Valentine One Radar Detectors

[Frogdog1]

So, I call Valentine One at their two numbers on their web site and get a recording, "Thanks for calling but due to a staffing shortage, we cannot answer right now. Please call back later. Thank you for your understanding."

Understanding, bullshit. If they can't even find someone to answer the phone and probably take a new order, they're making too much money and probably playing at the beach. I also did some research and they are taking forever to make repairs, other people have trouble contacting them and they are saying it takes a LONG time for them to fill orders. I think I have the answer but wanted other's experiences as of late.

I'm utterly amazed that any kind of real company would do something like this, especially one that sells an item that I think has a very high profit margin. GO FIGURE!!!!!

Anyone else experienced this from them lately? Now I'm even more receptive to something "as good or better." I know we all tend to go with what has kept us out of trouble in the past (and present) but I was ready to buy!!

"What is is you guys opinions of what is "as good or better"?

Thanks, FD1 (I'm still astounded!!)

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[Paul's stable]

FYI

https://www.caranddriver.com/car-accessories/g46750887/best-radar-detectors-tested/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_bg_cd_md_bm_comm_org_us_g46750887&msclkid=22c65d41e7e418fd98ef341f0741e36d&utm_term=radar detector&utm_content=General

NOTE: The Uniden R8W has superseded the R8 feature in the above comparo

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F1DTVB84?tag=track-ect-bing-usa-984886-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1

I have the R8 and I love how it has stopped me from doing dumb stuff when a cop has snuck up behind me in traffic. Not sure why I guess they have their radar on.

 

[LouG]

So, I call Valentine One at their two numbers on their web site and get a recording, "Thanks for calling but due to a staffing shortage, we cannot answer right now. Please call back later. Thank you for your understanding."

Understanding, bullshit. If they can't even find someone to answer the phone and probably take a new order, they're making too much money and probably playing at the beach. I also did some research and they are taking forever to make repairs, other people have trouble contacting them and they are saying it takes a LONG time for them to fill orders. I think I have the answer but wanted other's experiences as of late.

I'm utterly amazed that any kind of real company would do something like this, especially one that sells an item that I think has a very high profit margin. GO FIGURE!!!!!

Anyone else experienced this from them lately? Now I'm even more receptive to something "as good or better." I know we all tend to go with what has kept us out of trouble in the past (and present) but I was ready to buy!!

"What is is you guys opinions of what is "as good or better"?

Thanks, FD1 (I'm still astounded!!)

They are having staffing issues, can't find good enough people. They are aware of the problem though, they had a few retirements recently. Mike's death did cause some upheaval as well.
Early in the week has a better chance of them answering
Have you tried emailing them?

 

[Frogdog1]

They are having staffing issues, can't find good enough people. They are aware of the problem though, they had a few retirements recently. Mike's death did cause some upheaval as well.
Early in the week has a better chance of them answering
Have you tried emailing them?

No, I haven't called early in the week and haven't emailed them. My research tells me they aren't answering email promptly or doing repairs promptly. I just can't spend money with a place like that.

I am compassionate concerning the death. However, every small business should have a succession plan and apparently they didn't. Cincinnati has plenty of problems with staffing but I've always been able to hire in difficult times. It's a matter of trying hard and being smart. The whole thing is really a shame but I won't spend money with them.....probably. I will keep trying to talk with them to find out the real problem. If they're transparent, I'll give them some slack. I feel for the family but is truly a shame such a good product languishes like that.

Thank you for your input @PaulStable.

 

[Yamazuki]

So, I call Valentine One at their two numbers on their web site and get a recording, "Thanks for calling but due to a staffing shortage, we cannot answer right now. Please call back later. Thank you for your understanding."

Understanding, bullshit. If they can't even find someone to answer the phone and probably take a new order, they're making too much money and probably playing at the beach. I also did some research and they are taking forever to make repairs, other people have trouble contacting them and they are saying it takes a LONG time for them to fill orders. I think I have the answer but wanted other's experiences as of late.

I'm utterly amazed that any kind of real company would do something like this, especially one that sells an item that I think has a very high profit margin. GO FIGURE!!!!!

Anyone else experienced this from them lately? Now I'm even more receptive to something "as good or better." I know we all tend to go with what has kept us out of trouble in the past (and present) but I was ready to buy!!

"What is is you guys opinions of what is "as good or better"?

Thanks, FD1 (I'm still astounded!!)

I’ve never had a problem myself, but I cannot remember ever trying to call them either. I usually just order off their website or blindly send my v1 to them with a note asking for a tune-up along with my cc#. Orders off their website are usually shipped quickly and I can't remember ever waiting more than about 2weeks to get my v1 back after having it serviced. Which I have actually never been charged for. However, it has been 2 or 3yrs since I've placed any orders or needed service.

I understand it’s frustrating when you call someplace because you have questions or want to give them money and there’s no one there to answer the phone, especially when we all suffer from the same social disease of never being able to get what we want fast enough; but Valentine Research isn’t necessarily what I would consider a large company either. Since COVID, a lot of places have a hard time finding people who are actually willing to work; and even then it can be a challenge to find workers that are worth hiring. Smaller companies seem to have an even harder time with this. While this is perhaps not something that could be considered an acceptable excuse, it's something to consider nonetheless.

As far as pricing and profit margins go, VR sells basically one product and they are the only place that sells it. Companies like Escort, Cobra, Uniden, and the likes making dozens of different products and selling them through big box stores are going to touch a lot more people than a company like VR is, in what I would almost consider a niche market. So regardless of their margins, they're still a smaller company and are going to operate as such. Buying from VR, to me is more like taking your car to a mechanic you trust even if they are more expensive then the guy down the street. You're not paying for the time it took him to actually do the job, you're paying for the 20+ yrs of experience he has to know how to do that job correctly the first time. So unlike buying from the others, you're not buying a product from VR so much as you are paying for their experience in building radar detectors. If not for Mike Valentine, this industry wouldn't be where it is today.

And with that, I'll end my rant! I'm sorry to hear that you had a bad experience trying to contact VR and hope that you're able to find something, even if it's not another V1, that you like as much as you did your Gen 1! As others have shown, there are some really good offerings out there from places other than VR, some that many even consider to be better.

 

[Frogdog1]

I’ve never had a problem myself, but I cannot remember ever trying to call them either. I usually just order off their website or blindly send my v1 to them with a note asking for a tune-up along with my cc#. Orders off their website are usually shipped quickly and I can't remember ever waiting more than about 2weeks to get my v1 back after having it serviced. Which I have actually never been charged for. However, it has been 2 or 3yrs since I've placed any orders or needed service.

I understand it’s frustrating when you call someplace because you have questions or want to give them money and there’s no one there to answer the phone, especially when we all suffer from the same social disease of never being able to get what we want fast enough; but Valentine Research isn’t necessarily what I would consider a large company either. Since COVID, a lot of places have a hard time finding people who are actually willing to work; and even then it can be a challenge to find workers that are worth hiring. Smaller companies seem to have an even harder time with this. While this is perhaps not something that could be considered an acceptable excuse, it's something to consider nonetheless.

As far as pricing and profit margins go, VR sells basically one product and they are the only place that sells it. Companies like Escort, Cobra, Uniden, and the likes making dozens of different products and selling them through big box stores are going to touch a lot more people than a company like VR is, in what I would almost consider a niche market. So regardless of their margins, they're still a smaller company and are going to operate as such. Buying from VR, to me is more like taking your car to a mechanic you trust even if they are more expensive then the guy down the street. You're not paying for the time it took him to actually do the job, you're paying for the 20+ yrs of experience he has to know how to do that job correctly the first time. So unlike buying from the others, you're not buying a product from VR so much as you are paying for their experience in building radar detectors. If not for Mike Valentine, this industry wouldn't be where it is today.

And with that, I'll end my rant! I'm sorry to hear that you had a bad experience trying to contact VR and hope that you're able to find something, even if it's not another V1, that you like as much as you did your Gen 1! As others have shown, there are some really good offerings out there from places other than VR, some that many even consider to be better.

VR has only a few things to offer. A reputation which is worth a lot but declining, a product that works but with plenty of competiton, and that's about it. Their R&D was covered years ago, their fixed costs have to be low (a little space that's likely paid for) and the rest, small variable costs ( light bill, someone to take orders either by phone or mail, and someone to ship product). I have no empathy for them other than the passing of the founder which occured a bit ago. Since then, I see a gold mine declining. The people that make the most money are smart small business owners. Large companies have large costs and more to lose with more liability (like Ford). I know because I've run large companies and own two small companies. By far, I've made the most money with small businesses. Anyway, I'll deal with it maybe next week. I'm curious more than anything what they will say if they ever answer the phone because I have a hard question for them. If help is their problem, I don't feel for them because I have never not had that problem but I do know how to solve it. Over and out.

Thanks everyone for the help, more always accepted. FD!

 

[LouG]

I used to be on the radar detector forum until they became the Uniden radar detector forum.
There was an unusually high level of aggression towards Valentine and V1 users for some reason.
I think it dated back to the Cincinnatte Microwave days.
But, everything I learned from the radar obsessives on there made me stay with V1. If only for the fact their build quality was exceptional, but with Gen 2 it became top dog in other respects.
Not to mention the interface with JBV1, which turns it into a complete countermeasure system, even with jammer integration should you want that.
Having interacted with Mike and now the new Rep on a certain Discord channel, I think their hearts and minds are in the right place. They are not just a corporate chasing the last possible cent.

 

[Frogdog1]

I used to be on the radar detector forum until they became the Uniden radar detector forum.
There was an unusually high level of aggression towards Valentine and V1 users for some reason.
I think it dated back to the Cincinnatte Microwave days.
But, everything I learned from the radar obsessives on there made me stay with V1. If only for the fact their build quality was exceptional, but with Gen 2 it became top dog in other respects.
Not to mention the interface with JBV1, which turns it into a complete countermeasure system, even with jammer integration should you want that.
Having interacted with Mike and now the new Rep on a certain Discord channel, I think their hearts and minds are in the right place. They are not just a corporate chasing the last possible cent.

I think their unit is a very good one which is why I am very disappointed. I think they have a people and business problem, both of which are unneccessary. There is NO reason that product shouldn't sell quickly. With a little marketing and execution, they should be rolling in money if they want to do that. For the price of them, there has to be a high margin. The electronics inside the box can't be very expensive.

Until my ancient, but effective unit quit working, it saved me more than I would guess. I think my animosity towards them and their excuse for not answering the phone is disappointment based. They COULD likely sell the company for quite a tidy sum. I really don't want to be forced into a Uniden but having a Mustang GT without a radar dectector (especially a red Mustang) is asking for it. For some Po Po's, a Mustang is probably a price catch.

 

[LouG]

Us V1 fanboys are dreading the idea of Mrs V selling to an outfit like Uniden or Escort. But they are still actively refining and updating the units. Up till recently Photo radar detection has been the holy grail, they appear to have mostly cracked it. If there's any rumours of a sale, I'll order another one, 3 should last me out.

 

[Frogdog1]

Us V1 fanboys are dreading the idea of Mrs V selling to an outfit like Uniden or Escort. But they are still actively refining and updating the units. Up till recently Photo radar detection has been the holy grail, they appear to have mostly cracked it. If there's any rumours of a sale, I'll order another one, 3 should last me out.

I just tried their two phone numbers again and got the same "short staffing" message.....twice. No way I will spend that much money with people that obviously don't care about customers. I absolutely don't believe they have a staffing shortage. Pay people correctly, treat them properly, offer decent benefits, and they will flock to you. I always paid people at the 75th percentile of what was nearby my companies, treated them very well and had no problem getting and keeping good people. They get one more try from me, then over to the scary unknown of Uniden. Only thing worse than that is a ticket. This really isn't a money thing with me, just a doing what's right thing on behalf of customers.

 

[Ken H.]

I just tried their two phone numbers again and got the same "short staffing" message.....twice. No way I will spend that much money with people that obviously don't care about customers. I absolutely don't believe they have a staffing shortage. Pay people correctly, treat them properly, offer decent benefits, and they will flock to you. I always paid people at the 75th percentile of what was nearby my companies, treated them very well and had no problem getting and keeping good people. They get one more try from me, then over to the scary unknown of Uniden. Only thing worse than that is a ticket. This really isn't a money thing with me, just a doing what's right thing on behalf of customers.

Escort 360c. You won’t be disappointed.

 

[LouG]

I just tried their two phone numbers again and got the same "short staffing" message.....twice. No way I will spend that much money with people that obviously don't care about customers. I absolutely don't believe they have a staffing shortage. Pay people correctly, treat them properly, offer decent benefits, and they will flock to you. I always paid people at the 75th percentile of what was nearby my companies, treated them very well and had no problem getting and keeping good people. They get one more try from me, then over to the scary unknown of Uniden. Only thing worse than that is a ticket. This really isn't a money thing with me, just a doing what's right thing on behalf of customers.

I can only tell you what their rep on Discord said. Message me with some type of contact and I will pass it onto V1.

 

[Frogdog1]

I can only tell you what their rep on Discord said. Message me with some type of contact and I will pass it onto V1.

@Lou G, I sincerely appreciate the offer but if they won't talk directly to a potential customer, well, you know the rest. Hell, I would answer the phone for them for not too much money.

 

[LouG]

Hey Frogdog, someone in the hardwire a detector thread just ordered a Gen 2.

 

[LouG]

VR just replied on Discord. Still having staffing problems, calling first or last thing in the day has the best chance of being answered.
They're very apologetic.

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