Seeeking link for HAI OmniPro II Web-link software.

You have to buy it and it isn't cheap

They prefer to sell to "distributors" -- particularly ones that compete with dealers, selling direct to end users at "dealer" prices.

Yah, but my distributor told me to call the rep. directly...their stuff is too expensive anyway.

Order it from your distributor, get the serial number. Have him tell HAI tech support. They could then email you a copy. They have sent a replacement copy when my media went bad as well.

They seem to go through reps a bit fast. I deal with a couple of good distributors and the head shed.

Only one HAI distributor that I know of sells to DIY, Worthington. They understand like you do that the DIY was not a dealer client anyway. They undercut you on a lot of equipment. Unlike you they stock what they sell and can get product out the same day. They add at least the same amount of value that you do. Quit whining about the competition and be glad they don't get aggressive about the DIY market.

I was in the middle of installing a nice system for a loyal client, when he comes rushing in the house (fresh home from one of those "home-shows" - I HATE home-shows!)...Stop stop...I just saw something really cool at the home show (HAI)...I think I want one with 3 of those cool keypads and energy control and and and. When I told him the price of JUST the keypads he changed his mind...it was more than I was charging for the entire system.

Anywhere I can download this? HAI tells me I have to order a disc through our supplier, which is going to take 2 days. tx

Do a Google and you'll find a dozen sites selling the HAI Weblink II software. The price runs anywhere from ~$290 to ~$310 retail. Trade suppliers sell it to dealers for around $230.

They try to undercut all dealers. There are some products I sell for less than them though. There are also lots of products I sell that they don't carry and vice versa. They have very little impact on my business.

That's not true but you wouldn't know. Only about 25% of their product is inventoried. The rest they order as needed. I know them much better than you do. Rich asked me to open a branch for him in Florida when I was planning to move here. I chose to keep my own business rather than work for a distributor.

Wrong again. Their normal performance is one to three days, depending on how busy they are. Many times they are unable to ship for a week or longer. The vast majority of my orders ship the same day. Back ordered items, like anyone else's in the industry, can take a week or more.

I don't mind competition but I don't buy from companies that try to sell to my clients. You're welcome to buy from your competitors all you like though. That's your decision.

Like I said, you have to buy it and it isn't cheap

It's all a matter of perspective.

I have plenty of DIY clients who want to install an alarm system that costs around $350. Others call asking about powerful home automation systems that can do everything but walk the dog and change the baby. I've deliberately selected a wide array of products, from basic, inexpensive systems to more elaborate, somewhat pricier options for my website. In any given day I sell several of each.

You can't often sell a $4500 system to a dock worker, but there are plenty of clients who can easily afford the top of the line. The key is to discover what the client wants and what will fit his budget.

As a licensed installer, I do not perceive DIY as competitors, or their suppliers. That makes me rare in ASA, but in the long run it has paid off. I've picked up monitoring and turnover work from DIY installations, and the occasional part sale.

I install HAI, but don't really like Weblink. I think Homeseer with the HAI plugin is a much better solution if there X10 or ALC in addition to security. You can get free trial versions of them to show clients as well.

I can't think of anyone "in" ASA that "perceives DIY'ers as competitors.

I don't know of anyone who thinks of anyone else in ASA, as an actual competitor, either.

DIY'ers, will do what they do, if they really want to. They were never an installers client to begin with. ie, no loss. We're all DIR'ers to some extent, so what makes alarms any different than any other home project?

Everyone who is "in" ASA is so far removed from each other, that there's no chance that anyone would ever be competing for the same potential client for an installation. So on both counts, business competition has nothing to do with ASA.

It seems to me, from your comment, that you'd have a better "perception" of ASA if you considered the meanings of the words, ........ respect, consideration of others, social contract, courtesy, propriety ............. and that the lack of all of these characteristics, in Robert Bass is the cause of the condition of this group. Couple that with his arrogant, antagonistic, belligerant and quarellsome attitude, and ............... call what you see here .......... the results.

If any competition exists in ASA it's between an arrogant and socially deviant son of a bitch Robert Bass and those who will not sit idle and say nothing to protest what he knowingly and purposefully causes in ASA. Anyone who ignores behavior from someone such as him, enables and condones that kind of conduct. I don't and wont. And as you can see, with out complete sanction, he continues. So be it.

I could never get the rep close enough to find out much of anything about the product...it seemed interesting but due to his lack of interest I did not pursue it. I'd seen it many years ago at ISC and was sorta following it along to see if it would stick.

I already had...like I said I was in the middle of installing it when he got a bug up his you know what :-)

I've seen a fair amount of anti DIY stuff in ASA over the years. Its mellowed some.

I agree

Actually there is at least one other regular here in my general area, but we don't compete all that often.

I've been here for some time and seen all sides of it. Its just Usenet, so I ignore it.

Best I can tell Bass did pioneer the DIY security equipment on the Internet, but he seems to have some sort of hardon over HAI and Worthington. No idea why, don't care either. Both provide good gear and good support to the trade and from what I can tell the DIY community as well.