Re: Any tips for a consumer about to purchase a system & contract?

["tourman" <rh.campbell@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bob, my comments were in relation to the fact that IF the client pays
full price for the alarm and is still locked into a long term contract,
then in fact the contract is doing nothing for him, and only benefits
the alarmco. I'm amazed after so many years of explaining what I mean,
that so many still take the meaning out of context. Long term contracts
are quite valid if their purpose is to ensure that the client completes
payment on his alarm system which has been artificially lowered at the
front end. To do othewise would be foolish.

Let me take the example, where a client owns his system outright. Say
he moved into a new home where the original alarm has been sold to the
client; he owns it fully, and there is absolutely no financial
committments that have not been met to the original installing company.
My point is (and has always been) that signing this new client up to a
long term committment does nothing for him. It does however, limit his
freedom to move should the new company (me) give poor service; it does
mean that should he experience the need to sell the home on short
notice, that he is in to some serious negotiations with his alarmco
where there is no need. In this respect, in these kinds of cases, the
long term contract does nothing for the client, and is definately not
in his best interests.

As far as the lick and stick alarms go, I agree with you that a lot of
people have been brainwashed by the slick marketeers who peddle their
minimalistic systems. However, I do think that if you explain things
properly to people, they will see the sense in what you say. That
doesn't mean they always want to pay that full price, and many will
still go the "free" system route, but so what. Do you really want those
clients anyway. I know I don't.Perhaps the environment where I work is
different; however, I rarely get calls these days from anyone who
doesn't expect to pay full price. One third of my client base work in
the high tech industry, and make very good money. They almost without
exception want to keep their monthly down, and maintain their
flexibility, and paying me $600 to $1000 for a system installation
doesn't phase them a bit. I do recognize that things can be quite
different across both our countries, and I may just have found a niche
that works well in my part of Canada, but which might not be valid
elsewhere.

Anyway, that's all I wanted to point out....

RHC

Bob La Londe wrote:
  That is not 100% correct Robert.  It often allows a customer to get
an alarm
> system now instead of later.  Just like financing allows us to buy new
> service trucks without having to scrimp and save to put aside 20-40 thousand
> in cash before making the purchase.  Yes it is used by many alarm companies
> as a way to guarantee their revenue stream, but if it did not also benefit
> many consumers in allowing them to afford an alarm system quickly it
> probably would not be as popular.  We are all aware of course of all the
> abuses of this system as well.
>
> There are a couple problems with the model also.  The biggest is that people
> will refuse to understand why that can't get a comprehensive alarm that
> takes a couple days to install for "free" like they can get the 3 doors and
> a motion lick and stick system usually marketed under the low or no down
> "free" system plans.
>
> The other is that a lot people are not good to their word.  They refuse to
> understand why they have to honor their contract.
>
> Personally I dislike the whole free alarm program because people are in
> general opportunistic and selfish and its a high stress low return sales
> tactic.  However, there is a legitimate reason for it to exist.  You just
> have to find a company who will give you what you paid for (or didn't pay
> for as the case may be.  LOL), and you have to be understand that if you
> don't honor your word they will come after you for being a welsher.
>
> --
> Current Rides (Yuma, Az)
> 2005 VN1600B2 Kawasaki Vulcan Mean Streak
> 2001 VLX600 Honda Shadow (for sale)
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>
> Past Rides
> 1976 CL350 Honda
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> 1969 SOHC CB750 Honda
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> 1997 FLHT Harley Electra Glide
> 2002 VRSCA Harley V-Rod
> ** I knew I forgot one or two
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>
>
>
>
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