BCD436HP/BCD536HP: Attention Uniden!

[N7JGN]

Hi.. I'm just getting ready to order my 3rd BCD436HP.. the first two, the screen display looked worse than my first Blackberry phone.. so I had to return.. I have read all the SN# info.. my question is, how am I going to know if I get the latest and greatest? If Uniden from the start of the situation would have immediately recalled all faulty scanners, and replaced with the current and problem free version, I would not be asking this question.. Uniden figured if someone noticed the problem they would call or complain.. that is totally wrong.. anyways, it's a great Scanner and hopefully I will get a good one.. the 3rd time is sometimes is a charm.. one last thing.. why does Uniden let all this bad pub here on the forums continue.. they say just send it in.. who wants to do that? I bet if the head person from Uniden bought a product that he/she was not satisfied with, and had to send it in to get it FIXED, he/she would say, I want a replacement with a unit that works.. that is how it should work.. Uniden is not thinking straight.. and I realize it's a small market for them, and they are trying to skimp by.. rather then recall the bad inventory and replace it with the most current model. sheesh, what a JOKE.. the head person of Uniden should react, and put themselves in the Customers Shoes.. They need to contact Apple or Amazon for customer sevice advice..
Doug

 

[Citywide173]

It's a cost issue. Would you expect auto manufacturers to give you a new car every time they had a recall issue?

 

[N7JGN]

It's not a cost issue at all. Those units manufactured in and from China or Taiwan, cost them less than $25 per unit at most.. It's simply a poor customer service policy.. "Screw the poor scanner hobbyist, we control the market" .. If they don't like it, let them buy a Whistler.. It's way
different than buying a car..
Doug

 

[hiegtx]

It's not a cost issue at all. Those units manufactured in and from China or Taiwan, cost them less than $25 per unit at most.. It's simply a poor customer service policy.. "Screw the poor scanner hobbyist, we control the market" .. If they don't like it, let them buy a Whistler.. It's way
different than buying a car..
Doug

Your $25 cost is off by a factor of at least 10 times. The digital decode licensing alone has widely been estimated as approaching $200.00, not even considering any other component costs.

 

[Citywide173]

Your $25 cost is off by a factor of at least 10 times. The digital decode licensing alone has widely been estimated as approaching $200.00, not even considering any other component costs.

I'll give him the $25 cost of manufacturing, but that's the basic component assembly and does not include R&D, shipping, FCC Type Acceptance, DVSI licensing fees, firmware development, etc. In a world of disposable electronics, more and more people are losing the understanding that the higher end stuff is not disposable, and replacing these units would probably put Uniden out of business. The fact that they have recalled twice now, and picked up the shipping costs each way for the consumer is completely overlooked-they have taken a significant financial hit to do this, yet it is still not enough for some.

As far as the third radio being the charm, If you aren't happy with the first two, the adage "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me" applies-if you had a problem with two, maybe you should have looked elsewhere before buying number 3.

 

[dougjgray]

My display looks is ok, 1st one was the charm so far

 

[northernsummit]

The fact that they have recalled twice now, and picked up the shipping costs each way for the consumer is completely overlooked-they have taken a significant financial hit to do this, yet it is still not enough for some.

This will sadly go overlooked by the masses, but at the same time, it may also improve Uniden's future quality control if they found things that could have been prevented to begin with.

When I finally sent my 536 in for the battery and LCD I just shipped it off and did my best to forget about it. I was pleasantly surprised when they sent it back but a little shocked at the new color of the LCD. Like you said they picked up the bill for both directions of shipping and fixed it. I'm pretty sure I'm out of warranty so I'm very pleased.

At the same time, I respect the frustrations of the people who feel Uniden has failed to deliver on many features this radio supposedly was going to have. They need to address that.

 

[rcool101]

Hi.. I'm just getting ready to order my 3rd BCD436HP.. the first two, the screen display looked worse than my first Blackberry phone.. so I had to return..
Doug

Keep on Fishin...... Eventually you'll get a keeper..............

 

[N7JGN]

Your $25 cost is off by a factor of at least 10 times. The digital decode licensing alone has widely been estimated as approaching $200.00, not even considering any other component costs.

Hi.. I'm talking about hard costs.. manufacturing costs.. and no way is the license cost $200 per unit.. take away one of those zeros..
Doug

 

[Citywide173]

DVSI's number is (978) 392-0002 Call them yourself. They are very nice people, I visited their office a few months ago and they were very forthcoming with licensing costs.

 

[UPMan]

Just parts cost (w/o licensing) above is off by multiples. Licensing costs include per-unit plus a hefty (significant 6 figures) that have to be amortized. Engineering R&D costs are even larger expense.

 

[KC4RAF]

For parts and labor alone,

excluding all other costs; the price probably will be 125.00 to 150.00 USD. That's counting the labor, the parts, the machinery to build the units, testing, RnD; all the little things. Now figure in management, sales people, shipping, royalties (license fees), inventory costs, (and I am sure there's a few more dollars to add in there somewhere!), and you can see that those little ol' scanners cost way more than 25.00 USDs.

 

[N7JGN]

Just parts cost (w/o licensing) above is off by multiples. Licensing costs include per-unit plus a hefty (significant 6 figures) that have to be amortized. Engineering R&D costs are even larger expense.

Hello.. OK, for sake of argument, I love your products.. I just don't agree with your policy of leaving products with problems on the Market Place.. with that said, I just purchased a 536 from HRO Portland and I got the newest version.. I love it.. I also bought a 436 from them and was not so lucky.. returned it no problem.. what are they going to do with that scanner? resell it again? or return it to Uniden? I also ordered one from Amazon and it was returned as well.. I, today want to order another from Amazon, but frightful it will not be the most current..I can return it no problem, but it should not have to be that way.. and I'm surly not the only one..
So, with all that said, I'm going to drop the complaints, criticism and move on.. Hopefully I will get a new version when I order, if not.. I will keep trying.. Hopefully this situation for Uniden will soon pass and be forgotten..
Best Regards,
Doug

 

[Isaac-1]

The only thing wrong with the 436HP display is it is basically the same as displays that were being installed in scanners 10-15 years ago. It works, but does not look nearly as good as an iPhone. This was an engineering design choice, probably based on price point and electrical budget as traditional LCD displays consume very little electricity compared with some of the newer alternatives.

 

[N7JGN]

The only thing wrong with the 436HP display is it is basically the same as displays that were being installed in scanners 10-15 years ago. It works, but does not look nearly as good as an iPhone. This was an engineering design choice, probably based on price point and electrical budget as traditional LCD displays consume very little electricity compared with some of the newer alternatives.

Hi, but from my understanding from this forum, the newest versions have a much better screen.. or am I not understanding?
Doug

 

[SouthernRoller]

Sounds to me like one would be hard pressed and have to think long and serious before making a Uniden product purchase..Just my 2 cents for what it's worth!!

 

[kd7ckq]

And your going to do what? Buy a PSR-800 with a new cover and a different name on it? At least Uniden is putting out New Product. At least they are trying.

 

[SouthernRoller]

Is the PSR-800 tried and true?

 

[kd7ckq]

Is it? When it was new, the forums where full complaints. Now that is has aged, one simply has to do a search to find their answers. It to went growing pains. Just like any other new product.

 

[SouthernRoller]

True, I myself just let the Uniden complaints go in one ear and out the other.. You either like their products or you don't. Any new product will always have it's flaws in the beginning. And no matter what features you add to the product you will never make every consumer happy. It's the nature of the beast..