V1 has missed the market

[quandary]

After waiting and waiting and waiting for Valentine to come out with a Spectre-proof RD, I bought the STi. I have used both in the past and find an advantage when you have directional arrows that work (most of the time). They claim that they are looking at the problem but cannot allude to any time frame.

Now that Beltronics has captured this market, I cannot see how Valentine will have enough units out there to sustain R&D against Spectre. (They will remain a good non-Spectre RD.)

No regrets! My Bels in the past have done me well in the past and this forum indicates that the STi performs very well. So...I'm back in the Beltronics camp!

[spankyaf]

+1 , personally I think Valentine has let a huge opportunity slip through his fingers but hey thats his business model.

[GTO_04]

As a V1 owner I am disappointed that they let that market slip by. I am happy to see the STi succeed and I hope it's huge. I think VR needs something to prod them along. Who knows they could be working on it but for now I'll assume they are not.

With all the hysteria over high gas prices and people whining for government to "do something," I think we can expect a move to bring back "55." That could cause RD sales to go up. But, a return to "55" also means even more speed enforcement and more interest in RD bans.

I think that the more RDs with Spectre immunity, the better. That will discourage legislators from enacting RD bans in the future. The first time I hear the words "radar detector and ban" together in my state legislature or in US Congress, my order for the STi is in.

If VR is not really working on Spectre immunity, I think that is a huge mistake and being overly complacent.

GTO_04

[SmaartAasSaabr]

+1 , personally I think Valentine has let a huge opportunity slip through his fingers but hey thats his business model.

I'm also going to say this.

But, Valentine's "no soup for you!" distribution model doesn't lend itself nicely to the Spectre-proof desiring market, aside from heavy commercial vehicle drivers and people in Virginia (who really don't need to care).

I like the Valentine as well, but Spectre-proof? How can you resist that :P

Mind you, I think Bel cares a lot more about Spectres than Mike does. After all, all the guys at Bel have to face Spectres every day and I'm sure there is a unusually high Spectre density in the area around Dunwin Drive in Mississauga

[Holla]

With all the hysteria over high gas prices and people whining for government to "do something," I think we can expect a move to bring back "55." That could cause RD sales to go up. But, a return to "55" also means even more speed enforcement and more interest in RD bans. GTO_04

I doubt that--Texas just raised the speed limit on one of there hyws to 80Mph :shock:

[proudNMAmember]

I love having the protection of my V1 and Bel's but the need to become "Spectre Proof" is very important. Yes the Bel STi is a nice unit but once Spectre 4 comes out, the STi might be detectable. Cat and mouse games folks.

[GTO_04]

With all the hysteria over high gas prices and people whining for government to "do something," I think we can expect a move to bring back "55." That could cause RD sales to go up. But, a return to "55" also means even more speed enforcement and more interest in RD bans. GTO_04

I doubt that--Texas just raised the speed limit on one of there hyws to 80Mph :shock:

Texas takes a more balanced view of speed limits than the rest of the country. Even in Indiana, where almost everybody speeds, RD or not, we had to fight and scrap just to get 70! Hopefully we just got our foot in the door. Insurance lobbyists are real big here, but the past few years we made them look pretty bad. We got 70, and fatalities are down!

I hope you're right and I'm wrong. But the gas prices have changed everything. That "do something" mentality, even if it is something ineffective, makes me crazy!

Good point BTW, about BEL employees running into Spectre more often.

GTO_04

[A_Harry_Nutczak]

What is Valentines market? The US, and only the US. Of all the states there are only 2 that have issues with RD use, Valentine does not sell outside of this country, that is where belscort differs. I am not the type of guy that has to have the newest fad for everything. The belscort line changes from month to month and most people that buy rd's have bought new detectors everytime something new comes out just to say they got the newest.
Looks of the equipment do not matter as much as the performance does.
How many times have you been burned by that?
I have heard the the STI is now under a program update/recall becuase they are showing a calibration fault.

I could give a rats butt about Spectre, i just does not matter unless you are driving a commerial vehicle and rd's are outlawed.
So, how many in this thread drive a commercial vehicle?

[CactusMan]

Spectre proof is only important if you drive a commercial vehicle or live in an area where RDs are outlawed. Other than that, it offers no advantage for the price charged. Nice yes needed no.

[spankyaf]

What is Valentines market? The US, and only the US.

Its myopic thinking like that takes companies down. The Big 3 becoming the Shrinking 3 etc. Lets hope Valentine doesnt become road kill as technology moves along.