Re: Need Advice For Packaged Home Alarm Purchase

["Mr.Double-sided tape" <alarminstall@xxxxxxx>]

Mike,
        Email me a rough description of the system you are looking for
plus as much about the house (basement finished-unfinshed, # of doors,
1st floor rooms, etc), and I will help you design a system, price it
out amongst the available chocies, and forward you the information.
We'll look at various benefits/downfalls between choosing a national or
local co. Hopefully we'll find the best fit for your budget without
sacrificing safety.


Tom


Mike wrote:
> I'll ask about hard wiring.  The sales rep did mention fire ie, heat
> sensors.  Sorry Tom, I have not mentioned it in my postings.
> Correection - I didn't ask about fire when I talked with the ASG rep.  B & A
> companies mentioned fire to me.
> I went into this budgeting up to $1,000.00.
>
> "Mr.Double-sided tape" <alarminstall@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:1138477591.839085.302230@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > If it can be hardwired then choose that option. $70 for a wireless
> > sensor is actually a pretty decent price considering your market. I'm
> > curious as to why the sales rep didn't mention fire, or if he did why
> > you didn't consider it? IMO fire is the most important part of a
> > security system.
> > If the average crook thinks you have an alarm system he will break into
> > another house instead. The crook doesn't know what is protected and
> > what's not so rather than gambling with your house he'll pick off your
> > neighbor who doesn't have a system. Fire on the other hand doesn't care
> > if you have a system or not. Fire will strike wherever it wants, and
> > whenever it wants. If your budget is tight then reduce the burg side of
> > the system and add fire. Remember Mike, all systems can be added to at
> > a later date so you don't have to go for the full monty now if it's
> > going to hurt you financially to do so. Don't let the salesman sell you
> > what HE wants you to buy. Buy what you can and try to cover all bases
> > as best you can.
> > If you really like this company you just sat with, and if your budget
> > is topped out at 650.00 then ask the rep to swap the keyfob for a
> > smoke. At least it's a starting point and you won't regret it.
> >
> > Best of luck,
> >
> > Tom
> >
> >
> > Mike wrote:
> >> This afternoon I spoke with a rep from ASG alarms.  To alarm three doors
> >> and
> >> five windows cost about $654. plus key fob alarm alerter. Costs $70.00
> >> per
> >> window to alarm wireless.  Can burglars easily defeat the wireless window
> >> alarms?"Three year contract and I don't own the equipment.  I'm looking
> >> for
> >> an independent contractor.
> >>
> >> Mike
> >> mikey" <loismustdie@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> >> news:drearo$ck0$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >> > There is far too much being made of long-term contracts here.
> >> > Bob, have you crunched numbers? My guess is that your AVERAGE
> >> > "contract"
> >> > over the last 10 years has lasted about 3 years, maybe 4
> >> > No?
> >> >
> >> > "R.H.Campbell" <rh.campbell@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> >> > news:QxhCf.25069$ve.546811@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >> >> Mike, I won't bother to add too much more to this thread except to
> >> >> advise
> >> >> you to be just as careful of this gentleman's statements as you should
> >> >> be
> >> >> with anyone that posts here.  He assumes far too much !! Read both
> >> >> sets
> >> >> of
> >> >> rationale, and make your own judgments. Often, those who can't justify
> >> > their
> >> >> positions, use personal attacks as their only "weapon". I stand by
> >> >> everything that is posted on my website !
> >> >>
> >> >> But for the record, I find it necessary to "correct" a few of his
> >> >> points.
> >> >> His statement that most alarmco's insist on long term contracts IS
> >> > accurate
> >> >> and for the reasons he states, although the equity issue is entirely
> >> >> blown
> >> >> out of proportion. It is only one of many things that buyers use when
> >> >> evaluating a company for purchase. However, that is no reason why you
> >> >> as
> >> >> a
> >> >> shopper should not seek the shortest term contract you can find in the
> >> >> marketplace. Just because he, and a large part of the industry feel
> >> >> they
> >> >> have to lock you in to a contract for their own self interests, and
> >> >> which
> >> > in
> >> >> most cases doesn't do a damn thing for you, doesn't mean that you as a
> >> >> consumer should accept it. In a free market, there are many ways to
> >> >> market
> >> > a
> >> >> product, and only those with little appreciation for marketing will
> >> >> insist
> >> >> on doing things one single way, and especially "because that's the way
> >> > it's
> >> >> always been done". It is my opinion that without a long term contract,
> >> > some
> >> >> of the very largest companies simply couldn't keep their attrition
> >> >> rates
> >> > at
> >> >> anything near normal levels (attrition means the number of accounts
> >> >> lost
> >> >> each year as a percentage of their installed base). Any dealer that is
> >> >> prepared to step up to the plate and provide service on a monthly
> >> >> basis,
> >> >> KNOWS that he has to keep you happy or see you disappear with a
> >> >> month's
> >> >> notice ! Ask yourself, who's really putting their money where their
> >> >> mouth
> >> > is
> >> >> !! You remain "in the drivers seat", and this actually can serve to
> >> >> help
> >> > in
> >> >> protecting you against poor service from your alarm company !! (and
> >> >> this
> >> > is
> >> >> certainly NOT to suggest that you can expect bad service from the
> >> >> majority
> >> >> of alarmcos...most know that this is very much a service busines) But
> >> >> you
> >> >> see my point ! Why leave yourself open if you don't have to ?
> >> >>
> >> >> If you choose to sign a long term committment for say, a cellphone, it
> >> > means
> >> >> you have been given the phone for less up front, and they recover lost
> >> >> revenue over the term of the contract. Alarms are no different except
> >> >> when
> >> >> you own the alarm outright, or have paid a fair market price up front,
> >> > there
> >> >> is no justification other than protecting their revenue stream, for
> >> > locking
> >> >> you into an alarm contract. Forget the industry self serving
> >> >> statements;
> >> > it
> >> >> IS that simple from YOUR perspective !! Pay high up front, low
> >> >> ongoing.......pay low up front, high ongoing ! The choice is yours,
> >> >> but
> >> > the
> >> >> point is, you should have that choice - not be forced into it because
> >> > there
> >> >> are no other choices in the market !! And you certainly shouldn't have
> >> >> to
> >> >> pay high at both ends as you'll soon find out dealing with the large
> >> >> conglomerates !!
> >> >>
> >> >> Even with month to month terms, I guarantee my rates in writing for
> >> >> five
> >> >> years as you can see on my website, and this is no big deal if you
> >> >> know
> >> > how
> >> >> the monitoring market works. Prices per monitored account go down at
> >> >> wholesale level the more you have monitored ! This gentleman
> >> >> particularily
> >> >> seems to feel that I attack other dealers in the industry; however,
> >> >> that
> >> > is
> >> >> simply a reflection of his oversensitivity to the way I and many
> >> >> others
> >> >> work. In our local area alone, there are at least five companies that
> >> >> I
> >> > know
> >> >> of working strictly on monthly term (one has 2000 accounts), and this
> >> > gives
> >> >> them (and me) a decided advantage over companies who insist on locking
> >> >> clients in. I hear the same "sour grapes" all the time from other
> >> > companies
> >> >> too !! Simply disagreeing with some of what our industry does, doesn't
> >> > mean
> >> >> I'm attacking anyone (except in his mind...) and least of all, the
> >> > industry
> >> >> as a whole that I've worked in for the last 12 years ! As you say,
> >> > everyone
> >> >> has their unique opinion.... AND their unique way of working. Mine
> >> >> happens
> >> >> to differ from the industry norm, but it works very well for me (and
> >> >> my
> >> >> customers) !!
> >> >>
> >> >> It's unfortunate that the local dealers didn't call you back. That is
> >> > their
> >> >> loss and may be (unfortunately) ADT's gain....
> >> >>
> >> >> RHC
> >> >>
> >> >> "Mike" <wxyz09@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> >> >> news:z8gCf.12509$zh2.11315@xxxxxxxxxxx
> >> >> >>
> >> >> > Jim, thanks for taking the time to post your informative reply.  My
> >> > belief
> >> >> > is everybody has their unique opinion.
> >> >> > I've contacted two independents in my area.  One had been sold twice
> >> >> > and
> >> >> > neither one called me back.
> >> >> > So far, Brinks is out and ADT is on the list.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Mike
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> I choose Polesoft Lockspam to fight spam, and you?
> >> >> http://www.polesoft.com/refer.html
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >