Quality police radio scanners are expensive. Don’t pick up one of those cheap analog things. They don’t work. Get something decent. Let us teach you how to get the best price on police scanners. It isn’t as difficult as you may think!
Getting the Best Price on Police Scanners: Start Here
We are going to start by thinking logically. Not enough people do this when they are making purchases, sadly.
Sometimes it is better to spend a bit more cash at the start. We have seen people pick up cheap radio scanners, thinking that they are getting a good deal. Guess what? It isn’t too long before that radio scanner isn’t picking up signals. It just doesn’t work. Guess what they do? Yep. They buy a replacement of the same time…and this keeps going on. They would have saved so much money if they had bought the right bit of kit to begin with.
Think about it. If a radio scanner costs $500 and lasts 6x as long as one costing $100, you have essentially saved yourself $100 in the long term. So, while you may think that the Whistler TRX-2 is a little bit on the high side in terms of price, do remember that this is one of those discount police scanners that will give you many, many years of happy use.
Features, Features, Features…
We suggest that you always read reviews to know that you are getting the right scanner. Think about the features that you want. It will save you from needing to upgrade your radio scanner in the future. Again, saving you money. For example, the Whistler TRX-2 provides the following features:
- Easy to update the channel list. This means it is ‘futureproof’ when channels come & go etc.
- Suitable for beginners, but boasts enough features to keep experienced users happy.
- The ability to program your own scan lists
- Solidly built
- Superior signal quality
Limited Options
When it comes to digital police and fire scanners, there isn’t a whole lot to chose from. It’s not that we haven’t done our homework. It seems that a lot of manufacturers that used to make the analog police scanners decided not to continue when everything switched to digital. We’re not too sure why, as there’s definitely still a market for them.
There is no other radio scanner that we recommend nowadays. The Whistler TRX-2 is fantastic for everyone that has a need for a digital police scanner.
Is It Worth the Cost?
This is a radio that is on the expensive side, and part of the reason for that is the fact that it is solidly built. Whistler has been in the police scanner game a long time and stands behind the product with a full one year warranty. Remember; the more expensive bits of kit tend to be bought by people who will treat their gear well too. You can fully expect this unit to last a lifetime with proper care.
When you’re buying anything at this price point, you want to make sure it’s from a reputable vendor. As with any product, if you ever have the need to file a warranty claim, the original proof of purchase will be required. If the store or seller that sold you the unit is not a Whistler authorized dealer, then the vendor is then entitled not to honor the warranty.
Only Buy Digital Radio Scanners
Not to sound overly redundant, but this is something that a lot of people seem to miss.
Nowadays, you should never, ever buy an analog radio scanner. It won’t work in most situations. Nearly every police force in the United States has switched over to digital radio broadcasts. This means that your typical analog radio scanner won’t pick up on anything. Yeah. They may be cheap, but that is because they no longer work as police scanners. Pretty much all they are good for is being able to listen in on random conversations that are somehow on the public airwaves, but are just not that fun to listen to.
Our Recommended Vendor
Honestly, the best way to score the best possible price on your radio scanner would be to pick one up from the right place to begin with.
Now, you would normally head to a radio store for a digital radio scanner, right? Nah. Don’t do that. The problem is that many of these stores are not selling as much stock as they did in the past. This can lead to multiple problems:
- They will have a limited range, which means you will be forced into buying something that is not right for you.
- Their prices will be higher to cover for the lower number of sales that they are making
The same applies online. Unfortunately, online radio stores aren’t doing a whopping amount of business nowadays. They may be doing tons of sales to commercial users, but pretty much nothing to the average user. You will not be their target market.
Drumroll Please…
In our opinion, the best place to buy online is Amazon. Yes. We know exactly what you are thinking “but they aren’t a dedicated radio retailer, are they?”. And you are quite correct, they are not. However, that doesn’t matter. You are looking to score the right radio for you at the best possible price. Amazon offers this.
The best part is that Amazon, is that they’re an authorized vendor for just about every product they sell. Their customer service is second to none and they have some of the best reviews you can find online. Being able to read through the experience of other’s helps you avoid their mistakes and build confidence if this is the best product for you. As we have said before; it is important that you buy the right thing for you.
To cap it off; the delivery service is first class. These radio scanners are typically kept in stock. There is no special ordering. The second you place the order, they will start to send it out. You will get it in a few days. With your traditional radio store? Well, it is more like a couple of weeks, particularly when it comes to the higher-priced, better quality pieces of kit.
