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Measuring Customer Service - THANKS! — Parallax Forums

Measuring Customer Service - THANKS!

WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
edited 2014-09-12 20:27 in General Discussion
I was lucky enough to have purchased Parallax's original 12 Volt Motor and Wheel Kit (featured in this old thread on the Parallax Forums) that Parallax sold. It featured the encoder wheels and sensors shown below. This was the unit used on the Eddie Robot Platform and I think the original MadeUSA Platform. Encoders as most of you know are used to keep wheels running at the same speed so that a robot continues on a straight path and to measure the distance the robot has traveled.



Originaljpg.jpg


Original 9 Tab Encoder Wheels





Later generations of the Motor Mount and Wheel Kit (Aluminum) (in addition to adding a less expensive Motor Mount and Wheel Kit - Molded Plastic) and now the new Arlo Robotics Platform System include the much more precise 36-Position Quadrature Encoder Set. Compare the old 9 tab wheel to the new 36 tab wheel!



New.jpg


Newer 36 Tab Wheels





I wondered if the new encoders and sensors would work on the original 12 Volt Motor and Wheel Kit and asked a question on the Forums in this thread. Not only did I get a quick reply from Ken Gracey, himself, - Parallax sent me the upgrade at no charge! This usually sells for $39.99!

Parallax provides the best customer service I have ever seen! My new 36-Position Quadrature Encoder Set is just one measure of that service! Thanks Parallax!

Edit - This is something I posted on my blog, but wanted to share here...

Comments

  • dmagnusdmagnus Posts: 271
    edited 2014-09-09 14:31
    Without a doubt, the best. Period.
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2014-09-09 16:25
    Thanks for sharing, Whit! :thumb:
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2014-09-12 10:06
    Whit wrote: »
    Not only did I get a quick reply from Ken Gracey, himself, - Parallax sent me the upgrade at no charge!

    That's great, Whit!

    Ken, as long as you're doing freebie upgrades, maybe you can help me. I have a Parallax product with a serious defect.

    My Toddler robot is trapped in a BoeBot body. Yes, it looks like a BoeBot, but it has always known deep down that it was a Toddler inside. Can anything be done to help right this wrong?

    IOW: Brother, can you spare some legs? :)
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2014-09-12 10:20
    I give this an "A" for effort. :)
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,392
    edited 2014-09-12 10:36
    erco wrote: »
    That's great, Whit!

    Ken, as long as you're doing freebie upgrades, maybe you can help me. I have a Parallax product with a serious defect.

    My Toddler robot is trapped in a BoeBot body. Yes, it looks like a BoeBot, but it has always known deep down that it was a Toddler inside. Can anything be done to help right this wrong?

    IOW: Brother, can you spare some legs? :)

    Maybe so! let me check the secret stash next week - check back with me in seven days!

    Ken Gracey
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2014-09-12 10:52
    erco wrote: »
    That's great, Whit!

    Ken, as long as you're doing freebie upgrades, maybe you can help me. I have a Parallax product with a serious defect.

    My Toddler robot is trapped in a BoeBot body. Yes, it looks like a BoeBot, but it has always known deep down that it was a Toddler inside. Can anything be done to help right this wrong?

    IOW: Brother, can you spare some legs? :)

    Erco,

    Let me send you my still un built Blue Toddler. That's the least I can do for all you do on these forums. I have too many toys and blue Toddles come along from time to time on ebay if I need another. I'll keep my Gold Toddler though. Pry it from my..you know the rest.

    PM shipping address.

    Jim
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2014-09-12 10:55
    I may expect some Laser Sensors in return.:)
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2014-09-12 11:02
    No No No No No No No, please!

    Thanks Ken and Pub, but please don't spoil me with a Toddler. It's the last robot I don't have, and my only reason to live. If I get one, I'm DONE with my collection and you'll never hear from me again. I just enjoy joking about it every now and then, and I plan to keep it up for a while. Like Charlie Brown never getting to kick the football. So please indulge me by not indulging me. Yes I'm serious, and this is not reverse psychology in action! Thanks again.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2014-09-12 14:10
    Besides, my dance card is full, I just got this old bot today for $60. Score! Now I have twin Cyes. Great bot, very accurate dead reckoning on carpet.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/310556390142
  • trookstrooks Posts: 228
    edited 2014-09-12 20:27
    There are a lot of aspects to customer service.

    I have had large success emailing the Parallax Sales Department and getting verification of some things and additional info/specs on others.

    I just had the wonderful experience of finding out that Rev. J BS2 ICs were industrial grade. I can finish my project with the processors and compilers I have on hand.

    Maybe by the time I finish this project and have time and money to move on to other things like those ridiculously cheap Quick Start Boards I picked up at the Sack will have a full set of easily accessible and understandable tutorials. I an sure I could have added more to that sentence but I was afraid my connection would time out.<VBG>

    Tim
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