Re: Need Advice For Packaged Home Alarm Purchase

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

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
>
>


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