SDS100/SDS200: Uniden repair turnaround times?

[Echo4Thirty]

Several flaws in the logic presented. Microsoft and Apple CONSTANTLY patch their code errors without charge to the consumer. Auto manufacturers issue recalls (at no cost to the consumer) for manufacturing defects all the time, even applying them to the vehicles that have not experienced the issue (yet).

So I spent hundreds of dollars and when the warranty expires and they charge for a fix that is WELL documented as a defect in manufacturing, should I have just said screw it and thrown the receiver in the garbage? Of course not. Should it occur again, I will not throw good money after bad to keep the radio going. Ill list it with the known issue and recover as much money as I can and move on.

As for voting with my money? This experience will certainly play a factor in moving forward with any additional purchases with Uniden, not just scanners but anything in their portfolio.

Just because there "arent many other options" in the marketplace, does not give a company a pass to skate by on a quality control issue.

That said, I do believe JoeBearcat is talking to his upline and cares. I would also like to point out (and give him credit) that he asked me what issue i was having, i never PMd or called him out. I just stated my opinion, which is just as valid as yours.

 

[buddrousa]

Yes Joe does care but we are still in a world where it is accepted practice to put stuff out ready or not.
I for one have sent one of my SDS100's to Uniden CSJ repair out of warranty paid to fix it only to have it fail just over 90 days was told SOL sent it and SDS100 #2 to Jon both were repaired sent back working better than ever. But I will still buy a new Uniden just because NOTHING ELSE IS BETTER.

 

[Echo4Thirty]

I concur that the SDS line is the current gold standard in RX only devices for trunking simulcast, but many other non Uniden radios are better in other areas. I also wish Jon had repaired my radio, as I believe he does a better job that the factory.

Keeping silent about issues does no one any good. I am not expecting them to do anything for me on this issue. It was my choice to send it in and go from there. As stated, there wont be a next time if this fails again. In fact, if it fails during the repair warranty period, ill send it in and sell it as fast as it gets back and hope the SDS-xxx down the road is better than the 100.

I have been toying with also buying a 200, but quite frankly the issues I read about here are making me pause, so for now I am not taking the chance and will use other devices at my disposal. Maybe I will pull the trigger, maybe not. I guess in that sense I am voting with my wallet. "oh but they cover that under warranty". Well they also covered the cold solder issue under warranty, except mine was nice enough to wait until after the warranty expired lol.

I once had a car I absolutely adored. It had its quirks and spent time in the shop for issues common to them but that other brands don't have. In the end, I had to make the decision to stop sinking money into it and get something else. I miss it, but I do not miss the wallet draining. Sadly, its exactly how I am feeling about the SDS100. I love it and its features, but I am not happy with paying for its defect. If I had abused it, sure Ill pay the piper, but she is treated very gingerly and it still bit me.

 

[buddrousa]

The current Uniden scanner list of working and used scanners by me are 23 base scanners and 5 handheld Unidens

 

[donc13]

So you are perfectly ok with shelling out another $90.00 for this should your radio fail too? How about another $90.00 after that warranty expires?

I never pointed fingers to any specific employee of Uniden.

Yes on repair if/when needed.

I never said you or any other specific user pointed fingers.

 

[N2SEB]

Not true. Just still trying to catch up from the year when nothing was kept up on with respect to issues.

It's not easy to ask them engineers to halt development so we can catch up. I have to accept whatever timetable they have the time to do that. The backlog makes it worse.

Hello @JoeBearcat, I had not visited the forum in a while and was unaware of your presence here - really glad to see another motivated Uniden representative interacting with the user community. I sincerely appreciate your follow-up and wish you the best with the ongoing job. This is not an easy task. Cheers!

 

[Echo4Thirty]

Well I spoke too soon. The rotary encoder started skipping again. Time to call up Uniden as this should have a 90 day repair warranty on it. This is really getting old. Sigh.

 

[KevinC]

Well I spoke too soon. The rotary encoder started skipping again. Time to call up Uniden as this should have a 90 day repair warranty on it. This is really getting old. Sigh.

Stop rotating it...problem solved.

 

[Echo4Thirty]

" You spin me right round baby, like a record baby, round round round round"

 

[MississippiPI]

I had some work done on my HP II several yrs ago and took about 6 weeks. We didn't gave Covid then..


Be safe

 

[kennyloatman]

Well I spoke too soon. The rotary encoder started skipping again. Time to call up Uniden as this should have a 90 day repair warranty on it. This is really getting old. Sigh.

Echo4Thirty, I sent my 996P2 in also on feb 23 for rotary encoder skip, Same time I believe as you. Are you saying yours failed already? I got mine back on Saturday.

 

[Echo4Thirty]

Yes. Before i sent it in, it would skip 3-4 lines in either direction randomly, every time. So I get it back and played with it and all was well until yesterday when it started skipping again. Not as bad as before, but it is doing it fairly consistently now.

 

[Ubbe]

Not as bad as before, but it is doing it fairly consistently now.

Did the repair note say that they replaced the rotary encoder or did they think it was something else that caused the skipping and fixed that, like a ribbon cable or connector?

/Ubbe

 

[N2SEB]

I just wanted to share my repair "success story" with the forum:

My SDS100 was suffering from the cold solder joint issue. I sent the unit for repair and below is the timeline; with a turnaround of about 12 days door-to-door.

03/04/2022: Shipped with USPS from Bay Area, CA
03/09/2022: Received in Roanoke, TX
03/11/2022: Shipped with FedEx from Roanoke, TX
03/15/2022: Delivered to home, Bay Area, CA

Seems to be working great as I type this. Couldn't be happier! Let's see how long the repair will last while using the unit in my truck.

 

[JoeBearcat]

I don't want to be "that guy", but Paul came over to Uniden from Radio Shack (as I recall) with an already established reputation. Uniden can help you with that process by addressing some of the valid concerns that long time users here have expressed.

Agreed. I'm hoping they have an opening for the firmware updates soon.

 

[JoeBearcat]

About a year ago I brought up this issue with management, so they are aware it exists (to some degree). I was pretty clear that any repairs that do not completely fix the issue are not acceptable. I also recommended they make sure production units do not have that issue leaving the factory. I do not know how closely they have been monitoring the repair center for the number of repairs they have performed, but I will mention to them (tonight) that it is an issue that continues to cause a lot of angst in the community, and will ask if a repair campaign is in order.

That said, I also have noticed that the quality and timeliness of repairs have greatly increased in the past year since I mentioned that to them. One thing that has not improved is communications with the repair center to customers, but I would rather things be that way than good communications with poor quality. I was told they changed their 'repair center system' about a year ago, and that may have been the cause for the loss of customer feedback and status reports.