I have a Yaesu FT-8100 I had trouble with. Intermittently it had a problem where it wouldn't transmit a signal and the left VFO would not receive. I sent it in for warranty repair with an extremely detailed message explaining the problem in the box. I waited for over a month while they replaced 2 "spring plates" that were on backorder and did factory upgrades.
I received it back and a couple days later it was doing the same exact thing. I called their customer service, explained the problem again and the lady said "Well it seems as if all they did was upgrades". She sent me to a technician who was rude as could be. He told me to send it in and that second repairs got top priority. I sent it in for a second time. This time they were a little quicker about getting it back to me and they replaced a "VCV line".
I haven't had the problem with intermittent transmit, but found the rig has high SWR. After changing mounts and antennas, I finally checked my antennas on a SWR Analyzer and they are flat as a pancake. When I check it with the rig hooked up, it gets as high as 3.5:1 and no lower than 2.25:1 throughout the 2 meter band. 70cm is off the scale. The rig also only puts out 40 watts max and 30 watts most of the time on 2 meters.
I called and spoke with one of their technicians again. Again they were very rude and smart towards me. I asked that they replace the rig since they were having trouble fixing it. Again he was very rude and told me that they will not and do not replace units. My warranty is up in a couple more days and if it fails again I'm without a rig, because I do not have the money to replace it or have it repaired.
Yaesu seems to be one of those companies that once they've got your money that's all they care about. I couldn't even get to talk to a manager. I liked Yaesu quite a bit until they showed me what there customer service was like, which I'm not sure you'd call it that, more like customer disservice.
I am not the only person in my area to have such problems. I have a friend the FT-8000 that he received back from repair and the unit was only producing 42 watts out on high. He's still waiting to get that unit back from the second go round.
In my opinion, if you buy a Yaesu, hope it works for life and hope you never have to send it to them for service or rely on their customer service. I think of myself as a very patient and understanding man, but I've been to my wits end with Yaesu.
Just my warning to all,
Anonymous Nick
73s
P.S. Where's there's lawyers, there's slander lawsuits. Even though I have the proof I've chosen to post anonymous to save myself the trouble.