Re: Who are these guys?

[Frank Olson <use_the_email_links@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Roland Moore wrote:
> Have you ever noticed that when you do a parts search on google the Bass
> site comes up? I did a parts search and saw these guys. Who are they? Their
> web page claims they are "professional". And yet they push Honeywell gear?
> If you're a "professional" with any sort of reputation with your customer
> base, how in the world would you find the time to run an on line parts
> business? Why would you even want to get into that market with such skinny
> margins if your "professional" business was successful? I can just see
> quoting a customer and then having him or her say wait a minute, "why are
> you charging me these prices when you sell the same thing on line much
> cheaper"? And you get a 24 hour emergency number to call too. Wow.
>
> http://www.doityourselfsecuritysystems.com/index.html
>
>


I think it behooves anyone that's shopping online to have a look at the
company's shipping and returns policy.  It often costs more to return
non-functioning product than it's worth.  If you're DIY and you "screw
up" you're the one that has to "eat" the mistake.  If you're an end-user
and the installer you've hired "screws up" (not likely because they're
more familiar with the product, but still possible), you won't see (or
have to shell out) for the error.  These days many suppliers are
clamping down on returns.  They often offer "store credit" on another
purchase instead of the cash back.  "Warranty" is still invested with
the dealer and not the end user.  The dealer provides his own warranty
which, in the case of an installation company, often includes labour.
How does a DIYer prove the $4.00 contact he bought was "bad out of the
box"?  In addition many online stores have policies that preclude the
return of certain items (they call them "special order").  The "list" of
"special order" parts varies from one store to the next.  When *I*
supply a camera, I have to warranty the unit (not only for the
manufacturer's term), but I have to make sure it's the right lens/camera
combination for the job.  If (as a DIYer), you order the wrong part,
you're "SOL" for the return.  And in most cases you won't find out it's
the wrong part until you power it up (which often means that you can't
return the item to the online store as well).

All in all, I'd suggest "shopping" with a local Dealer.  Most don't have
a problem dealing with a DIYer (and it's pretty easy to find out which
don't).  That way, if you run into a problem, it's only a local call to
resolve it, and in most cases, it would be a fairly simple "fix" to
dispatch a qualified installer.