Re: ADT buys Broadview (Brinks)

[tourman <robercampbell@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Dec 15, 1:19=A0pm, Jim <alarmi...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Dec 14, 8:22=A0pm, tourman <robercampb...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Dec 14, 6:43=A0pm, Jim <alarmi...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > > On Dec 14, 10:29=A0am, tourman <robercampb...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > > > RHC:No doubt; you tend to remember those who screw you...:)) =A0Onc=
e
> > > > this merger happens, there will be loads of people being screwed. A=
DT
> > > > typically raids the resources of those whom they buy and lets the r=
est
> > > > go as they did with the SecurityLink merger. There are loads of peo=
ple
> > > > at Broadview worried about their jobs, and rightly so.
>
> > > > I spent most of my life inside a large corporate organization and s=
aw
> > > > firsthand what can and will happen. To my shame, I was part of it
> > > > (although unwittingly in those days). Those at the bottom and the
> > > > middle, who are the glue holding an organization together, will be
> > > > largely sacrificed on the alter of "reorganization". Those at the t=
op
> > > > have the goal and obligation, to set things up for the best overall
> > > > bottom line for the company. While the better executives will do th=
eir
> > > > best to keep the pain =A0to a minimum, bottom line, lots of people =
will
> > > > be let go in the name of improved organization and profit ! Middle
> > > > management has "fat" that can always be eliminated. Upper managemen=
t
> > > > too; however, no one there will ever "fall on their sword" in the n=
ame
> > > > of improved bottom line...:))
>
> > > > On the technical side, this will not be so extreme, since ADT is
> > > > bringing on board loads of panels they know nothing about, and will
> > > > need expertise to keep things running. At leaset initially, custome=
r
> > > > service will slip badly, leaving lots of opportunity for independan=
ts
> > > > to target millions of accounts from both companies. Many Broadview
> > > > dealers will try to jump ship as well, since this was not their
> > > > agreement with Broadview.
>
> > > If history is any guide, most independents will not have a clue about
> > > setting up any type of plan whatsoever.
>
> > > > The end result for us will be one mega-monster company to compete
> > > > against rather than two. If independants do their job right, it sho=
uld
> > > > be a much easier market to compete in, given the failings of all la=
rge
> > > > companies.
>
> > > They wont "do their job right" because most don't know what their job
> > > is to begin with. It will be business as usual.
>
> > > > We have more to worry about on the short term from independant
> > > > "startups" giving away systems to get RMR, not realizing until it i=
s
> > > > too late, they are largely cutting their own throats in the process=
.
> > > > Up here, we are starting to see HVAC companies selling DSC wireless
> > > > systems to go along with their HVAC services, under the guise of
> > > > protecting customers against failure of the very systems that they =
are
> > > > installing....??? Their pricing is ridiculously low, so I have to
> > > > wonder how they will end up charging for service to make up the
> > > > difference. Once the initial service term of 3 years is up, they to=
o
> > > > will lose large chunks of this business to lower priced companies,
> > > > making them wonder why they got in this business at all.....:))
>
> > > This is more like reality but including most independent alarm
> > > companys.
>
> > > > Anything for a buck...!!
>
> > > Now you've got it ....!! =A0You could have elimiated everything you s=
aid
> > > above and this would have sufficed.
>
> > RHC: Hmmm....very pessimistic view of your brethren in the business !
> > I know lots of small dealers that are sharp businessmen, and who can
> > see very clearly what's going on, and where opportunities lie. Guess
> > we're smarter up here, that's all....:)) =A0(ducking behind any cover a=
s
> > all sorts of crap flies overhead )-
>
> Naw, I know what you're saying. To clarify my point, ..... Sure ...
> there's a lof of "aware" guys out there but it's the mass majority
> that decides where a trade goes in it's quests for recognition and
> equalization among other trades. Through the years, this trade has had
> ample opportunity to pull it's self up by it's own bootstraps and has
> not done so..... due to lack of organization. The majority is out
> there " being independent". Part of the reason this is so, =A0is why I
> feel as I do about the NBFAA (who has recently taken on an alias ....
> as well it should ) This is an organization that's been around for
> over 50 years and hasn't done a damn thing to orgaize the massive
> power that resides in the small and independent alarm companys.
> Instead it has legioned with the big and powerful and hasn't
> accomplished shit in making any headway towards ligitimatizing the
> trade. The little guys far out number and out-install the Nationals.
> They consist of thousands of voices yet they have no unified power.
> The NBFAA has totally ignored this power and failed to organize it
> through the decades, because ,in my opinion, they know that once they
> give the little guys the power, it will be the demise of their cadre
> of "good ol boys"
>
> So it's not my "Total" opinion that each and every indepented it a
> dummy ..... it's just that "apparent" attitude that is generated by
> lack of orgaization, recognition and mandated rules ..... that
> provides the over all picture of the trade as ..... inept.
>
> My example that I've give here before is.
>
> There were two doctors who met at a party and one asked the other how
> much he got for an apendectomy. He said $8,000.00 .... why? How much
> do you get. The second doctor says .... Well, I've only been asking
> $5000.00.
>
> The next day the second doctor would increase his price to $8000.00.
>
> In the alarm trade, the first doctor would reduce his price to
> $5000.00.
>
> It's this mentality that degrades a trade and without organization,
> training, and mandated installation codes (that it's obvious by this
> time are never going to be self adopted by the "independents" ) that
> needs to be put in place if this trade EVER wants recognition and the
> power to govern it's overall direction.

RHC: Damn! For once,you and I are TOTALLY on the same track !  I feel
exactly as you do about our version of your trade organization called
CANASA up here in Canada. They are in bed with the multi-national
alarm companies and only play lip service to the thousands of
independants here (although they would be quick to take my money if I
was foolish enough to offer it ). They are an "old boys club" too. It
seems to be a natural tendency of all associations to end up that way,
just as has TAOL (The association of Ontario Locksmiths), which I
belonged to for many years, until they too showed their true
stripes !

Your reasoning is sound; however, I don't have a clue how to affect
the problem in any meaningful way