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Harris - SCMS

L

littlejohn

So I get a note today, "The agreement also confirms SCMS as the main U.S. dealer for Harris radio transmission sales. "
Does this mean Harris will no longer sell products through their own sales force?
 
I don't understand how some companies keep going back to Harris. They haven't innovated anything in years and their tech support is the worst in the industry. Their studio solutions are 10 year old technology and the quality of the hardware is, at best, recycled RC Cola cans.
 
Well, at least there will be ONE good thing associated with Big H then, won't there?

"I don't understand how some companies keep going back to Harris. They haven't innovated anything in years and their tech support is the worst in the industry. Their studio solutions are 10 year old technology and the quality of the hardware is, at best, recycled RC Cola cans."

I couldn't agree with you more, especially when it comes to support during non bankers' hours. That's when it becomes very hard to like them. Both tech support and parts folks seem to be someone they brought over from the local fast-food resturant last week. They know nothing and do not care, as a general rule. If you're lucky, they'll read the book to you, unless you're transmitter is three generations back. After that, it's go-to-heck on top of we don't care.

Sadly, some of their stuff isn't built that badly. I have a Z5 that just keeps rocking along. I've also got a HT-5 that I've only had to really work on once. I have experienced their HT35CD though times two. They truely suck. That damn thing is the epitome of what some call the Quincy Tinworks. Hell, they couldn't even put screws in the HV section that didn't score up (stainless steel on stainless steel) so they strip out regularly. Who builds a transmitter that requires OIL to keep the HV relay working right? WTF? Plate blocker? What a joke.
I will give them this though. The new HPX tube rigs are remarkably better, stealing the best things they could from Continental and others. If they threw in the cards in the card rack and that big-a.. control board that runs vertical in that thing, I might be tempted to consider them, if they'd hire someone to actually HELP after 5 yankee-time.
 
Something else that makes me very leery of Harris is long term support. Will they drop support on these rigs the way they did on the MWs and SXs when it gets to be inconvenient for them? I'd rather not take that chance.
 
Yup. The good 'ol "we don't support that anymore" routine from them is maddening. After all we aren't talking about consumer junk equipment, but they act like that's what it is when they limit the support lifespan of their stuff.
 
Hello:

As a media representative for Harris I wanted to make sure to clarify that Harris is definitely retaining its internal sales team and will continue to sell ALL Harris products in-house, in addition to the studio/RF relationship with SCMS.

I have passed on your concerns about technical support as well. Your comments are appreciated and I can assure that people are listening.

Thank you.
 
To clarify, it's the after hours support and parts that is nothing short of terrible. I understand it's hard to not have the a team, but at least the b or c team would be nice. Nine times out of ten I've got either the d or f team after hours. One time I called about just where to adjust something. Silly me, I didn't have a book with me for my THE-1. The "support" guy refused to even look it up for me because it wasn't supported anymore. I called about 6 central, not the middle of the night. I simply don't have the budget to throw away things because big H sayes it's too old. I make my future buying decisions based on previous experiences. Guess who's stuff I won't be recommending?
 
TroutMask said:
Your comments are appreciated and I can assure that people are listening.
Click to expand...

Not to be cynical TroutMask, but I have heard that line before, every time problems with Harris support has been discussed in these and other forums. If the people at Harris were really listening, they would not have stopped support on two of the best selling transmitters of all time. I would love to see hard sales numbers, but I would be willing to bet there are thousands of the SX line transmitters STILL in service when Harris decided they were done with it. Perhaps the problem is that they built and designed them too well and they have lasted longer than anticipated. Either way, you don't set adrift that many people without there being repercussions. Three of my clients decided to replace their SX rigs with Nautel rigs. I have older Ampfet and ND rigs from Nautel that is still supported by them.

I stand by my original assessment that this is just one more step in Harris getting out of the radio business.
 
I also had a bad experience with Harris after hours support at an AM I worked at. Lucky for me the old, big bruiser RCA tube transmitter from the 50's was up to the job until I could suss things out on my own. I rarely tell any of my freelance consulting clients to go with Harris for any type of gear. Being that I'm not alone reassures me that I'm not the one with the problem ... unless I'm tied to a Harris piece of gear and it's on the fritz!
 
Harris is known to low-ball a project and then come in with "extras" to push it over the top. I saw this first hand... it's a shame those who KNEW what was needed were not the ones who chose Harris in this case.
 
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