Re: Who are these guys?

["Robert L Bass" <RobertLBass@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Roland Moore wrote:
>>
>> Have you ever noticed that when you do a parts search on google
>> the Bass site comes up?

Yes, it's part of my plan for world domination.

>> I did a parts search and saw these guys. Who are they?

It's a small alarm company that also sells stuff online.  I did the
same thing until I decided to sell the brick and mortar alarm
business.  They're probably a legitimate dealer.

>> Their web page claims they are "professional".  And yet they push
>> Honeywell gear?

Cruel, Roland.  Very cruel.  :^)

>> 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?

It depends on the size and scope of the two businesses.  My alarm
company was small enough that I could still handle the then fledgling
online business.  Now it takes two full-time people just to handle
phone calls plus one doing database updates.  By this time next year
I expect to hire one or two inside sales reps.

>> Why would you even want to get into that market with such skinny
>> margins if your "professional" business was successful?

It's all in the numbers.  What some make in markup doing
installations I make in volume selling parts online.  I have no idea
how much these folks sell (their prices are about average and their
site is kind of small but it's professionally done).  Maybe they're
making a killing or maybe they're another "superstore".

>> 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.

Every so often one of our custom installation clients would find our
website and ask about the difference in prices.  I explained that if
they wanted to DIY they could do so at significant savings but they
would have to do the work.  Very rarely did the conversation progress
beyond that.  Most custom install clients want nothing to do with DIY
at first.  Only after someone like Brinks, Jiminex or one of the
myriad "authorized dealers" rips them off do they start searching
online.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

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Bass Home Electronics
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
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