Re: Opinion - KnightWatch Security - Toronto, Ontario, Canada

[tourman <robercampbell@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Jan 24, 1:39=A0pm, allan.register_at_gmail_dot_...@xxxxxxx
(allanc446) wrote:
> responding tohttp://www.secure-gear.com/security-physical/Opinion-KnightW=
atch-Secu...
>
>
>
> allanc446 wrote:
> tourman wrote:
> > On Jan 24, 12:53=3DA0am, allan.register_at_gmail_dot_...@xxxxxxx
> > (allanc446) wrote:
> >> responding
> >> tohttp://www.secure-gear.com/security-physical/Opinion-KnightW=3D
> > atch-Secu...
>
> >> allanc446 wrote:
> >> tourman wrote:
> >> > On Jan 23, 7:57=3D3DA0pm,
> >>> allan.register_at_gmail_dot_...@xxxxxxx
> >> > (allanc446) wrote:
> >> >> I would appreciate any comments on KnightWatch Security of
> >>>> Toronto,
> >> >> Ontario, Canada.
>
> >> >> I am inquirying about hardware, installation, service
> >>>> level, etc,
> >> >> etc, et=3D3D
> >> > c.
>
> >> >> Thank you in advance.
> >> >> -------------------------------------
> >> >> =3D3DA0Regards,
>
> >> >> Allan C
> >> > RHC: According to their website, they are a Brinks dealer
> >>> which would
> >> > personally put me instantly on guard.
> >> > Check their rating at the BBB (which might not tell you
> >>> anything
> >> > really unless they have a lot of unanswered complaints). Other
> >>> than
> >> > that, watch out for the usual "hooks"....ie: phoney
> >>> free
> >> > systems,
> >> > overpriced long term contracts, auto renewal contracts for
> >>> long
> >> > periods etc. Check out EXACTLY what they include in their
> >>> service, and
> >> > EXACTLY what their warranty covers and doesn't cover (these
> >>> are often
> >> > forgotten things that can jump up later to bite you in the
> >>> butt)
> >> > Other dealers I've talked to tell me Toronto is a hotbed of
> >>> cutthroat
> >> > competition with a significant number of unscrupulous
> >>> companies
> >> > around. So as always, buyer beware
> >> > If you have some time to read, go here....www.homemetal.com
>
> >> Well, I could not find Knightwatch on the Better Business Bureau
> >> site.
>
> >> I am not very familiar with this industry so I have to ask what is
> >> 'wrong=3D
> > '
> >> with being associated with Brinks?
>
> >> Also, you do not install/service Toronto do you.
>
> >> Thank you.
>
> >> -------------------------------------
> >> =3DA0Regards,
>
> >> Allan C
> > RHC: Allan, no I do not service or install outside the immediate
> > Ottawa area since my "total service concept" would be
> > impossible to
> > administer.
> > I do not know anything about this specific company so I can only offer
> > generalities. Brinks is one of a number of large mass marketers, =A0all
> > of whom usually offer only the minimal system to capture an overpriced
> > long term contract. Or if they offer you a full service installation,
> > it comes at a huge price differential over that of an independant
> > company. Any time you deal with companies like this, you must be
> > careful since it's pretty much a given that you will not get the all
> > that you might get when dealing with a GOOD small to medium sized
> > independant. It definately pays to shop around in this industry since
> > it is VERY much "buyer beware". In my obviously biased
> > opinion, ALL of
> > the larger firms can't possibly offer you the best deals since they
> > have huge overheads to cover and can't offer you a more personalized
> > level of service due simply to their size. On the other hand, small
> > companies come and go in this business, so you have to be just as
> > careful dealing in this arena too, although it's no where near as bad
> > as the ADT's of the world would have you believe.
> > If you care to poke around my site, there are all sorts of pages
> > covering these cautionary points and others. As well, when you get
> > your three quotes, feel free to call me (numbers on my website) to
> > discuss them in comparison.
> > Best of luck in your shopping
> >www.homemetal.com
>
> -------------------------------------
> =A0Regards,
>
> Allan C
>
> Hello again.
> Yes, I have read some of your pages and found your site to be very
> informative.
> To be honest, I have 4 personal referrals ... 3 for AlarmForce (I am
> fairly certain that I am not going in that direction and 1 for Knighwatch=
.
> A quick search at canada411 for 'alarm systems residential' displays at
> least 5 pages of companies.
> There has to be a way to narrow this down to some sort of 'short list'.
> Do you know of a WEB site that I could visit that help me in determining
> who to call for quotations?
> Feel free to Email me if that type of information should not be posted
> here.
>
> Thank you in advance.

RHC: Allan, this is correctly the most difficult part of the decision
making process. All I can tell you for sure is the following....stay
away from Alarmforce, they are as close to a scam as it is possible to
be without actually being one......poor equipment and minimalistic
coverage. You get recommendations from people because Alarmforce does
a great job of marketing themselves and they seem to be unique in the
business that their clients are totally sold on them. This is probably
because the types of shoppers that buy into this nonsense are the
people who don't know squat about what they are really getting. A
little smarter approach to shopping and looking into what a system
should be comprised of would have told them pretty quickly that this
junk is not even remotely close to being a professional alarm system.
The other big guy ADT is way overpriced and by the time you buy a
proper system, the original "free system" ends up being about double
what a smaller dealer can deliver, AND you're still stuck with a
horrible long term contract with some of the most restrictive terms in
the business. But they like most others use quality equipment from the
three big manufacturers common in Eastern Canada....DSC, Paradox and
Ademco (labelled often as Honeywell).

Pick a couple of small to medium guys and give them a call. See who
comes out on time, see who treats you with due respect and see who is
the most flexible about the things you need covered. Then go with the
company you feel most comfortable with.

Here's how to compare the three quotes you should get:

Add up the total costs for each for....upfront price, monthly rate
times 60 for comparison over the longer term, cost of a service call
to cover a battery and one to cover changing out a door etc, cost of
warranty, and what the warranty covers (batteries ??)

You'll pretty quickly see your TRUE costs over the longer term. Also,
if you must agree to a long term contract (no more than three years
and preferably just an annual one) and your home situation changes ie:
have to move for any reason, find out EXACTLY what the cost will be to
buy out of the contract. Needless to say, a month to month contract is
always far better for you, and you might want to use it as a
negotiating point (which is why it is not that common )

It happens ! I just installed a top coverage system here for a woman
who moved from Toronto to Ottawa for far less in total price than it
cost her to buy out of her ADT contract !!!!!!!