Re: Need Advice For Packaged Home Alarm Purchase

["Mike" <wxyz09@xxxxxxxxx>]

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
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>