Re: Interesting

[tourman <robercampbell@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Dec 24, 11:00=A0am, Jim <alarmi...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Dec 24, 10:08=A0am, tourman <robercampb...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
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> > 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 ou=
t
> > > > there and they have such a line of bull shit and people believe the=
m
> > > > 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 t=
o
> > > convince themselves that they made the right decision by getting the
> > > "free" system .... I don't know. =A0How many people have you come acr=
oss
> > > that have bought into the "free" alarm scam who think that they
> > > actually have a viable alarm system? =A0Mostly all ... in my experien=
ce.
> > > Many believe that what I offer them is way beyond what is necessary t=
o
> > > 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 ou=
t
> > > 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 ??????
>
> > > 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'r=
e
> > > looking directly at windows or air vents. The customer is always torn
> > > between having to almost completely rewire the place or living with i=
t
> > > 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 :-)

RHC: Hehe.....you're like me....don't know when to quit....but when
work is fun and not a chore, why quit !

The house you talk about will probably pay for all the hassle you're
going to get with that crappy system install, with all the other stuff
going in. Personally, I would walk from that job but that's just me. I
don't do all the other things you do, so I would be a poor fit anyway.
Hope it works out ok for you...