I took my Valentine Back

[bksnoopy]

I'm sure I'll get the crap kicked out of me for saying this but here I go anyway!

I tested my V1 for a couple of weeks. It was very annoying with all the false beeps. In some cases I would get 4 or 5 false beeps on one intersection. I was even getting laser alerts from certain brake lights in front of me. It was funny to watch the brake light come on and my V1 would go mad.

I tried everything to improve the V1. I followed all the directions using all three modes of the detector. Even some of the muting changes postings.

I decided to remove it and take it back to Valentine ONE. I got it back within the 30 day money back return policy. They called me that same day and told me there was going to be a $50.00 charge because I cut a wire on “Direct Wire Power Adapter”. I told them that I was willing to buy a new power adapter which is listed on their web site at $13 retail and I thought the $50 was a little too much. She said there was nothing she could do about the charge because it was not returned in “new condition”. I had it boxed up with all the packing that came with it. It was boxed in perfect condition. I did cut a wire to make the power adapter shorter when I wired it to my fuse box.

I asked her to transfer me to Mr. Valentine and she came back on the line and told me he was in a meeting and he said the return charge “is what it is”.

I tried to continue talking to her and asked her why $50? Why not charge me for a new power adapter which only cost $13? She got agitated, defensive and quickly said she will note our conversation on my account and hung up on me.
I tried to contact Mike Valentine. I even sent him a fax. He never got back with me .. YET.

I have an Escort 9500ix ON its WAY. I am looking forward to trying the GPS and other up-to-date functions.
Escort gave me a $80 trade-in for my very very old detector.

IMHO without GPS The Valentine 1 IS OLD SCHOOL

Peace, Ben

[stlcardsfan]

Sorry the V1 didn't work for you. Some people prefer to have a quiet detector. If someone in CS hung up on me like that I would make a point to never do business with them again. That is inexcusable.

[Offshore]

LOL....I have seen this post before, this is some funny stuff. I have done biz with V1 for a long time and never had anything even close to this happen....

[thx1138]

Well, you tried it and didn't like it. The V1 isn't for everyone. It is an excellent radar detector and there are other sources of radar besides law enforcement that the V1 will pickup and report. There are ways to mitigate the "false" alerts that you can find in these forums. I don't know if you drive through an urban radar jungle or through hiways full of drones. Did you try the k-band automute? The V1 is also exceptionally sensitive to laser too, so it generates alerts to non LEO sources. This is documented in the forum too.

The customer service charge does sound excessive, so I understand that frustration.

I'm sure the 9500ix is a very good radar detector. However, you may want to read the forum for other user's experiences and check out the guys of lidar tests. You'll find that there is no perfect radar detector, they all have strengths and weaknesses. Hopefully the 9500ix fits your needs the best.

The only bash on your post, is that you have 16 or so posts that have the same message. It's clear that you are not happy with the the V1 product or their customer service.

[snoopyc4]

I'm sorry the V1 didn't work for you. However, just because you couldn't handle the false alerts, doesn't mean the V1 is old school. It is still the best RD available and has better detection range against all radar bands than the ix. But like the previous posters have said, the V1 isn't for everyone. You have to be able to tolerate false alerts if you want to use the V1. I hope everything works out with your ix. Feel free to ask any questions you may have about it.

[bksnoopy]

Well, you tried it and didn't like it. The V1 isn't for everyone. It is an excellent radar detector and there are other sources of radar besides law enforcement that the V1 will pickup and report. There are ways to mitigate the "false" alerts that you can find in these forums. I don't know if you drive through an urban radar jungle or through hiways full of drones. Did you try the k-band automute? The V1 is also exceptionally sensitive to laser too, so it generates alerts to non LEO sources. This is documented in the forum too.

The customer service charge does sound excessive, so I understand that frustration.

I'm sure the 9500ix is a very good radar detector. However, you may want to read the forum for other user's experiences and check out the guys of lidar tests. You'll find that there is no perfect radar detector, they all have strengths and weaknesses. Hopefully the 9500ix fits your needs the best.

The only bash on your post, is that you have 16 or so posts that have the same message. It's clear that you are not happy with the the V1 product or their customer service.

You're right,

I have been very upset after I got off the phone with their customer service person.

I expect I will have to protest the excessive charges. It's just 50 bucks and I'll get over it. I can't remember the last time I was talked to the way Valentine's supervisor talked to me. She really had a short fuse. I was trying to get her to charge me for the $13 part and for her to give me an explanation as to why I was being charged $50 restocking.

Their product pages state: "30-day Money-Back Guarantee.” There are no conditions there, nor an asterisk pointing to one.

It's not going to mess up my Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all

BTW .. If keeping my $50 is good for them, me giving them $50 worth of bad advertising is my way of getting my money’s worth.


Ben, OH

[bksnoopy]

LOL....I have seen this post before, this is some funny stuff. I have done biz with V1 for a long time and never had anything even close to this happen....

When you say "you have done biz with V1 for a long time" Have you been buying and selling their product? Have you ever taken a V1 back for a full refund?

Doing business with a company is fine as long as you haven't had occasion to get them angry with you. Sure they are happy as long as you’re buying their stuff and not taking it back.

Like I said, I have been upset with the way they treated me but it's not going to mess up my Christmas.

Merry Christmas

Ben, OH

[Gokhos]

I'm sure I'll get the crap kicked out of me for saying this but here I go anyway!

I tested my V1 for a couple of weeks. It was very annoying with all the false beeps. In some cases I would get 4 or 5 false beeps on one intersection. I was even getting laser alerts from certain brake lights in front of me. It was funny to watch the brake light come on and my V1 would go mad.

I tried everything to improve the V1. I followed all the directions using all three modes of the detector. Even some of the muting changes postings.

I decided to remove it and take it back to Valentine ONE. I got it back within the 30 day money back return policy. They called me that same day and told me there was going to be a $50.00 charge because I cut a wire on “Direct Wire Power Adapter”. I told them that I was willing to buy a new power adapter which is listed on their web site at $13 retail and I thought the $50 was a little too much. She said there was nothing she could do about the charge because it was not returned in “new condition”. I had it boxed up with all the packing that came with it. It was boxed in perfect condition. I did cut a wire to make the power adapter shorter when I wired it to my fuse box.

I asked her to transfer me to Mr. Valentine and she came back on the line and told me he was in a meeting and he said the return charge “is what it is”.

I tried to continue talking to her and asked her why $50? Why not charge me for a new power adapter which only cost $13? She got agitated, defensive and quickly said she will note our conversation on my account and hung up on me.
I tried to contact Mike Valentine. I even sent him a fax. He never got back with me .. YET.

I have an Escort 9500ix ON its WAY. I am looking forward to trying the GPS and other up-to-date functions.
Escort gave me a $80 trade-in for my very very old detector.

IMHO without GPS The Valentine 1 IS OLD SCHOOL

Peace, Ben

Sorry about your experience. I don't blame you for returning the RD. When I have such experience, I do the same. Even though they charged you the $50, they still lost a sale and a customer.

I think you made a good choice with the 9500ix. I have one to use in town because of the redlight cameras. I really like the 9500ix. I love the blue display.

[bksnoopy]

Sorry the V1 didn't work for you. Some people prefer to have a quiet detector. If someone in CS hung up on me like that I would make a point to never do business with them again. That is inexcusable.

Thank you for the support. Many times people take advantage of companies. They buy stuff for just the weekend and take it back the next week. That's not the case here. I had to buy it from their On-Line store and the only way I could find out if I like the unit is to use for a few weeks. That's why their website offers a free 30 day trial.

BTW .. If keeping my $50 is good for them, me giving them $50 worth of bad advertising is my way of getting my money’s worth.

Merry Christmas

Ben

[bksnoopy]

I'm sure I'll get the crap kicked out of me for saying this but here I go anyway!

I tested my V1 for a couple of weeks. It was very annoying with all the false beeps. In some cases I would get 4 or 5 false beeps on one intersection. I was even getting laser alerts from certain brake lights in front of me. It was funny to watch the brake light come on and my V1 would go mad.

I tried everything to improve the V1. I followed all the directions using all three modes of the detector. Even some of the muting changes postings.

I decided to remove it and take it back to Valentine ONE. I got it back within the 30 day money back return policy. They called me that same day and told me there was going to be a $50.00 charge because I cut a wire on “Direct Wire Power Adapter”. I told them that I was willing to buy a new power adapter which is listed on their web site at $13 retail and I thought the $50 was a little too much. She said there was nothing she could do about the charge because it was not returned in “new condition”. I had it boxed up with all the packing that came with it. It was boxed in perfect condition. I did cut a wire to make the power adapter shorter when I wired it to my fuse box.

I asked her to transfer me to Mr. Valentine and she came back on the line and told me he was in a meeting and he said the return charge “is what it is”.

I tried to continue talking to her and asked her why $50? Why not charge me for a new power adapter which only cost $13? She got agitated, defensive and quickly said she will note our conversation on my account and hung up on me.
I tried to contact Mike Valentine. I even sent him a fax. He never got back with me .. YET.

I have an Escort 9500ix ON its WAY. I am looking forward to trying the GPS and other up-to-date functions.
Escort gave me a $80 trade-in for my very very old detector.

IMHO without GPS The Valentine 1 IS OLD SCHOOL

Peace, Ben

Sorry about your experience. I don't blame you for returning the RD. When I have such experience, I do the same. Even though they charged you the $50, they still lost a sale and a customer.

I think you made a good choice with the 9500ix. I have one to use in town because of the redlight cameras. I really like the 9500ix. I love the blue display.

Thanks, I'm looking forward to the 9500ix (should be here Monday).

Valentine is only going to make unhappy customers if they keep the same CS dept.

BTW If keeping my $50 is good for them, me giving them $50 worth of bad advertising is my way of getting my money’s worth


Merry Christmas,

Ben