Re: Looking to purchase alarm system - suggestions?

[Crash Gordon® <webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

And...I tried not to snicker at Pro 1 too.


"R.H.Campbell" <rh.campbell@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message =
news:4--dnVvbZKLNLFPfRVn-jg@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
| Sir, the advice given you by Frank and Crash is all very good advice =
and=20
| says it "like it is". You may also want to pay a visit to my website; =
there=20
| is a lot of information that you might well not find elsewhere, given =
the=20
| brutally competitive nature of this business.
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| Best of luck in your shopping....
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| R.H.Campbell
| Home Security Metal Products
| Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| www.homemetal.com
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| "Frank Olson" <feolson@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message=20
| news:hcwze.1903275$Xk.500877@xxxxxxxxxxx
| >
| > <tufflaw@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message=20
| > 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=20
| > (someone's whose signs/stickers you see in a lot of places).  Check =
them=20
| > out through the BBB or your State/Provinicial Alarm Association =
(some=20
| > would consider membership in either or both is a "plus", but that's =
not=20
| > necessarily so).  What you're looking for is someone with a =
reputation for=20
| > quality and service (not necessarily the lowest price).  Talk to =
your=20
| > friends and neighbors to see who they use or recommend.  Call in a =
couple=20
| > 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=20
| > time that doing business with a local Dealer is better (there are =
some of=20
| > Nationals that have branch offices that are a "cut above" as well, =
but you=20
| > really have to "dig" for them).
| >
| > Remember to "do the math".  When you look at the installed price of =
a=20
| > system, make sure you own the equipment and the cost of same isn't=20
| > 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=20
| > install a ULC listed communicator (which the customer owns outright) =
and=20
| > monitor the system for $15.00 a month.  Cost for the install varies=20
| > between $550 and $800 depending on the degree of difficulty in =
running the=20
| > necessary cable. Our cost on equipment is about $450.00.  Our =
competitors=20
| > are charging about $1400.00 a year for monitoirng (which includes an =

| > equipment lease price)!! When most property managers are shown the =
math,=20
| > it takes very little convincing to switch 'em from "the dark =
side"...=20
| > :-))
| >=20
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|