Headset recommendation

On Aug 8, 6:32 pm, "Russ and/or Martha Oppenheim"
wrote:
I've decided to upgrade my old Telex headset, and have narrowed my choices
to the Bose X or the David Clark X11. Any comments, positive or negative,
about either of these two headsets? Thanks.

Martha

Order one of each from somebody that will permit 30-day returns
without a restocking fee.

Fly 2 hours out with brand A, back with B.
Then fly 2 hours our with B, return with A.

My favorite right now is the non-ANR Clarity Aloft in-ear set.
Feather light, no head pressure, motor noise just a light hum. Much
more comfortable than my LS 3Gs and, in my perception, quieter. Also,
ANR sets are really poor when the batteries die. Replacement isn't a
big deal but sometimes in IMC things get really busy.

Paul kgyy wrote:

Order one of each from somebody that will permit 30-day returns
without a restocking fee.

Fly 2 hours out with brand A, back with B.
Then fly 2 hours our with B, return with A.

Excellent suggestion.

Replacement isn't a
big deal but sometimes in IMC things get really busy.

Of course, some headsets provide quite a warning that the batteries are
in need of replacement. maybe as long as 10 hours.

Order one of each from somebody that will permit 30-day returns
without a restocking fee.

And you wonder why everybody is going to restocking or no refund freight?
Crap like this. Keep it up, fellers, and we'll ALL be going to restocking
fees.



My favorite right now is the non-ANR Clarity Aloft in-ear set.


We gave them the "best of the new stuff at Oshkosh" award at our forum this
year. Very impressive. I did a quick google and didn't come up with any
other in-ears, although I saw another one at the show that didn't have quite
the attenuation numbers of the Clarity.

Jim

RST Engineering wrote:
Order one of each from somebody that will permit 30-day returns
without a restocking fee.

And you wonder why everybody is going to restocking or no refund freight?
Crap like this. Keep it up, fellers, and we'll ALL be going to restocking
fees.

BS. "Crap" is when someone does this with no intention of keeping the
item, such as "renting" an expensive item for free. For example, fully
intending to use an expensive electronic calculator for a single test,
then returning it for a full refund, is just plain wrong

Headsets are expensive and subject to personal and very subjective
judgement. They need to be tried in actual conditions on the actual
user's head. Any seller of headsets needs to recognize this, provide
demo rentals, or not sell headsets. If a certain model keeps coming
back, the retailer needs to take that up with the manufacturer, and
possibly not carry that model.

Bose feels comfortable with it's own product enough to do it from the
factory. There's is absolutely no way I would have bought a Bose X
without a 30 return policy. I fact, I did return a set of QC3's to them
based on price to perceived value.

B A R R Y wrote:
RST Engineering wrote:
Order one of each from somebody that will permit 30-day returns
without a restocking fee.

And you wonder why everybody is going to restocking or no refund
freight? Crap like this. Keep it up, fellers, and we'll ALL be
going to restocking fees.

BS. "Crap" is when someone does this with no intention of keeping the
item, such as "renting" an expensive item for free.

But that is exactly what you are doing with one of the sets. I know I don't
want to get the set you sent back. Who knows where you've been?

Gig 601XL Builder wrote:

But that is exactly what you are doing with one of the sets. I know I don't
want to get the set you sent back. Who knows where you've been?



What would you suggest?

B A R R Y wrote:
Gig 601XL Builder wrote:

But that is exactly what you are doing with one of the sets. I know
I don't want to get the set you sent back. Who knows where you've
been?


What would you suggest?

You go someplace that sells the headsets and they will probably have sample
pairs they will let you borrow. If that doesn't work you might ask around at
your airport.

"B A R R Y" wrote in message
t...

RST Engineering wrote:
Order one of each from somebody that will permit 30-day returns
without a restocking fee.

And you wonder why everybody is going to restocking or no refund freight?
Crap like this. Keep it up, fellers, and we'll ALL be going to
restocking fees.

BS. "Crap" is when someone does this with no intention of keeping the
item, such as "renting" an expensive item for free. For example, fully
intending to use an expensive electronic calculator for a single test,
then returning it for a full refund, is just plain wrong

I'm not going to get into a ****ing match with you over this. In my opinion
it is like calling half a dozen motels in a town, making a reservation at
each, and then cancelling all but one at nearly the last minute when you get
there and look them all over. Ever have that happen to you, Jay??? Does it
make you increase your overall prices to make up for the reservation you
turned down for lack of space and then have an empty room for the night?

Remember, the OP said ORDER, not go down to the local shop and BORROW for a
day. This implies that you are going to have them sent to you and you will
send back one or both if you don't like them. Having run a mail order
business for the last 35 years, I can tell you to the penny how much extra
we charge everybody as overhead for ... crap ... like this.

And remember, an ethical mail order dealer cannot sell as "new" something
that had been placed in service for a month, not to mention having to worry
about (as you say) something as personal as a headset that is in close
contact with your body. Ever try and sell slightly used underwear?



Headsets are expensive and subject to personal and very subjective
judgement. They need to be tried in actual conditions on the actual
user's head. Any seller of headsets needs to recognize this, provide demo
rentals, or not sell headsets. If a certain model keeps coming back, the
retailer needs to take that up with the manufacturer, and possibly not
carry that model.

Please do not dictate other people's business practices. You can say that
if YOU were a seller of headsets that this is how you would do it, but don't
say "Any seller" needs to do this. You are not the judge and jury of how
headsets are sold.

I do agree that the manufacturer, if they are interested in the "sample"
market, might dedicate half a dozen of a particular model and agree to
support their dealers in the field with a "try it" headset program. That
beats the hell out of having every dealer in the world being a sample
merchandise source.


Bose feels comfortable with it's own product enough to do it from the
factory. There's is absolutely no way I would have bought a Bose X
without a 30 return policy. I fact, I did return a set of QC3's to them
based on price to perceived value.

Do you suspect that is why Bose is the most expensive line of headsets on
the market? We all buy parts from the same source(s); it is the overhead
that kills you in something like this.

Jim

RST Engineering wrote:

I'm not going to get into a ****ing match with you over this.

I'm not looking for one, either, so I deleted the hotel reference.

Remember, the OP said ORDER, not go down to the local shop and
BORROW for a
day. This implies that you are going to have them sent to you and you will
send back one or both if you don't like them. Having run a mail order
business for the last 35 years, I can tell you to the penny how much extra
we charge everybody as overhead for ... crap ... like this.

I know what he wrote. I'm also involved in a retail operation (a large,
industry "Top 100" bicycle shop) and I'll add this:

I think the buyer should pay the return shipping and possibly a small
restock fee. If the competition can do it without a restock fee, you
need to figure out how to do it too, or stop selling that product.
Returned by buyer goods should go back to the manufacturer or distributor.

My favorite online tool vendors, outdoor clothing, etc... all offer
100% satisfaction guarantees. Do you know what it costs to ship a 600
pound table saw or to accept a $500 hand plane as a return ? The large
machinery dealer does a 10% restock fee, the high-end hand tool vendor
does not.

Our bicycle shop has had customers swap $3000 bicycles that no longer
can be sold as new, for another $3000 bicycle, because you can't tell
how it will work for you until you really ride it. How do we deal with
this? By working very diligently to make sure the customer has the
right product to start with. We drop products, and sometimes entire
lines, that get returned often.


Please do not dictate other people's business practices.

I don't wish to. The market does that without me.


I do agree that the manufacturer, if they are interested in the "sample"
market, might dedicate half a dozen of a particular model and agree to
support their dealers in the field with a "try it" headset program. That
beats the hell out of having every dealer in the world being a sample
merchandise source.

It certainly does!


Do you suspect that is why Bose is the most expensive line of headsets on
the market? We all buy parts from the same source(s); it is the overhead
that kills you in something like this.

I clearly understand that, and never believed for a moment that my 30
day trial wasn't built into the price. I also understand that an
expensive product that doesn't cover overhead is not worth selling.

For instance, we don't exactly make a killing on a $4 water bottle, but
people who come in for a bottle usually buy other items or services. If
we lose money on an expensive item, it's gone in a heartbeat. We can't
make up losses in volume. G

In a previous article, "RST Engineering" said:
We gave them the "best of the new stuff at Oshkosh" award at our forum this
year. Very impressive. I did a quick google and didn't come up with any
other in-ears, although I saw another one at the show that didn't have quite
the attenuation numbers of the Clarity.

There are three in-ears that I know of:
Clarity Aloft
Lightspeed Mach 1
Quiet Technologies HALO

I have the HALO, which are about $100 cheaper than the others, and while I
wear it in preference to my Dave Clarks with the Headsets Inc ANR kit
because they're quieter and more comfortable, it has a few annoyances:
- The microphone isn't very good. I frequently have to made sure it's
pointing EXACTLY the right way or ATC complains they can't hear me at
all.
- The web site doesn't give you any way to order replacement ear plugs.
Fortunately, the plugs are from audiologist equipment (E.A.R. Link), and
I managed to order a huge supply of them off eBay from "audimetrics
califormia" for $25.
If I had to do it again, I'd probably buy one of the other brands.

--
Paul Tomblin http://blog.xcski.com/
Contracting is a good, even honourable, way to earn a living, as long as
one hides the secret that it's possible to pave one's patio with
gold bars. -- Dave, ex-BA