X10 Community Forum
X10 Zone => Contractor General Discussion => Topic started by: jonesy on December 16, 2005, 07:13:46 PM
-
Here is a message I sent to X10. Does anyone
feel the same way as I.
Why do you email the same sale items (maybe
a little different occasionally) each day.
Being a dealer I am interested :
1. 1 email with the X10 deals and how long
it is in effect.
2 New items for deals for contractors.
Basically you treat the contractors the same
as the ordinary person. Being a contractor
and installer I would really appreciate a
different advertising then "get now", don"t
delay" gimmicks. Thanks.
Maybe I would order more if there were
different deals for contractors instead of
the same over and over again. Maybe other
contractors feel the same way
-
Jonesy,
I agree with you!
Would you - and other X10 installers - be
interested in a daily, bi-weekly, or monthly
newsletter especially for X10 contractors?
What kinds of deals are you looking for? We
are looking at "X10 Weekend Warrior" kits
and popular kits with extra modules for
a "contractor supply" kit, and finally - a
marketing kit with flyers, counter signs and
decals.
Let me know what you think - I would love to
hear it! You can call anytime at 800-675-
5887 or email at kellyp@x10.com.
-
Kelly,
I am also interested in special contractor deals
and newsletters. I think most likely a bi-weekly
newsletter would be most beneficial to me as I still
need to know the most current info. And
contractor kits would be great! All the things you
mentioned would be superb (weekend warrior
kits, contractor kits, marketing kits). I hope this
could be expedited as I'm sure all the contractors
would love special kits to be available as soon as
possible.
-
Jonsey,
As a nrw AFF/CON I would have to agree with
what you have been saying,generally.
-
As a new Af/Con...b I would have to say I
find much to agree 2with you nJonsey. There
is no incentive to really invest at retail
prices just to get started, unless you are
already big enough for 5k orders.
-
I am agree whith you
-
I have to admit that as a new AF/CON it’s
hard to justify paying retail just to work
hard at starting a hopefully profitable
enterprise. I’ve been looking at X10 and
taking baby steps for a year now, afraid to
jump in too far and not be successful
because I was just too little to be taken
seriously. People need to see and try these
capabilities for tghemsweves or they just
wait. A good demo package would help but I
see more wizdom in really giving an
incentive to us who are starting out and
cutting the contractors costs overall.
Scott
-
oops ~!
-
Scott,
What kind of X10 products would you like to
see in a demo kit?
-
I agree and would love to see what you are
proposing for us contrators. I am new and
want to get moving but there does not seem
to be anything to help get us all going
-
Your Company wants to enlist contractors to
market and install your product without much
incentive to speak of. I feel that as
Contractors we should receive your items at
10% above your cost, thus allowing profits on
both sides of the fence as well as more FREE
advertising for your company. Myself I
believe in your product, however I simply
cannot justify keeping items in stock.
Henceforth, What would it hurt your company
to supply the contractors with demo systems
that can be set up so the customer will have
the opportunity to see it function in real time?
-
Well I am very new and very excited to get
started... A Kit would be great for demo..
If a kit could be put together that
includes all of the features in a nutshell
it would be perfect... you got to figure,
when we go to the customers house to
demonstrate the product, we want to show
them everything we can do for them. I have
been in auto security for years and when
the customer is in awe of all the
technology that can be installed they are
easily taken... thats what we need here. A
demo kit that consists of one of each
item... ***read next post***
-
that way we can go through every feature
and the customer can have a broad idea as
to what "futuristic technology" we can
offer. The kit needs to include all the
basics along with motion lights, software,
cam broadcasting and recording,and
everything... I mean, going to a customer
and saying, "look how this works" is a much
better selling wrench than saying "I dont
have one of these with me to show you BUT
we can do this for you..." not that I would
say that, but its the same principle. My
website isnt finished yet, it will be soon,
but I am finding myself in a bind here... I
am trying to get all the products to put to
gether a kit... then,... when I think I got
a pretty good idea as to what to purchase,
I find other things made by x10 that can
enhance the showcase... ***read next post***
-
this has been a non stop drama ever sinse I
began this endevor. I now have over $1000
in the demo kit alone and I find out that
the cams I install can be placed on a motor
and controled on a computer on the other
side of the world along with remote through
the cell phone... now I have to invest more
into my demo... whens it going to stop? not
that I want it to stop because I dont, my
point is, if I had a kit or some type of
demo to go by that included everything it
would not be so stressful to the regular
joe trying to start a business installing
x10 products. My website isnt finnished yet
if any of you are checking it out... it
will be this year though. I better stop
before this turns into a book. Oh yea.....
in putting together a kit, I find it
fustrating that I find cheaper prices on
x10 products with large wholesalers than I
can on the x10 site itself. One would think
the price bracket should go like this
(manufacturer/contractor/wholsaler/retailer/
general public)... after all it is the
contractors that go house to house
demonstrating the product... ***read next
post***
-
oh yea, by the way, before I knew about the
software and the recording capabilities, I
bought a VCR and a VCR commander for my
demo... I was let down when I couldnt find
a x10 vcr to match the system... These
alarms will be installed in $200,000.00
homes at times... everything has got to
match if you want to be totally
professional... anyways, All my installs
will include a seporate system computer to
run the motion cam recorders and broadcast
viewing... x10 should have its own router
for homes with only one computer... it all
needs to look right'n'tight... When I
installed clifford alarm systems in cars
EVERYTHING was clifford! it was good, it
was clean, it was professional. but with
x10 I am finding I have to buy an offbrand
vcr, offbrand router, offbrand pc, and I
also am incorperating custom cameras that
are smaller and can be hidden easier for
nanny viewing. well, I hope I could be of
some help. Have a great day.
-
ps, I will also be installing an offbrand
battery backup for the offbrand PC ... it
would be great if x10 had these items so we
dont have to "UPSELL" these offbrands.
-
A demo is a good idea.
This can create some issues such as the
expense noted previously, carring the
cumbersome package into the home, and
consumer intimidation. A demo video would
be very helpful. this will generate sales
and give the customer more confidence in
the company and products. Not to mention
they could pass it on to friends with our
company names on the disc.
any thoughts on this?
-
Re: Same "O" same "O"
-
this is a good thing although limited. When
I am in a customers home I work directly
with video and audio systems. This usually
includes the homeowner being in the room
with me most of the time. sending them to
their computer is unrealistic. A DVD or
even VHS demo tape would be better for my
specific situation as customers could watch
this while I work and I could interact with
them at the same time. I am not clear on
why this is such an issue.
A video showing an existing house, maybe
even filmed during the install would be
reassuring and even more of a sales
tool. "Oh hey that guy did not damage that
persons house and it looks good. I think I
might like that" This may sound stupid but
it is a very real thought for customers.
-
;D
In our efforts to train those of you who are new to our X10 Contractor Program, we have sent out a universal request for experienced X10 Installers.
The response has been good with Phase 1 well on it's way to completion as we contact and qualify instructors.
Phase 2 is gearing up and includes the concept of demo kits for each attendee, in each category: automation, security, surveillance, networking, and integration.
It is only through your feedback that we are able to develop tools for your success, so keep your comments coming...
-
What nieghborhood are you from, that you're installing full on home automation/security systems in merely $200,000 homes? 200,000 gets you a 3rd floor condo of about 900 sq ft out here ;)
-
I used to pass by this place every so often that was into home automation. One day, I finally took the time to stop by and I got to talk to the owner. He told me that he installed 'professional' home automation in multi illion dollar homes and didn't mess with "X-10 poor man's home automation." That made me feel bad
X-10 REALLY needs to step up to the plate on the quality issue. I hate to say it, but some of this stuff looks and feels like crap right out of the box. I agree whole-heartedly on the contractor-pricing issue. Installers/contractors NEED to be able to make something on the products they are installing. They need good quality products to install that will perfrom as expected and will not prematurely fail. Use 1 watt resistors in light switches and modules instead of 1/2 watt, if you haven't made that change, already...
There needs to be a way that We who install this stuff can communicate with X-10 about improvements and know that we are being taken seriously. For instance, why have the Flood-Cam with no microphone? Don't tell me that it's because it will open the unit up the weather because one of my Flood-Cams failed due to moisture getting inside, anyway. It was no longer under warranty but, fortunately, I was able to repair it myself because it was just burnt circuit traces. These units should have sound, also.
Another thing is the alarm systems. you NEED to have a SEPARATE master control panel from the key-pad! The key-pad has a siren in it, so a burglar will go right to it and rip it off the wall before it has a good chance to do it's job!
These are just a couple of things that get to me about this stuff. Oh, and I would also invest in doing something different with the packaging. It looks almost as if a toy is going to come out of it!
I don't know what else to say. I've got a couple of boxes of this stuff that I haven't had a chance to get into my house because of this, or that, but mainly because I went through HELL to get two of three cameras to work. The problem, I think, is the aluminum siding on my house. The audio/video receivers could at least use a better dipole antenna to increase reception, since you can't increase output due to FCC regulations. Someone kept stealing my mom's paper, so I put-it these cameras. Once I did get them to work, the other problem arose. X-10 cameras need quite a bit of light to be useful! Once the light gets down to a certain point, they're useless! This is even after I tried to make sure that I had more lighting! It still wasn't enough! (Sigh...)
I still have hopes for this stuff, though.
~Kenny