Re: Need Advice For Packaged Home Alarm Purchase

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

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
> >>
> >>
> >
> >