"Frying" amplifier for warranty coverage?

This is going to sound ridiculous...but basically I want to "fry" my amp. I bought a Rockford Fosgate P4004 amp 2 years ago at Best Buy. A friend of mine recommended I get the 4 year warranty program and "fry" the amp "with a paperclip" when I'm ready to upgrade. The amp is no longer in-store so if I am able to take it out-of-commission in a way consistent with "proper use" I would more than likely get a gift card for the original value of the item. Any electronics whiz kids want to help me out?

Turn the amp all the way and let it overheat

You could probably just not hook up the ground wire and try something with it. Friend almost blew mine a week after I got it cuz he is retarted.

[quote14749d713a="gmario"]Turn the amp all the way and let it overheat[/quote14749d713a]

The key is to make it look like it malfunctioned during "proper use." (

Just tell them that lately it has been overheating once a day or so. Thats what I did with my amp (although it was true) and I replaced it with a more expensive lamp.

[quote39488d1e6a="BD2006BD"]Just tell them that lately it has been overheating once a day or so. Thats what I did with my amp (although it was true) and I replaced it with a more expensive lamp.[/quote39488d1e6a]

I did. They serviced it, lost a screw, and gave it back. I guess i'll just take it back and say it's still doing it. They'll get tired of it.

You could just keep it since there is nothing wrong w/ it, and what you are doing is probably considered fraud.

I work for best buy geek squad and I can guarantee your amp will have to be serviced, this isnt a free upgrade service.

That avatar constantly reminds me of FOAFY. lol.

[quote700df7d8f3="ILoveToys"]You could just keep it since there is nothing wrong w/ it, and what you are doing is probably considered fraud.[/quote700df7d8f3]

I have a JL Audio 1000/1...I have no need for the Fosgate P4004.

[quote700df7d8f3="JOSHBOX"]I work for best buy geek squad and I can guarantee your amp will have to be serviced, this isnt a free upgrade service.[/quote700df7d8f3]

It actually does go into thermal protect at relatively low wattages...they already serviced it though and said they "could not duplicate customer complaint." They also lost a screw (1 of 4 hex screws that hold the covers on). If it was 100% operational I wouldn't be worried about getting rid of it...I'd sell it to a friend...but I don't want to sell it to someone knowing full-well it's a POS.

Why not sell it on ebay...someone might just be getting a beginner system. Its worth a shot.

I dont think that you would be able to do anything to it to get the regular price back for it.

The ground wire idea that was mentioned about would be a good itea, but that might just blow the fuse...its kinda difficult to destroy the whole amp.

if they lost a screw you should have threw a fit on the spot and you would have gotten your new unit. You can always go back and try complaining but it would have been more in your favor if you did it right there when it happened.

I am not sure on specifics as I havent tried it but, why dont you just put the postive and negative together to short it? this is a suggestion Im not even sure how amps work but if it has a positive that is live and a negative together should short the damn thing.

[quote36cd238877="ILoveToys"]You could just keep it since there is nothing wrong w/ it, and what you are doing is probably considered fraud.[/quote36cd238877]

That is what I am thinking too. Although I have broken things after the warrenty period and just bought a new one and put the old one in the package and taken that back.

But are you sure that you would get back the full value?? It would suck if you dind't and you just destroyed your amp for nothing.