Plain Talk

[Jackcsg]

Anybody read this article in SDM's January issue? Page 106. The article was
written by George De Marco from the Greater Alarm Co, Inc. I'd love to hear
people's thoughts on the article. I have a few of my own.

Jack

 

[Jackcsg]

Yes. Did you read that? What an idiot! 'In almost every State, and almost
every Major Metropolitan City, our Industry is under fire for allegedly
being wrong 98 percent of the time'
Allegedly? He calls it misconceptions, and innuendoes, and false alarms.
He's a 22 year veteran? What fucking industry has he been working in? Surely
not the "Alarm" Industry. He further states that this industry should be
proud of its accomplishments. The alarm industry is right 2% of the time.
There's something to be proud of. It's contradictive. One side he
acknowledges the 98 percent, while saying we should be proud of it. What's
wrong with that picture?

Jack

 

[Jackcsg]

Yikes! Don't use that swear word around here. I'll give you credit for that
one. But they don't only use Sonitrol equipment exclusively. But I will give
them credit, they are in the 2%. Most of the time.

Jack

 

[Mark Leuck]

But he said 0 false alarms not 2%

Yikes! Don't use that swear word around here. I'll give you credit for that
one. But they don't only use Sonitrol equipment exclusively. But I will give
them credit, they are in the 2%. Most of the time.

Jack

 

[Jackcsg]

I'm in St. Louis. The cost of running a Sonitrol Central Station should be
reason alone. I agree with the concept, but often the Sonitrol method is a
little...well, you said it.

Jack

 

[Jackcsg]

I said he was in the 2 percentile: 98% False, 2% actual.

100
-98
=2

Check my math, I may be wrong.
Jack

 

[Jackcsg]

I hear what your saying. Round and Round we go. My problem with false alarms
is an inability for the Alarm industry to be accountable. It is an "Alarm
Industry" issue. There is never an offensive mode of operation in this
industry, it's always defending. There really is no such thing as a false
alarm. Alarms are caused by something, or someone. There is always a cause.
However, the issue is how, or what an alarm dealer does to rectify it. What
was the cause? Let the police deal with it? Let them track the number of
responses? Or non responses? Right now they are tracking the real problems
of this industry. When the information is given, we call them liar's? We say
it's all hearsay, innuendoes, and false alarms? The only misconception,
comes from within the industry itself. Some bullshit warm and fuzzy "Mission
Statement" from the alarm industry isn't going to cut it. Which once more,
again, the Industry will be on the defensive. Legislators will eventually
put the slams on this industry, and I would support it, for the sake of
public safety, and those who respond to these issues. It would bring value
back to this industry which has been missing for well more than 10 Years.

Jack

 

[Mark Leuck]

I know, but he said 0 false alarms

I said he was in the 2 percentile: 98% False, 2% actual.

100
-98
=2

Check my math, I may be wrong.
Jack

 

[pudding]

I suppose it depends on what people term as false alarms.
If false alarms means a device had triggered with no known reason why, then
it could be termed a false alarm. But I usually find that there are reasons
why a device has triggered. It isnt always an intruder of course but the
humble insect, or gecko or moth etc etc. A client calls this a false alarm
but the detector is doing what its designed to do. I think the main problem
is that detection devices havent really changed for 20 or 30 years. With
technology advancing at the rate it is you would think that someone could
come up with a device a bit more sophisticate than a Pir or Microwave or
combined, that can also be afforded by the average home owner.

 

[Jackcsg]

He also said it's because their systems don't often work correctly. Which
after a few lawsuits I've seen because of that, I would agree with him. 0
False Alarms, k-prendo.

Jack

 

[Jackcsg]

That's what I got out of. Denial. Recognition of the issue, but defensive
denial. Look at all the good we've done. Apparently only 2% of this industry
is doing the right thing, which probably reflects the real number of the
percentage of "true professionals" out there. I do believe the percentage is
a little higher with those who try, but just haven't found the correct
method yet. None of which is a National Company.

Jack

 

[Jackcsg]

I disagree. These devices are very reliable when installed correctly. When
your only getting paid $ 100.00 for the install, chances are you give a shit
less, how, and what the environmental variables are. Multiply that times a
couple hundred thousand, and there's a big chunk of the 98%. Value was
thrown away in the early 90's for profit. It has not returned as of yet.
But, it will eventually return again.

Jack

 

[Bossman]

I suppose it depends on what people term as false alarms.
If false alarms means a device had triggered with no known reason why, then
it could be termed a false alarm. But I usually find that there are reasons
why a device has triggered. It isnt always an intruder of course but the
humble insect, or gecko or moth etc etc. A client calls this a false alarm
but the detector is doing what its designed to do. I think the main problem
is that detection devices havent really changed for 20 or 30 years. With
technology advancing at the rate it is you would think that someone could
come up with a device a bit more sophisticate than a Pir or Microwave or
combined, that can also be afforded by the average home owner.

Motion detectors are not designed to detect insects, moths or geckos,
they are designed to detect human intruders. In fact most are now
designed not to trip for insects, changes in heat patterns, pets etc.
They should only trip if they detect a human intruder...tripping for
any other reason is, in fact, a false alarm.

As I have stated in the past, this type of discussion should
differentiate between false alarms and false dispatches. False alarms
are not a huge problem if the CS is able to speak to the user and get
a password before dispatching the police. It is false dispatches that
are the problem issue, and since most false dispatches are the result
of user error, with the user present on premise, having the user call
the CS to report the false alarm instead of waiting by the phone to
hear from the CS would, IMHO, not reduce false alarms, but would
greatly reduce false dispatches.

Bossman

 

[blindsquirrel]

I haven't read the article, but to say the man is an idiot from reading one
article is way off base. I know the man and am familiar with Greater Alarm
Co. George's article may be suspect , but you can't dispute his track
record. George is an industry icon in the western US. His success in the
industry is further emphasized by how much he is respected by competitors
and by 3rd party oversight organizations.

What have you accomplished in your number of years in the industry?

 

[pudding]

Thats correct, thats why it should be the manufacturers that do something
about the design of detectors.
While it is in fact true that detectors are not made to detect insects, the
pirs are made to detect a change in temp. If an insect crawls across the
face of a detector then as it is so close to the pyro inside, then in fact
it will detect. Not a false alarm. Just the detector doing what its designed
to do. I havent seen a detecors specifications yet that say" wont pick up
insects", pets yes, not insect, spiders, geckos, moths etc.

Im mainly a service tech in Australia (Queensland) During the summer months
I become more of a "bug man" than an alarm tech, and am constantly advising
clients on how they can avoid alarms caused by insects. Ive devised a simple
way of connecting detectors so they wont pick up insects, gecko,s. moths
etc. which has been 100% sucessful so far (over a couple of years). Maybe
its time the manufacturers pulled their heads together and designed a
purpose made detector instead of me having to adapt existsing ones to suit.

 

[Jackcsg]

Pretty much the same, except on the east coast, and silently. I would never
make, nor allow any of my employees, to make such a rash public statement
and have it sound like complete denial. Your right I probably don't get
evolved enough with the borg over issues like this one. That's only because
I am, and my Company, in minority; the 2 %. There are lots of seasoned
professionals in the industry, some technical, some more financial minded.
Most veterans can't even come to grips with what it means to be accountable.
George is not accountable, he's denying it is even a problem. In his
opinion, if it is a problem, to correct it we should just have a mission
statement and that will fix it all. That is the voice of an idiot, plan and
simple. Read the article though, and come back with your thoughts.

Jack

 

[Jackcsg]

I don't blame them it's a touchy subject. Allot of dealers in this industry
are stuck in their ways, and have been for a long time. Technology eludes
them, because most think what they are doing works. Most don't want to
change, or feel it would cost too much to change, and even worse; may not
have intelligent enough of a technical staff to make it change.

Jack

 

[spike]

The manufacturers get you to be two detectors instead of one. Why would they
mess with that?

 

[spike]

oh for pete's sake, interesting theory....
false alarm problem result of hapless old dealers stuck in a state of
cognitive dissonance. How the hell do I sell video verification to someone
who compares me with free or 99 dollar installs? You sound like a public
servant.

 

[Jackcsg]

It's called selling the value of your services. Not the feeling of
insecurity, you know the feeling you have of the need to compete. Why do
you, and so many, feel you have to compete with the 99 dollar installs? They
are 98 percent of the problem. The average sale of them there 99 dollar guys
is close to $800.00 anyway. It's a Marketing tactic which gets them in the
door. What's the commission on a 99 dollar install? Could anyone live off
that? Give me a break. If you could find a receipt were a customer actually
paid only $99.00, I'll shut my mouth, and open up that flower shop I've been
dreaming about opening. I'm more like a Public awareness.

Jack