanced Headphones – http://www.advancedheadphones.co.uk
Amazon UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk
Audio Out – http://www.audioout.co.uk
HiFi Headphones – http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk
The MP3 Company – http://www.themp3company.co.uk
The Headphone Company – http://www.theheadphonecompany.co.uk

Unauthorised Online Dealers

The following websites are non-authorised resellers of SoundMAGIC headphones and SoundMAGIC strongly recommends European customers do NOT purchase from these stores:

bargainpile.net
iheadphones.co.uk
redhotgadget.com

iheadphones (via Amazon)
in2digital (via Amazon)
market monkey (via Amazon)
onlyheadphones (via Amazon)
shwelone (via Amazon)

Updated 21st February, 2012