BCD396XT A Year Away?

[ryanisflyboy]

Q1 2009 is soon approaching. Has anyone heard any recent official updates regarding this scanner? It appears the BCD396XT and BC346XT have been accepted by the FCC. I don't know much about the scanner industry. What are the steps involved after acceptance that must be completed before retailers start to see units. Has Uniden even publicly acknowledged the FCC acceptance?

Also, if Uniden retailers were receiving pre-order information & pricing for this unit - would they even be allowed to say anything?

I called Scanner Master and talked to a sales guy. He said they haven't heard anything regarding manufacturing. He stated that he wasn't even aware of the FCC acceptance. He also said, based on past Uniden experience, that they are unlikley to even start manufacturing until the current stock of 396Ts are reduced. He indicated that might take a year (nooo!). With the slow down of the economy, are we unlikely to see the 396XT available in 2009 at all? Is the 396XT scheduled for a Q1 2010 availability?

The Scanner Master sales rep hasn't heard from people who are interested in this scanner. I suggest everyone start calling their favorite distributor of Uniden products and asking them what they know about the 396XT. If they don't hear from customers, they are unlikely to care much. Even the sales rep I talked to didn't see the big deal. "Well, they really didn't change much." I was like "No. They changed a lot! And I can't wait for this scanner to be available!"

I'm not buying the 396T. I don't want the 396T. Anyone who cares much about this stuff is sitting on a pile of cash waiting for the XT. However, if retailers don't know this they are going to interpret slower sales of the 396T as a sign the XT won't do well. So, do your part and let your retailer know you aren't buying the 396T because you are waiting for the 396XT. Maybe if enough people ask, they will start a waiting list or something. This could give them the information they need to back the release of the product. If I have to wait a year, then I will re-evaluate how the 396XT competes in a year. However, I would buy it today if it were available.

If you call a retailer and ask about availability of the 396XT, drop a note in here and let us know who you called. Scanner Master's phone number is: 1-800-722-6637. If you care about this scanner - let's make some noise!

-Ryan

 

[plato]

Plato

I sent a e-mail to Scanner World about the BCD-396XT. They expect delivery on or about April-2009. The price will be about $500.00 U.S.C.

 

[mule1075]

it will be out soon enough i am sure UPMAN will update us as soon as he can.i am waiting impatiently but waiting none the less.and really no sense in making noise i would rather wait a bit longer then getting a rush release.JMHO

 

[ryanisflyboy]

it will be out soon enough i am sure UPMAN will update us as soon as he can.i am waiting impatiently but waiting none the less.

Adam, if we (the consumers) don't ever tell retailers we want it - how will they know? You'd be surprised just how uninformed many sales people are about their products. Some are good, many are not. If we, as a community of Uniden users & customers, simply inform retailers of our intention to buy the product - what message does that send? I'm not talking about hounding retailers. Just one phone call/e-mail letting them know your next purchase will be the 396XT, and a polite request for them inform you when it is available.

 

[mule1075]

not suprised at all how uninformed sales people are about their products but maybe just maybe they are uniformed by reason as they dont know.now saying that a few i am guessing do actually know when the target date for release is but as UPMAN has said before it is TBA.i could call any dealer out their and maybe get the run around and maybe not get the run around but the fact of the matter is UPMAN is the man and he will tell us maybe not 1st but i am damn sure we will be tied for 2nd and be in the know when it will be released.

 

[torontokris]

Q1 2009 can be anytime up till March 31st 2009. So lots of time, just because you dont see it for sale on January 1st I wouldnt panic, or think its delayed until 2010

 

[mule1075]

you hit the nail on the head kris much more to the point and correct then my rant above.lol

Q1 2009 can be anytime up till March 31st 2009. So lots of time, just because you dont see it for sale on January 1st I wouldnt panic, or think its delayed until 2010

 

[ryanisflyboy]

I suppose I don't see any harm, and in fact see quite a bit of upshot, but letting retailers know you are interested in this scanner. Think about it. If you were a retailer and Paul Opitz from Uniden comes and says "Ya know, people are excited about this radio." Are you going to believe him? He works for the company that is trying to sell you a bunch of scanners.

Now, consider a bunch of customers calling you up and saying "Hey, I am excited about this 396XT thing. I know it isn't available yet, but can you please give me a ring when I can buy it?" Here the retailer has concrete proof that customers want to buy this thing. So, they are going to give Paul a ring and say "Paul, I'm getting some phone calls about this 396XT - can you please tell us what is up?"

How is that bad? And, please explain to me why you think Paul is going to be a good customer advocate, and why retailers will believe what he says about customer excitement when they are seeing none of it themselves.

 

[mule1075]

agreed i see your point.but no matter what still waiting none the less i am not going to call any vendors to make noise on this.when paul tells us on the board when it will be available then i will call and reserve mine.to each is own i guess.Happy Scanning

 

[garys]

As a matter of policy Uniden does not release information about any scanner until it is six months or less away from release. Which would mean that we should see it sometime between now and March 31.

UPMan has stated the policy part any number of times, so it's pretty well known.

 

[wvscanner]

I called Scanner Master and talked to a sales guy. He said they haven't heard anything regarding manufacturing. He stated that he wasn't even aware of the FCC acceptance. He also said, based on past Uniden experience, that they are unlikley to even start manufacturing until the current stock of 396Ts are reduced. He indicated that might take a year (nooo!). With the slow down of the economy, are we unlikely to see the 396XT available in 2009 at all? Is the 396XT scheduled for a Q1 2010 availability?

It is not a secret it was posted by UPMAN a press release of the upcoming XT. Sounds like this guy is either playing dumb so you will buy a current model or they don’t keep on the market of the products that they will or trying to sell. I doubt that that he is in the dark about not knowing what the public already knows. If I’m not mistaken the last time a scanner was accepted it was on the market no time. The only delay I remember of it was the shipping ports held some of them up. It sounds like me; I would not trust this guy. From this action I doubt that I will buy my next unit from someone who tried to fool someone.
.

 

[KE4ZNR]

If only we already had a sticky thread at the top of this forum for this exact subject...oh wait we do...besides that if Uniden does not come out with the BCD396xt between now and Fall 2009 I will buy EVERY Radioreference.com member one when it does come out...enough with the conspiracy theories...no, it is not "vaporware"...yes the BCD396xt does exist and yes it will be out 1st Quarter of 2009...how many times does it have to be repeated in the sticky thread (where this should have been posted) for some of you to quit with this stuff? Just be glad both Uniden & GRE are still making radios with the economy the way it is...patience is a virtue and I hope the new year brings patience for you!
Happy Monitoring!
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[KE4ZNR]

Oh and no offense to Scanner Master but if the conversation you say occurred actually did occur then that guy obviously needs to be working at his local Walmart instead of a fine establishment such as Scanner Master...Usually their people are pretty well informed...ignorance on his (the employees) part does not translate to any deception or "vaporware" on the part of Uniden...Like I said keep your eyes open 1st quarter of 2009...I guarantee you will see the 396xt out in the market as predicted by UPMan....of course any intelligent businessman (or woman) would never release exact release dates until they are 100% ready for the product to be on the shelves...
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[shaft]

...besides that if Uniden does not come out with the BCD396xt between now and Fall 2009 I will buy EVERY Radioreference.com member one when it does come out...you!
Happy Monitoring!
Marshall KE4ZNR

A part of me hopes it doesnt come out until Dec 22 '09.