KEN KIRSCHENBAUM, ESQ
ALARM - SECURITY INDUSTRY LEGAL EMAIL NEWSLETTER / THE ALARM EXCHANGE
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Is DIY a threat or opportunity
February 15, 2019
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Is DIY a threat or opportunity 
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            Is DIY a threat to your alarm business?  Maybe; just like the car was a threat to the blacksmith.  When’s the last time you found a TV repair shop?  Time moves on; technology evolves, and if you’re in the electronics business you need to evolve with the times.
            Costco’s member’s magazine  [Feb 2019 edition] has an article about DIY, which of course is sold by Costco.  The owner of Ring is quoted as is an alarm company owner from LA, CA.  The article mentions that DIY development depended on the development of the App in smartphones.  So that ship has sailed.
            According to the article a burglary takes place every 13 seconds in the US and 87% of homes do not have security systems.  The author claims these statistics compute to a 300 per cent greater chance of being robbed.
            The overwhelming sentiment is that DIY costs less to buy, costs less to install and costs less to monitor.  Those promoting DIY must also believe that the DIY professionally monitored system offers similar if not equal protection as a professionally installed and monitored system.
            AvantGuard Central Station recently circulated an article about DIY systems being hacked.  AvantGuard is a nationwide whole monitoring center that specializes in PERS monitoring, and is listed on The Alarm Exchange.  The article raises the issue of hacking and presumably wireless systems are a better target for hackers.  
            Alarm companies need to learn to accommodate their customers and be attentive to customer budgets.  It’s the budget that often dictates the security system a customer is willing to pay for.  Of course a recent burglary or other event could cause a customer to want much more equipment and services than they might otherwise want to pay for.  
            You may not want to service every kind of customer.  If you’re high end home integration you may have no interest in low end security.  I am not suggesting you start selling a whistle as your cheapest “security” device, but you may want to consider adding the DIY products to the systems you already offer.
            The All in One contract forms already cover DIY as well as traditional systems.  The real difference in contracts is that DIY lends itself to nationwide customers, and for that you need a nationwide contract.
            For more information on the Standard Form Agreements contact our Contract Administrator Eileen Wagda at 516 747 6700 x 314.
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THE ALARM EXCHANGE

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Ken Kirschenbaum,Esq
Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum PC
Attorneys at Law
200 Garden City Plaza
Garden City, NY 11530
516 747 6700 x 301
ken@kirschenbaumesq.com
516 747 6700
www.KirschenbaumEsq.com