Re: Alarm Farce...

[Frank Olson <use_the_email_links@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 25/05/2010 4:53 PM, tourman wrote:
> On May 23, 5:52 pm, Frank Olson
> <use_the_email_li...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>  wrote:
>> On 17/05/2010 11:00 PM, mleuck wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> On May 17, 8:10 pm, tourman<robercampb...@xxxxxxxxx>    wrote:
>>>> On May 17, 7:28 pm, mleuck<m.le...@xxxxxxxxx>    wrote:
>>
>>>>> On May 16, 12:13 pm, tourman<robercampb...@xxxxxxxxx>    wrote:
>>
>>>>>> RHC: Unfortunately, you and I discussing something like this we both
>>>>>> totally agree on is like the "minister preaching to the converted".
>>>>>> The really sad part is how unsophisticated consumers are taken in by
>>>>>> all the phoney marketing hype.
>>
>>>>>> At least when you have taken no security precautions, you know it and
>>>>>> can accommodate to a degree for it. However, when you are sold  crap
>>>>>> and lead to believe you have a real measure of security, you end up
>>>>>> fooling yourself with a false sense of security. That's really sad.....
>>
>>>>> That's awful harsh Robert, you'd think they were ADT or something...
>>
>>>> RHC: ADT are saints compared to Alarm Force. ADT is a legitimate
>>>> company, and basically a good one (on the commercial and large
>>>> government side anyway), but Alarm Force....well....wait until they
>>>> come south and then tell me you don't agree....:))
>>
>>> Not that I know much about the actual system but can you tell me any
>>> instance where one of their installations failed during a real
>>> burglary?
>>
>> I actually have two customers with "Alarmfarce" systems that were broken
>> into.  Both had a single door contact on the front door and an inverted
>> motion mounted 3.5 feet above the floor (pet resistance at it's best??).
>>    Scum broke into a back door, took the phone off hook so the system
>> couldn't dial out.  These guys went out of their way to hit "AlarmFarce
>> Protected Homes".  It doesn't take much in the way of research to find
>> out exactly what you're buying and where the system has it's weak
>> points.  Both customers were "locked" in to three year contracts and
>> both wound up paying them off just to get their krap out of their houses.
>>
>> Shortly after the first customer came over to us, we moved into a new
>> house that was pre-wired.  A week before our move, I called AlarmFarce
>> (and a couple of others) to see what they were going to pitch at me.
>> The basic system (at that time) was a single door contact and what they
>> called a "pet proof" motion sensor.  It also came with their "famous"
>> voice activated alarm box.  Our house is on two levels.  If they
>> installed their "box" in the kitchen, my wife could be screaming "blue
>> murder" in the master bedroom and the operator wouldn't hear a thing.
>> The biggest surprise came when I asked if I could arrange for a security
>> survey.  AlarmFarce doesn't do that.  All their "sales" are over the
>> phone.  The first AlarmFarce guy you see after you make arrangements for
>> the installation is the "technician".
>>
>> Here's the "catch".  If you express "concern" over the lack of coverage,
>> they offer to "upgrade you" and that's when the "no fee installation"
>> starts costing you big bucks.  $80.00 for an additional door contact,
>> $180.00 for a motion, $200 for a glass break.  They're using
>> unsupervised krap that's been "reboxed".
>>
>> They are successful because the buying public is inundated with their
>> ads on practically every radio station you care to name and there isn't
>> anything (or anyone) with a counter to their spiel.  They spend a
>> fortune on advertising (which is probably cheaper for them than
>> employing a sales farce).
>>
>> It's unfortunate that a lot of people wind up falling into the "myth"
>> that they're the "most trusted name in home security".  Poppycock!
>>
>> --
>> My wife says women are angels.  And even when us guys manage to clip
>> their wings, they'll keep right on flying...  on their broomsticks.
>
> RHC: Frank, one of my contacts in the locksmith trade used to be a
> "technician" for Alarm Force. His requirement was to install 10
> systems a day, which he did until he could no longer stomach it !
> So you have to ask how much training does the average customer get on
> how his "alarm system" works ?

Training???  The offer "training"???  Wow!!!  Is it "free"???  Or do the
charge per question???

--
My wife says women are angels.  And even when us guys manage to clip
their wings, they'll keep right on flying...  on their broomsticks.