Lightspeed Headset Story-Wow

Jonathan,

I've seen enough anecdotal evidence to convince me that Lightspeeds have
a higher incidence of failure and required repair than David Clarks or
Bose sets.


I wonder how. You'd have to correlate reports of problems with sales
figures for the anecdotes to have any meaning.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Scott Skylane wrote:
Their service *is* impeccable, but only because it has to be.


The early models of the Lightspeeds did have some design issues, and
Lightspeed itself admitted this to folks at Oshkosh a few years ago.
However, the newer designs are high quality headsets. My wife's got a
30-3G with zero problems and I'm looking to pickup a Mach 1 as a
Christmas present to myself :-). The cusotmer service experience I had
with my QFR XC's (which did break a few times) sold me on the company
and as long as they continue to stand behind this commitment, I will be
a customer. IMHO, companies that have good cusomter service need to be
encouraged, that way we, as cusumers, will ultimately benefit.

Mike
--
To most people, the sky is the limit. To those who love aviation, the
sky is home.

- anon.

Their service *is* impeccable, but only because it has to be.

The early models of the Lightspeeds did have some design issues, and
Lightspeed itself admitted this to folks at Oshkosh a few years ago.
However, the newer designs are high quality headsets.

Roger that. I've owned 6 pair now, from early 15s all the way to their new
Twenty 3Gs.

They may *look* similar, but they're not. The 15s were toys, by comparison
to their new stuff.

After many trials and tribulations with their early models, I am now a VERY
satisfied Lightspeed customer.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

I recently purchased a brand new pair of 30-3Gs at Oshkosh this year.
After 4hrs of use the ANR quit working. I called up service,
yep got a return authorization, I had to pay to ship them to lightspeed for
repair. Ouch! Got them back pretty quick as I recall (within a week of being
shipped).

Now after just completing my 20th hr with them, they are on their way back to
lightspeed for repair. This time the on off button will not always turn
the ANR off when putting them away in the nice padded headset bag that came with
them. Oh yeah, I had to pay again to ship them back for repair. I complained
again about that, and the tech said he would work to get me a re-imbursement for
the the shipping. We will see. At about $23 to ship them every time, this
could add up.

I will say that the service dept is great and they really work to make things
right. However, I'm concerned about their quality of the product, or do all ANR
head sets act up in this sort of way. Believe me I am not abusing these things
at all.

Thank goodness I did not sell my 2 sets of David Clark non-ANR head sets. One I
used for my primary training and got over 100hrs on them with out a glitch. The
other pair I purchased on ebay used. They are 9 yrs old. I purchased a new
cord and replaced the seals and they work just as good as my newer ones.

I really like the Lightspeeds, the ANR and all that, but I am very concerned
about the Quality Control. I was thinking of writing or calling the president
of the company to voice my concerns. I wonder if it would do any good.

Kevin Kubiak

In article ,
Scott Skylane wrote:



Their service *is* impeccable, but only because it has to be. Buy
yourself a set of David Clarks, and you will most likely have no
Customer Service experience, what so ever.


But if you do need the DCs serviced, you can expect as good from them.
I sent mine back a while back, got them back No Charge.

--
Dale L. Falk

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing around with airplanes.

http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html

On Wed, 12 Oct 2005 19:20:41 -0700, Al Gilson
wrote:

I have a Lightspeed 15XL ANR headset and I like it. It really cuts down
on the noise. However, when I pulled it out to go flying a couple of
weeks ago, I discivered that the headband was broken. I was depressed.
I have had it for about 18 months and I figured I was going to be
royally screwed trying to get it fixed. I called Lightspeed on Monday,
October 3rd-described my problem and they gave me a choice: Send it to
them for repair or they would send me a new headband.......no charge!
It looked simple so I opted for having the parts sent.

The new headband arrived on Wednesday. As I was dismantling the headset
on Wednesday evening I realized two things: First, I discovered another
broken part on the yoke that holds the earpiece, and secondly, these
puppies are a major pain to put together! With my tail between my legs
I called Lightspeed on Thursday again figuring that they were gonna say
"too bad, so sad. Now it will cost you."

Nope. They said, "Here's a return authorization number and send it
over." I sent the new headset back with it, plus the old parts via UPS
on Friday, Oct 7 and it arrived in Portland, OR on Monday the 10th.
They sent me an e-mail saying they got it and were doing the repair. On
Tuesday, I got another e-mail that said it had been shipped.

UPS delivered it today, Wednesday, October 12. New headband, and
earpiece yoke. Plus they replaced the ear seals! All no charge except
for the $6 I paid UPS to get it to them. I tested it out today and it's
as good as new.

I'm impressed. In this day and age of customer "no" service, these
folks did OK in my book.

- - -
Al
1964 Skyhawk
Spokane, WA KSFF

I had the same experience a few years ago. I bought some 20XL's, and
used them for quite a while. Suddenly, they quit working. No lights
came on the battery holder/control box. Just completely dead.

I figured, like you, that I'd be spending $$$ to repair them, but sent
them in since I really liked them and wanted them repaired.

I got them back with no invoice, nothing. I called, and the person I
spoke with said they just fixed them and sent them back, told me not
to worry about any charge.

I was shocked!

So last year when I needed to get some headsets so everyone in the
family (wife and 4 kids!) would have headsets I picked up 5 Solo SS
from them while at Oshkosh.

This year at Oshkosh I brough them some of the earcup seals to show
them how the material was wearing away, and they just pulled out new
earseals and handed them to me!

Replaced the ear seals on my 20xl's, and all my Solo SS's.

I was even more shocked! What absolutely awesome customer service and
support. I'm most likely a customer for life.

Bill Strahan
www.adventurepilot.com

bill wrote:
I was even more shocked! What absolutely awesome customer service and
support. I'm most likely a customer for life.


I think it's important to mention the service to them as being the reason you
continue to buy from them. They need direct feedback that their service is
critical to keeping their customers. Some companies are too stupid to figure
that out.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

VE

On Thu, 13 Oct 2005 16:25:51 GMT, "Mortimer Schnerd, RN"
wrote:

bill wrote:
I was even more shocked! What absolutely awesome customer service and
support. I'm most likely a customer for life.


I think it's important to mention the service to them as being the reason you
continue to buy from them. They need direct feedback that their service is
critical to keeping their customers. Some companies are too stupid to figure
that out.

Trust me, I told them just that when they handed me the ear seals at
OSH this year. That was my third time to deal directly with the
company.

First was service on my 20XL. Second was when I needed 5 more
headsets, and one of the guys went and negotiated the deal for me with
one of the vendors and I got all 5 from that vendor at a great price.
Third was this year at OSH.

Customer for life, but my next set of headsets I'm building for
myself. I'll make EXACTLY what I want that way. Can't wait to do it.

Bill Strahan
www.adventurepilot.com



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I own 2 pair of 20XL's. The second set I bought direct from Lightspeed as a
used unit that someone traded in on an upgrade. So far, I've had to send
one set in for repair, the yokes had broken. I discovered that I had the
headband shortened up as short as it would go and then I tried to put them
on my fat head after they had been sitting in the plane when it was about 10
degees out. Snap.

Now everytime I put them on, I extend the head band fully, put them on, then
shorten them up to fit properly AFTER they are on my head.

Like you, Lightspeed fixed them at no charge, and replaced the ear seals.

Jim

"Al Gilson" wrote in message
...
I have a Lightspeed 15XL ANR headset and I like it. It really cuts down
on the noise. However, when I pulled it out to go flying a couple of
weeks ago, I discivered that the headband was broken. I was depressed.
I have had it for about 18 months and I figured I was going to be
royally screwed trying to get it fixed. I called Lightspeed on Monday,
October 3rd-described my problem and they gave me a choice: Send it to
them for repair or they would send me a new headband.......no charge!
It looked simple so I opted for having the parts sent.

The new headband arrived on Wednesday. As I was dismantling the headset
on Wednesday evening I realized two things: First, I discovered another
broken part on the yoke that holds the earpiece, and secondly, these
puppies are a major pain to put together! With my tail between my legs
I called Lightspeed on Thursday again figuring that they were gonna say
"too bad, so sad. Now it will cost you."

Nope. They said, "Here's a return authorization number and send it
over." I sent the new headset back with it, plus the old parts via UPS
on Friday, Oct 7 and it arrived in Portland, OR on Monday the 10th.
They sent me an e-mail saying they got it and were doing the repair. On
Tuesday, I got another e-mail that said it had been shipped.

UPS delivered it today, Wednesday, October 12. New headband, and
earpiece yoke. Plus they replaced the ear seals! All no charge except
for the $6 I paid UPS to get it to them. I tested it out today and it's
as good as new.

I'm impressed. In this day and age of customer "no" service, these
folks did OK in my book.

- - -
Al
1964 Skyhawk
Spokane, WA KSFF

I'm a die-hard David Clark customer, but stories like this make you
start questioning what you're being loyal to. I may have to look at
Lightspeed when it come time to replace my DCs.


-m
--
## Mark T. Dame
## VP, Product Development
## MFM Software, Inc. (http://www.mfm.com/)
"Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine."