Buyer guide
What to ask a seller before you buy
A few specific questions, asked in writing, make devices much easier to compare.
In short
Ask in writing for four things: the usable internal range with the sleeve fitted, what holds the device in place for hands-free use, a decibel figure with its distance, speed and load, and which parts are sold separately under what warranty. Where a seller has no figure, that answer is still useful, because it shows what is still open.
Why ask
Listings in this category vary a great deal in how much detail they give. A few specific questions fill the gaps and give you answers you can set side by side.
On fit
What is the usable internal range with the sleeve fitted, smallest and largest? Is that figure girth or diameter? Can the sleeve be removed, and can it be bought separately?
On hands-free use
Does the device stay in position without being held, and what holds it? Is that mount in the box or sold separately? What surface or furniture does it need?
Hands-free is one of the most used words in this category, and the answers to these questions decide what it means for a particular device.
On noise
Is there a decibel figure, and at what distance, speed and load was it measured? If no figure exists, that is still a useful answer to have in writing.
On parts and warranty
Which parts are sold separately, and at what price? What is the warranty term, and is it different for the sleeve and the device? If something is faulty, who pays for shipping in each direction, and is the outcome a repair, a replacement or a refund?
Reading the answers
Clear, specific answers make a device easier to judge. Where a seller does not have a figure, knowing that is still useful, because it shows which questions remain open before you buy.