Re: Interesting

[Jim <alarminex@xxxxxxx>]

On Dec 24, 10:08=A0am, tourman <robercampb...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Dec 23, 7:57=A0pm, Jim <alarmi...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
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> > On Dec 23, 6:02=A0pm, nick markowitz <nmarkow...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
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> > > Thats why he is working for some one else I know plenty of hacks out
> > > there and they have such a line of bull shit and people believe them
> > > that there experts.-
>
> > Just my opinion on this and can't back it up but I think that because
> > the public mostly knows very little to nothing about alarm systems ...
> > that what ever the guy that they "like" the best does on the job, it's
> > considered what is normal for an alarm installation. So ... under
> > normal conditions, if the installer is just one of those "good enough"
> > types, that's what the customer gets and thinks that there isn't any
> > better. And/or they think that anything more than that is "overkill".
> > It could be that it's just a "justification reflex" by the customer to
> > convince themselves that they made the right decision by getting the
> > "free" system .... I don't know. =A0How many people have you come acros=
s
> > that have bought into the "free" alarm scam who think that they
> > actually have a viable alarm system? =A0Mostly all ... in my experience=
.
> > Many believe that what I offer them is way beyond what is necessary to
> > qualify as a worth while system. It's that experience that convinced
> > me years ago that I didn't need to try to compete with the "Free"
> > alarm companies. They're selling to a market that would never seek out
> > someone like me to install a vialble system to begin with. They're
> > just not the people who would ever be my customers in the first
> > place.
>
> RHC: Right on the money ! Also there is a large group of people who
> don't research anything and simply buy into the latest BS on TV.
> Alarmforce customers fit that bill to a tee ! Every time I see their
> ads, I want to upchuck. But such is life; there will always be a
> significant minority of people who make bad choices, even when given
> the option to spend a bit more and get a LOT more. You've got to
> wonder why they believe that any company can do the works for $25
> monthly,no equipment costs.....hell, if that was so, don't they think
> that everyone would be doing it ??????
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> > Another example is .... when I'm called in by one of my customers
> > who's moved into another home with a previously installed system. Big
> > commercial magnetic contacts on all the doors and windows. Exposed
> > twisted pair wire stapled up the sides of the molding. Motion
> > detectors mounted only where there's easy wire access, even if they're
> > looking directly at windows or air vents. The customer is always torn
> > between having to almost completely rewire the place or living with it
> > as is .... knowing that it could look like the system I installed in
> > the previous home. If they choose "as is" I do it but =A0... grit my
> > teeth all the while and make sure that it's documented in the paper
> > work. The only thing that pisses me off is that some day, someone is
> > going to come into the job and think that " I " did it !!!!!!!!!!
>
> > Maybe I should put little notes inside motion =A0and smoke detecotors
> > and attached to the wires in places that only another installer would
> > look.
>
> > "Pssst, I didn't install this!"
>
> RHC: Yeah, one of the reasons I've pretty much stopped doing
> takeovers. The amount of shoddy quality installation work out there is
> proportionally large, and growing. When people ask me why I refuse
> their requests when everyone else is fighting for their business, I
> simply ask them...why would I want to take over responsibility for a
> crappy, problem plagued system for a few bucks a month ?? They they
> usually get it. Too bad some of the alarm companies never do...it's
> all about money
>
> It doesn't bother me now like it used to when I first started in this
> business. A fool and their money are soon parted ! I give them the
> information; they have the choice to take it or not. So be it....don't
> lose any sleep over it !


I've got one coming up after the holidays.

The daughter and new son in law of a customer I've had for over 25
years just moved into a house with a previously installed alarm
system. It's got an ADT system using a Honeywell panel. I did a brief
survey and determined that there had been another system installed,
probably about 15 to 20 years prior to the ADT system, that ADT added
on to. The double hung windows have the double spring loaded contacts
with glass shock sensors on both top and bottom. These are just
trouble in the making without even thinking about it. The main thing I
noticed however is that some of the windows have wireless transmitters
on them as well as the double take-off's. I'm thinking that these
windows have wiring problems and ADT just put transmitters on them
rather than trouble shoot the problem.

Anyway, I told them ( by the way, they're both doctors) that I'd have
to charge them $75.00 an hour for a maximum of four hours to do a
detailed survey of the home and wiring to determine how much it was
going to cost to upgrade the system. They accepted that. So, we're
gonna see exactly what's going on and find out how far they're willing
to go to make it good. Huge house. Got to be 15K sq ft. Probably a $3k
job if they go the limit. They also want some audio and TV work
done .... so ...... add another minimum$1K or maybe more ...
so ....... here we go, into the new year with a bang.

Retire ....... ? How the hell can I retire with challanges like this
that keep coming my way? I figure I'll end it when they find me
slumped over the top of my ladder with my screw driver in one hand, a
motion detector in the other and a big smile on my face. Maybe even
with a "stiffy" to boot :-)