No more RoadID for me...

[JaceK]

So I ride a lot of places all alone, I feel better having some type of easy to find tag on me. Just in case...

I bought a RoadID wrist band a couple of years ago, the "etching" faded so much in one season I couldn't read it if my life depended on it. I figured maybe I shouldn't ride in the rain so much... what ever, I needed to update the info, so I ordered a newer replacement.

When I ordered the replacement they had the new style, which is a rubber band, and a clasp to lock it. I liked the concept given that I sweat and the cloth band needed constant washing, maybe from washing it made it so dull.

This band and ID is 2 months old, yesterday I wouldn't lock closed. The clasp kept popping open. I found it to be extremely frustrating. I tossed it aside and left for my ride. When I returned I looked at it. The mechanism appears to failed, it is jammed open.

Now call me crazy, but the RoadID I am supposed to count on the help save my life... Yet 2 major product failures...

Not a reliable product. Period.

I looked at their website for contact info... only available weekdays, 8 to 5 EST. That is comforting, they only support the product when I am no where near a phone?

I found this place this morning, and ordered a bracelet, let's see how it makes out.

http://www.yikesid.com/Default.aspx

[AndyK]

My RoadID is on the nylon bracelet that velcro's closed - can't possibly fail. My info is still nice and readable, but not sure if it would be if I beat the hell out of it. Do you ride in hail or sand storms?

[Accordion]

I've had my RoadID for three years. It's a yellow old-style cloth with velcro design. I've really only used it for about a year of total riding, most of it during commuting on my mountain bike.

Lately I've been using it for my road rides. I've only been riding four months but have put in 1700 miles so far. It gets drenched in a combination of sweat and sun tan lotion every ride. I never wash it, however. I just set it out on our patio table and let it air dry. The writing on the tag is just as it was from day one.

I never thought about how unhygenic that is until your post, however!

[rob!]

8-5 are standard business hours for a small company. You're expecting a lot for them to have long contact hours to be convenient to your schedule.

The ID tag is warranty-able; mine is also starting to corrode after a year of use but is far from unreadable. Also, why are you washing the RoadID with the tag still on? They're removable.

Also YikesID doesn't really seem to be any different than RoadID, so all these problems you have with RoadID will unlikely change.

[Baftap]

I have the "dog-tag" style RoadID. This is its third season and it still looks like new despite being soaked by sweat and rarely washed (I mostly take it off before showering).

I don't know about the overall product quality long term (I think there was a thread on this a while ago) but RoadID seems to stand by their product. I'd try to give them a call.

[RonH]

My RoadID is about 4 years old. Its the yellow velcro wrist style. The stainless steel ID tag doesn't show any signs of wear - still quite legible.
The yikesID looks like it has the same stainless steel tag as the RoadID so it too may become worn and hard to read.
Hope it works for you.

[cadomi]

I have Type 1 diabetes and always wear my medical ID bracelet, which is stainless steel and has help up great so far. I never thought about how I would have to get some kind of ID for riding if I didn't have a medical problem, but I guess I would. Anyways, it works!

[urbanknight]

Have you considered contacting Road ID to see if they'll replace it?

My neck-worn dog-tag is still going strong after over 4 years. No clasps, no unhygienic straps. I just slip it over my head and go.

[pkone]

[QUOTE=urbanknight;11021449]Have you considered contacting Road ID to see if they'll replace it?


+1

I have the rubber version and had issues with the color fading. I contacted them and received a new bracelet free of charge.

[Nachoman]

So I ride a lot of places all alone, I feel better having some type of easy to find tag on me. Just in case...

I bought a RoadID wrist band a couple of years ago, the "etching" faded so much in one season I couldn't read it if my life depended on it. I figured maybe I shouldn't ride in the rain so much... what ever, I needed to update the info, so I ordered a newer replacement.

When I ordered the replacement they had the new style, which is a rubber band, and a clasp to lock it. I liked the concept given that I sweat and the cloth band needed constant washing, maybe from washing it made it so dull.

This band and ID is 2 months old, yesterday I wouldn't lock closed. The clasp kept popping open. I found it to be extremely frustrating. I tossed it aside and left for my ride. When I returned I looked at it. The mechanism appears to failed, it is jammed open.

Now call me crazy, but the RoadID I am supposed to count on the help save my life... Yet 2 major product failures...

Not a reliable product. Period.

I looked at their website for contact info... only available weekdays, 8 to 5 EST. That is comforting, they only support the product when I am no where near a phone?

I found this place this morning, and ordered a bracelet, let's see how it makes out.

http://www.yikesid.com/Default.aspx

I suggest a one sentence e-mail, asking them if they will replace the product given your circumstances.

[CCrew]

Have you considered contacting Road ID to see if they'll replace it?
.

That wouldn't be the BF way, now would it?
You've been here long enough to know you're supposed to come here and flame the company and demand a recall!

Mine's 3 years old. Still holding up great. I don't wash it in the washing machine either

[skol]

+1 about emailing them - brief description and you mail to address for replacement to be sent should do it.

[LS2379]

They will replace it on warranty. My is 2 years old and has not started to fade yet. It is the yellow velcro style and I put it in the washing machine with my other gear from time to time to keep it clean and it has had no adverse affects on the tag. I did read on a forum (not sure if it was here), where the owner was actually a member, and he guaranteed a replacement on warranty if the text faded.

[RT]

Previous threads have proven their customer service very worthy. I don't use it, but was impressed with the responses I saw.

[gsteinb]

Calm down, Levi. The check is going to clear.

[Fishy]

I've had mine for two or three years and it's fine.

I'm not sure how you can get the etching to "fade" on one of these things without using a power tool on it.

[jdon]

OP leads a charmed life if this is all he has to whine about.

RoadID= great product, great support.

[huguest]

I had some problems with mine as well (info fading from the tag) and they sent me a replacement right away. Excellent customer service. Just send an email and they will get back to you on Monday morning.

[byarmis]

I have Type 1 diabetes and always wear my medical ID bracelet, which is stainless steel and has help up great so far. I never thought about how I would have to get some kind of ID for riding if I didn't have a medical problem, but I guess I would. Anyways, it works!

+1
I have a necklace and I find it works great. I too scratched the hell out of bracelets. This is my second in 4 or so years with the only problem with the previous one being that the black paint around the chain kept coming off, so I ordered a plain steel one. Looks/works great!

[Andy Somnifac]

I have the one that goes on your shoe. It's not treated gently, and it's still completely legible, and is in no danger of coming off.

[AndyK]

I read that in an emergency, shoes can come right off, but most first-responders can see a wrist ID, as they check for medical alert bracelets. Not sure if that's true, but I got rid of the shoe strap and just wear it on my wrist when I ride.

[chasmm]

+1 for another satisfied RoadID customer. I have the "elite" rubber strap bracelet and liked it so much that I had the RoadID Interactive info engraved on a titanium dogtag/chain that I also wear when I'm not cycling (and sometimes when I am).

I've also had great success in getting responses from RoadID whether it was questions, suggestions, etc.

Give 'em a chance before you give up on them.

Charles

[cshell]

One more Road ID user. 3 years now, on my running shoes. 100% satisfied.

[JaceK]

The fading I would of dealt with, I do not mind replacing the tag once a year. If that was the only issue, my life is worth at least $25 a year.

However I am not going to replace or deal with warranty issues every two months on a product that advertises as speaking for me in an accident. What is the coverage I get while I wait for shipping? No, thanks!

Interesting point here is I would gladly pay up to 200 or so dollars for a good quality product. One thing I know, when something goes wrong, you never spent enough money on safety gear. So why should I deal with low quality?

Will I contact the company? Why, so I can voice my concerns over low quality equipment. No, I bought their product, it failed to meet my expectations, twice. I looked for a replacement. If this one doesn't work out, I look again. If it works, then you will hear that as well.

This is a forum, I share my experiences with products I use, good and bad. Sell me crap or substandard merchandise do not expect me to be nice about it. If you advertise your product as helping save my life... you are damn lucky I gave you two shots at bat.

[spooner]

For those who wear it on your shoes or the dog tags - do you think someone will instinctively look in those places for ID in the event of a crash? I mean if you're in a race someone will look in those places. But if you're on an early morning training ride and you crash - I'm not sure the average Joe driving to work will look on your neck or shoes for ID.

It seems that the wrist thing is the best idea. Maybe I'm missing something.