BVS Pulsar battery packs (5/30/08) I got really tired of having to wait for my studio strobes to recycle, and I hated having to look for outlets and string long power cords all over creation at remote shoots. So... killing two birds with one stone, I bought a BVS Pulsar 3.1 kit and prepared my Canon Speedlites for location duty -- no more cords, and I love being able to catch those relaxed expressions that always seem to appear just a fraction of a second after the strobes go off. Just push the button again and you get another flash, just like the first one. And again, and again, if needed. This beats waiting 5-6 seconds for AA's to recharge the "Speed"lites (or 2-3 seconds for AC to recharge the studio lights) and then trying to coax a missed moment back into existence. That almost never works.

So there I was, bridesmaids to the right of me, when suddenly my BVS-powered strobe died. I carried on with a backup strobe and regular AA's while only slightly alarming a flowergirl with a steady stream of colorful epithets. Later, back at the ranch, I asked BVS if their AA adapters were safely interchangeable and if I could use those made for my late 550EX in a stone-reliable 420EX. Yes, they said, that would be OK, with certain caveats. They asked to see the adapter to make sure it wasn't at fault in the 550EX's death. "Return it under warranty," said they. Cool, thought I, I like dealing with helpful manufacturers.

Your honor, I admit that they didn't actually say they would return the unit to me.

Several exchanges of email and some weeks later, I still haven't got the adapter or a replacement back. "What would you like to happen next?" one email asked me. I re-re-rehearsed the situation and said I'd like them to send me the adapter I sent them or one like it. Please. "We'll send one right out," Sandy replied. But that was a month ago. Since then, I've bought an extra adapter for my 430EX. And all my emails have fallen into a black hole. This is almost as irritating as 5-second recycle times. So I just bought (BOUGHT!) a third adapter (one made for my 420, to replace the 550EX adapter I was going to use with it) while waiting to see if they ever get this straightened out. I mean, it's (only) $50 including shipping for the superfluous adapter, and work beckons. But it's still a pain in the ass. RESOLVED! See below.

Look: BVS makes a nice product -- it works fine at a bargain price. The Pulsar 3.1 outfit includes 2 battery packs and 1 adapter. Add 1 extra adapter for a second strobe and the kit should come to under $200. Add something for shipping (and note that express really is express). But then add 50 more. And a little more for Pepcid. And pretty soon what looks like a bargain up front starts getting eroded. They get an "A" for the product, but an "F" or maybe an "incomplete" for service. Subject to revision, of course, as time goes by. . .

RESOLVED. When I sent BVS the moolah for the 420 adapter, I enclosed a note asking them to please look for the 550 adapter. Two weeks after I got the notice that the Post Office had received word that they were shipping something to me, I got both adapters in a Priority Mail envelope. I have no idea where they went in the meantime, but they are here now. Take off that "I" for service and replace it with a high "C" or a gentleman's "B". A reliable, solid "A" for the hardware.

 

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