Window shopping for scanners is tough when the only windows you can peer through are in your web browser.

 

There are very few physical locations where you can kick the proverbial tires and sign & drive a police scanner home with you.

 

That's where eCommerce scanner companies come in to play.

 

So, you need to know exactly who and where you're buying from, right?

 

To help you find, objectively, the best scanner company, we defined the most important criteria for both major & minor retailers.

 

Pricing note: We did not include "lowest scanner prices" because manufacturers set floor pricing for most units—which is why you'll find the same prices everywhere.

 

Shameless self-plug...

We think we're #1 for a lot of reasons, but here are the top three:

1. #1 rated store on Google
2. Lifetime tech support
3. 35,268+ happy customers

Search "zip scanners reviews" on Google then press Enter or click the selection.

 

If the page looks like then, then you are almost there!

 

BINGO! Look at that, 4.8 stars with over 735 reviews. Click on that to look at all of our reviews.

 

Please read our reviews. I sorted it to start from "Newest" as of May 28, 2021; thank you, Bob!

 

Major Police Scanner Retailers

Major Police Scanner Retailers	Zip Scanners	Scanner Master	Bearcat Warehouse	Amazon
Google Review Score	4.8	4.1	4.5	N/A
Google Reviews	735	7	20	N/A
Specialize In Scanners Only	✔	✔	X	X
Sell Uniden	✔	✔	✔	✔
Sell Whistler	✔	✔	X	✔
Lifetime Tech Support	✔	X	X	X
Police Scanner Programming
Scanner Programming Available	✔	✔	✔	X
1st County Programming Price	$39.99	$69.95	$45.00	N/A
Addt'l County Price	$10.00	$20.00	$15.00	N/A
Company Overview
US Owned	✔	✔	✔	✔
Founded	2013	1978	2006	1994
Based	Minneapolis, MN	Holliston, MA	Elkridge, MD	Seattle, WA
Tagline	"We make scanning easy"	"The nation's oldest and largest scanner only dealer"	N/A	"Work hard. Have fun. Make history."
Shipping Details
Free Shipping*	✔	✔	✔	✔
Int'l Shipping*	✔	✔	N/A	✔
Shipping Carrier	UPS	USPS, UPS	UPS	USPS, UPS, FedEx, Amazon
Same Day Shipping Cutoff (CST)	2:00 PM	3:00 PM	2:00 PM	N/A
Operations
Days of Week	5	5	5	7
Hours (CST)	M-Th 10AM to 8PM Fri 10AM to 2PM	M-F 9AM to 3PM	M-F 7AM to 3PM	N/A
Returns	14 days from arrival	30 days	14/30 days	30 days
Retail Store	✔	✔	X	X

Minor Police Scanner Retailers

Minor Police Scanner Retailers	Uniden	Uniden Factory	Universal Radio inc.	eBay	WalMart	Whistler Group
Google Review Score	N/A	N/A	4.6	N/A	N/A	N/A
Total Reviews	N/A	N/A	98	N/A	N/A	N/A
Specialize In Scanners Only	X	X	X	X	X	X
Sell Uniden	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	X
Sell Whistler	X	X	X	✔	✔	X
Lifetime Tech Support	X	X	X	X	X	X
Police Scanner Programming
Scanner Programming Available	X	X	X	X	X	X
1st County Programming Price	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Addt'l County Price	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Company Overview
US Owned	X	X	✔	✔	✔	✔
Founded	1966	1966	1942	1995	1962	1971
Based	Tokyo, Japan Irving, TX	Tokyo, Japan	Worthington OH	San Jose, CA	Bentonville, AR	Bentonville, AR
Tagline	N/A	N/A	"Serving the radio community since 1942"	"Connecting buyers and sellers globally"	N/A	"Technology for the way you live"
Shipping Details
Free Shipping*	Orders over $199	✔	X	X	✔	X
Shipping Carrier	N/A	USPS, UPS, FedEx	UPS	USPS, UPS, FedEx	FedEx, WalMart	USPS, UPS, FedEx
Same Day Shipping Cutoff	N/A	4:00 PM	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Int'l Shipping*	✔	X	X	✔	X	✔
Operations
Days of Week	7	5	6	7	7	7
Hours (CST)	24/7	24/7	M-F 9AM-4PM, Sat 9AM-2PM	24/7	24/7	N/A
Returns	7 days	30 days	14 days	Determined by seller	90 days	30 days
Retail Store	✔	X	✔	✔	✔	X

 

Enough about us already...