Yes, you are right, you did provide a solution.
I am just a little tired of people waving the ADT name in the air like it
actually means anything anymore. You are part of the old guard at ADT who
remember when it was one of the best alarm companies in the market. From my
perspective, ADT has become a name without substance.
When I was an ADT dealer, I was initially proud of my ability to use the ADT
name. I was then instructed to con people into "giving alarms away" by my
ADT handlers (bogus hiring ads). I was told to use 'all in one Lynx's to
ensure that I could install enough in a day to meet my sales targets. There
was no quality control or inspections made once the system was installed. I
left ADT because I could not maintain my sales quotas, my head sales guy
(partner) was allowed to start his own dealership and left me without a
sales team for one month.
I watch the market in my area get worse every day. Customers tell me that I
am the fifth or seventh alarm guy at their door. All the ones before me
were ADT. (Not ADT, dealers)
The current offering by some of these dealers is: 10 hard wired contacts,
two motions, two LCD keypads, garage door opener installation and dishwasher
installation (new homes) all for $24.95, (90 day warranty) with a three
year ADT contract.
I know what the dealer gets paid, I know how much the parts cost and I can
guess he makes just under $150.00 per system installed if he uses very low
paid installation staff.
I just get sick of hearing how good ADT is or who they recently bought etc.
They at one time were an admirable competitor to many who lead the market in
quality and technology. When you lower your standards to that of your worst
competitor, you eventually earn their reputation as well.
Sorry about my rant Mr. Sloud. You just pushed a button when you said ADT
purchased DSC. The only people I talk to who are proud of that merger are
people from ADT. Many people at DSC tell me, thank god Tyco bought us and
not those idiots at ADT or comments to that effect.
I truly believe that with the incredible attrition rates that I have seen,
the horrendous service stories that I have heard in my area, ADT will
eventually fail if they don't make some drastic changes. I don't think that
even their commercial divisions will be able to save them.
