Where would you buy a headset and why?
This is market research more than anything. I want a researcher who
CURRENTLY uses a telephone headset.
FIRSTLY:
What model?
Where did you get it, 
Who got it for you?
Any things you can remember about the decision making process/criteria
to get it?
NEXT:
Lets say it breaks or is stolen. You want to get another one. Search
online and go as far as you can (to order checkout page) on whatever
site you would choose to buy one from.
Did you get the same model or different? 
Why?
Which se did you use?
Why?
Which site/s did you look at?
Why?
Which site did you buy from?
Why?
What did you like and not like about the site?

I want your past and present experience more than the typical research
here. Please answer all (or nearly all if some don't apply) questions,
plus provide any other useful info.
:-)
Thanks!

---

Clarification of Question by headsetsdotcom-ga on 01 Jun 2002 09:41 PDT

Based on Fons comment below I should clarify the question. I'm
specifically looking for a U.S. answer, from a U.S. headset user, who
is resident in the U.S.

Thanks for the comments fons.

Where would you buy a headset and why?

I use headsets all the time. I got hooked on them about 8 years ago in
tech support situations, being able to use two hands and talk to the
client was much easier than the neck crink method.

Using them this much, I go for a physical store when looking at new
ones. Seeing a picture on a web page does nothing for me. I want to
see it, feel it, and put it on, before I purchase one.

Plantronics has been a good company for me. I've tried a few others,
such as AT&T and Panasonic, but they either don't feel as good, or
don't work as well. I should qualify this too, I haven't had to
purchase more than 5 headsets in the last 8 years, so ... keep that in
mind.

I currently have two headsets, both are Plantronics, one is the S10
desktop model and the other is the wireless phone plug in. I use the 
M135 Mobile/Cordless Headset more often, because I walk around when I
talk.

I got both of them from OfficeDepot. I purchased them myself. I use
OfficeDepot not for any loyalty to the company, but because they are
less than a mile away and I've never had a problem in returning an
item to them if I found I didn't like it, or it didn't work properly.

My criteria for a headset is "does it fit well", and that's really
everything to me. Volume control and mute buttons and things of that
nature are nice, but it has to fit well and be comfortable. Mostly
this means that while I'm wearing it, I forget its there, or don't
feel like I need to take it off as soon as the phone call is over.
Some headsets use a vinyl padding for instance and this "sweats"
against the ear, and that doesn't work for me.

The second thing I'm looking for is voice clarity and noise reduction.
My office is right beside a freeway and the windows are open. So noise
reduction is a concern. That's why I have the S10, it performs that
function very well. I get good reports from those I talk to when I
have that on, or I switch from the wireless to the S10 during a phone
call.

NEXT: 
Lets say it breaks or is stolen. You want to get another one. Search
online and go as far as you can (to order checkout page) on whatever
site you would choose to buy one from.

Well first of all "EEK!" and up front I'm not sure I would go on line
in this situation, because I need it today, not a few days from now,
and as I've said the store is just down the street. But I'll go with
the feel of the question and say that I know the model and type I
like, and want another one.

If I (personally) was going to buy on-line I wouldn't purchase a
headset model that I haven't owned before. I would even hesitate to
purchase something like a S11 headset system, where everything is the
same, just a newer model. Talking to someone, like you can on your
website might be a saving throw for this situation, but I wouldn't
purchase a 'new to me' model.

Sites I looked at : Query = "Plantronics S10 Telephone Headset "

[http://www.headsetexpress.com/s10.html ]

This site is rather funny, and for a giggle you should probably check
out their home page. The letter from the "owner" Lori is amusing, and
she apparently has some problems with her programmers. Try to minimize
the Explorer program while at her front page. ... fun huh?

Well, wouldn't buy here. Problems like this on a web site are a bit
scary for me.

[ http://boston.craigslist.org/for/3719592.html ]

Page isn't working right I don't believe, couldn't figure out how to
give them money.

[ http://www.wantphones.com/s10.html ]

This site is good. Its clean, informative, and easy to use. The
shopping cart is a Yahoo cart, and its setup rather well. No hassles
or red flags going off. Probably would purchase from this site. Lack
of banner adds and pop up windows is a plus as well.

[ http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004WFYM/104-8425366-9404718
]

Clean, good setup, easy check out... its Amazon, and I purchase from
them all the time. I would probably purchase from here over any where
else, because I come here a lot looking for books. Adding the headset
to my purchase is a minor task and knowing the company is a plus.

There are many other pluses for the Amazon site. One is the customer
feedback area, where customers of Amazon are able to add "reviews" of
the items they purchase. This allows someone like me to find out the
problems or good points of something without the "sales pitch" or the
fluff. Its just one person talking to another about the basic "worth"
of the item.

Another thing is the tracking of what customers purchase who also
purchase this item. That is where I found the CS10 model and really
became interested in a cordless desktop, rather than the one I have
right now, which is not cordless.

Like I said before, I would buy from this site, this item. 

[ http://www.provantage.com/scripts/go.dll/-s/fp_49472 ]

Very little information here. I'm not one to read all the information,
I look at it like garnish on a dinner plate. If its there, the plate
looks nice and it feels like someone took an effort with the
preparation, if its not, then you feel like you are at a greasy spoon,
either way, no one eats it. This feels like a greasy spoon. The banner
add helps that feeling mature.

[ http://www.hotbuyselectronics.com/plantronics_s10_telephone_headset_with_amplifier.htm
]

The color choices for this site are a bit odd, and they have no
information. Its a mom and pop store, and I wouldn't purchase
something like a headset from a store like this.


I hope this answers all of your questions and if you need
clarification on any thing, please don't hesitate to ask.


webadept-ga

Great job Webadept.  Thanks. While i'm here, thanks for the other
comments coming in to.  Yep I would pay a slightly smaller fee several
times over, it would be great to get multiple answers to this kind of
question.  This has been a great forum me to learn more and understand
peoples perceptions and thinking. Kind of different than what is was
intented but if everyone is getting paid I assume everyone is happy.
Hope i'm not overhogging the resources. Thanks again Webadept, and all
others that have taken paid questions, and unpaid comments.  (Let me
pay a bit on the comments too Google, i'd be happy to).

Hi,

I first locked the question to give a really personal answer, but
since you have been very generous is asking questions, I might as well
give somebody else the chance to research on a better answer.
I use a Lu-long headset I bought down the road at a computer mall for
US$1.2 after a five minute bus trip (US$0.2). They wanted to have
US$2, I know I could get them for US$1, but since time is also money,
I did not bother about the rest.
No way I would try to get the same online: too complicated.
A previous one broke down after I jumped out of my chair while I
forgot I had it still on my head. But then, I earn enough to buy a
second one.

Cheers,

Fons (from Shanghai)

Hello!

Well, this is a most interesting question on several fronts.  As a
vendor, I'm sure you're probably looking for the *most* responses
rather than from just one researcher.  This might dovetail into the
'tipping' question you asked earlier and could be something for the
private suggestion box for the Google Answers admin people.

Personally, I've done several opinion surveys where a company sends
you an e-mail ad and you tell them what you think, both positive and
negative.  Usually there's a small fee that changes hands for a
person's time (nothing like 28 bucks but not very involved either). 
So I guess I'd have to turn the tables on you and ask, "Would you be
willing to repost this question and pay perhaps a bit less for each
researchers' experience?"

Webadept has given you a great detailed response here but it is only
*one* response.  It brings up the question for GA how to handle this
type of marketing question in the future, so I'm glad you've posted it
since we're still doing our beta thing.

Mike, you've been a great supporter of our little GA clubhouse, so
here's my answer in appreciation.

I don't have the 'typical' headset gear that I've seen on your sites. 
Mine is a stethoscope-looking apparatus that fits under the chin and
is fully adjustable.  My company provided this equipment for me until
I ran over too many with my chair, so I'm on my own about any future
purchasing decisions.

Typically, I go by good word of mouth by people in my field.  I
usually log on to a bulletin board like this one 
http://www.mtchat.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi
and get several recommendations.  By process of elimination I know
what *doesn't* work (for me).  Those are ear buds or any type
in-the-ear phones that aren't ear-comfy.  Also any headset that is
spring-loaded is immediately out since I seem to have an unbelievably
fat head.  A headset for me *must* be fully adjustable.

As far as an ordering site, if I can gestalt the thing easily, I don't
really give it too much brain energy unless I'm doing a site review. 
I purchased one recently online and I'm not that happy with the set I
received, so next time I'll be looking for a site with a liberal
return policy.   So as not to bad-mouth these folks publicly, I'll
send the vendor's URL and the model # to you via e-mail if you're
interested.  Voice recognition is key in my line of work so I'm
looking for something that filters out noise and that's comfortable
for 10-12 hours at a stretch.

Glad you're having fun with Google Answers 'cause we're certainly
having fun with your questions!

Ta-Ta,
V

I'm just going to chime in here with a note about the "Headsetexpress"
site that Webadept mentioned above.

Being a webmistress myself, I couldn't figure out what "Lori" was on
about - I've yet to figure out how to insert anything into anyone
else's pages!  So I had a look at the page source:

"<!-- This is a hide script for that cheap gator program that people
use that don't know how to do business... --->
<!-- Headset Express Baby Yeah!! -->"

In the page source.  On the home page.  Right there where God, Bill
Gates and any kid with a mousebutton can see it.  *tsk*  Nice business
practices there.  Eeep.  Her "competitor's ads" are probably coming
from the Toolshack counter script or the service that actually hosts
her page, http://abc.eznettools.net/ .

missy-ga

Missy,

Just an fyi from a fellow internet developer, there are several
freeware programs (Gator is one of them I believe) that insert
advertisements literally on top of a websites products or
advertisments.  They actually "replace" say Yahoo's banner ads with
their own.

http://news.com.com/2100-1023-271775.html

Lori is probably correct in complaining about competitors
advertisements on her website.

xemion-ga

Xemion,

She's accusing her competitors of deliberately tampering with her
site:

"Our competition has chosen to insert popup ads that appear in the
middle and various places of our website."

If people visiting her site are using Gator, and *Gator* is
positioning ads over hers, then she should be complaining about
*Gator*, not accusing her competitors of sabotage.  As it stands, her
letter is horrible from business practice, customer service and public
relations standpoints.  She's not going to gain any allies (or
customers!) if she's making baseless accusations.

(I don't have anything nice to say about Gator, either.  Anything I
*could* say would be censored with extreme prejudice, and the Googley
folks would come wash my mouth, my keyboard and my fingertips out with
soap.)

--missy

I agree with you, missy.  But her competitors are by some means either
paying for the Gator advertisements or allowing them to continue.  She
has a right to direct her complaints at her competitors.

That said, I feel you are right, there are much better ways to go
about doing so.  Her manner is unprofessional, I'm just saying that
it's not entirely unwarrented.

xemion-ga