new old stock helmets

I'm shopping for a new Arai helmet. I'm finding new in the box helmets that have been sitting in the dealers showroom with a build date of 2018. Is this too old even for an Arai given they say 5 years is all they are good for?

I don’t buy the five year standard, but that wouldn’t stop me from trying to get a reduced price.

The only drawback I would see is in Liability issues.

akbeemer said:

I don’t buy the five year standard, but that wouldn’t stop me from trying to get a reduced price.

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Five years? In my opinion, it depends. Sealed in plastic, in a box, out of the Sun, and in more or less moderate temperatures like in a building I think there is minimal deterioration. Out in the Sun, hanging on a mirror, sitting on the picnic table, on the shelf in the garage near the fumes from the mower's gas can, maybe dropped a time or two - then five years will take its toll. YMMV of course.

This is what Arai says on their website about their warranty:

"All Arai helmets are warranted against defects in material and workmanship, and as serviceable only for the properly fitted first user for 5 years after purchase, but no more than 7 years from the date of manufacture. Based on the recommendations of the Snell Memorial Foundation www.smf.org it should be replaced within 5 years of first use.

Any Arai helmet or Arai helmet part found by Arai, or its authorized agents, to be defective in materials and/or workmanship within 5 years of the date of purchase, but no more than 7 years from the date of manufacture, will be repaired or replaced at the sole discretion of Arai, free of charge to the original purchaser, when returned freight prepaid to the address provided by Arai."

Certainly implies that Arai believes a new, never-before-used, Arai helmet is good for 7 years from date of manufacture.