November 27 2010
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Comments
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To Gene,
Thanks for both your reply and consideration to the issue. As someone who worked for the "majors" and of course had my own company and being in the industry I try to pass on the experiences for those as yourself and see them overcome the normal growing issues everyone faces.
As it appears you tend to be a "one man" operation and time is both an important commodity and you need to operate your business efficiently to be successful. Adding RMR is very important as we see and read in the industry websites, shows, and the guru's that write the articles tell you (us) every month, but the fact is that you do need to always be aware of using the time to do both, and I sure am not trying to tell you that because I know you already know it's important! If you intend to keep and grow your company and are lucky enough to have the magic 1K accounts you should consider working out a part time sales person to help the bottom line (yeah, you know that too!). personally, I'd call that sales person a "Contract Renewal and Sales Visiting person!" Bottom line is that person needs to serve you even if they are part time, but really, they need to do the marketing you create by the awareness as you send out the monthly's with "stuffers" and let the existing subscribers know all you do.
As I see the normal alarm services company, they have a limit to how far they can travel to do the installations. You sure can't be chasing (for example) from say NYC to Boston or Philadelphia everyday, so staying and having accounts locally is the goal.
Best of luck! I enjoy seeing the small guy making his or her way and becoming successful!
Marty Winger
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Response:
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Gene's been around a long time and may not need the advice, but I thought the advice sound and maybe some of you can benefit by it.
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Comment on government regulations
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Hi Ken
I have owned & operated a alarm company for 20 years , sold the 1st one , then started the second . I concur with the article dusan wrote . I have had more road blocks & hardships in the name of government regulation & standards this time then the last 20 years . Harder to get anything except fees to pay , penalties, paperwork & legal claims.
My contracts went from 1 page to 9 pages full of disclosures,rights,legal options for the client or customer. I have been taken to court by clients & left completely out of case , & settled as per option rather than fact.
The Truth is the government cannot control small micro business so the make sure 97% failure rate is guaranteed by default . A lot of limits in place to assure failure.
I am very business savey & have a average credit score & know that the person that can make it in this economy is the person with great support,family , friends lending networks .
Its not about business it is about process & procedure.
Thanks for all your articles as they inform others as to the true risks,requirements,responsibilitys as they pertain .
Christopher Freeman
Power protection plus
Ca.
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more on cut throat competition
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The email about cut throat competition was inspired by my visit to Georgia where I was told about a central station that was offering monitoring directly to the public for under $5. There was lot of speculation who that central station was and a few comments asking why other dealers would support a central station that competed that way.
Well, mystery solved, and it really wasn't much of a mystery. On Scene Technology Inc is a central station, but does not monitor for other alarm companies, so by my definition it is not a wholesale central station. It's web site offers the prospect of monitoring for under $5. The web site is 495alarm.com I checked out the site and actually couldn't find - after a quick look - where monitoring was offered for $4.95, but if it is I don't have a problem with it. If this dealer can manage to monitor its own accounts for a price that may be lower than the competition there is nothing unfair about it.
While other dealer may say this compares to the dealers who offer "free" alarm installations, which they say cheapens the services and hurts the industry, competition is the American way.