Re: ADT Essential Wireless Package

["Jim" <alarminex@xxxxxxx>]

J. wrote:
> ADT resi contracts are three years not five.  Most local companies
> have a similar terms.  The contract is subject to escalation over time
> like most long term service contracts.  Without the escalation, the
> alarmco would be losing money over time due to inflation.  With the
> CPI increasing by about 4% per year, ADT and other companies are
> justified in doing this.  ADT's current US corporate residential plan
> provides the equipment as an outright purchase.  The customer owns the
> equipment once they pay the installation invoice.  Pricing is
> certainly not double what most local competitors are charging
> nationwide save the occasional company out buying customers.  In many
> areas ADT uses qualified subcontractors on residential, commercial,
> and government work.  Sometimes these subs provide services that
> aren't core to ADT's business model like installing large amounts of
> conduit, providing high voltage power drops, or trenching long
> distances.  Other times subs are used to help with a substantial
> backlog or with very large jobs.  ADT has a relationship with a
> contracting company called Carter Brothers that does quite a bit of
> commercial and national account work.  Using subcontractors is pretty
> much a standard industry practice and is done by most decent size
> companies.  However, ADT does not subcontract repair service,account
> services, or monitoring like many other companies do.  Regardless of
> who installs the system, ADT does have the responsibility to ensure
> its done correctly.  To the o.p., call a few other companies and see
> what they have to offer.  Remember to ask them who owns the system
> once its installed, who monitors it, do they have a 24 hour manned
> help/ service line, is their central station backed up by another, who
> does their repair service, is their central station UL listed, how
> long have they been around, how big is their customer base, etc.
>
>

Most of the above is somewhat subjective but.......  OK ........

But ....... How big is their customer base?
Me thinks you go a bit too far.
At what quantity do you think and end user might feel comfortable?