Re: Some cautions for "Newbies"

["Everywhere Man" <alarminstall@xxxxxxx>]

The "question" thread wasn't a serious query regarding the purchase of
an alarm. It was a post by a sock puppet where they posted my business
information as if they just discovered Atlantis. They searched, and
searched, and searched for ages to locate this information when all
they had to do was read a trade magazine, or check association
websites. It surely pisses them off that my company is cleaner than the
Pope's poop chute, and that my reputation is golden. We passed the due
diligence process with BRINKS which included criminal background,
credit, and certification checks.The articles on my company deal with
child safety issues, false alarm reduction, and how to avoid sales
pressure tactics.
I closed the company in CT due to the death of my fiancee of ten years,
yet CT still shows Milford Alarm INC. as having a valid license. The
license can still be viewed on the State of CT's website. I moved back
to New York, and after regrouping from my loss I returned to the alarm
industry. Last year I married a wonderful woman, whom I have known
since my teens, and we are the proud parents of a 7 week old son.
I have 14 full time employees, most of whom graduated from Lincoln
Tech, and went through 3 months of training, plus another week of
training by a BRINKS rep, and IQ Certification before being allowed in
the field on their own. One is a former engineer for MIRCOM out of
Toronto (which is how I learned to speak Can Aye Jun). Most companies
here throw greenies in the field, but I refuse to.
Less than five percent of the installs are wireless, and we probably
use more 18/4 fire-rated cable in a week than most guys here use in a
year.
They believe that I was hiding my information from the group, but some
people here already knew about my company.
I never posted my company information because I am not here to
advertise, nor am I here to drum up business. BRINKS advertising, and
referrals sends me more than enough customers. ASA is not a forum for
selling ones wares. If I truly wanted to I could hammer the living crap
out of the prices offered by these DIY websites that are plugged here.

For anyone wishing to see first-hand some of our installs they just
need to look for a BRINKS sign in Manhattan. You will find us in many
major businesses, and in many more luxury homes.

To the individual who posted my info I would ask:
1- Are you licensed?
2- Are you bonded?
3- Are you insured?
4- Can you pass a criminal background check?
5- Do you install systems in a manner that would meet IQ requirements?
6- Does your company do an iota of the business that mine does?
7- Do you subscribe to my belief that a customer should place more
emphasis on fire safety than on perimeter protection?
8- How many positive business articles were written about you?
9- What do you do to better your community? We donate thousands of
Child Safety kits to area law enforcement, and sponsor numerous events
for the local Veteran's Hospital.
10- Do you work hands-on with law enforcement in an effort to reduce
false alarms?
11- Can you buy a panel for the same price I can buy a kit?
12- Do you refuse business when the customer wants something that you
know is an absolute sham? (kind of like cell back-up in NYC).

I come here to break balls with people with whom I've corresponded with
for years.
It annoys the living shit out of some here that behind all of my
clowning around regarding me having no clue about alarms that I
actually have more real-life experience when it comes to trouble
shooting, installations, contractual issues, and service issues than
the most of the ASA visitors. I also forgot more about sales &
marketing than most people have ever learned (which either means I have
gone senile, or I am pretty damn good when it comes to developing
successful marketing strategies).
Now if by some chance this forum becomes nothing but a shopping mall
for potential clients then I might consider hanging the shingle up and
selling systems, but until such time I'll continue to come here for
entertainment. To me it's like a bar, minus the drinks, that you visit
after the work day ends.

And keeping with the OT, I would welcome any and all  "newbies" from NY
who are shopping for an alarm system to buy to ask advice from anyone
else here because you need an unbiased opinion. I will not solicit your
business in any way shape or form here but if you do somehow choose my
company at the end then I'll gladly accept your business. Don't limit
yourself to this newsgroup.. There are many top-notch alarm dealers in
NY.  Take Holger's advice, and get at least 3 bids from local
companies. Check Robert Campbell's website as it has some of the inside
dirt on the industry (some of which I disagree with but view his
opinions nonetheless, and make your own determinations). Insist the
installing company use nothing less than 18/4 fire-rated cable for
keypads, power, sirens, motions, smokes, and glassbreaks. Spend more
money on fire protection than on burglary protection, and make sure you
test your alarm weekly.
Stay clear of the DIY route because you're more prone to error and you
have limited your support to someone who sits at a keyboard all day and
has limited practical experience.
Make certain that your alarm system is monitored by a reputable firm.
Remember that "FREE" only applies to the installation of a basic
system, but if that's what floats your boat then don't get your shorts
in a notch when the other shoe drops and you realize you get what you
pay for.
Most of all remember to NEVER, EVER, EVER call me during a Yankee game.
I'd let your house burn to the ground before I'd ever miss an inning
:-)

Matt Ion wrote:
> Jim wrote:
> > Matt Ion wrote:
> >
> >>Frank Olson wrote:
> >>
> >>>Matt Ion wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Dammit, Frank, give it up... the S/N in this group is now beyond 50%
> >>>>to the NOISE side, and your continual posts harping on Bass are the
> >>>>biggest chunk of that.  This group is bordering on useless and you're
> >>>>not helping matters.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Thanks for the "bump", Matt.  I stick by what I've said.  This wasn't
> >>>meant as a "slam" against Robert.  If I'd wanted to do that, I could
> >>>have said a whole lot more.  I ain't gonna go there.
> >>>
> >>>Frank Olson
> >>>http://www.yoursecuritysource.com
> >>
> >>It doesn't matter whether it's a slam or not, or anything else.  It's
> >>off-topic, and it's increasing the noise level AT LEAST as much as
> >>Bass's crap.
> >>
> >>YOU'RE NO BETTER THAN HE IS.
> >>
> >>Period.
> >>
> >>
> >>---
> >
> > And so I guess it follows that YOUR comment is no better than Franks
> > and MY comment is no better than YOURs ...... and the next comment is
> > no better than  ...
> >
> > Oh ...... yeah ....... now I get it ................
> >
>
> Well, it finally happened... all 35 new messages I've received in the
> past 6 hours or so are all either Bass's HTML posts, or Frank's
> anti-Bass threads, or the "Question" thread which in no time at all has
> degenerated from someone's legitimate plea for information into another
> Bass/Olson battle.  In short: 0 signal, 100% noise.
>
> Frankly I'm starting to wonder if the two aren't really the same person.
>
>
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