Says the man with no liability insurance, no bonding, and no licensing. I wouldn't consider your opinions regarding installers or independent alarm companies as being the least bit credible. How many years was it that you ran your company in CT *without* a license again??
Don't sweat it, Mike. Go with your gut feeling about the people you're dealing with. Definitely read the contract and negotiate the best deal that fits your needs. If the dealer is ADT corporate, don't worry. You're probably ok. It they're an "authorized dealer" be very careful. Some are honest. Many are not.
Don't let the ADT bashers worry you. Many of these guys have been trying for years to compete with ADT. Because their own businesses are not particularly successful they blame ADT instead of evaluating their own shortcomings and finding ways to improve themselves.
I used to sell against guys like these all the time before I sold my alarm company. We were small and we ran a tiny, non-UL listed central station out of offices attached to our home (previously a doctor's home / office). The local bad-mouth artists would say our c-station was in the basement or the garage. They'd claim we sold inferior hardware because we were small. One guy used to tell customers he knew me from the local high school and he would lay down a litany of lies, ignoring the fact that we'd never met and that I grew up in a different state. I beat those characters at sales every day of the week by offering more protection, using top-of-the-line systems and doing a professional presentation. Frequently customers would ask me what I thought of one or another competitor, especially the one I knew were bad-mouth artists. I'd just say, "He's a competitor. I prefer to let him stand or fall on his own merits rather than speak good or ill of him." Then I'd get back to my presentation. If the customer said that the other guy had spoken ill of me I'd just say, "It's unfortunate some folks resort to that sort of thing to make a sale."
What you've seen here is the same sort of thing. A few sales people or small dealers who have a hard time competing with ADT bad-mouth them rather than offering any constructive advice.
It's not all black and white, of course. A couple of these guys have offered good suggestions about contract term, price negotiation and so on. Good for them and better for you.
Oh, by the way, I have nothing to gain or lose in your choice either way since I don't offer installed systems. If you were interested in doing it yourself I'd offer my services. However, there is something I can do for you and it won't cost you a cent. Ask the rep to list exactly what make and model sensors he's putting in. Then go to my website. I list over 41,000 products, including many of the most popular brands of alarm systems. Compare what you're paying to the retail price of the hardware. That will give you a way to compare the equipment value between competing installers.
Best of luck.
Now this is funny
Something tells me your mind was already set on going with ADT. Do not sign unless it is put in writing that you do not agree to any esculation of monitoring or service fee. If the contract is for 30, then it's 30 for the
3 years. If you do not, by the time your contract is up, you will be paying 36.99/mo.ask the trainee to name the 3 most common types of motion detectors used in the alarm industry. he will be able to name 1, PIR. because that the only thing he has to sell out of his resi book.. then ask to see the trainees business card. it will state he is a "security specialist". then ask the trainee why he was only able to name one type when the question could be answered by any alarm guy in the business more than a week.. given the fact he is a security specialist and all.. listen to me when i tell you this. the ONLY thing that is of intrest to your "security specialist" is getting you to sign the contract, running to his car and getting the sale called into Telmar so he can get a unit and eat next week. the guy is 100% commision. his intrest in your system is of little value to him. he gets paid on the monitoring mostly, not so much on the equip[ he sells. a 300 system pays almost as much as a 800 system. but that extra money might make you back out of the sale.
my last word on this thread. go with a local guy.
problem is adt has their own model numbers to purposely make side by side comparisons almost impossible unless your in the business and can see that it's a bravo or sparta dsc motion or a dsc 832 panel etc. chances are reall good the rep. wont know. mike.. figure your getting about $250 to $300 worth of hardware (panel, 2 doors, 1 motion, keypad)..
Sure. It says the customer must have let ADT know about the problem and has given ADT an opportunity to fix it.
Sounds like you were working for some asshole manager that didn't believe in following the rules. The Entree traiing program is a two month guided program with a $3600 training pay guarantee.
Anything to piss you off, Bass. It's always a pleasure.
It's also "noteworthy" that I haven't taken you to task for anything in this thread, yet you feel the need to attack me. I guess you're still smarting over being slapped around by several of us over your inane suggestions on modifying listed fire alarm control panels. Even then, I treated you with more courtesy than you deserved, and in response, you feel the need to lash out at me.
By the way, how's that do-it-yourself will coming along? I understand any monkey can draft one. Prove me right.
- badenov
I've been posting here since 1999. Do a little research. I've installed, repaired, sold, designed, supervised, pm'd, managed many, many projects involving the very bleeding edge of electronic technology for private industry and most recently, the federal goverment.
How about you? Ever do anything besides a zoned resi system that's no more complicated than a home depot lawn sprinkler controller? Ever do a DCID 6/9 compliant IDS? Even know what that means? How about a GPS based video interface integrating satellite pictures with real time intelligent video that's being used right now to protect your sorry ass from being blown to pieces. Know anything about Lontalk? How about Backnet?
YOU FORGOT NO TOLL FREE NUMBER
You didn't anger me. I just wanted to make certain the gentleman knew what really motivates some of the comments you make. You've corroborated my statement. Thank you.
hey J.... the bull shit is getting above my boots brother... please... let's cut the bullshit brother.. Having worked for the same company you do now, I know for a fact that as of Friday, niether is on the current 2275, and it is not available through Oracle... so not sure what your talking about..
By the way.. ever hear of BSWID (bull shit em when in doubt)
.......again J you full of bullshit or you have been in some office way too long. up until the last quarter, there was a freeze on all spending. No hiring, no sending new hires to adt university.. so what did the new reps do? they went out alone J after 2 days in the office J. Your under some delusion if you beleive what you say. no adt rep hired within the last 6 months went to any training outside of his or her own confrence room. again, stop your bullshitting unless you know what your talking about.
I assume you believe what you're saying (different from many here). However, J has been posting here for many years and although he and I don't always see eye to eye, I've never known him to deliberately misrepresent anything. He's also one of the more knowledgeable contributors to this newsgroup. He freely admits that ADT has problems, especially concerning the notorious "authorized dealer" program. He's spoken against it and the miscreants therein who've done so much to ruin ADT's reputation.
No flame here, friend.
Good points all. The "seasoned" sales guy was hnadling the sale so I don't believe the trainee will respond to the questions you raise. BTW, what are the three most common types of motiuon dectors. Trainee didn't show me a business card. Will ask about about the locked in rate.
Thanks for the clear advice Robert. With you replies and others I can make an informed decision
"J. @netscape.net>" On Sun, 30 Jul 2006 07:10:02 +0200 (CEST), Nomen Nescio
What do you believe in the contract customers need to clarify before signing. What are negotiable parts of the contract?
Wow, that's a lot of money. I'm going to use local CO2 dectors. I'l check to other other options
Not since the pool service monkeys flooded it.
CPO1 Standards (false alarm reductions features) Most popular panels already have it built in.
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