Re: Looking to purchase alarm system - suggestions?

["R.H.Campbell" <rh.campbell@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sir, the advice given you by Frank and Crash is all very good advice and
says it "like it is". You may also want to pay a visit to my website; there
is a lot of information that you might well not find elsewhere, given the
brutally competitive nature of this business.

Best of luck in your shopping....

R.H.Campbell
Home Security Metal Products
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
www.homemetal.com


"Frank Olson" <feolson@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:hcwze.1903275$Xk.500877@xxxxxxxxxxx
>
> <tufflaw@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:1120796833.601451.155840@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Hello, I'm trying to purchase an alarm system for my home, just
>> starting to compare vendors but I'm not really sure what I should be
>> looking for.  I've spoken with two so far, Protect America and
>> Honeywell.
>>
>> Protect America has a basic package on their website for a wireless
>> system with a control panel, keypad, motion detector, three sensors,
>> and siren.  It's free but I have to install it myself, and the monthly
>> service fee is $30.  They offer a lifetime warranty on their equipment.
>>
>> Honeywell offered me a package for a wireless system with a control
>> panel, keypad, siren, three door sensors, four window sensors, two
>> fire/smoke alarms for $795 (they install, obviously), with a service
>> fee of $20 per month.  There's a one year warranty on their equipment.
>>
>> Obviously the initial money put down is much cheaper for Protect
>> America, but a few things I didn't like were their sales tactics and
>> that their plan wasn't really specifically tailored for my house.  They
>> dealt with my strictly over the phone.  Honeywell sent a rep out to my
>> house and he put a plan together after going through the house.
>>
>> After several years I'll end up saving money with Honeywell, but money
>> isn't the sole concern obviously - I want to keep my family as safe as
>> possible.  Any thoughts on these offers / companies from people
>> familiar with them?
>>
>> Also, I'm meeting with a rep from Protection One next week, so any
>> thoughts on them as well would be most appreciated.  Thanks!!
>>
>
> Look through your Yellow Pages for the name of a recognized "local" Dealer
> (someone's whose signs/stickers you see in a lot of places).  Check them
> out through the BBB or your State/Provinicial Alarm Association (some
> would consider membership in either or both is a "plus", but that's not
> necessarily so).  What you're looking for is someone with a reputation for
> quality and service (not necessarily the lowest price).  Talk to your
> friends and neighbors to see who they use or recommend.  Call in a couple
> of the better locals and compare what they have to offer against the
> Nationals you've already talked to.  I think you'll find almost 80% of the
> time that doing business with a local Dealer is better (there are some of
> Nationals that have branch offices that are a "cut above" as well, but you
> really have to "dig" for them).
>
> Remember to "do the math".  When you look at the installed price of a
> system, make sure you own the equipment and the cost of same isn't
> factored in to the monitoring price.  For instance, we're a Canadian
> company that does a lot of fire alarm system monitoring.  We supply and
> install a ULC listed communicator (which the customer owns outright) and
> monitor the system for $15.00 a month.  Cost for the install varies
> between $550 and $800 depending on the degree of difficulty in running the
> necessary cable. Our cost on equipment is about $450.00.  Our competitors
> are charging about $1400.00 a year for monitoirng (which includes an
> equipment lease price)!! When most property managers are shown the math,
> it takes very little convincing to switch 'em from "the dark side"...
> :-))
>