Haven't read the entire thing and I don't know anything about those laws. I can retort however that the HEA has found one, again, magical way to circumvent those pesky regulations/laws: Break-in....The automatic right to return for a full refund only applies to goods bought on-line. For goods bought in a physical shop, there is a 30 day right to return for refund only if the goods are faulty. Otherwise, it's down to the individual shop's returns policy. Outside the 30 day return for faulty goods, the shop has the obligation to repair or replace at their choice, but not to refund.
In Europe, the warranty responsibility rests with the supplier, i.e. the shop or on-line retailer, NOT the manufacturer. Shops sometimes try it on and say that the manufactuer is responsible. The only exception is where the supplier is only acting as an agent for the manufacturer, and the legal transaction is between manufacturer and end-purchaser. Typically new cars are sold in this way.
S
By the time the audiophile has broken-in his components ...
This tidbit was copied from the Nordost website. Emphasis is mine...
, to mods ( if inappropriate, please remove)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ALLGENERAL
LENGTH
SET UP
DIRECTIONALITY
BREAK IN
TECHNOLOGY
TERMINATION
CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE
HIGH DEFINITION
SORT SYSTEMS
QRT
BREAK IN
+How long do my cables have to break in?
Normally, we recommend at least 168 hours. However, our Reference level cables require at least 336 hours.
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What is the best way to break in my cables?
The best way to break in your cables is to have them burned in on the Nordost VIDAR machine by an Authorized Dealer. Most dealers will do this for a small charge and many offer this service when you buy your cables from them. This is another reason to buy your cable from an Authorized Nordost Dealer.
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Can I have my cables burned in at the Nordost factory?
No, we don’t offer this service at our factory due to the volume of work and the logistics involved.
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What happens during break in?
Considerable changes occur in the cable during the break in process. Any gases that were trapped between the insulation and the conductors during manufacturing are dissipated. Additionally, the insulation material charges up. The diode effects of the conductor will be more pronounced after 168 hours of break in. During this time the cable takes on a direction.
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How long does break in last?
If the cable has not been used for more than one month, it will benefit from being broken in on the VIDAR. It is a good idea to bring your cables back to your local dealer every year and have them broken in again.
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Why is the VIDAR better for breaking in cables?
The VIDAR is designed to put a very wide band signal of varying amplitude through the cables connected to it. In the normal course of use, cables such as tone arm and analog interconnects never get a high level of signal. This means it can take a long time for them to break in fully. The VIDAR speeds up this process by the combination of frequencies it puts through the cable. The results from the VIDAR will always be better than any other break- in method used.
Cables such as tonearms and analog interconnects are normally never exposed to high signal levels, so it takes an extra long time for them to break in. When a cable is connected to the VIDAR it is subjected to a wide band signal of varying amplitude. The combination of frequencies put through the cable speed up the break in process. Results from the VIDAR will always be better than any other break in method used.
......
YEP They wrote that...
Peace.