Re: Interesting

[Jim <alarminex@xxxxxxx>]

On Dec 24, 11:33=A0am, tourman <robercampb...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Dec 24, 11:00=A0am, Jim <alarmi...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Dec 24, 10:08=A0am, tourman <robercampb...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > > On Dec 23, 7:57=A0pm, Jim <alarmi...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > > > On Dec 23, 6:02=A0pm, nick markowitz <nmarkow...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > > > > 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 t=
hem
> > > > > that there experts.-
>
> > > > Just my opinion on this and can't back it up but I think that becau=
se
> > > > 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, i=
t's
> > > > considered what is normal for an alarm installation. So ... under
> > > > normal conditions, if the installer is just one of those "good enou=
gh"
> > > > types, that's what the customer gets and thinks that there isn't an=
y
> > > > 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 th=
e
> > > > "free" system .... I don't know. =A0How many people have you come a=
cross
> > > > that have bought into the "free" alarm scam who think that they
> > > > actually have a viable alarm system? =A0Mostly all ... in my experi=
ence.
> > > > 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 convince=
d
> > > > 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 ??????
>
> > > > Another example is .... when I'm called in by one of my customers
> > > > who's moved into another home with a previously installed system. B=
ig
> > > > 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 to=
rn
> > > > between having to almost completely rewire the place or living with=
 it
> > > > as is .... knowing that it could look like the system I installed i=
n
> > > > the previous home. If they choose "as is" I do it but =A0... grit m=
y
> > > > 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 i=
s
> > > > going to come into the job and think that " I " did it !!!!!!!!!!
>
> > > > Maybe I should put little notes inside motion =A0and smoke detecoto=
rs
> > > > and attached to the wires in places that only another installer wou=
ld
> > > > 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 i=
s
> > > 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...-

I'm figuring that they'll do what ever I say has to be done. I did the
parents house years ago. Did a full system, glass break, motions, full
contacts ....along with their audio/video in the family room and a
nice home theater in the basement with the motorized screen and
universal remote control for A/V and lighting. I could fit two of my
homes inside of theirs. The only time I ever go back is when they have
a low battery that needs to be changed. When I went for the
preliminary look at the kids house, the parents were there .... I got
a nice big hug from both of them .....so.... with that kind of
experience with the parents I don't think they'll be looking
elsewhere. But ..... hey .... ya never know. Just because people have
money doesn't necessarly mean they're  smart.

Merry Christmas Robert.