Re: Whaddya know about Secure Link / 2Gig / Alarm.com

[Jim <alarminex@xxxxxxx>]

On Aug 12, 1:05=A0pm, tourman <robercampb...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Aug 12, 11:36=A0am, Jim <alarmi...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > You say you are losing clients due to them switching to VoIP? =A0 Why?
>
> RHC: Because VoIP simply won't work reliably enough for alarms up
> here, and many customers are unwilling to purchase any kind of extra
> cost backup hardware. They'll gladly pay me top dollar for the best
> equipment I can install, but just won't or can't understand why VoIP
> doensn't work, so want to "mickey mouse" communications to the
> station. A large part of my customer base come from the far east, and
> VoIP offers inexpensive calling back to India and places like that.
> Bell Canada and Rogers land line services are just not competitive
> price wise.
>
> I'm sure many of them are simply calling other local dealers who don't
> give a sh*t who would monitor over a barbed wire fence as long as the
> client signs a contract with them. Then when the panel doesn't work
> properly (if the customer =A0even knows, which in most cases they
> don't), it's too damn late to back out because they are locked in by a
> long term contract (why any customer would ever agree to that knowing
> that things might not work out and they'd be stuck, is way beyond my
> comprehension !!!!!! )
>
> Frankly, I don't mind losing these kinds of customers if I must lose
> any !! But what REALLY bugs me is the local scumbag companies win, and
> I lose because I insist on doing things right....!!!!!!!!!!!!-

In my area, VoIP is pretty reliable. Not as good as POTS, but we can
up/download with very few exceptions.

I "feel" the way that you do about it but will not lose customers to
other alarm companies because of it. I simply explain to the client
the differences and limitations of VoIP compared to POTS. Tell them of
the experiences of some VoIP users and some of the bad things that can
happen. Offer them backup and .... if they choose to do it anyway, I
have them sign a disclaimer stating that they have been told about the
short comings and been offered a backup device. Although I agree with
your principles it is the end user who makes the final "informed"
decision.  I know there are many alarm companies out there who don't
take the time to do ..... even this.

I don't see that this is any worse than suggesting that a customer get
double keyed dead bolts, bars on their basement windows, re-enforced
doors, all doors and windows with wired contacts, motion detectors,
glass break detectors and alarm screens and have the customer decline
and just choose to get a basic perimeter alarm with motion detectors.
As long as he has been informed and has weighed the possible
consequences against the depth of his pockebook, he makes the
final ..... informed choice.