3M™ Peltor™ Tactical Earplug Kit
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- Last updated: 21/09/2018
3M Peltor’s LEP-200 Level Dependant Earplugs are tiny, in-ear buds that will offer up to 16 hours of operation from their internal lithium ion batteries after a 90-minute charge. They come in a pocket-sized case weighing 272 grams including 3xAA batteries to charge the buds wirelessly when they are clipped into place for storage. There are three adjustable volume levels from single short presses of the control button, with longer ones required for turn ON/ OFF. Button controllers either side for comfortable hearing in normal ambient environments and miniature internal electronics wirelessly receive audio signals from the optional neck loop accessory.
This loop hangs under clothes, forming a 50c transmission ‘bubble’ around your head, it plugs into any 3.5mm audio port, so something like a field radio in your pocket can be heard without the hassle of extra wires connected to your ears. This also guards against possible eavesdropping in more clandestine roles. Reusable rubberised UltraFit™ Eartips are supplied in small, medium and large for a versatile fit, with a 32bD SNR reduction rating (SNR Tested in accordance with PPE directive 89/686/EEC). Triple C foam type disposable Eartips offering 36dB are also compatible with yet higher 38dB ‘skull screw’ types available for ultimate sound deadening.
In use, the omni-directional microphones gave great spacial awareness when on a driven boar hunt, where I elected for the foam type tips for most comfort, although my small ear canals did feel a bit weary after three hours. Not everyone’s ears are as small as mine though and that is a serious fact to consider. Radio comms on the optional neck loop were excellent, as nothing interfered with the unrestricted head movement so mandatory for intuitive shooting.
Each single control button is simple to use bare handed or with gloves and perhaps most important, the rounded shape of the external unit never feels weighty or abrasive against your outer ear canal. After two hours, they turn off automatically to save battery life, which to be fair, lasted me all three days of the hunt. Yet, like other Peltor products, they warn you with beeps several times during the final 60 seconds of operation. A lanyard is included to hang them around your neck when not in use as well as detailed instructions of how to insert them correctly for the best protection.
A Low battery tone repeats every five minutes of the last hour before they are going to fade out completely but with a simple clip back into the storage case enabling a recharge, I never actually heard this on my three day trip. They are quite expensive, and I wouldn’t use them for constant rifle shooting, but in wide open spaces, they are ideal for all sorts of hunting scenarios and without any undue interference into normal shooting operations. Plus, you stay in contact with your fellows almost subconsciously.
What is NPS®?
Before booking a restaurant, planning a trip, buying a fancy new product or registering my dogs at the new groomers, I always consult the internet. Checking online reviews is one of the first steps for most consumers, and studies show that 84% of people trust online reviews as much as recommendations from friends and family.
Since customers are 3X more likely to talk about bad experiences than good, it's essential the negative reviews are dealt with, and the positive reviews are shared. To help, we have NPS®! These trusted reviews include the good as well as the bad, and now, with the help of social media, customers can share recommendations and reviews quickly and easily.
So what does NPS stand for?
NPS stands for Net Promoter Score. The NPS is a metric used to indicate customer satisfaction and loyalty. The higher your NPS, the more loyal your customer base.
How is the NPS calculated?
The NPS is based on one simple question 'How likely is it that you would recommend 'company' to a friend or colleague?'.
This is often asked within a customer feedback survey and is answered on a scale from 0-10.
A company's NPS is the percentage of promoters, MINUS the percentage of detractors. Those that are passive are 'ignored'.
Promoters: those who score between 9-10
Passive: those who score between 7-8
Detractors: those who score between 0-6
If 70% of respondents are promoters, 20% passives and 10% detractors (70%-10%), then your NPS would be 60.
What's a 'good' NPS?
NPSs are measured on a scale from -100 to +100. So, generally speaking, an NPS of 0-50 is considered good, 50-70 is deemed excellent, and 70+ is world-class.
The good news is that clients LOVE their vets, and the average NPS for an iRecall® practice tends to be around the mid 80's - world-class.
Some of the best 'large company' Net Promoter Scores:
John Lewis 68
What do I use my NPS score for?
The NPS is just a metric but a useful one. It allows you to track trends over time which can be compared across multiple veterinary practice sites. It can help your brand evaluate customer loyalty, and in turn, help you understand the likelihood of them repurchasing or cancelling payment plans.
Making sure you use a review platform will continuously provide insights into your business and your team. Many review platforms have been designed to give practices feedback to help identify their strengths or areas to work on.
Will online reviews impact my veterinary business?
A negative review will make 4 out of 5 people think twice about spending their well-earned money at your practice, which can be a common obstacle when trying to encourage new customers.
On the other hand, positive reviews do quite the opposite. Since 80% of happy customers will provide recommendations, and 70% of consumers are more likely to purchase if a friend talks about it on social media, getting those recommendations online can really make the difference.
Even better, it's proven that a referred customer has a 16% higher lifetime value.
Customer feedback and reviews are essential, and so it's valuable to a company to track its NPS. This metric, combined with reviews, allow a practice or business to pinpoint and showcase their outstanding work whilst managing areas of improvement.
Good reviews encourage new business and are often the first place people look when making a financial decision. Old and bad reviews discourage, so it's vital to ensure good reviews are regular and the bad are dealt with quickly and efficiently.
Google and Facebook are great places to start your online reviews. The first step, make sure you're asking your customers for their feedback!
Find out how to get more online reviews, and the best way to manage feedback.