BCD436HP Discussion Thread

[SCPD]

If Uniden cannot say "The 436 will be in our warehouse on month/day/year", then Uniden does NOT know where they are - at best they have a nebulous concept of when they should be arriving. When you know where your product is, and how it's moving, you know when it will arrive with much greater certainty than "end of January or beginning of February."

My employer releases several new devices yearly, and we ALWAYS tell people a specific date when that new device will be on the shelf in the store.

:thumbup:

 

[jpb]

If Uniden cannot say "The 436 will be in our warehouse on month/day/year", then Uniden does NOT know where they are - at best they have a nebulous concept of when they should be arriving. When you know where your product is, and how it's moving, you know when it will arrive with much greater certainty than "end of January or beginning of February."

My employer releases several new devices yearly, and we ALWAYS tell people a specific date when that new device will be on the shelf in the store.

I completely agree with you. You should abandon this rogue manufacturer and buy a PSR-800 immediately!

Anybody think we can get this thread back on a productive track?

 

[nategb]

I think if there was a set release date on these we would be waiting longer because the release date would need to allow all "day one" dealers to have the product in stock and ready to ship. For example Ham Station is already shipping 536 to customers. If there was a set release date Ham Station might have to wait a week or so longer until all participating dealers have the 536 before they could start shipping them out. This is just my observation, I am by no means a supply chain expert. I think not setting an exact release date gets the product to customers faster but not all at the same exact time.

 

[mrkelso]

Got mine on order with The Ham Station i went with the 436

 

[03msc]

I'll also add, were still on the timeline UPMan posted back on 12/23/2013. Looks like it's on track to me.
http://forums.radioreference.com/2092780-post881.html
I feeling confident the 436 will suddenly start shipping by next week. Thats a week after the 536 started shipping out.

Please read this post - exactly on track. Uniden has given dates. Period.

He never said they were in a black hole or that they do not know where they are, he said they are not saying and even the project manager can not or will not say when they will be here. I agree it is frustrating when they say January, yet it is January 22 and no real release date has been given. As I stated a week ago, I work in the shipping industry as a side job and deal with logistics all the time. This information is set in advance not just the day they show up at the distributor. We know weeks in advance at a minimum when and how things are being routed. Even if they said "available Feb 6 at your local store" that would be better than "sometime after the 536". Of all the electronics I have ever purchased, this is the only time I can remember not having a set "here it is" date. I too was considering canceling mine considering the company I am relying on backing their product cannot even give their customers a solid release date. Concerns me going forward. This is my first Uniden but may end up not being my first.

See above linked-to thread.

When the company that I work for says a new device will be released, we give people HARD DATES when they will be able to find those devices in our stores/online. There is absolutely no reason that Uniden cannot do the same. We NEVER say something nebulous like "Sometime after 'X' happens", we say "You can pick up your new device on month/day/year" and then we deliver on that. If Uniden does not even know WHEN they will have their own product in the hands on themselves/their distributors, their accounting must be a nightmare.

If Uniden cannot say "The 436 will be in our warehouse on month/day/year", then Uniden does NOT know where they are - at best they have a nebulous concept of when they should be arriving. When you know where your product is, and how it's moving, you know when it will arrive with much greater certainty than "end of January or beginning of February."

My employer releases several new devices yearly, and we ALWAYS tell people a specific date when that new device will be on the shelf in the store.

Also see above linked-to thread.

----------------

I will add - anyone is free to cancel their order or not order one of these scanners if this is that big of an issue. The fact of the matter is that this is happening no different than any other company's product releases, Uniden has just been more forthright with information from the beginning (through UPMan/Paul) and so people on here have much more timeline information than others would. As someone else points out - if they had said "the 536 will release January 28" then those places that have shipped theirs out would have had to hold stock and wait until the release date. Thankfully Uniden is more flexible than that.

I'm not trying to be rude or provoke anger or a debate/argument, just trying to point out that there really isn't anything mysterious or fishy going on at all. If anyone feels that way it is clearly unfounded and they shouldn't worry.

 

[ColonelMike]

Please read this post - exactly on track. Uniden has given dates. Period.



See above linked-to thread.





Also see above linked-to thread.

----------------

I will add - anyone is free to cancel their order or not order one of these scanners if this is that big of an issue. The fact of the matter is that this is happening no different than any other company's product releases, Uniden has just been more forthright with information from the beginning (through UPMan/Paul) and so people on here have much more timeline information than others would. As someone else points out - if they had said "the 536 will release January 28" then those places that have shipped theirs out would have had to hold stock and wait until the release date. Thankfully Uniden is more flexible than that.

I'm not trying to be rude or provoke anger or a debate/argument, just trying to point out that there really isn't anything mysterious or fishy going on at all. If anyone feels that way it is clearly unfounded and they shouldn't worry.

You said this is no different than any other companies product releases? Almost every other company does set a date in stone and can answer when it is shipping out to resellers A WEEK before it is supposed to be out. Even the resellers don't have a clue as evidence by several of their websites. Am I concerned that it is going to show up sometime in the next week to few weeks? No. But I am concerned as a first time Uniden customer that if they can't provide solid information to their resellers or their customers, how does that fare for me a year or two from now if I have an issue? Are they not going to be able to provide solid information then either. I do appreciate UPMan on these forums and that is one of the reasons I did switch to Uniden. But the company as a whole not releasing a solid date concerns me for the future of my products and possible purchases in the future.

 

[jdanon]

I think if there was a set release date on these we would be waiting longer because the release date would need to allow all "day one" dealers to have the product in stock and ready to ship. For example Ham Station is already shipping 536 to customers. If there was a set release date Ham Station might have to wait a week or so longer until all participating dealers have the 536 before they could start shipping them out. This is just my observation, I am by no means a supply chain expert. I think not setting an exact release date gets the product to customers faster but not all at the same exact time.

I think you've hit the nail on the head. This isn't an iPhone where there are exactly four stores carrying the device (Apple, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile) and they essentially embargo the sales until the release date that everyone lines up and camps out for. I'm willing to bet Uniden knows where each every unit is at all times the same way that the minute you sign for a package the status is updated on the shipper's web site within minutes. There's no point in Uniden setting a date, because every place offering the devices will have a different first available/ship date depending on their individual retail set up. As we've seen so far, the stores that ship from a warehouse closest to DFW are the ones that will have the earliest release/ship date while other places that are selling the unit have to first take delivery of their allotment, then ship from where ever they are which means your 436 may traverse the country a couple times before actually arriving at your doorstep.

 

[Jay911]

Hopefully they won't end up here lol

We just had a two-alarm fire at our local UPS hub in Calgary.. An inbound package started issuing smoke when the container it was in was opened, and by the time crews were on scene, it had ignited and was burning freely. My thoughts on hearing this was: "Glad I ordered a 436!" (which wouldn't have been shipped by now!)

 

[SCPD]

I say next time uniden should ABSOLUTELY not provide information until one week before release that way no ones moaning and groaning cause they have nothing better to do than stand by and cry for there purchased item to ship. I bought the 436HP, yes it's going to be a while but I'm not going to piss vinegar over a shipping delay.

 

[JANFINE]

BC436HP Release Date

The BC436HP should start shipping to customers in about 1 week.

 

[RickSuthers]

GPS Cable

I'm not sure my question was answered completely...so I will rephrase... will the Uniden BC-GPSK Serial GPS Receiver for Scanner cable work directly with the BCD436HP or do I need to buy an adapter to connect it. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[ColonelMike]

I say next time uniden should ABSOLUTELY not provide information until one week before release that way no ones moaning and groaning cause they have nothing better to do than stand by and cry for there purchased item to ship. I bought the 436HP, yes it's going to be a while but I'm not going to piss vinegar over a shipping delay.

Some of you can't grasp this is hardly about a shipping delay (which since there is no date yet, we don't know if there is a delay). Its about 99.9% of other products once announced have a shipping date. This is a result of communication. Communication is key to any business. As I have already stated, I appreciate UPMan talking on here about issues and communicating and obviously Uniden is a successful business. But as a new customer coming to a business, if they cannot give something as simple as a true shipping date, how am I supposed to think they have everything in order as a business for any issues or further purchases down the road. I don't care if it is not shipping until March so no vinegar is escaping my urethra as you choose to say. I am not crying over my item shipping. I am trying to understand a place I choose to spend my hard earned money not being able to set something in stone.

 

[wx5uif]

I guess some would rather add a delay by uniden stockpiling them in a warehouse to ship on a predetermined date.


I wouldn't doubt if uniden didn't have a firm date of when they would receive the items after going on a boat and then through customs. Customs can take a couple days to a couple weeks if they are back logged.

If a date was provided then the product was delayed, that's all you would hear is complaining "you said you would have it now!!!"

I'd rather them ship when they receive the items then store and ship on a certain date.

 

[03msc]

Some of you can't grasp this is hardly about a shipping delay (which since there is no date yet, we don't know if there is a delay). Its about 99.9% of other products once announced have a shipping date. This is a result of communication. Communication is key to any business. As I have already stated, I appreciate UPMan talking on here about issues and communicating and obviously Uniden is a successful business. But as a new customer coming to a business, if they cannot give something as simple as a true shipping date, how am I supposed to think they have everything in order as a business for any issues or further purchases down the road. I don't care if it is not shipping until March so no vinegar is escaping my urethra as you choose to say. I am not crying over my item shipping. I am trying to understand a place I choose to spend my hard earned money not being able to set something in stone.

No you aren't...you're trying to continue arguing your point which is unfounded and incorrect.

The reason anyone thinks that there are shipping delays, etc., is because Uniden has been MORE than up front and open about the coming product and providing much MORE information to consumers than other companies do (Apple, etc.). That is why this discussion is even taking place.

If they had withheld the information until, say, next Friday to say "hey we have a new scanner...it's available NOW from your favorite retailer!" then we would be nowhere near where we are now on information about its features and being able to have the software setup and ready to go when it does arrive. That is something everyone should be THANKFUL for instead of complaining about.

 

[kd7eir]

My employer ships MILLIONS of devices from China and other overseas points every year, and we always know where those devices are and when they will arrive. Ships are SCHEDULED at ports, they don't just pull in whenever they feel like it and disgorge their cargo willy nilly. The trucks that transport the cargo from the port to the warehouses are like wise scheduled and not willy nilly operations. I, too, do not care if the 436 were not available until March, what I do care about is a company that either cannot or will not announce a firm availability date. Again, ships are SCHEDULED specific times at the ports, and when they are behind schedule by even a few hours, it causes major problems. The shipping company, the client that hired them, and the destination port ALL know EXACTLY (literally via GPS) where every single container is at ALL TIMES, so there is some other, non shopping related reasons, for refusing to provide a hard date on product availability. And as a consumer, I have every right to question the operations of a company that is conducting themselves counter to established practices. As far as telling me to by another product simply because I raise a 100% legitimate question, that is, frankly, juvenile and reeks of fan boyish immaturity rather than intelligence. I'm not saying there is a shipping delay, I'm saying that Uniden is REFUSING to share that date with us for reasons that can only be suspicious to an informed consumer.

 

[SDavis90]

I just like following the thread and watching the hand-wringing going on. I just figured when I pre-ordered it back in December I was putting my name in the hat, and that I will see it when it gets here. Nothing more, nothing less.

I still enjoy my HP-1E and 396.

 

[Jay911]

I just like following the thread and watching the hand-wringing going on. I just figured when I pre-ordered it back in December I was putting my name in the hat, and that I will see it when it gets here. Nothing more, nothing less.

I still enjoy my HP-1E and 396.

Some people just aren't content unless they're throwing a tantrum over something.

 

[wfrancis16]

It makes sense that they would withhold the date until they know exactly when the scanners can get to the consumers. If they put a date out there and then were unable to meet it for some reason there would be endless rants about how the company lied. I think everyone needs to just accept that the scanner will get here when it gets here.

Let's go back to being excited for it.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[03msc]

Some people just aren't content unless they're throwing a tantrum over something.

I've hesitated hitting submit on every message because I know I'm just feeding the trolls but I felt it was the right thing to do so that others who might read the thread don't become suspicious for no reason at all.

 

[jdanon]

My employer ships MILLIONS of devices from China and other overseas points every year, and we always know where those devices are and when they will arrive. Ships are SCHEDULED at ports, they don't just pull in whenever they feel like it and disgorge their cargo willy nilly. The trucks that transport the cargo from the port to the warehouses are like wise scheduled and not willy nilly operations. I, too, do not care if the 436 were not available until March, what I do care about is a company that either cannot or will not announce a firm availability date. Again, ships are SCHEDULED specific times at the ports, and when they are behind schedule by even a few hours, it causes major problems. The shipping company, the client that hired them, and the destination port ALL know EXACTLY (literally via GPS) where every single container is at ALL TIMES, so there is some other, non shopping related reasons, for refusing to provide a hard date on product availability. And as a consumer, I have every right to question the operations of a company that is conducting themselves counter to established practices. As far as telling me to by another product simply because I raise a 100% legitimate question, that is, frankly, juvenile and reeks of fan boyish immaturity rather than intelligence. I'm not saying there is a shopping delay, I'm saying that Uniden is REFUSING to share that date with us for reasons that can only be suspicious to an informed consumer.

Your beef is not with Uniden. I'm sure the dates are concrete for when the units ship out to the distributors, but most of us don't interface with a distribution warehouse, we shop at and talk to our favorite retail outlet which is two steps downstream in the supply chain. What your missing is Uniden doesn't control where these things go. Once they leave DFW for the distribution centers that's it for them. Any mom and pop shop with varied retail set ups and resources can offer to sell you one as long as their distributor carries it. The other products you are referring to where the dates are well publicized is where distribution is tightly controlled from start to finish by the manufacturer by using a limited reseller network. Your claim that because Uniden can't predict when distributors will make the scanner available to retail outlets as being indicative of how they do business is ridiculous - they've always taken care of us.