Just a note - I have found in other products (I'm sure it's the same with remotes and audio equip) that sometimes a retailer (let's say Bob's Audio with a real storefront) decides to go online and starts AUDIOMOFO.com . You talk to RTI or whatever and they say "No, AUDIOMOFO.com is NOT an authorized dealer", but what you don't know is that the company backing the website IS authorized, and they choose not to correlate the storefront to the website for one reason or another.

The reality of LIFE is this : warranties rarely come into play. I can't remember the last time I used a warranty on anything other than my car, and damned if I kept any of the paperwork anyway! If the price is $200 less from an unauthorized dealer on an unopened product, I'd personally consider it. Fact is anyway, if you buy a Sony receiver in an unopened box, fill out the warranty card, etc., and then have problems you can go to Circuit City and they'll fix it under warranty.