ProSource Scientific Inc

I would rather not leave this review, but I believe that I have no other choice to do so. The short version is that I purchased a Reed Datalogging Sound Meter from ProSource Scientific so that I could measure the outdoor traffic noise 24/7 over a 2 week period in our backyard. The situation was explained to one of the owners of ProSource and a product was recommended by him and subsequently purchased through them. I set up the Sound Meter on a tripod under a tree in September in proximity to the road and it rained overnight and the product failed and was rendered unusable. The following was cut and paste from one of my emails to the owner. "We purchased an adapter, different memory cards, had several long calls with Reed technical dept, rode the learning curve, did a few very short noise samples and believed we finally were ready to proceed with recording the data. Two weeks ago we set it up once again – it rained and the machine fried." When this was brought forward to the attention of the owner we were told that we should have known it would not be waterproof so it wasn't their problem, it was ours. This we dispute as numerous electronic products available on the market today are waterproof. How would one know that the weather conditions must be dry without moisture? How would one expect otherwise when the item was purchased for extended use outdoors. It was understood that the sound meter would remain in an exposed outdoor environment which in turn is subject to weather conditions. I fail to understand that we should have known it could not get wet, as well it does not say so in the received literature, nor online. Both Reed and ProSource told us we should have known it couldn't get wet so it was our problem. Eventually we were offered a 50% discount on the purchase of the same unit, but the request for a refund was refused. Thus we would be paying 1.5 times the original purchase price for a unit. This defies logic. I have tried to rectify this both with Reed and two individuals at ProSource Scientific over a lengthy period of time and with several communications but ProSouce Scientific are rigid in their refusal for a refund. I am out over $400.00 as I also purchased additional items such as memory card and compatible charger so I did not have to use batteries. The unit remains in its box, unusable.