Re: Time for HA, finally. Thinking Insteon. Mulling this for 20 years. What is best?

["Dennis" <djr-google.djrlar@xxxxxxxx>]

Robert,  Thanks,  My experience communicating with ELK support last
year was certainly positive and supports your comments.  Maybe I'll
send them another question and see what the results are.  I tried this
with HAI and got a response containing the text from their website
indicating they did not provide any DIY support, and to go to my
dealer.  I thought I would give it a try, so found Smart Home listed on
the HAI site as a dealer for DIY users. On the Smart Home site I then
found a statement indicating that for HAI products, that I should
contact the manufacturer for all technical support.  "Catch-22 anyone".
 That killed HAI as an option.



Robert L Bass wrote:
> I checked on that.  I suspect the notice was put there to placate install=
ing dealers of the sort found in ASA.  You may have noticed
> there's a lot of hostility on the part of some "professional" dealers tow=
ard DIY.  The notice also gives ELK a legitimate out should
> someone who hasn't a clue try to spend 3 hours on the phone with them.
>
> ELK has never charged any of my clients for tech support.  They do want c=
ustomers to seek help through the dealer that sold them the
> product.  I usually can answer any questions my DIY customers have.  When=
 I don't know something I make a 3-way call and let ELK
> answer.  Then my client knows and so do I for the next customer.
>
> No matter how this plays out long term I will of course act as a go betwe=
en for clients needing tech support from ELK just as I do
> with every other manufacturer we carry.  To be clear though, no one I kno=
w of has ever been charged for ELK tech support.
>
> --
>
> Regards,
> Robert L Bass
>
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D>
> Bass Home Electronics
> 941-866-1100
> 4883 Fallcrest Circle
> Sarasota =B7 Florida =B7 34233
> http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D>
>
>
> > Originally I was strongly leaning toward Elk
> > based on their willingness to communicate
> > directly with DIY users. I recently went to
> > their site to gather some additional information,
> > and was very disappointed to read their
> > support information which clearly indicated
> > that technical support to non dealers was on
> > a fee based basis only...