NYCCDSM

[TurboMike]

My dad got me a valentineone like 14 years ago as an xmas present "here, now stop getting damn tickets".

Three years ago I had two cars and was about to buy a third and a bike, and I was getting tired having one detector and running to each car making sure I wasnt going out naked with no detector each day, so I bought a second valentine.

2 years later, I noticed my 2 year old valentine wasnt beeping where it normally did. I went out with the old valentine to the same spot (a store that gives off radar) and it was beeping. Great, my new valentine is broken and my 14 year old one chugs on. Valentine policy: warranty for one year, after that $45 "diagnostic" fee plus extra fix charges, but you can swap your old valentine for a brand new latest model/software for $225. I send it in with a letter saying how it will only beep K band and never X band, something is wrong, call me and let me know whats going on.

I get a call three days later "yeah this is tech dept, I have your valentine here, there is a crack on a trace that was disabling a chip(bzzzzt I tuned out)...." "ok, what will it cost to fix it?" "Oh I dont know, I'm just a tech, I'll do a full report and have someone in sales call you in the morning". Two days later, my valentine shows up sent 2 day air, all clean and nice. Receipt says no charge, even tho it was over a year out of warranty. Thats cool.

That was 2 years ago. Lately I noticed my 14 year old valentine is not as responsive. The plastic screens are all scratched up, one is about to fall off. I probably dropped it 100 times. The case itself is all faded. You can just read the serial number, but bearly. I've been meaning to send it in for years to have it tested for signal strength. I put the serial number in V1's website, and it says my 14year old unit doesnt have the latest software like POP detection, but its just as accurate with X and K band detection as a new unit. I pack it up with a note saying how this old unit is not as responsive as my new unit, and I'd like it tested and a call telling me if its gona cost half as much to fix as the $225 upgrade to a brand new unit.

I get a call 2 days later, from "shipping dept". "Ok, we have your unit, I can send it to sales for the upgrade program for $225, or I can send it to tech to have them check it, but theres a $45 diagnostic fee" "If I have it checked out by tech and the unit will cost more to fix than the $225 upgrade, will you still charge me the $45?" "I dont know sir, I can ask the sales dept" "ok before you do that, does it ever cost a ton to get one rebuild like $225?" "no sir I've only seen the $45 charged I dont know, I can have tech contact you" "ok, send it to tech then".

Two days later, my 14 year old unit arrives 2 day air. I open the box and its the OLD unit like the old bigger sized box, same serial number, but EVERYTHING looks brand new. Even the writing on the bottom where the serial number is looks new. Somehow they must have either steam cleaned the whole case and printed new numbers on it? Or the whole case is new and they printed the same serial numbers? All the plastic lenses are brand new. Theres a new hole in the front of the case for rear laser detection (my old 14 year old unit didnt have that feature). Been driving around and its much more responsive, just like the newer unit.

Again, no charge.

Thats how you run a company.

If valentine 1 ever gets GPS tracking and NJ and NY approve speed cameras, I'm getting a new one.

[blue_gsx]

That is some excellent customer service. Considering it's a 14 year old unit and they still serviced it at no cost.

[MarkDML]

I used valentine1 in my Eclipse GST Spyder. asside from it being hidden, its so easy to use.