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

[allan.register_at_gmail_dot_com@xxxxxxx (allanc446)]

responding to
http://www.secure-gear.com/security-physical/Opinion-KnightWatch-Security-Toronto-Ontario-Canada-58687-.htm
allanc446 wrote:

tourman wrote:

> 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 !!!!!!!


Sincere Thanks!
-------------------------------------
 Regards,

Allan C