ZHooligan
Moderator
Post Whore Extraordinaire!
Posts: 3829
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posted August 13, 2002 09:12 AM
The funny part in all of this is that the market is driven by the consumer. The consumer wants the goods for less then they cost because they always want it for less or at least less then the other guy paid. This is even more of problem because so many people associate wealth and profit with the hi-tech market and the World coms and Enrons. None of those industries are real. They sale smoke and mirrors.
People expect me to build their buildings and homes for less money today then last year? Or the year before? The cost of materials has not gone down. Insurance and fuel costs are higher and my people don't really want to have a cut in pay. So how can the price get lower? Easy, provide less. Or in our case try to find consumers with an IQ higher then the 2 X 6's we build with.
It is the consumers that are supporting Costco and Wal-mart as they litterally destroy their competition. Once that competition is gone do you all think their prices will stay the same?
It really boils down to the fact that it is ok for the guy complaining to make a profit or a great salary. It is everyone else that needs to work harder, smile, be nice and kiss the consumers ass for less pay. Those carreer waiters and sales people can't do those jobs for life anymore because the stores and resteraunts who's costs have gone up, not to mention the bull shit law suit costs, are still having to charge pretty much the same price for there goods as they have over the past years. So they have cut the employees wages and benefits. Hence crap attitudes and transiant employees.
I personally have a number of guys that have worked for me for over 25 years. Between us we figure out ways for both all us to make some money. But then everyone can't be as lucky as I have in finding good, honest and loyal people.
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To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
has touched them in the past and how much it can hold in the
future; -- Youth is forever.
  
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beansbaxter
Needs a life
Posts: 5911
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posted August 13, 2002 09:54 AM
ZHooligan is right. Wish they would teach us that in college. Damn WA state schools!
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redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
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posted August 13, 2002 11:10 AM
Z, I couldn't agree more. Our small family company has been at it for close to 45 years. Since folks can get similar products to ours cheaper and more "high tech" elsewhere, service is paramount to us. Like any business, we do have our share of unhappy customers. Fortunatly, the nuber is small enough for us to not only survive, but grow over the decades. I've always said that the last person who told me they kissed NO ONE'S ass, also asked me if I wanted paper or plastic (grocery store bagger).
My experiences with BEL are solely personal. I also will give the benefit of doubt to not just one, but a couple of "bad experiences". Shipping mistakes, the person on the other end of the phone is having a bad, et. al. are not uncommon. If I was above making mistakes in business, I'd have a set of wings and a halo hanging in my closet. I don't. It has lead me to realize that one acomplishes more with "honey" then with "shit". Get upset with the person on the phone is a sure way to get shitty service. It human nature. This is why I'll beg long before I yell.
It's also important to keep things in a realistic perspective when asking for warranty service. The person on the phone has little to no control of company policies and procedures in dealing with such claims. When such policies allow swapping product models without owner permission or knowledge, extended periods of time consumed in "transit shipping" (LR - Buffalo, NY - Canada and then back in reverse order), providing sales tickets and so on...it can only bring one to the conclusion that if this is not acceptable, one needs to look elsewhere.
After a half dozen or more BEL detectors and having warranty claims on four of them, the repeated and consistantly bad treatment I have received has indeed, caused me to look elsewhere. This thread and the one at LAB have basically been the only place I've found where I can REALLY vent on those experiences. Having tried to explain this, in the kindest and most professional way to folks at BEL (by phone and letter) have done nothing but fallen on deaf ears. I PERSONALLY figure it's time to give a company a chance.
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There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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FinalVelocity
Expert Class
Posts: 150
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posted August 13, 2002 11:52 AM
The Bell 945i Sucks.
My first one was a P.O.S. I had it sent to Bell twice. The first time they 'repaired' it and it worked as shitty as before. The second time around they did replace the unit,with another 945i (I had asked them to refund my money or give me a different model). This was was slightly better, but it still gives numerous false signals, and just can't stop sqawking long after the radar threat has gone.
I can't even use the darned thing on the 12 any more because it seems that when I put it on the stemstand, due to the vibration in the mount the radar emits weird noises.
If I had'nt plonked $170 for the Bell, I would have bought a V1.
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
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posted August 13, 2002 11:58 AM
Am I the only one that got a good unit? Well I feel bad fer ya guys, but this is my 5th Bel detector, and they have all been great, esp the 945i, which took a serious beating from being dropped over and over....
Hey... for every good story there must be a bad one... all I can say is tat they treated me wonderfully at their warranty center... and the 945i is pretty much te only reason I have a near spottless driving record... bash Bel all you want but they have been great to me and I appreciate it... I esp. appreciate the Cop who pulled me over and wanted to know why I had slowed down, as he was convinced that there was no way I could tell he was using laser on me.... he was pissed off that he couldnt give me a ticket.... put a smile on my face pointing at the 945i... he stormed off and drove away in a huff.
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frEEk
Administrator
ummm... yeah
Posts: 9660
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posted August 13, 2002 01:17 PM
um...fish? u dont get tickets cause YOU ARE SLOW!!! 
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ZHooligan
Moderator
Post Whore Extraordinaire!
Posts: 3829
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posted August 13, 2002 10:24 PM
 Edited By: ZHooligan on 14 Aug 2002 08:31
RedElk... I hear you. And its nice to know another small business guy. Along the same lines with what you said above, the other issue that is effecting service these days is the constant shake ups in these companies and the who in the hell owns us this month syndrome! Hopefully all of the cheap $%^&* people in this country will buy a clue before the little guys in this world are ran out of business.
Final Velocity.... Lets put things into perspective here, As stated above by you plunked down a $170 for the bell. It is a cordless detector that cost a little over a third of the V1. Every test and article I have found on the market clearly states a cordless detector is not anywheres close to that of a 12 volt wired unit. So the performance should not be anticipated to be even close.
I used my Bel because it was fast to throw on the bike, cheap to replace if it fell off or got ripped off. And it provided me with more warning then I had without it. I never got a ticket with it, not once.
I can also say this about the Bell detectors in general. I chose the cordless for the reasons stated above. I have owned other top of the line Bells and hated them. Simply because I found them to be in a word busy. They beep and blap, flash etc. almost all the time. Much like a video game. Therefore I don't care for them. I own my V1's and Escort units because they generally make a noise that should not be paid attention. And contrary to the cheerleading I hear on this site and others for the V1, my Escorts have less false alarms and I pay even more attention to them!!
I gues this goes to the old line, that why they make Kawasakis, Yamahas, Hondas, Suzukis etc. So people can buy what turns them on. That steal does not explain why people buy BMW's as they really are ugly and friggin wierd!!!!
____________
To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
has touched them in the past and how much it can hold in the
future; -- Youth is forever.
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22348bCVC
Zone Head
Posts: 798
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posted August 13, 2002 11:08 PM
Radar detectors???...who needs radar defectors???...I don' need no steenkin' radar detectors!!!...I just go as fast as I dare, keep an eagle eye out, trust my uncanny intuition, and hope for the best!!! 
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...just relax...my dog wants to use only one of your legs...
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frEEk
Administrator
ummm... yeah
Posts: 9660
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posted August 13, 2002 11:35 PM
hmm...yer soundin almost as bas as FC there nano!
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